Greek ferries
Apr 19th, 2014, 12:12 PM
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Greek ferries
I'm looking for simple ferry info for the Greek islands. There seem to be a hundred ferry companies, each with their own website and then websites that list several different companies all in one place. It's also hard to tell which ferries are the old, slow ones and which are the high-speed ones. Anybody have recent experience with this? We are travelling in October, so do I even need to worry with making reservations? Thanks in advance for any advice!!
Apr 20th, 2014, 06:06 AM
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First of all, you don't need to make reservations for October. Secondly, highspeed ferries will be nearing the end of their seasons, and by the end of the month will all be laid up for winter. The conventional ferries operate year-round.
Although there are many different Greek ferry companies, only a few operate on each route. There won't be a hundred different ferries going from Piraeus (Athens) to Santorini, for example — only two or three on a given day.
Your wrote: <i>It's also hard to tell which ferries are the old, slow ones and which are the high-speed ones.</i> That is a total misconception. Most highspeed ferries are older than the conventional ones. For example, Blue Star Delos (conventional) was built in 2011, while Highspeed 6 was built in 2000. There are still some older conventional ferries around, and they provide a valuable service to minor islands.
Although there are many different Greek ferry companies, only a few operate on each route. There won't be a hundred different ferries going from Piraeus (Athens) to Santorini, for example — only two or three on a given day.
Your wrote: <i>It's also hard to tell which ferries are the old, slow ones and which are the high-speed ones.</i> That is a total misconception. Most highspeed ferries are older than the conventional ones. For example, Blue Star Delos (conventional) was built in 2011, while Highspeed 6 was built in 2000. There are still some older conventional ferries around, and they provide a valuable service to minor islands.
Apr 20th, 2014, 06:13 AM
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Let me add: if you want to learn details about individual ferries, buy a copy of <i>Greek Island Hopping</i>, which explains how the routes are laid out and has short descriptions of most ferries in the Greek fleet. Pay no attention to the timetables in the guide — they are out of date by the time the book goes to press, and are for high season only.
You can also get details on individual ferries, and even see where they are going in real time, on www.marinetraffic.com
You can also get details on individual ferries, and even see where they are going in real time, on www.marinetraffic.com
Apr 28th, 2014, 11:59 PM
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I've also been researching the ferry companies and I've found one of the easiest websites is that of go-ferry.com
I've decided not to book in advance but to buy the first ticket on arrival and then suss out which ferries go where after that.
Have a look at the airline schedule as well, they can be just as cheap or even less and so much less time travelling.
I've decided not to book in advance but to buy the first ticket on arrival and then suss out which ferries go where after that.
Have a look at the airline schedule as well, they can be just as cheap or even less and so much less time travelling.
