The Hellas Flying Dolphins are a fleet of well-maintained vessels which service ferry crossings from several popular Greek Islands with the mainland via Heraklion in Crete.

The ferries run along specific routes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Boats depart from Heraklion and make stops at all major islands. The last stop from Heraklion is Mykonos, and stops in between include Santorini, Ios, Paros, and Naxos. From Mykonos the ferry returns stopping at each destination on the return routes as well.

All routes offer return ferry times to Heraklion as well. Duration varies from island to island. From Heraklion duration for each routes are as follows: Santorini, 1 hour 45 minutes, Ios, 2 hours, 25 minutes, Paros, 3 hours, 35 minutes, Naxos, 4 hours, 15 minutes, and Mykonos, five hours.

All sailings are aboard the FlyingCat 4. This vessel can accommodate up to 443 passengers, and maintains a speed of 42 knots whilst travelling. The ship is a hydrofoil, as are all Hellas Flying Dolphins vessels.

The ferry port in Heraklion is a large port and divided into two parts, the old port in the Venetian Harbour and the new ferry port. The port has several options for dining and shopping and services travellers to the Greek Islands, and freight coming in from other places in Europe.

The port is considered one of the busiest in Greece, and accommodates over two million passengers per year, with up to 300,000 vessels entering the port each year.

Schedules for the Hellas Flying Dolphins’ ferries can be found online. Reservations can be booked in advance and is advisable, especially in the peak summer months or when travelling with a vehicle. For departure times, check online, by phone, or visit the ticket booth at the ferry port.

Tags: Crete, Europe, Greece, Greek Islands, Hellas Flying Dolphins Ferries, Heraklion, Mykonos, Santorini