Advise re: Ferryhopper app vs. using ferry operator app directly

I only use Ferryhopper to quickly check ferry schedules and prices. Otherwise, I either buy my tickets at the local ticket offices 1 day or 2 before boarding, or sometimes directly on the ferry company's website.

I’ve been doing it this way for 30 years—in fact, before 2017, it was the only way to do it.

Yes, Ferryhopper is a third-party service, so why go through a middleman for something as simple as buying a ferry ticket? And honestly, what's the point, other than creating unnecessary headaches for yourself if there’s a cancellation or a schedule change?

99 times out of 100, there's absolutely no need to book ferry tickets more than two days in advance.

Thank you JoLui..
I was about to download the Ferryhopper App, and I see all these 1 star ratings on Apple App store..
Doing some research.. Youtube seem to endorse it.. and yet TripAdvisor is advising the same recommendation (booking directly with the Ferry Operator)

My Ferry schedule is in early September... Santorini - Naxos and then Naxos- Athens route... Should I wait to book this once I reach Greece? or would you recommend booking it now..

thanks again..

We’ve always purchased our ferry tickets directly from the ferry operator once we arrive on an island, a couple of days before we plan to leave.

If weather looks iffy during your stay, you can stop by for reliable information & easily swap your tickets if need be.

If I read your previous messages correctly, you’re staying 3 nights in Santorini after Crete.

So, for example, you can buy your Santorini–Naxos ticket while you’re in Crete, either directly on the Blue Star Ferries website or through a local agency.

The same goes for Naxos–Piraeus.

Blue Star ferries have a large passenger capacity (1,900 or 2,400 on the routes you’ll be taking, plus space for hundreds of vehicles), so there is no risk of the ferry being fully booked, especially in September.

Charlene gave you an example of schedule changes due to the weather. This is exactly why it’s best to avoid booking through third-party services.

Just look at what's happening with the schedules this week because of bad weather:

https://www.bluestarferries.com/en-gb/informations/2026/16-07-2026-17-7-26-itineraries-modifications-due-to-bad-weather-conditions

If you’re already on one of the islands, the local ticket offices will have the most up-to-date information regarding any ferry schedule changes.

Here's an earlier ferry tickets discussion: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/greece/ferry-booking

Like JoLui I only use Ferryhopper (and others) for information purposes. And I always buy my tickets on the spot 1-2 days before in a local ticket office. Very easy, if something happens (like bad weather) and there is a cancellation the ticket office calls you or sends you a message (that's why they always ask your phone number). You go back to the office, get your money back and you buy new tickets.
For September there is no real need to book weeks ahead because there will never be a full ferry on those routes at that time. And if you want to book ahead for peace of mind, do it directly through the ferry company website (or app).

Honestly, we’ve only traveled to Greece for three consecutive years, so our experience won’t be typical, but I booked all of our ferry tickets, to and from Piraeus, Rhodes, and other islands we’ve visited, through ferry hopper and didn’t have a single issue.

Honestly, we’ve only traveled to Greece for three consecutive years,
so our experience won’t be typical, but I booked all of our ferry
tickets, to and from Piraeus, Rhodes, and other islands we’ve visited,
through ferry hopper and didn’t have a single issue.

But that is likely because you did not face any service disruptions or cancellations, no? I think that is where a direct booking is more beneficial than a third-party operator.

For mid-August, is it still recommended to book locally at the ticket office on the Thira-Piraeus route?

We took 4 trips via Ferry Hopper. Our initial ferry, Piraeus to Naxos was cancelled, we were able to book with a ferry operator and received a refund from Ferry Hopper. Had zero issues with the Ferry Hopper bookings, and you can always book direct if a change is needed the day of.

OP-you say that you see all these one star reviews on the App Store for ferryhopper yet you use TripAdvisor reviews as a stepping off point when TripAdvisor itself uses AI when customers have complaints etc? Such irony makes me laugh. We’ve traveled to Greece for the fourth year in a row and have used ferry hopper every single time and have never had an issue even when one of our ferries was canceled and our departure date was moved up by a day. Heck, even one of the major ferry operators said to use ferry hopper since it’s more navigable than their own website which didn’t have a proper English section. Just use it. It works. Their customer service is excellent. Their communication is excellent and 1000x better than any American company that deals in travel. It’s been approved by all the Gerry companies and not just in Greece. Italy, Spain, etc all allow it. Regulations in the EU concerning third party apps and companies are much more cohesive and strict than those in the USA.

Like most of the frequent Greece travelers, I get my ferry tickets locally. In the port towns there seems to be a ticket agent office on every block. They sell tickets for all the companies. I prefer to have the relationship with a local seller that can tell me the upcoming availability of the schedules or cancellations. It's what the Greeks do. Unless you're traveling around Easter or August 15, the large ferries don't seem to fill up.

I haven't used Ferryhopper, but it sounds like it has tracking ability of the ferries on its app.

I think this topic shows the differences in Greek island travel that have evolved over the past 25 or 30 years.

Not only did we not have advance ferry reservations back then, we sometimes did not have hotels! At one time — especially on the smaller islands — ferries were greeted at the dock with people holding signs and photos of their available rooms. You would pick a likely looking one and follow them home! If you liked the place and the island, you’d stay a few days. If not, you’d move on more quickly.

Now people are using online booking for not only ferries and hotels, but restaurants and cars and tourist attractions, months in advance. I realize times have changed but the simple act of walking to a ferry ticket office and interacting in person with a Greek agent is to me one part of the Greek island experience worth keeping.

The local office is by far the best way to go.
Eg. Will ferry hopper advise you to take the conventional ferry on a certain day as it’s going to be very windy and the speed boat will be uncomfortable or that they are expecting a prohibitive on a certain day so arrange your tickets accordingly.
Local office has the best on the ground(sea) information. So not “clap trap”

I'm another who uses various ferry websites to check on schedule and costs and then purchase the ticket at the port office.

More than likely they'll be plenty of seats available depending on what type of ferry you use.

Some of the larger ones can hold hundreds of passengers while some of the smaller ones like the "fast" ferries may have smaller capacity.

Most people prefer the large ferries which can travel even when seas are a bit rough and face far less cancellations.

I've never taken any of the Flying Dolphins or other "fast" ferries as I've heard some bad reviews on their performance/service.

Agree to why go through a middleman and pay extra for "service fees" when you can get better service and a better price direct from the ferry company.

even one of the major ferry operators said to use ferry hopper since
it’s more navigable than their own website which didn’t have a proper
English section.

Given that I know all the websites of major ferry operators, and that this is the first time I've ever seen someone complain that a website has a poor English version and is difficult to navigate, naming this major major ferry operator would help people judge for themselves. Without this information, this kind of remark looks a lot like covert advertising for Ferryhopper