Booking a Greek ferry throws up a wall of unfamiliar class names — economy, deck, aircraft seat, cabin, VIP — that mean different things depending on whether you are on a large conventional ferry or a high-speed catamaran. Picking the wrong one either wastes money on comfort you do not need for a short hop, or leaves you standing for hours on a longer crossing. Here is what each class actually means and which one to choose.
Conventional ferry classes
Large conventional ferries — the ones that carry cars and run the longer routes, such as Piraeus to Santorini or Crete — offer a tiered class structure closer to a budget airline or a train than a single one-size ticket:
Economy (deck) class
The cheapest ticket, and the default on most bookings unless you choose otherwise. It buys you access to the ship's general public areas — indoor lounges with airline-style seating, open outdoor deck space, cafés and shops — but no assigned seat. On busy summer sailings, economy passengers who board late may find indoor seating full and end up on deck or in a corridor. For short daytime hops between nearby islands, this is entirely fine. For a longer overnight crossing, it is a tougher way to travel.
Aircraft-style seats
An upgrade from plain economy: a reserved, numbered, reclining seat in a dedicated saloon, similar to an airline seat with more legroom. This is the natural choice for a medium-length daytime crossing where you want a guaranteed seat but do not need to lie down — Piraeus to Naxos or Paros, for instance.
Cabins
On overnight or very long routes (Piraeus to Crete, or the longer Dodecanese runs), private cabins are available in a range of grades — inside cabins without a window, outside cabins with one, and sometimes larger suite-style cabins on the newer vessels. Cabins are booked per room rather than per person, so splitting the cost between two or more travellers brings the per-person price down considerably. For any overnight sailing, a cabin is the difference between arriving rested and arriving exhausted.
VIP or business class
Some larger operators, notably on the Crete routes, offer a premium lounge tier with more comfortable seating, complimentary refreshments and sometimes a quieter dedicated space away from the main deck crowds. It sits between aircraft-style seating and a private cabin in both price and comfort, and suits travellers who want more than economy but do not need to lie flat.
High-speed catamaran and hydrofoil classes
High-speed vessels — Seajets and similar operators — work differently. There is generally no deck or outdoor wandering space in the way conventional ferries offer; the whole experience is seated, indoors, and closer to a short-haul flight in feel:
- Economy: standard airline-style seating, the default and usually the only class on many high-speed routes.
- Business or VIP class: where offered, this buys a separate, quieter cabin section with wider seats and sometimes a small refreshment service — genuinely comparable to a short domestic flight's business cabin.
Because high-speed boats do not carry cars and generally do not offer outdoor deck access in the same way, the class choice here is mostly about seat comfort and a quieter cabin, not about the range of experiences a conventional ferry offers.
Matching the class to your crossing
| Crossing type | Sensible choice |
|---|---|
| Short daytime hop (under 2 hours) between nearby islands | Economy deck class is usually fine |
| Longer daytime crossing (3–6 hours), e.g. Piraeus–Naxos | Aircraft-style seat for a guaranteed place to sit |
| Overnight or very long crossing (Piraeus–Crete, Piraeus–Rhodes) | A cabin, especially in summer |
| Any high-speed catamaran route | Economy is standard; upgrade to business/VIP if offered and you want more space |
Conventional versus high-speed: the trade-off behind the class choice
Before picking a class, it is worth confirming whether you are booking a conventional ferry or a high-speed service, since this affects far more than the seating options. High-speed catamarans roughly halve the journey time compared with a conventional ferry on the same route, but they cost more, carry no vehicles, and are considerably more sensitive to rough weather — the Meltemi wind in July and August grounds high-speed services more readily than large conventional ferries, which handle moderate swell without issue. For the broader network context and how routes connect, see the Greek island ferries guide.
Deck and economy class on a conventional ferry does not guarantee a seat. On very busy August sailings, arriving early to claim an indoor seat — or paying the modest upgrade to a reserved aircraft-style seat — avoids ending up on the floor of a corridor for a multi-hour crossing.
Booking your class
Most bookings, whether direct with an operator or through an aggregator such as Ferryhopper, let you select the class at the point of booking, with the price difference shown clearly between tiers. Cabins in particular should be booked well ahead in high summer, since the number of cabins on any given sailing is fixed and considerably smaller than the total passenger capacity. See our general ferry booking guide for how to compare fares and understand add-on costs across operators.
Frequently asked questions
Is deck class the same as economy class on Greek ferries?
Broadly yes — "deck" and "economy" are often used interchangeably to describe the cheapest, unassigned-seating class on a conventional ferry, giving access to general lounges and outdoor deck space without a guaranteed seat.
Do I need a cabin for a daytime ferry crossing?
Not usually. Cabins are mainly worth booking for overnight or very long crossings, such as Piraeus to Crete or Rhodes. For daytime routes under six hours or so, an aircraft-style seat or even economy class is normally comfortable enough.
Can I take a car on a high-speed catamaran?
No. High-speed catamarans and hydrofoils do not carry vehicles. If you are travelling with a car, you need to book a conventional ferry, which will take longer but includes vehicle space.
What is VIP or business class on a Greek ferry?
A premium tier offered by some operators, sitting between a standard seat and a private cabin — typically a quieter dedicated lounge with more comfortable seating and sometimes complimentary refreshments, available on both conventional and some high-speed vessels.
Sources and further reading:
- Ticket classes and fares by operator: Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, Hellenic Seaways.
- Aggregated booking and class comparison: Ferryhopper.
- Weather effects on high-speed sailings: Greek National Meteorological Service (EMY).