It leaves from Vathi. This website will show you what the schedule will be but it's always best to check locally for any changes: http://www.feribot.net/feribot/?lang=en This timetable may not be available yet for your travel dates.

Samos will never be be cut off from the Greek mainland, so yes there will be a ferry. For some reason the summer schedules are coming out later than usual this year, but this is a year-round route, and will continue for the summer. You can check www.gtp.gr for current timetables, which shows the ferry Ierapetra, a winter replacement, on that route.

In summer the ferry Nissos Mykonos will probably resume service to the ports Karlovassi and Vathy on Samos: http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shi...00&header=true. Last summer it ran 6 days/week, no departures on Sundays.

Not_enuf_vaca, you have the patience of a saint!

Wonderful Heimdall - that is good to hear!

I think this might all work out Gives us an extra day in Athens so we aren't so rushed. Saves a flight with the BF that I can now use from Izmir to Cappadocia so we don't have to drive! We will miss Aphrodisia and Pamukkale but we wont be so rushed at Ephesus.

Someone needs to tell the Greek ferry companies that all this last minute scheduling makes us "Type A" Americans cry

"Type A" - LOL, I had to look it up. The Aegean islands and Turkey are just perfect for us "Type B" go-with-the-flow travellers - we get pleasantly surprised, instead of being let down.

But that is why us type A's need to vacation there!

Not_enuf_vaca, I must be a "Type C" traveller (if there is such a thing), because my idea of a perfect Greek holiday is one where I show up at Piraeus with no pre-booked ferry tickets and no hotel reservations. Every "Type A" should try that at least once. ;-)

To understand the Greek ferry system you need to realise that it's there for the Greeks rather than for tourists. Every inhabited island needs ferries to deliver food and other supplies, and to transport islanders back and forth to the mainland. But Greeks don't need to plan their trips months in advance, any more than you need to plan a trip to the shopping mall or a visit to a relative in a nearby town that far ahead. So, as Croesus wrote, we "go with the flow" and have a relaxed holiday.

For the ferry to Samos, you need to keep checking until timetables are updated later in the spring. Last year's timetables are a good indication of what will be on offer this year, but not a cast-iron guarantee. There <i>will</i> be a ferry to Samos, that is certain, but not necessarily the same timetable as in 2011.

hi!!yes there would be a ferry to Samos as always.but it is better choose an airline so that you don't loose your time with the ferry

but you can check here:
http://www.ferries.gr
www.flylowcostairlines.org/
www.aegeanair.com/

I agree with Not_enuf_vaca that planning this trip has been most challenging. It has everything to do with the ferry schedule, the lack of it.

I understand the ferries are for locals and I respect that but not having that info makes it impossible to plan. It's like doing the jigsaw puzzles but the pieces with the important clues are missing.

HELP is right!

One important factor that you guys are not aware of, is the fact that companies have made a big loss during 2011, due to the recession in Greece , and also due to huge price increased of the last years.
Fuel prices also increased enormously in Greece, so that many companies would like to save wherever it is possible...
Either by using less ships or traveling slower or not as often as in previous years.
The situation is still not very clear, as there are negotiations in progress, and we are still waiting for the results.

I hope you all know I was (mostly) speaking in jest ?(didn't you see the smiley face? I really don't expect the entire Greek ferry industry to cater to my needs!!

That being said - I'm okay with being a type A traveler (hey it works for me) and when you have a few measly weeks every couple of years to try to see the world sometimes it takes careful planning to make it work. Doesn't help when your significant other is more challenging than a Greek ferry schedule!

Sounds like it should all work out - worse comes to worse - we'll take the ferry to Chios and then on to Cesme...

speaking of Chios.... it is a beautiful island with very much to see..... Hope you will have some time left....

The current schedule from Piraeus to Vathi shows the ferry getting in at 7:30 and the summer ferry schedules shows the ferry to Kusadasi leaving at 8:30 - is that cutting it too close? Would it be better to take a ferry to KARLOVASSI that gets in an hour early? Or even the ferry that gets in to Chios the night before even though we will get to Ephesus later?

Oops I see the ferry to Samos is the same one...

Yes, the ferry first docks at Karlovassi, and then goes on to Vathi, the same port that ferries to Kusadasi depart from. I wouldn't take the risk of arriving at Vathi with only an hour to spare, and it wouldn't make sense to get off at Karlovassi. I see that currently there is a ferry leaving Piraeus Mon-Thu at 1230, and arriving on Chios at 1830, five hours later on Fri & Sat — If it continues that timetable for the summer, that would be a better alternative.

I appreciate you want to get your itinerary finalised as soon as possible, but you really need to wait until summer ferry timetables are available. If you were able to plan a couple of days on Samos or Chios, then you would have more flexibility. The good news is: you don't need to prebook these ferries for June very far in advance, or at all for that matter, unless you want a cabin.

Thank you Heimdall!

It isn't the ferries I am so concerned with booking - it is the details in Turkey afterwards that I am concerned with (flights, car rental, tours etc). I wish I had a few more days - but alas, I don't..but thank you for confirming that an hour connection might not be so great...