Greece - Korina Miller [612]
Many ferry companies have online booking services or you can purchase tickets from their local offices or most travel agents in Greece. Agencies selling tickets line the waterfront of most ports, but rarely is there one that sells tickets for every boat, and often an agency is reluctant to give you information about a boat they do not sell tickets for. Most have timetables displayed outside; check these for the next departing boat or ask the limenarhio.
To find specific details on where to buy tickets and other important local information for the islands, see the specific island’s Getting There & Away section in the destination chapters throughout this book.
Costs
Ferry prices are fixed by the government, and are determined by the distance of the destination from the port of origin. The small differences in price you may find at ticket agencies are the results of some agencies sacrificing part of their designated commission to qualify as a ‘discount service’. (The discount is seldom more than €0.50.) Ticket prices include embarkation tax, a contribution to NAT (the seamen’s union) and 10% VAT.
High-speed ferries and hydrofoils cost about 20% more than the traditional ferries, while catamarans are often a third to double the price of their slower counterparts. Caïques and water taxis are usually very reasonable while excursion boats can be pricey but very useful to reach out-of-the-way islands. Children under five travel for free while those between five and ten are usually given half-price tickets.
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FEELING WOOZY?
Even those with the sturdiest stomachs can feel seasick when a boat hits rough weather. Here are a few tips to calm your tummy:
Gaze at the horizon, not the sea. Don’t read or stare at objects that your mind will assume are stable.
Drink plenty and eat lightly. Many people claim ginger biscuits and ginger tea settle the stomach.
Don’t use binoculars.
If possible stay in the fresh air – don’t go below deck and avoid hydrofoils where you are trapped indoors.
Try to keep your mind occupied.
If you know you’re prone to seasickness, consider investing in acupressure wrist bands before you leave.
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Almost all islands are served by car ferries, but they are expensive. Sample prices for vehicles up to 4.25m include Piraeus-Mykonos, €80; Piraeus-Crete (Hania and Iraklio), €90; and Piraeus-Samos, €86. The charge for a large motorcycle is about the same as the price for a deck-class passenger ticket. If you’re planning to island hop, you’re better off renting vehicles at each destination.
Classes
On smaller boats, hydrofoils and catamarans, there is only one type of ticket available and these days, even on larger vessels, classes are largely a thing of the past. The public spaces on the more modern ferries are generally open to all. What does differ is the level of accommodation that you can purchase for overnight boats.
Your ‘deck class’ ticket typically gives you access to the deck and interior with no accommodation option. It’s still a very economical option and if you’re one of the first to board, you can usually find somewhere to curl up in your sleeping bag, either inside or on the deck. Next up, aeroplane-type seats give you a reserved, reclining seat in which to hopefully sleep. Then come various shades of cabin accommodation: four-berth, three-berth or two-berth interior cabins are cheaper than their equivalent outside cabins with a porthole. On most boats, cabins are very comfortable, resembling a small hotel room with a private bathroom. While these cost the equivalent of a discount airline ticket, you also need to factor in that your ticket also buys you a night’s accommodation. At the other end of the spectrum are luxury cabins with a view to the front of the ship. These resemble standard cruise-ship cabins and are generally very pricey.
Unless you state otherwise, you will automatically be given deck class when purchasing a ticket. Unless otherwise indicated,