Ferry from Athens to Santorini
 

We will be in Athens on 4/1/12. Does anyone know when the ferries start service in the spring and what the best ferry service is? We would like to go "superfast" as we have limited time. Thanks!

We took the ferry from Athens to Santorini on New Years Eve last year so I'm guessing its year round....had Santorini all to ourselves!!!!

I found this website user friendly, the port near Athens you want is Piraeus:
http://www.go-ferry.com/

The fast boats take roughly half as long as the ferries and cost twice as much. On the ferry you can go outside to take photos of Santorini as you approach, which is fantastic. On the catamarans you are in a fully enclosed boat.

Also, depending on what country you are from, that could be January or April. If you have limited time, you could fly. Try Aegean, Olympic and Easyjet.

Kay

I'm not sure that the fastest ferry from http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/npgres/english will be operating so early in the year and schedules for next April aren't available yet.

http://bluestarferries.com offers a daily car ferry to Santorini that departs in the morning around 7:30 all year long.

With time of the essence you might want to consider flying using Aegean Airlines. They offer significantly discounted airfares, as little as €39 each way, all taxes included. Keep a sharp eye out on their website for the sales and be prepared to buy right then and there, as these tickets sell out quickly. http://en.aegeanair.com

Ferries are primarily for the islanders, not tourists, and operate year-round. Highspeed ferries are brought out of winter layup for Greek Easter, then operate a reduced schedule until May or June when tourists begin to arrive. Easter isn't until April 15th this year, so if you want to go by ferry to Santorini you will probably have to settle for a conventional one.

"Highspeed" or "superfast" are relative terms anyway, as even the fastest reach only about 40 mph, slowing down and stopping at each port. If you have limited time, it makes more sense to book a flight. :-)

If you are short of time you should fly. We took the ferry and it was long and boring. The flight takes about 30 minutes.