We grabbed our stuff and made it onto the Superjet just before it departed. Worldchampion Jet is a ferry serving Seajets routes. These 3 specifically give 50% off ferry tickets. I dont really know what Christmas would be like, either, since we were here in the spring. . I think the recommendation to store bags on the car deck is for safety reasons in case the ferry sinks. We booked it at 4PM, and it arrived at 6:15PM. Marla, Hello Marla. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Plan to spend two days in Athens, if you can. If you have a connecting flight / ferry / something to get you, take a much earlier ferry than you think you need. Pick the bigger "slower" boats for less chance of sea sickness, faster ones are prone to sickness and delays in bad weather. Plus, most of the places on Santorini that you need a car to visit are just OK, in our opinion. This came in handy, since I wondered if the delay could be even longer than posted, or if it might even be moved forward. Cheers, Julie. Its recommended that passengers leave their bags on the car deck, though I cant imagine just leaving bags there unattended, so we took them with us. Hi, we got two tickets online from ferryhopper for Heraklion to Santorini. Platinum Class was nearly empty throughout; in covid times this would be a significant attraction. Not because theyre fun, but because theyre the lesser of two evils. 1. Read to book? The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. They were operating two ferries from Athens to Mykonos to Santorini. As SeaJets crew is not considered responsible for any luggage loss or damage onboard, is recommended to lock your luggage, have your names on them and get at the luggage area before SeaJets vessel docks at the port to make sure that no other passengers have left with your suitcases. During very windy weather, flights and ferries can be cancelled. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Thank goodness I read your review a few weeks ago and came prepared. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full, I'm working on booking our ferries for this summer. Im a big supporter of ferry travel in Greece but will use Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. While turning the ATV around, they misjudged the edge of the road and ended up falling off of the side of the mountain into a ravine. A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. You might be able to book a tour of the island to see some of the top sights. In the high season, the last ferry to Mykonos from Athens is normally scheduled at 17:30 and is serviced by Fast Ferries. We had concerns about taking a ferry in Greece after reading reviews of this and other ferry companies. Cancelling a week ahead sounds more like a schedule change which is understandable considering COVID. Drinks (Greek white wines) were excellent and food was better than expected - but service was slower than we preferred. Hello! Took me a while. We leisurely waited until the last few dozen people were boarding, and we had to wait in line no more than five minutes. I don't think they will ever get back to you. Platinum Class is only marginally more expensive than the cheapest seating option (by ~20%), and the way I view it, the benefits include: So while theres no priority boarding, complimentary food & drinks, or other special services, its still money well spent, in my opinion. When disembarking, we had to wait for the enormous lower level of people to get off of the ferry before we could get down the stairs. A good read! the prices are inexpensive especially if you join their club which saves 20%. I would like to register to receive newsletter and offers from and I agree with Seajets, Tel: +30 210 7107710, daily 06:00 22:00, 2, Dimitriou Gounari str., 18531 Piraeus, 7th floor, Greece, Tel: +30 210 4121001, daily 08:30 19:00, Important Travel Information - Covid-19 Pandemic. They may be located on the upper deck, giving thus a better view during the trip. Book your ferry tickets in advance, no matter what else you might read online. I would much rather recommended other ferries, if available. Apparently, we were supposed to be on the Superjet ferry, but it still baffles me why the ticket attendant even allowed us to board the wrong ferry. While Im in great shape at 70, in later years I may not be able to walk as fast nor lift my luggage onto the racks in the auto area. So, we then had to take an express bus to the airport. It was cool to see where we sat in your photo. Check out Rome2rio's guide on ferry travel around the Greek islands. The best spots are Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, and the black sand beaches of Perissa and Kamari. However, our ship was changed. Looking for things to do? While Greece has some pretty solid airlines (Aegean Airlines, Olympic Airways, and Sky Express), for the most part they dont offer many inter-island flights. Paleologos S.A 5, 25th August Street, Heraklion-Crete, 71202, Greece +30 2810 346185 . It led us down tiny roads, through private farm country, and the wrong way on one-way roads. If youre looking for a full service option to take you around the Greek islands, be sure to consider a fully scheduled tour company like Contiki (more info here). Took ferry from Heraklion to Piraeus and was smooth and enjoyable ride. i fly when possible, Ben you should read this German article about the owner of Seajets : Marios Iliopoulos .He is suspected for various crimes. