ANEK Lines

Who they are

ANEK Lines (Anonimi Naftiliaki Etaireia Kritis) is one of Greece's most established ferry operators, founded in Crete and historically focused on connecting the island with the Greek mainland. Today ANEK is part of Attica Group — the same holding company as Blue Star Ferries, Superfast Ferries and Hellenic Seaways — giving the group a strong combined presence on both the domestic Aegean and the international Adriatic.

ANEK's identity is closely tied to Crete: the company was founded by Cretans specifically to improve ferry connections between the island and Piraeus. That heritage shows in the loyalty the operator commands among Cretan travellers and freight shippers.

Network and main routes

ANEK's domestic flagship runs are the overnight sailings from Piraeus to Heraklion and Piraeus to Chania, the two main ports of western and central Crete. Both are approximately 8–9 hours and are structured around evening departures and early-morning arrivals — you sleep on board and wake up on the island. These routes are among the busiest in the entire Greek ferry system and run year-round.

On the international side, ANEK participates in the Adriatic corridor in joint operation with Superfast Ferries, connecting Ancona and Bari (Italy) with Patras and Igoumenitsa (Greece). This route is a key artery for tourist traffic and freight between Italy and the Balkans, running several times a week throughout the year and daily in high summer.

Fleet and on board

ANEK operates large ro-pax vessels — roll-on/roll-off ships designed to carry passengers alongside lorries, cars and freight. These are full-sized cruise-style ferries rather than catamarans or hydrofoils: stable, spacious and well-equipped for overnight travel.

Passenger facilities on the Crete ships typically include cabin berths (2- and 4-berth options), reclining airline-style seats for budget travellers, a restaurant, self-service cafeteria, bars, and a small shop. On the overnight Crete run, a cabin berth is the most comfortable option for a family or couple, though deck-class seats are perfectly adequate for those travelling light. Vehicle drivers board early and park on the open ro-ro deck; they access the passenger decks via internal stairways.

The Adriatic vessels — operated jointly with Superfast — are modern ro-pax ships with a slightly higher specification, including swimming pools on some vessels and a broader cabin range.

Booking and tips

For the Piraeus–Crete overnights, book well in advance for July and August, especially if you are travelling with a vehicle. Cabins on popular summer sailings can sell out weeks ahead. Foot-passenger tickets are more available but the best cabins still go early.

The Adriatic route rewards early booking for summer crossings; the Ancona–Patras run in particular fills with campervan and car-touring travellers heading to Greece. Off-season (October–April) you can often find good-value last-minute fares and empty cabins.

ANEK and Minoan Lines both serve the Piraeus–Heraklion overnight, with broadly comparable schedules. It is worth comparing departure times and cabin prices on both, since a half-hour difference in arrival time can matter for onward connections. On the Adriatic, ANEK/Superfast and Minoan Lines offer competing itineraries — again, check both before committing.