SeaJets

Who they are

SeaJets is Greece's biggest high-speed ferry company, operating an extensive fleet of fast catamarans and hydrofoils across the Aegean. Based in Piraeus, the company built its reputation by offering the quickest connections between Athens and the Cyclades, competing with conventional car ferries on time rather than price.

The network is deliberately seasonal: service intensity peaks from late May through September when island tourism is at its height, then contracts sharply in autumn. A handful of year-round routes keep the company running through winter, but the full schedule is very much a summer operation.

Network and main routes

SeaJets' primary axis runs from Piraeus southward into the heart of the Cyclades. The company threads together the major islands on a single run — Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini — and branches off to Mykonos, Milos and Folegandros. Inter-island legs (Mykonos to Santorini, for example) are a SeaJets speciality, letting travellers island-hop without backtracking to Athens.

Further afield, SeaJets operates summer connections from the Cyclades down to Heraklion (Crete) and to Rhodes via the Dodecanese. These longer runs are less frequent and fill quickly — early booking is essential.

The Meltemi, the strong north-west summer wind that builds across the Aegean in July and August, is the main operational variable. Routes running straight into the wind are most likely to be cancelled or diverted; always check the SeaJets app or website the evening before departure.

Fleet and on board

SeaJets vessels are purpose-built fast catamarans — wave-piercing hulls designed for speeds of 35–40 knots. Passenger accommodation is aircraft-style: assigned numbered seats in air-conditioned cabins, with overhead luggage racks. There is no open deck access on most vessels while underway at speed; windows provide the sea view.

Most SeaJets catamarans do not carry private vehicles, which is an important distinction from conventional ferry operators. Foot passengers and bicycles are the norm; if you are travelling with a car or motorbike, check availability carefully before booking — it is limited to a small number of vessels and routes.

A snack bar sells drinks, sandwiches and hot food. Journeys are short enough (1.5–5 hours on most routes) that the catering offer matters more for comfort than sustenance.

Booking and tips

Book SeaJets as early as possible for July and August — particularly inter-island legs that connect to flights or other ferries. Seats on the most popular Cyclades routes go weeks in advance in peak season.

Fares are dynamic and rise as sailings fill. Mid-week departures and morning sailings are generally cheaper than Friday afternoons or the days before a Greek public holiday.

Build in at least one spare day if SeaJets is a link in a longer itinerary. Weather-related cancellations are real; a single missed catamaran can cascade into missed flights. The company's website and app show live status and rebooking options. For conventional-ferry backup on the same routes, Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways cover most of the same Cyclades network.