Help with island hopping

I suggest finding a map of the ferry routes and focus on only one route that gets you to Crete. If you pick islands on different routes, you may find yourself going back and forth to Athens(Piraeus) to get there. Additionally, figure any travel day as a lost day, so if you stay somerwhere different every night, you see nothing. Figure at the minimum two nights most places, three if you want to begin to relax, 4 to 6 if you want to relax. I think you could focus on either the western Cyclades (Serifos, Sifnos, Milos, Folegandros); the Main Cyclades Route (Tinos, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Ios) or the Eastern Islands as was mentioned above. If you want real relaxation, consider the Lesser Cyclades, detouring from Naxos, you can hit Iraklia, Schinoussa, or my favorite, Koufonissia.

Please check www.easycruise.com. You will not believe what you will find for May. We are going to 7 days cruise between Turkey and Greek islands (you can also start from Athens) and we will only pay 465 USD for 4 of us. Good luck.

Hi Mary Jane, Ricky and all,

I too, am taking the EasyCruise for 7 days starting 5/31 and ending in Athens 6/7. Since EasyCruise does not have Crete or Santorini on my itinerery, I plan to then take an overnight ferry (rates vary according to accommodations) to Crete. I am staying at a modest hotel there for 2 nights and then taking a fast, morning hydrofoil to Santorini. I will be there for 2 nights and then another overnight ferry back to Athens. I have to sleep somewhere and I am hoping that the overnight ferries will not only not take time away from my vacation time, but provide additional adventure.

I spoke with Arthur Frommer on the radio and he said that EasyCruise was not for the mature traveler. Well, it sounds like this low key, dress down kind of cruise would be perfect for me. I don't have to do late night disco if I don't want to.

I would love to hear from any of you who have taken EasyCruise and who can give me some feed back.
Cheers,
Frances

It helps to look at a guidebook, specifically T. Cook's "Greek Island Hopping." If your local public library has one (even older edition is OK), fine; or else browse one at Barnes & Noble. It shows graphically how the various ferry lines work and what is feasible and what not.

Then get on the ferry website gtp.gr and learn how to work it -- if u are persistent, it gives more options. YOur best "hops" to Crete are from Rhodes and Santorini, both of which you have seen. However, there is a 2 x a week ferry from Milos...so it would work to go to that Western Cycladic chain (Serifos Sifnos Milos) and time it to jump to Heraklion on a Tuesday or a Friday.

Thank you, Janet. I'll check that out!
Do you suggest staying in Chania, the town part when in Crete or on the beach?
MJ