I've just found a couple of references to the Iason Jets Shipping Company offering service to select islands on a highspeed ferry similar to the Hellenic Seaways ferry. They apparently are going to run between Piraeus, Milos, Folegandros, Ios, Santorini and Amorgos. Someone told me about this on another website. Does anyone here have any information to add?

ah, the high speed ferries that are destroying the beches of greek isles with their enormous wakes.... I avoided riding one of these monstosities as long as I could until we were given no option during one journey. I saw first hand what power they have to create destruction. Beaches on Skiathos (and it's little isle, Tsougrias) are severely compromised by these wakes - beaches are eroded, shorelines that have been the same for eons are being licked away pretty savagely by the huge waves that come from these things - and the highspeed that runs the Sporades isn't even as big as the ones now introduced to the more southerly islands.
If you love Greece, the islands, the beaches, please DON'T take a high speed ferry. Slow down.... relax and take the slow boat. You're in Greece. What's the rush? If you have to rush, take a hydrofoil or fly -

Maybe they should snatch up all those destructive ferries and ship them to the British Museum for "safekeeping."

Sometimes you have to take the highspeed if your time is limited.
To Brotherleelove: Re various classifications on the ferry/cat. what are the differences. I thought I read somewhere that the bus. class is better (as far as causing nausea and avoiding smoke) but which segments? We'll be taking the Flying Cat. (Hellenic) from Mykonos to Naxos, will bus. class be better? We'll be taking the Blue Star from Naxos to Santorini again, is the bus. class better than economy. Thanks.

Cheryl8-

Someone recently posted their experience:

"I was on that HUGE highspeed cat (the new orange one), exactly leaving Mykonos, going to Santorini. It was horrible! It was 4 hours late - thank God for new friends and a deck of cards. Then, the whole bottom floor was very sick by the waves. And I mean there are like 10 tight seats in row. So if you don't get sick and the person on either side of you do, you are still going to have a very bad trip. We had booked business, by suggestion of a poster to me long ago. Best choice of my whole trip. It could be that we caught a really bad day - but choppy conditions are quite common - we all know that the ferrys are often cancelled due to this. I think I paid a differnce of 10 Euro for the Business seats...well worth it!"

This is the same cat you're taking, from Mykonos to Crete, stopping at Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini before arriving on Crete. I've never taken it so my opinion doesn't mean much, but if it's choppy you'd better pay attention to what was said!

The Blue Star from Naxos to Santorini is a car ferry, much more stable. Deck class is all you really need on that one.

Thanks so much Brotherleelove!

I must be lucky, because my ferry experiences have all been pleasant ones. The "new orange one" could have been any of the Hellenic Flying Dolphin catamarans in their Vodafone livery.

One of big problems with the Greek ferry fleet in the past has been its old vessels, many even failing safety inspections. I, for one, applaud recent steps taken to modernize Greek ferries. The new highspeeds are safer and more comfortable.

Blue Star Paros and Blue Star Naxos aren't catamarans, but are faster than conventional ferries, so would be a good alternative.

For more about the Greek ferry fleet, go to http://www.greekislandhopping.com/Home/Homefr.htm, and click on Extras>Ferry Safety on the left of the home page.

Djuna, conventional ships can cause big waves as well. I was once swamped by a wave on a Skiathos beach when the Sultan of Brunei's yacht (more like an ocean liner, actually) circled off shore. Perhaps there should be stricter speed limits for ferries approaching these islands.

I'm hesitate to get into the political debate, but seas are often rough all through the Greek Isles, to claim that a wake from a high speed ferry once or twice a day damages shorlines while the major natural waves that sometimes go on for days on end (yes they can be considerably bigger than the ferry wakes) doesn't . . .well, I'm still trying to stop laughing.

And since the grammar police have been active here, I apologize for changing the wording of my first sentence above and messing it up.
I meant either "I'm hesitant to. . ." or "I hesitate to. . ." Take your pick.

Cheryl8,
Last year my husband and I took the Blue Star Paros (I'm pretty sure that was the name) and we opted for business class. We were so glad we did. It didn't cost that much more and was worth it for us. The few times we left the business class area we felt like we were walking all over people. It was really nice to relax and stretch our legs. I'm am also not one for big crowds either so take my advice with a grain of salt.

the ferries do indeed erode the shores.. the waves from their wake come into shore at unique and unnatural angles - wholly different than how the natural waves hit the land.
This, for some folks, is a case of 'head in the sand'.... "deny it and it doesn't exist." Start asking locals about the erosion and get ready for an ear full.