When I first started planning our trip to Greece, I read about every blog post and watched every YouTube video that I could get my hands on. I wanted to make sure that I knew exactly what to do, since I’ve heard that it can get a bit overwhelming. Even though I did all the research, I admit it was still overwhelming. So I’ve decided to condense all my research here! 

First, the ferry companies. There are several that run different routes between the different islands. Some of the most common lines are:  

• Blue Star Ferries is known for their comfort and reliability 
• Minoan Lines are known for their luxurious amenities and offer overnight ferries between Athens and Crete 
• SeaJet offers high-speed ferries between Athens and other islands 

We took Minoan Lines the entire way, as our first stop was Crete and then Crete to Paros, with a final destination of Athens. I’ve heard from our taxi drivers that SeaJet is the absolute worst and is always late. But lateness is something that is very common with the ferries. If your ferry is expected to pull into port at 2:00pm, add 30 minutes to it. 

And now onto more practical tips – If you’re traveling during peak season, which is basically the summer months of June through August, then definitely book your tickets in advance. Almost all the ferry companies have websites where you can pre book your tickets 

You should arrive at the port at least 1 hour before your ferry’s departure time to ensure that there are no chances of you missing your ferry. If you’re the first stop on the ferry, this timeline is a little less strict, 45 minutes should do. But if you’re one of the subsequent stops, be sure to be there early. 

You can track ferries in real time by downloading the Ferryhopper App and using other maritime trackers. We found the Ferryhopper app to be very useful, as it showed us just how close our ferries were. 

They will announce the ports when the boat is close. Make sure you don’t dilly dally and head to get your luggage. They will not wait for you to get off! 

If you’re traveling longer distances, definitely consider the overnight ferry option. We took the overnight ferry from Athens to Heraklion, Crete and had a good experience. It leaves typically around 9pm and you’re allowed on board at about 7pm. We got to our room and were able to settle in before take off. We opted to do a private room with a bathroom and it was lovely being able to take a shower before bed. We docked in Heraklion shortly after 6am, so we basically didn’t waste any time. The ferry had two gift shops in case you forgot anything as well as several dining areas and sitting areas where you can lounge if you have a room without windows – or you opted to book a seat.