Greece 2023 - Cyclades islands - Ferry Advice

We thought it would be useful to share some of the lessons we learnt when using ferries to hop between the Cyclades Islands:

1) Pre Book

We pre-booked all our ferries, using Ferry Hopper before we left the UK. Ferries quickly get full up, especially the fast ones and buying tickets on the day, or even a couple of days before, can be a lot more expensive that buying in advance.

 

2)  Ferry Hopper App 

We downloaded the Ferry Hopper App and used this to manage our tickets, but also to track where the ferry is, you'll see why this is important below!

3) They're not like German Trains

Don't expect them to be on time. All our ferries were late and from what we heard, this is not unusual. We used the Ferry Hopper app to track exactly were the ferry was so we knew what time we had left. The app was very accurate at tracking and it stopped us getting stressed out about what's going on and how much time we had to grab one (or two) drinks. 

4) Find a Bar 

All the ports seemed to have bars close by (which probably have a great trade given the ferries are always late!). Do not wait in the waiting rooms, these don't have air-conditioning and are a germ breeding ground. Find a bar, grab a seat outside, and people watch whilst enjoying a cold beer, and a snack. 

5) There is an art to boarding 

It may look and feel like chaos when you're boarding and and disembarking but your actually being herded like a group of Greek mountain goats by people who are always arriving late. Just stay sneezing distance from everyone else and follow the simple instructions (walk, stop, hurry up), to get you on and off the boat. And watch out for the vehicles which are trying to get on the same ramp as you.

6) Tickets Please 

The herding approach leaves no opportunity to show your ticket until you're on the boat and it's moving. These are checked once you have left your luggage and are heading up the stairs into the main decks. Have them ready to show otherwise you'll hear the groan from everyone behind you. 

7) Luggage 

You enter the ferry using the car ramp and luggage is stored down with the cars. You cannot take big bags up stairs to the main decks. Make sure you transfer any valuables to a back pack. Bags should be stored so those who have the longest crossing, are at the back, with the bags further forward in order of the stops. The reality is that this doesn't really happen and people just leave their bags wherever. We were always getting off at the next island so we left ours close to the front of the ferry next to something that helped us remember where they were. 

8) Onboard 

Once on the main deck, its time to find your seat. Everyone is allocated a seat on their ticket, even if you don't want one. Seats are numbered but there are so many people confused as to where their seat is, there are members of staff providing directions. There are a couple of bars / canteens selling food and drinks, and a little shop selling gifts. There was a VIP deck which for a longer journey might have been worth it for more space and a quieter environment. 

9) DO NOT PUT TOILET PAPER DOWN THE TOILET 

As with most places we came across in the Cyclades, you can not put toilet paper down the toilet. The plumbing is not built for it and as a result, blocks the pipes and causes poo to spew everywhere. There is always a little bin next to the toilet to place the tissue instead. On the ferries, there was an employee in the toilets shouting reminders not to put toilet paper in the toilet, and then getting even more angry when someone had done it. He did have to put his hand down the toilet and remove the toilet paper when this did happen, so I can understand his anger. 

10) Getting Ready to Leave 

You'll be told on the speakers when its time to head back downstairs to find your bag and get ready to disembark. As you're waiting with your bags, you'll see the vehicle ramp come down as the ferry is speeding towards port. This seems to be normal, maybe part of a failed bid to make up time by multitasking, or maybe to try to scare people that they're going to be thrown overboard. 

 

11) Leaving the Ferry 

You leave the same way you arrived, herded like a goat. Don't get left behind as its a tight process of getting people off, getting vehicles off, getting vehicles on, getting people on. Goats on their own, will be eaten (or run the risk of struggling to get off safely!). 

12) Pre-Order Transfers

Take the stress out of travelling and pre order a transfer to and from the port with your hotel. Ports are busy places and if you have to wait for a bus or a taxi, you could be waiting for a long time in very hot conditions. All our hotels were happy to arrange our transfer for us, and given we had 2 very heavy cases, it was worth the £10-£20. 

We hope this helps you with your own Cyclades Island adventure!