Useful Ferry Tips for 2025

What Happens When Boarding a Ship?

When you board a conventional ship, there is usually some initial hustle and bustle with passengers carrying their luggage and heading to their seats. During this phase, it’s best to stay in your place.

Most ships offer a 24-hour bar and a restaurant. However, prices there tend to be higher than usual.

What Can You Do While Traveling on a Conventional Ship?

If you are in the economy class, you can sit near a TV or a window. Additionally, you might enjoy watching the ship’s departure from the outdoor areas and gaze at the endless blue sea or the shore that gradually fades away. The Greek coasts form a beautiful geomorphological landscape perfectly blended with the sea. If you’re not used to traveling by ferry, you definitely shouldn’t miss these unique views.

But admiring natural scenery isn’t the only way to pass the time during the journey. It’s very common to spend time with various entertainment means, such as reading a book, newspaper, or magazines, listening to your favorite music, watching TV, or movies/series on your mobile device.

If you are traveling with children, you can always play board games — pro tip: avoid card games outdoors if it’s windy! It’s also important to mention that most ships provide Wi-Fi, so you can always surf the internet or play games on your phone.

Let’s not forget that at the lounge bar you can buy coffee, soft drinks, or have sandwiches and toasts, while a stroll in the ship’s common areas might also be interesting.

Tips

• Choose the Right Seat: Depending on the ship and your destination, you can choose the suitable seat for your comfort. Some options include economy seats on the main deck, airplane-style seats for short trips, premium (business) seats with better views and more spacious areas, and cabins with various bed options and windows.
• Entertainment During the Journey: Bring reading material, travel games, or other fun activities to enjoy your time pleasantly. You can also enjoy the view from the deck or take a walk on the ship.
• Prepare for the Night: If your journey includes overnight travel, make sure you have the essentials for a comfortable night, such as pillows, blankets, and mosquito repellent.
• Book a Cabin for Long Journeys: Especially if you travel with children or if the journey lasts many hours, booking a cabin is recommended. It will offer you private space for rest and sleep.
• Options for High-Speed and Catamaran Travel: If you want to reduce travel time, consider high-speed ships or catamarans, which can significantly shorten the duration of the route.
• Prepare for the Best Experience: Bring essentials like water, food, medication, and personal hygiene items to ensure a pleasant and comfortable trip.

When Is It Best to Sit Outside?

• During Sunset: Enjoy the sunset in the middle of the sea and take photos.
• When the Ship Approaches the Port: This is the best moment to go to the stern. The ship maneuvers to dock at the port, and the crew throws the mooring ropes at the right time. If strong winds blow, the process becomes more difficult and intense. Once the ship is docked, you can watch the movement of passengers, cars, and trucks boarding and disembarking. This happens at every stop.

At Night: Your options become limited. You can no longer enjoy the sea view but only see the lights from lighthouses, passing ships, and islands. The ship is surrounded by darkness, and passengers usually have dinner. As time passes, conversations stop, and passengers with cabins go to sleep. In the end, only the sound of the engines remains. The lounge bar usually stays open, so if you need water or anything else during the night, you can get it.

If You’re Not Sleeping: The arrival at ports is very interesting, where the process described above takes place.

In the Morning: When you wake up, there’s nothing better than a morning coffee on the ship with the view and sound of the sea. You are probably approaching your destination, so make sure you’re ready for disembarkation.

How to Spend Time on High-Speed and Catamaran Journeys?

• Traveling on high-speed ships and catamarans takes less time than on conventional ships, but the space is limited.
• A high-speed ferry usually has only one small outdoor area at the stern, which is very small. Depending on the size, there might be aisles for walking.
• Otherwise, you can read books, newspapers, or magazines, listen to music, watch TV, movies or series on your mobile device, or surf the internet if connected to Wi-Fi.
• On catamarans, seats are airplane-style, and there are no outdoor spaces. If the ship is crowded, free space becomes very limited. These crowds usually head to popular islands like Paros, Mykonos, or Santorini, especially during the high season.

Which Means of Transport Should You Choose?

Finally, regarding whether to travel by ship or plane, it depends on your destination, your time, and the availability of airports. If the island you chose has an airport, the plane is usually the more convenient and faster option, but often more expensive and without the option to transport your car. If your destination does not have an airport, or you want to save money, then it’s worth exploring alternatives before deciding.

Book your ferry tickets now at booktickets and experience a comfortable and relaxing summer trip!