Ferries

Sea crossings behave differently from every other kind of travel booking, in three ways that catch people out. Timetables are seasonal and often not published until a few months ahead, so a route that runs six times a day in August may run twice a week in March, or not at all. Sailings are cancelled for weather with little notice, particularly on exposed Aegean and Irish Sea routes. And vehicle deck space sells out long before passenger space does.

None of that makes ferries unreliable. It makes them something to build a trip around rather than slot in at the end.

Fast ferry or conventional?

Many routes are served by both. High-speed catamarans are roughly half the journey time and considerably more expensive; on the Piraeus to Mykonos run, for instance, crossings range from about 2h40 on a high-speed service to about 5h50 on a conventional ship. The conventional vessel is also markedly more comfortable in a swell and much less likely to be cancelled when the wind gets up. In shoulder season that reliability is often worth more than the saved hours.

Build the trip around the sailing days

On island networks, the ferry timetable is the constraint and everything else bends around it. Decide the crossings first, then book the rooms, then book the flights home — with a clear night between the last crossing and the flight. A cancelled sailing on the final day is the classic way to miss a plane.

Taking a vehicle

Book vehicle space as early as possible and measure the car honestly: length and height brackets are charged strictly, and roof boxes and bike racks count. Arrive at the check-in deadline rather than the sailing time — on most routes vehicle check-in closes 30 to 60 minutes before departure and late arrivals are not loaded. If your rental car is going aboard, confirm with the supplier that it is permitted at all.

Where to book ferries

Common questions

What happens if my ferry is cancelled for weather?

Operators normally move you to the next available sailing or refund the crossing. What they do not cover is the knock-on: the missed flight, the extra night, the car you still have to return. That risk sits with you, which is the argument for building in a spare day.

How far ahead can I book?

It varies by operator and season. Summer Mediterranean schedules typically open in late winter or early spring; some routes load only a few weeks ahead. If the dates you want are not bookable yet, that usually means the timetable is not published, not that the route has stopped.