Hi!
I am planning to visit Kythira in August 2025.

Would you recommend the Aqua Jewel vessel operated by Seajets for the route between Piraeus and Kythira over flying, considering the significant price difference between these two means of transport (22€ for the ferry and 85€ for the flight ?

In addition, many travelers have mentioned that this ferry is quite old and that the ride might be a bit bumpy which can be uncomfortable during 6h .
Furthermore, according to information from another forum, this vessel might be replaced by another one from a new company that won a public tender, with a decision expected in April 2025.

Taking into account all these considerations ,the duration of the ferry trip (6h 20),the price , the conditions of the vessel of seaJets which option would you ultimately recommend?

Aqua jewel: 22 years old, 96 m long, 17 m wide, 3900 GT, 1200 passengers, garage for 160 vehicles: just an average local Aegean slow ferry.
I took this boat 11 years ago between Paros and Serifos.
A lot of open air space with wooden banks (no more confortable deck chairs). Cafe bar with all kinds of sandwiches but no on-board restaurant

I like slow ferry rides and would prefer the boat over the plane. But it's up to you.

I suppose you know that you can reach Kythyra by bus and local ferry too:
Take a bus from Athens to Sparta and another one from there to Neapolis Laconia (close to the famous sandy dune beach of Simos).
There are daily ferries from Neapolis to Kythira.

Thank you neckervd for the description of the Aqua Jewel and for the information concerning the transport option by bus and ferry from Athens to Kythira.
I also prefer the boat over the plane. The only drawback in my case is that the plane arrives early in the morning (9:15), while the ferry arrives at 21:30, which means losing an entire day. This can be significant on a short 6-day trip (from August 1st to 6th), as on August 6th, I would need to take the ferry at 19:00 to Kissamos. However, the price difference is substantial: €190€ for the plane for 2 persons and €44 for the ferry. It’s a real dilemma.

"which means losing an entire day"
For me, a ferry ride is not a loss if ime. I usually sit outside in the sun , read a book or just look around.
If you sleep at Athens, your "timetable" may look like this:

Plane:
get up very early, leave the hotel without breakfast, take the metro train leaving Syntagma at 6.30 (or the previous one at 5.53), arrive at the airport metro station 40 min later, walk to the check in desk (at least 10 min) - arrival at Kythira airport at 9.20 - taxi to your destination

Boat:
Spend the morning at Athens. Leave Athens city center around 12.30 by metro, walk from Piraeus metro station to Gate E 7 (about 15 min), board the ferry, arrive at Diakofti at 21.30 and go on by taxi to your destination. If your destination is Diakofti (small resort village, with a good beach and some bnbs), you will have to walk about 15 min, as no taxi driver will take you for that a short distance.

The most comfortable solution is the plane leaving ATH at 13.00.
....or the overnight ferry (with cabins) leaving Piraus at 22.00 and arrnving at Chania at 6.30 followed by a taxi ride to Kissamos port in order to board the FB Aqua Jewel Saturday morning at 10.15, with arrival at Kythira at 14.00