Hellenic Seaways cancelled -help!

js4, how do you expect anyone to help you when you do not give the DATE that you want to sail????? I'm looking at gtp.gr (which by the way is the most complete ferry listing) ... and I see

• GOLDEN STAR "Superrunner" - a very stable boat, that is daily thru Mid-september at 10 AM, arr Santorini 14:00 (2pm) (it is coded cc = car-carrying catamaran = larger more smooth ride than the smaller passenger-only vessels) https://www.gtp.gr/TDirectoryDetails.asp?id=74477 . Did you look at a schedule before pushing panic button?

•Seajet - CHAMPION JET 1 - 9:50 - 11:55. This is NOT the small passenger-only Seajet that gets rocky in roughwaves -- it is the much larger "cc" (see above) - take a look: https://www.gtp.gr/TDirectoryDetails.asp?id=56315
Its "sister ship" CHAMPION JET 2 -- has a sailing in the afternoon..

Did you look at a schedule before pushing panic button? gtp.gr is Your Friend -- learn to use it before you despair! If you want to just pick up tickets when u arrive in Greece, have you considered using the airport travel agency Aktina & picking up tix upon arrival ... their website is useless, but unless you arrive late at night or on a sunday, you can do it... there is a contact e-mail.

Janet, you have been helpful, but here is the info, our sail date is on the 24th of August from Mykonos to Santorini. it was on Hellenic seaways which i had printed the tickets and everything from, but now they sent me an email cancelling it. We are flying and will be in Athens on the 15th of August, I've heard that that's the date most Greeks go on vacation. our flight arrives to athens around 10 am, does this mean that the agency will be closed or open. I rather book everything before we go rather plan things at the airport. Please advice...

JS, if you If you had been specific on dates way back on y our first thread, people would have been able to give the most useful advice without having to scramble for new scenarios. Here's what I see:

• Aug 15 is the 2nd biggest holiday of entire year, next to Easter, for GReeks -- (think 4th of July -Thanksgiving - Christmas rolled into one.) However, since your sail to Santorini is Aug 24, crowds will be slightly less, because people taking the Aug 15 "holiday week "will have gone home --- and also, European families will be leaving because schools start before 9/1.

• Did you do as I suggested and look at gtp.gr?? Or do you want someone else to do that? I believe that those large car-carrying catamarans (Golden Sun, Champion 1 & 2) are running on your Sept 24 date. -- they each have 500+ seats and with 3-4 of these large vessels to choose from, you should be able to reserve ahead. You can e-mail Aktina to book; you could state preference, and stipulate that if choice #1 is full, to try choice #2.

• Your remaining question then is, since your arrival date In GREECE is the Aug 15 date, and you want to know if Aktina will be open. GUess what? THeir website has contact information... so you can ask directly.

• BTW, if you are flying OUT of ATH on Aug 15, you can just stay in airport and go to Domestic check-in counter. But if you are travelling in to ATHENS itself, the metros & busses won't be running & it will be hard to get a taxi. You are well-advised to book a car service online -- one like Welcome Pickups does not charge a premium above the regular €38 taxi flat-fee from Airport to Central Athens, and is well-reviewed. https://www.welcomepickups.com

I've provided info and links to solve your problem. Now it's your turn.

Janet I looked up the schedule on the website you provided, it gives two choices of companies. if i don't use the travel agency and book it directly through their website i'm assuming at this late in the game i will not be able to request courier service to California. does that mean i will have to pick up the tickets at the port, can i do it a few days before leaving since we will be close to the port in Mykonos.

I took your advice and booked welcome services it's about 76 euros, as we are 3 adults 2 kids.

the seajets you mentioned are the bigger ferry's then, i shouldn't worry about it correct, how do you tell from the schedule alone.

janet, i do appreciate your help and everyone who comments.

It is stupid to ask for courier service to USA.... What is your objection to booking thru the airplort travel agency??? I fail to understand. You seem to be so anxiious about having things done before you leave --- having things sent to califorian via courier is just silly. just book thru Aktina as suggested. and go to their desk as soon as you get through passport control. my

I did not mention seajets. Re-read my message. Go to Gtp.gr. I never said seajets. I said GOLDEN STAR and CHAMPION JET 1 & 2. I really do not understand how to help you further when you seem not to read the information on a website. Good luck, I'm done.

Never mind Janet thanks for your help. Yes I want things booked and done as I will have a 17 hr flight with two small children. Forgive me if I don’t want to use a travel agency at the airport after flying for so long. You don’t have to be mean. There are reasons as why I must book everything and be done. I’m there to see the city/ country and not making reservations while my family looks around and waits. You did mention sea jets hence I reread your post.

I made reservations for a fast catamaran from Santorini to Crete--Heraklion and an overnight ferry from Crete--Chania to Piraeus and a very fast cat from Piraeus to Hydra and from Hydra to Ermioni all well in advance. At that time printing tickets wasn't possible, so I picked them all up from a company in downtown Athens.

Getting them at the airport will be much easier, no matter how long it takes and who's waiting. And there's no way you're going to get tickets sent to you from Greece before you leave. Trust the advice you are getting. It's based on experience. BTW, going through an agency was the typical way to do this when I visited Greece in 2014.

....I have to agree with Janet here. Getting tickets couriered is actually riskier than booking online and having the ticket on your phone/iPad. Booking online with these agencies works well. Paper tickets can be lost stolen or left behind. If they are electronic tickets that’s not happening.

I am currently in Greece. There are multiple ferries running to almost all of the inhabited islands every day. Even the smallest like the one I am on Alonissos gets 4-5 ferries a day.

Now I understand your anxiety about all of this and I have to say Janet was not being mean, exasperated maybe... yes, but it didnt read like mean to to me. I think she was just trying to get you on the right track. Those of us who travel a lot as I do (40+ countries for more than 40 years and living and working overseas ) can tell you from experience that this ferry cancellation is a minor glitch. I know it doesn’t seem that way to you but it is....even in August people show up at the ferry docks on the morning of departure to buy tickets for that sailing...Now you have picked the most busy and hectic islands in all of Greece to visit at one of THE busiest times. But there will be seats available on one of the ferries if you book it now. And take Janets advice...get the e tickets (If that is still possible) she knows what she is talking about.

I hope your trip goes well and that you can relax and enjoy the experience and take it all in. Keep this in mind; Travel by it’s very nature presents us with change and surprises. No matter how hard you try to make everything perfect and scheduled before you go expect something to not go as you expected. Take it in stride and enjoy the ride.

Just to add some ferry stuff if you can get an e ticket that's great. I do know that some ferry companies will let you book on the internet but you still have to go to the ticket office at the port to pick up your actual ticket. Just make sure you understand which type of ticket you are booking.
We just go to a travel agent when we arrive on an island and book the ferry right on the spot. The travel agents have the actual ticket which they will give to you. The reason we do it this way is because stuff happens strikes storms whatever. If we get our ticket a few days before we plan to go the travel agent will have latest info on whats going on and will have the best options for you.

By the way Champion Jet 1 and 2 are part of the seajets fleet. Both ships are fast, car carrying ferries with good on time reputation.

ok so I took Janet's and everyone else's advice and booked the ferry through Aktina travel agency at the airport. I also booked Welcome Services for our ride to central Athens from the International airport. the cost was about 76 euros and that is for 3 adults and 2 kids with luggage and all.

Thank you all for your input!