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. We My wife and I took SeaJets in 2017 Heraklion - Thira, Thira - Mykonos, and Mykonos - Athens. They tend to leave the first port on time and then run late for the rest of the day. I agree that the regional Greek airlines are very good, and the travel process you described is as we experienced. Since our stay in Santorini was non-refundable, we decided to leave to Santorini one day earlier rather than one day later. I booked a return ferry from Santorini to Milos which said it would take 2 hours 5 minutes. Ferry Passes & Discounts? Is it in new port of mykonos tourlos. Although, as my boss jokes, they're really trying to make Seajets the biggest, as their booking system keeps having problems! The larger ferries (Blue Star and Hellenic Seaways) can operate in windy conditions but even they can be cancelled in extreme weather. If you do want a high speed ferry, choose Hellenic Seaways, which is almost as punctual as Blue Star. The seats were numbered and the cabin quiet, there is a food and beverage station which is quite expensive so it may be worth taking your own food with you as we did for breakfast from the hotel. And can we just fill the form with no, we have no test or are we then rejected at the gate? Did you know that the owner of Seajets is a murderer? These seats are not numbered and passengers can sit anywhere they want. The ticket attendant took our tickets, we stowed our bags, and we took our seats. I just disembarkated Mein Schiff 6 today. The first crossing to Mykonos is usually scheduled at 07:00 and is operated by a Seajets . There seems to be one ferry on the date we want to travel and depending on which site I go to they offer the option of "air type seats" or VIP or Business class or economy. the embarkation/ disembarkation estimation. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Advertising - The ideal romantic getaway for couples has the Aegean sunset in the background. Agree that ferries can sometimes be unreliable and there can be delays , however you discovered one of the reasons why!! Was it a good idea? For a fraction of the price we paid in Mykonos and Santorini, we had an amazing experience at Naxos Rock Villas in Naxos. When you write VIP, business, and economy classes you must mean the Hellenic Seaways highspeeds. Very unsafe! They just scan it as normal when you board. Thanks! Even at the 70 EUR per person (vs 11. Here are the main differences between the Greek ferry seats. Cheers, Julie. Let the driver navigate the roads while you sit back and enjoy the view. Follow these signs rather than blindly following Googles suggestions. but the steward was efficient and pleasant. When I was booking ferries between Amorgos and Santorini it seemed like a no-brainer to book the 1h20min seajets trip (vs the 4hr Blue Star ferry). Cabins for 4 passengers have bunk beds, while cabins for 3 or 2 passengers have normal single beds. All planes are very reliable and usually on time. The outward journey was delayed by 2.5 hours and the return journey was delayed by 30 minutes. Plus, being on the second level offered a big disadvantage. I had assumed we would fly since the ferry is so very many hours and after reading this, I think flying would be better since we are not going island to island? Ferry seats vary from the economy, deck and air seats to business seats and cabins. We will be in Athens and Santorini. @ Loren M -- From Athens to Santorini I would 100% fly. I ended up changing my return ferry to be a day early as I had a flight a few hours later and was worried I would miss it. Youre all on a boat, where are they going to take it? Since there are over 150 inhabited islands, plane Vs ferry always comes down to where you are travelling to and from ie distance of trip, timetables, availability of plane Vs ferry, how much time you have and personal preference.On average, travelling out of Athens to a more distant island Good article and advice, especially re upgrading to be more comfortable. Not only that, but the seating as such was also more comfortable than on the previous ship, with each guest having a table. Unfortunately, you will still have to arrive at the port at the scheduled time, in the slim chance that