We will be visiting Greece in the fall. I'm considering taking a ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini (Thira) on Thursday, 16 October. I have found very little about the pros and cons of the 2 major options, so I hope someone can help me with that. I put the question here because there doesn't seem to be a lot of action on the Greece forum and it is a transportation question.
The fast Sea Jet 2 takes about 5 hours and stops at Sifnos, Milos and Folegandros along the way. The comments I have seen so far on other online sources say that this ferry often runs as much as 1.5 hours late and is very rough going if the water is at all sketchy, even to the point of making many passengers seasick. There is no way to get outside to get some fresh air. It is also more expensive, although not as pricey as flying.
The slow(er) Blue Star Naxos takes about 7.5 hours, and stops in Paros, Naxos and Ios before arriving in Thira. Some people recommend taking it at the time we are going because of its size and stability. It is cheaper, although I suppose we could increase the cost by the class/seats we choose. Going out on the deck is a possibility with this ferry.
Practical question: How bad are these ferries in marginal weather?
Aesthetic question: Which route provides the best scenery along the way?
All experiences, tips and opinions are warmly welcomed.