Traveling by ferry between the Greek islands is, sometimes, the only choice. Some islands do have airports but most often, you are stuck on the water. Good news, right? Not so much if you have motion sickness or are just not comfortable being on the open seas for too long.

For our wedding anniversary (in May 2017) we decided to take the high-speed ferry from Piraeus to the island of Ios. With that experience in mind, here are some tips & tricks to make your journey more pleasurable.

Booking the high-speed ferry ticket

High-speed ferries only run during the tourist season and the rule of thumb is to always book them in advance. This is even more important to remember if you travel around Easter, for May Day, or between June and September. The peak season is July and August.

You can book the high-speed ferry ticket online here.

Or just use this widget:

Remember that you cannot print out the tickets like you do with airplane boarding passes. You either pay for the actual tickets to be delivered to you at home or you can pick them up in the port from the ferry line’s booth.

Choosing the seat on the high-speed ferry

Here’s a word of advice if you have motion sickness: choose your seat towards the back of the ferry. Front seats, on rough seas, will make you sick.

And I do talk from experience since I didn’t know what seats are best, I ended up at the front. All was good until the sea got rough. Let’s just say that I begged the steward to let us move in the back and I was close to kissing the ground when we arrived on the island. On the way back, the sea was calm and it felt like a train ride.

Boarding the high-speed ferry

Each ferry line has its rules but, in general, treat the ferry trip as an internal flight: show up 45 min before it leaves. The boarding is usually fast and straightforward.

If you take the ferry from an island, then the boarding will be a bit hectic. Expect delays.

Safety aboard a high-speed ferry

After leaving each port, the safety video plays. And since I don’t like traveling by sea, I was probably the only one attentive to that thing every single time. Yes, it’s in English.

You are to be seated for the duration of the journey, especially if the sea is rough.

Amenities abroad a high-speed ferry

The high-speed ferry we took had bathrooms and a bar. We were seated in the economy section but there was also a business section. You can also bring your own water and snacks. And don’t forget those motion sickness pills!

My experience taking a high-speed ferry

I booked the high-speed ferry ticket for the Piraeus (Athens) to Ios journey ahead of time via a travel agency in Greece. I paid the exact price I found online. I picked up the tickets when I went on a tour with the same agency.

>>read more about When to book your ferry ticket

I asked what would happen in case of a strike: turns out, you can get your money back or choose another day to travel. Oh yes, be prepared for strikes and get travel insurance.

On the day of travel, we took an Uber (courtesy of our host in Athens) to Piraeus. Since the ferry left early in the morning (7 a.m.) we made a point to arrive early. Probably too early but we were excited. And honestly, at least myself, rather scared of the journey.

The Uber took us directly to the gate. We paced until it was time to board.

Boarding went smoothly and once we left the port we watched the safety demonstration. And then hubby picked up some croissants and bottled water from the bar.

And everything was just smooth and joyful for an hour. That’s when we hit the open sea and the wind plus waves. Oh, I should mention we both took motion sickness pills before we left.

>>read my tips about preventing motion sickness

And then all hell broke loose. Hubby got so sick that after a while I begged the steward to move us to the back of the ferry. Luckily there were seats available. It was slightly better for him and I was ok. That was until I had to go to the toilet. All that rocking made me sick instantly. I calmed myself by staying in the same position for the remainder of the trip (about an hour) and literally staring right ahead (where the bar was, in this case).

The problem with high-speed ferries is that you don’t see a line of the horizon and when you look to the sides it gets even worse. Reading is out of the question. Listening to music may work. Especially if you can meditate while at it.

Of course, due to the weather, we also had almost an hour delay. Which turned a 5 hours journey into almost 6 hours.
When we made landfall I was close to kissing the ground!

On the way back, however, it was raining but there was no wind. The sea was very calm, and the entire ride felt like being on a train. Neither of us got sick.

Note: this article contains affiliate links; if you book through them, I may earn a small commission.