the ferry arrives on time. I think I may have just replicated your experience. Youre all on a boat, where are they going to take it? Thank you! Its the discussions about the rolling and the jet being out of control and dangerous to life that are scaring me. Thats a nice feature, since the line at the cafe was otherwise long. As Ben said - it's the lesser of two evils for inter island but to/from Athens from Santorini there are plenty of flight options (Ryanair, Volotea, Sky Express & Olympic/Aegean ), Sky express do operate some inter island flights but the schedule is sporadic but worth looking into, I'd prefer that over a boat. The seating and accommodation of Greek ferries vary, ranging from economy deck seats to first-class cabins. Im planning a trip to Naxos and Athens for the end of August and wondered if you had tips for those who dont have a driver licence. Dedicated service. TERA JET from Seajets has Numbered Airline seats within the Economy Class. I was informed due to the pandemic ferry operators were able to retroactively amend their terms and conditions and I would need to wait for a period of 18 months from the original travel date to be entitled to a full refund of the fare of the initial tickets at that point. On one of our trips they kept us in the 100 degree vehicle/cargo hold for an hour and wouldn't let us up to our seats. If you have a big case you may need to leave it in the luggage area in the middle or back of the ferry. Thanks also for the pics.Ive been to Greece and its islands at least 10 times. They had driven up Profitis Ilias, the largest mountain on the island. Why carry luggage upstairs, it not only is a hassle but dangerous for other passengers carrying heavy bags on stairs. It was quite an experience. Do you Dont know how you ended up choosing the worst ferry companies. Fly. I booked Platinum class and will take seasickness precautions! Just google Marios Iliopoulos Brillante Virtuoso! So I said, let's grab a drink and a bite, so we sat comfortably under an umbrella while people sweltered in line in the burning hot sun a few feet away from us. The difference in price is anywhere from 25 to 50 depending on your destination. Seajets ( 21001; Ferries from Rethymno's marina depart on Tuesday and Saturday at 8am for Santorini (69, 2 hours), Ios (70, 3 hours), Naxos (78, four hours) and Mykonos (74, five hours). Rain Travels is all about making travel better and easier through tech, tips and advice. But then I read the horrible reports of ATV accidents, with tourists getting injured, or worse, on the roads of Santorini. The boarding system is very hectic with people trying to pile on the boat, while others are trying to get off. The company owns 17 high-speed vessels that operate in the Aegean Sea, connecting the Cyclades to Athens, as well as many Cycladic islands to one another and Crete. This ship had much nicer accommodations for Platinum Class guests, as there was a separate room with a door for those with Platinum tickets. I gave my entire family bonine and we were the only ones not sick as a dog. Flying Cat IV (catamaran-passenger only) from Hellenic Seaways (takes about 1.5 hours with 1 stop) 3. Airlines, airports, hoteliers, shopkeepers, restaurants, everyone really. I nearly missed a long flight connection because of a last-minute cancellation due to engine failure back in 2019. See more about our ethics policies here. Luckily, we were the second group off of the shuttle, but the last people on the shuttle probably got a scenic tour of the island before finally arriving at their hotel. However, as the seats are not numbered or named, once passengers leave their seats, it is not guaranteed that they will find later the same seats available. We had arranged a hotel transfer but we noticed that there were a very limited number of taxis. Airlines do this all the time. Parking it can be just as fun since there is very limited parking. It was disappointingwell, maybe not for Tyler and Kara. The Champion Jet 2 is a much larger catamaran. Seajets ferry docked at the Syros port. Ferry 345; Fire Boat 3; Fishing Boat 57; Floating Crane 15; Floating Hotel 4; Glass Bottom Boat 4; High Performance 2; Hydrofoil 3; Ice Breaker 3; Landing Craft 94; Life Boat 10; Lobster Boat 3; Longliner 11; Machinery 3; Military Ship 2; Multicat 51; Party Boat 2; Passenger Boat 91; Patrol Boat 50; Pilot Boat 42; Platform 37; Use the tool below or book direct here: As mentioned above, unless you have a break between your flight and the ferry, you might go a little crazy having to sit in these seats (although its easy to walk around and stretch). While you still have to pay for food and drinks, they bring them to you. 1. I nearly missed a long flight connection because of a last-minute cancellation due to engine failure back in 2019. Check in time? But on one trip the code did not show and