All is Not Fair with Greek Ferries
Island hopping by ferry through the Greek islands is something everyone should have the opportunity to do. The Greek ferry culture among the sleep-on-deck set alone is worth experiencing - and, by the way, sleeping on the deck usually means sleeping on the carpeted inside public areas, at least when the nights are cooling.However, one caveat: if you book your ticket online, read the fine print. Even if you have paid for your ticket, if you don't confirm it at least 24 hours ahead of departure, your reservation may vanish from the system, especially if you've used a booking system that represents many ferry companies rather than going through the individual Greek ferry company website to do so.
When this happens, the "official" designated travel agency supposed to issue your ticket may insist that your only recourse is to buy a new ticket (which increases their commission) or try to contact the main office of the ferry company directly by phone or email to straighten it out. As these main offices are usually in Athens keeping standard business hours, while you're on the dock about to catch that midnight ferry to Piraeus, you may find yourself out of luck.
My suggestion? Get your physical ticket in hand as early as possible - don't wait until the last minute. If your reservation has evaporated, buy the replacement ticket if you have to. Then, call your credit card company immediately - preferably before your departure time - and let them know that your purchase has been invalidated. While this won't help you get on that ferry, it will help you get your refund later. And, eventually, with enough credit card company pressure, the Greek ferry companies may adopt fairer booking practices.
Good idea. We were in Greece this summer and though generally I prefer to book travel online directly myself…I had a hard time finding the info I needed on ferries in advance (which all tied in to timing of hotel reservations…since some islands don’t get a daily ferry) because we were traveling early in the season.
If it was just the two of us, I’d have been more willing to ‘wing it,’ but especially since we were traveling with our son, I wanted it all pre-arranged. We ended up booking all our ferries through a travel agent and we had printed tix in our hands for all ferries at the beginning of the trip. We also had them book us taxis to and from the hotel at every port. It was a very stress-free way to go and worked out ideally for our family.
Except for perhaps End of June, July and August … I do not think it is necessary to
book a deck class ticket on a carferry ahead of time. Just walk up and buy it on the morning or evening of the day you are departing. Only ferries that REQUIRE reservations are the Superferrys, Hydrofoils and Flying Dolphins … these will save you all of an hour or two, cost nearly double and likely will not even go when the waves are more then 2 feet ! IS that not so ???
I live somwhere between linny and Denny.
I love to book in advance and have an actual ticket, but as Denny says you can sit for 4 hours on the hydrofoil in Crete going to Thira(Santorini) and your going knowhere fast. Then try getting your money back. It is not going to happen as the guy who isssued the ticket is in Greece somewhere. A lifetime Island hopping has developed a casual attitude as found among the Greeks. “Embirasi Avrio’ “It dose not matter, Tomorrow” off to find a taverna!
DOWN goes the EURO !!! At the present rate by the 2009 season those of us that are not
on the Euro will be back . $1.60 to 1 euro in July, the dollar is now $1.35 to 1-euro and counting as of Oct 6th. We might even be able to afford the Superferry! If any of us has any $$$ left. May we bring foodstamps?