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Greek ferry questions

Hello! We think we've decided to visit the island of Skiathos for our upcoming trip to Greece in May. We are coming from Delphi at that point in our trip and given the day we're travelling, taking a ferry (with our rental car) from Volos is our best option. What is the best website for booking ferry tickets in Greece? When I searched for ferries to Skiathos a bunch of websites come up and I want to make sure it's a legit site we're booking through. Also, how early do we need to arrive at the ferry dock for boarding a car ferry? We live in Washington State and are very familiar with how the car ferry works here but have no clue how it works over there. ;-)

Thanks!

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You can use the website https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ to search for ferries timetables and prices on the Volos→Skiathos route.

But always book ferry tickets directly with the ferry company and not with a 3rd party reseller.
This allows you to have direct communication with the company in the event of a schedule change or ferry cancellation.

In May, the ferry companies operating the Volos→Skiathos route are:

  • Seajets with the “Superstar” ferry: 1 daily ferry around 7:30 a.m.

https://www.seajets.com/

  • Hellenic Seaways with the “Express Skiathos”: 1 daily ferry around 8 a.m.

https://www.hellenicseaways.gr/en-gb/home

The trip takes approximately 2 hours

The Aegean Flying Dolphins ferries that operate this route only carry passengers (no cars)

From February/March, regularly visit the company websites to check for updated schedules

On their respective websites Seajets and Hellenic Seaways allow you to book your tickets online. You will receive the E-tickets by email in the form of a QR or bar code to present upon boarding.

  • During the booking process you will be asked for the car's license plate number. If you don't know it, enter "RENT123" There is also a selection for the car type depending on the car length. A rental car is normally in the first category (<4m25).

With a 2h crossing, for passengers take deck tickets (economy) you can sit wherever you want, in the lounges or outside decks

You will not have access to the car deck during the trip. So take with you what you will need during the crossing.

  • Be at the port approximately 1 hour before the ferry departure.

The ferries you will take are maybe bigger than those you know in the USA, Around 1500 passengers and 200 cars/trucks

When boarding the car you will be guided by the ferry staff.

See this fairly representative video of the boarding process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BU7fOu_IfM

When renting a car, always tell the rental company that you will be taking the car on a ferry. Rental companies may charge extra for insurance reasons.