I was forced to run back to a ticket agency at the port to have my tickets printed for 1 euro each. All our voyages were pretty much on time and, thank heavens, the sea was as flat as a pancake (I get nauseous quite easily). People were screaming and bags were flying around the cabin. Planning a trip to Greece? There are longer ferry rides over 3 hours that look like they have table and chair seating with service and wondered if this is smoother ride. There was a large tour group of over 50 people that did not make it onto the direct ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. O meu seria o Seajets2. Traveling by ferry is a fantastic way to get from one Greek island to the other. All SeaJets routes are covered by modern high-speed vessels and offer great passenger services and as well as the option to travel with your vehicle (not on all vessels)! As you say, it is a much better experience for the slight premium. These islands have a limited number of taxis so I wouldnt count on them being available, especially if you are at the end of the line getting off of the ferry. The Platinum Class seating was to the very right of the cabin, and was behind a curtain. The people that run this company and the boats are animals they should be shut down!!!!! I would love to do this itinerary starting Dec 23. The largest high-speed fleet of the Aegean. Once again they rushed everyone off the ship, and it was already on its way a minute after we arrived. We just couldn't understand it. Second, as the vast majority of Seajets' fleet is high speed catamarans, they're massively impacted by weather, and the small the the ferry, the bigger the problem. Is there a way to travel around Naxos for cheap (like bus or bike) ? CONS: (1) One of our trips was cancelled one day ahead of time. The smaller, faster ferries (like the Seajet catamarans) tend to be cancelled first. The taxis were long gone. Seajets should offer a more reliable digital technology. Id definitely recommend ordering before departure, since you never know how bumpy it will get during the ride. However, it was replaced by the Superjet ferry during our visit. To this day, I will not take a ferry anywhere. Woot, I figured we made it! The ferry finally arrived and disgorged its passengers, and when they opened the gates to let those in line board, people were literally running to get on. (2) Basic seating is comfortable enough even though the writer said that leg room is tight. Hey, so I am going to book a ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. My advice to you is, you should have taken Minoan Lines. Only time u should book ahead would be the week of August 15, that's the BIG Greek holiday week. The only way I figured that out was that I was unable to complete online ticketing; PROS: (1) When the ferries run, theyre fast and the fastest sea route between ports. Very nice article, learned some things I didn't know! Other options that people recommend?? Travelling from the US and a little worried! Thanks for the tips. No! And their 4- and 6-day Greek Island Passes let you pay one price for either 4 or 6 travel days to be used within a month.. If you have any questions or if you want to share more Greece travel tips, comment below! See the latest ferry deals hereor scroll down to the booking tool below. THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI: For a full list of things to do, read our article Best Things to Do in Santorini. Abraos. Their website is easy to use and there is no additional booking fee for using their service. But you only say "this summer" so we can't know what to advise. Once on board, there were literally hundreds of empty seats to choose from. They also made everyone wait outside in the 90 degree weather for a ferry that was 2 hours late. SEAJET: An experience we will never forget. SeaJets passengers can get up, walk around, go to the deck, go to the bars and salons, and enjoying ship's full facilities! Unsurprisingly, SeaJets schedules really cant be relied on. 6.5 hours vs. 4 for seajets. Being Greek and having used Sea Jets a few times, I must say delays and cancellations are not directly related to COVID-19 and weather is rarely the cause; they are considered extremely unreliable among Greeks. In Naxos, you can walk right from the port to the Hertz rental car agency and pick up a rental here, so no transfer is necessary if you plan to rent a car. And it was cool to see some of the price we paid in Mykonos and Santorini, stowed! The prices are inexpensive especially if you have a connecting flight / ferry something! A week ahead sounds more like a schedule change which is understandable considering covid one of the top sights it... More than five minutes be relied on are Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, and it arrived at.! 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