Hello,

I need some help! My boyfriend and I have booked everything for our trip to Greece in July but we have run into a big problem. We are departing Crete (Heraklion) on July 6 heading for Santorini. Unfortunately, it seems that the Hellas Flying Dolphin ferry from Crete to Santorini is not sailing that day (one of only 8 days over the summer it isn't sailing)!!! What should I do? I checked other ferries and there is a Minoan line that makes that route but it doesn't leave Crete until 5 p.m., which means we won't get to Santorini until 8:20 p.m. We only have 3 days in Santorini and that would take up a whole day

I looked at flights but they are pricey and all fly to Athens first! Does anyone know of any other ferry or airline that goes from Crete (Heraklion) to Santorini on July 6??? Please help! Thank you!

I just looked for more options for you, but I'm sorry to say your research appears accurate. As far as I can determine there is no other ferry but the 5 PM car ferry between Heraklion and Santorini, and there is no other ferry that leaves another port on Crete for Santorini. I can only guess that July 6 is a Greek Holiday, although I was not able to confirm this. According to a couple of websites there are no Greek public holidays in July. This opens the possibility for the Flying Dolphin to travel on the 6th in spite of what their website indicates, but you need to come up with a backup plan in case it does not.

Right now Aegean Airlines is offering fares from Heraklion or Chania to Santorini for 88 Euros plus tax with morning departures and a short layover in Athens (shorter from Heraklion), arriving on Santorini at 11:00 AM, just about the same time as the HFD would be arriving, so you won't waste your day in transit. Under the circumstances it might be the smart thing to do to go ahead and spend the extra money to book this flight and save yourself the anxiety of having to make some unpredictable last-minute decision that will ruin your Greek Island 'buzz'.

Either that or change your plans and leave Crete on the 5th. Which would be the least hassle? That's the one I'd choose.

If you choose to fly, book ASAP or run the risk of losing that as an option. You can do it online from the website below:


http://www.aegean-air.gr/aegeanen/home/

lawgirl:

there is a company located in Herakion that organizes daily cruises to Santorini. Last summer it had daily departures to Santorini. I can't find this July's schedule but there there is a remote possibility that you could use it to get to your destination. the details are:
MINOAN CRUISES
Head office: 17, 25th August Street,
712 02 Heraklion, Crete
Tel +30 2810-330301, Fax +30 2810-330308
Booking office: 46, 25th August Street, 712 02 Heraklion
Tel +30 2810-341701, Fax +30 2810-341706

on another site I found different phone numbers: tel. +30 2810 330721 and fax +30 2810 344544

... I forgot to mention that the ship sails from Heraklion at around 7 a.m. and reaches Santorini at around 11.30 a.m. ...

I think that the Minoan Cruises excursion might work as a possibility if you can't find another option. I just found a 2003 price for this excursion of 59 Euros. Dennis, do you remember what the price was last summer? I'm guessing that it's more now than it was in '03.

Minoan Cruises stopped running these cruises a couple of years ago, but other operators still do them. The MINOAN PRINCE became the GOLDEN PRINCE and her 2004 schedule is on
www.ferries.gr/cruises/prince.htm