I've read lots of threads about the Greek island ferries but now that this years schedules are available I still have some questions that I hope the Greek experts here can help with. We need to ferry from Santorini to Naxos on Friday, 3 July, then from Naxos to Paros on Sunday 5 July, and then from Paros to Athens on Tuesday 7 July.

From Naxos to Paros and Paros to Piraes I see at least a half dozen ferries but from Santorini to Naxos only one (Blue Star 16:00-18:05) (jplus a flying cat at 12:20-13:55 "schedule not yet set"). Does this sound right? Or am I not checking enough sites. I've checked ferries.gr and gtp.gr

How far in advance do we need to get tickets at that time of year. We'll be in each island for two days so is it safe to get the tickets the day before? Or is it easier/safer to buy them online? Since there seem to be lots of options for the Naxos to Paros trip could we just wait till the day we want to go (maximum flexibility).

Last question - how far ahead of time do you need to get to the ferry - hour? half hour? more than that?

Thanks so much.

I just checked gtp.gr --- putting in the month but not the DAY. I get those 2 you found ... friday is not a big day LEAVING an island, just coming into one. So what is wrong with those 2 times?

I would buy your ticket the day before for the passenger-only catamaran, the other one OK the day of. Get to the dock 30 mins before departure.

Just pick up your tickets when you arrive on each island. There are normally plenty of spare seats on those ferries when they leave Santorini, since they pick up additional passengers at Naxos, Paros, and with FlyingCat 3, Mykonos, enroute to the mainland. Likewise, ferries leaving Paros mid-week have plenty of seats, and as you know, there are lots of choices.

Thanks for the replys. I was just thinking there would be more than one (plus one maybe)going from Santorini to Naxos. But that one will work, I'll just be sure to get the tickets when we arrive in Santorini. You can do that in town (as opposed to going to the dock) - correct? We are flying in so we won't be at the dock till it's time to leave.

In Fira you can get ferry tickets at the town square from Pelican Travel.

Isabel, you could be right - there may be one or two additional ferries, but some of the smaller companies wait until a couple of weeks in advance before publishing their timetables. Blue Star and Hellenic Seaways are the big players in the Cyclades, with the most comprehensive routes, and the newest ships.

Paros and Naxos are crossroads on the Greek ferry system, so get more ships stopping there than Santorini.

OK thanks guys, at least now I know I can wait till I get to each island to get the tickets and I have a rough idea of the timing of the ferries. I know two days on each island is not enough time, I just couldn't make up my mind which one NOT to go to so I ended up with all three.

Just remember that each time you "hop" to a new place, you lose 1/2 a day. Example: packing, checking out of Paros hotel, getting to the dock = 1-2 hour minimum. Waiting at dock: 30 mins. Ferry trip = 45 mins. Disembarking, getting to hotel, checking in, getting settled in room = 1 hour (more, if u are staying at distant beach or walking up to Kastro). So, if u take the 12:55 ferry, the above takes u from 11 am - 3 pm?

Just keep that in mind.