VivianK

I'm planning to go from Athens to Crete-Santorini-Mykonos-Athens. Taking Brotherleelove's advice going directly from NY to Athens to Crete and saving touring Athens for after the islands. My problem is the agent has advised a large hydrofoil from Heroklian to Santorini(1 hr. 45 min) and one to Mykonos(21/2 hrs.) and then taking another one back to Athens(4 hrs.). She says
that in order to fly from Crete to Santorini you need to fly back to Athens before flying on to Santorini and the same for Santorini to Mykynos. I've read that the hydrfoils are small and I'm concerned with seasickness. I'm planning on end of May into June trip to give you an idea of the seas at that time. The book I read is "Greek Island Hopping" and they said you would be less likely to be sick on the "slow ferry" as opposed to the high speed hydofoils, but I really don't want to spend hours and hours on the ferry. What do you suggest. I really appreciate the input.

stanbr

Unfortunately in Greece there are very few inter island flights. If you want to connect from one island to another you have to go through Athens. There is a small airline called Sky Express which flys an 18 passenger Jetstream from Crete to Santorini. 79 euro one way www.skyexpress.gr

There are very few hydrofoil craft left in Greece. They have been replaced by high speed ferrys. They go fast and are much better than the old hydrofoils however many people still call these ferrys hydrofoils.
There are large ones and smaller ones but they are all better than those old hydrofoils.

Since you indicated it was your local travel agent that called them hydrofoils you may want to contact a Greek travel agent like Dolphin Hellas or Fantasy Travel who are very good.

In any event you do not have to worry about the modern ferrys.

brotherleelove2004

To add to Standbr's posting I will tell you that the Hellenic Seaways FlyingCat 4, which has replaced the hydrofoil and which will take you from Crete to Santorini, is the same one that will take you the rest of the way to Mykonos. The seas are usually quite calm in May so the chances of seasickness are slim. And to insure the smoothest ride just request a along the centerline of the boat, not along the sides where the rocking motion would be the most noticeable. 1.45 hours to Santorini will go quickly.

It is unnecessary to book this ferry ahead in May since they are not full at that time of year.

Take note that the Sky Express plane is so small that the baggage allowance is only 12.5 kilo.

VivianK

Thanks for that info. The agent I'm using does work with Fantasy Travel and I may be the one that started using "hydrofoil". Thanks for setting me straight. Is the Flying Cat the Ferry that will also take me from Mykonos back to Athens?
Any luggage restrictions on ferries?

Heimdall

Let me jump in here. Some of the booking websites are still using the term hydrofoil when they mean catamaran, so you are not alone.

There are several ferries from Mykonos to Athens, ranging from SeaJet 2, which is even smaller than the flying cats, to Blue Star Ithaki, a very large conventional ferry. Probably the most convenient are the Hellenic Seaways highspeeds, which are largish car-carrying catamarans. Hellenic should be releasing the highspeed timetable any day now.

travelerjan

The Hellenic Seaways schedule is now online I believe.

To add to the confusion, the Flying Cats I believe used to be called the Flying Dolphins -- they have even changed species (joke). These Flying Cat[amaran]s typically are quite LARGE -- they seat over 400 passengers. I have taken them frequently in May and June. Their ride is so flat you feel as if you are driving across Kansas.

As stated they are larger than the SeaJets.

Heimdall

The FlyingCat 4 timetable is online, but nothing on the highspeeds yet (I just checked the Hellenic Seaways website).

VivianK

"Author: Heimdall
Date: 03/18/2008, 09:12 am
The FlyingCat 4 timetable is online, but nothing on the highspeeds yet (I just checked the Hellenic Seaways website)."


I thought the FlyingCat 4 is the high speed. From what everyone has said this is the one that is catamaran-like and will take me from Santorini to Mykonos to Athens. Is this correct? Thanks

brotherleelove2004

Hellenic Seaways has a whole fleet of catamarans as well as "regular" ferries. Some, like the FC4, are smaller passenger-only catamaran ferries. Others, like the Highspeed 2, are larger, combined passenger and car catamaran/ferries. There are 6 Flying Cats and 5 Highspeeds. If you had checked under "Fleet" on the Hellenic Seaways website you would have seen this.

http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=236

Heimdall

Brotherleelove is correct. Flying cats are the passenger-only catamarans, while highspeeds are the larger car-carrying catamarans.

The main Hellenic Seaways website still hasn't shown the summer Cyclades timetable, but that shouldn't be a worry for anyone. As always, I will be buying my tickets when I get to Greece.

Heimdall

VivianK, "highspeed" is also a generic term used to describe catamarans, hydrofoils, and sometimes even the faster conventional ferries, so in that sense the Flying Cats are highspeeds. Hellenic Seaways have named their large catamarans "Highspeed 1, 2" etc, and I was the word to describe those particular ships.

Confusing? Yes! ;-)

Heimdall

Should have written "I was using..."

propertravel

About seasickness; unless its a very rough sea you do not feel it. FlyCat's are comfortable too. Some catamarans even have business class !
I have not seen any luggage restrictions......Traveled in Greece - between islands probably over 30 times and always had pleasent journeys.

Happy travelling and my regards to Brotherleelove from Cappadocia.......

Murat