My husband and I are trying to decide between taking Aegean Air from Athens to Chania, Crete or taking the overnight ferry. We are going the beginning of October and the best price we can get on Aegean Air is 143 euros for the 2 tickets, including taxes and service fee. The ferry would cost about 85 or 95 euro each, but we would not have a hotel that night. What are the cabins like on the ferry? I can't find anything on the Anek line website(I think the only overnight ferry to Chania) that tells the difference between cabins. Is the ferry port much closer to central Athens than the airport? Is the ferry an experience not to be missed? I would really appreciate input.

[email protected]

The cabins are all basic, but "All Cabins are above sea level and are equipped with shower and WC." Most of the difference between cabins is going to be in the capacity and the location. Inside cabins don't have portholes, outside cabins do. This is not a cruise ship by any stretch of the imagination.

Yes, Piraeus is much closer to Central Athens than to the airport.

Not to be missed? You'll be travelling at night in the open sea. There won't be anything to watch except the stars and moon.

I thought the cabin had more in common with a hostel than a hotel, but it was clean and perfectly adequate. I enjoyed watching our departure from Piraeus (from the deck), but I slept through the night and through our arrival at Chania, which made my outside cabin an unnecessary extravagance. Lots of people didn't bother with a cabin, but I wouldn't recommend that.

An overnight ferry will cost the two of you €170-190, a flight €143, a difference of €27-47. Savings from the flight will, depending upon where you stay, pay for most of the cost of a room. Rather than a cramped cabin on the ferry, you can have a nice meal in Chania, then retire to a comfortable hotel. I know what I would do.

Thanks for all the help - the flight it is! I wish I had been early enough to catch the cheap flights.