First Trip of the 2022 Season with the ANDREAS KALVOS from Zakynthos to Kyllini

The 2022 summer season began for me in late July, as I arrived in Greece just a few days after having completed all my exams and assignments that were required in order for me to conclude my postgraduate studies at City, University of London. Around that time, my family had already gone to spend a part of their summer vacation in Zakynthos, which is one of the two islands where we always go each summer, together in Aegina. We were then planning to head to the latter in the second half of August, with an intermediate trip to several islands of the Dodecanese (which will be covered in depth in the subsequent Blog posts). As I wanted to stop by Zakynthos in order to spend a few days there, as the traditions requires it, I therefore flew straight from Brussels (where I had spent one evening after leaving London) to the island. This was the second time that I had done this, with the first time having been back in 2019. I therefore arrived in Zakynthos on 26 July 2022, and this marked my official return to Greece after almost one year of studies in the United Kingdom. I will go on to spend the remainder of the year in my home country, as I had three months of vacation before I began an internship at the major Greek shipping company Eastern Mediterranean Maritime earlier this month, so as to start my professional career. This would then be followed by my mandatory military service, which I plan to do beginning in March 2023. As a result of my lengthy stay in Greece for the remainder of 2022, this year has given me the chance to further enjoy my experience with the Greek coastal service at unprecedented highs, even more than 2021 (whereupon I had taken a record number of pictures, had done a record number of trips, and had seen numerous ships across different parts of Greece). Indeed, in 2022, I headed to the Dodecanese, Corfu, Lefkada and Thessaloniki for the first time, while also spending considerable amounts of time in Aegina and Athens, the latter of which gave me the chance to head numerous times to Piraeus, Salamina, and other ports in the region of Attica (such as Rafina and Lavrion). Altogether, I have currently seen and photographed more than 200 ships of the Greek coastal service, which is an all-time record! In addition, I got to see so many ships for the first time, and therefore the site has been updated with thousands of new pages and pictures, which I hope you will enjoy together with the numerous exciting Blog posts that I will publish over the next few months in order to cover this record-breaking summer season. The start of that adventurous summer was therefore marked by a trip onboard the conventional ferry ANDREAS KALVOS of Levante Ferries, while sailing from Zakynthos to Kyllini with my family on 30 July 2022, so as to head to Athens before our trip to the Dodecanese.

While this post is not a Ship Tribute post, as I had already made one about the ANDREAS KALVOS back when I traveled with her from Zakynthos to Kyllini on 15 August 2021, I usually tend to write about my first trip of the summer regardless of whether the ship on which I travel has had already a post fully dedicated to her services. A similar case was that of 2017, when I made my first trip of that summer with the BLUE STAR PATMOS of Blue Star Ferries from Santorini to Ios in 10 July 2017, even though I had already written a Tribute post about the latter when I traveled with her from Piraeus to Santorini back in 7-8 July 2015. Another one was that of the ACHAEOS of 2way Ferries back in 2020, whereupon I had written a Ship Tribute Post for her when traveling with her from Aegina to Piraeus on 19 July 2016, but I had done my first trip for the 2020 season with her, while heading from Piraeus to Aegina on 6 August 2020.

Concerning the ANDREAS KALVOS, this was her fourth consecutive summer under the ownership of Levante Ferries, which she joined in 2019 after having previously spent 16 years with Zante Ferries. She is a notable veteran on the Ionian Sea, having spent all but two years of her career as a passenger ferry in Greece in that area. The sole exception was during the 2015 season and during the 2016 season, where she operated on the Piraeus-Kythnos-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos-Kimolos line on the Western Cyclades. Under Levante Ferries, she spent her debut summer in 2019 on the Patras-Kefalonia-Ithaca line, while from 2020 onwards she would go on to spend the summer on the Kyllini-Zakynthos line and on the Kyllini-Kefalonia line (which is where she was also operating during her stint on the Ionian Sea under Zante Ferries). During the winter, she continues to operate on the Patras-Kefalonia-Ithaca line, which itself is covered by her fleetmate, namely the KEFALONIA, during the summer since 2020. The two ships then switch their services around during the winter, where the slower speed levels of the ANDREAS KALVOS are deemed acceptable for the service, as opposed to the summer where a much faster ferry such as the KEFALONIA is required. During the summer of 2022, the ANDREAS KALVOS was therefore operating on both the Kyllini-Zakynthos line and the Kyllini-Kefalonia line, together with her fleetmates, namely the FIOR DI LEVANTE and the MARE DI LEVANTE. Regarding my own experience with the ANDREAS KALVOS, this would be the third time that I would ever travel with her, as well as the second time since she joined Levante Ferries. The first time that I sailed with her under her current owners was, as stated previously, almost one year prior to my new trip, on 15 August 2021, while again heading from Zakynthos to Kyllini. And the first time that I traveled with her altogether was back on 2 July 2012, while heading from Kyllini to Zakynthos. This was my only trip with the ship during her time with Zante Ferries. Having given all the necessary information and context, it is now the time for me to show you the few pictures that I took in order to fully inaugurate my summer experience along the Greek coastal service for 2022.

After spending four days in Zakynthos (where I had a short but very lovely stay as usual), I was waiting to embark onboard the ANDREAS KALVOS, in order to begin the first of the 31 trips that I have done so far in 2022.

When I arrived in the port of Zakynthos, I got to see the pier from which the small passenger ships of Zakynthos (with the exception of those owned by Voutirakos Cruises) depart the island in order to perform their daily cruises and excursions around the island and in Marathonisi. There, I saw two ships of Top Cruiser, namely the DIMOSTHENIS and the DIMOSTHENIS K, as well as the MY WAY of My Tours, which was built in 2020, being the newest ship to be introduced on cruises around Zakynthos.

Next to these three ships, I saw a further two, both of which are owned by Seven Islands Cruises. Indeed, these were the small passenger ship IKAROS PALACE and the company's newest introduction, namely the small passenger ship CAPTAIN KOSTAS, which was spending her debut season under her current owners.

A view of the ANDREAS KALVOS in Zakynthos, during her fourth summer under Levante Ferries, and during her sixth consecutive season on the Ionian Sea since she returned there back in 2017. She was built in 1985 in Japan, and she was initially a Ro-Ro carrier. She first arrived in Greece in 2000, as the TONIA for the Cypriot company Vourakis Shipping, for whom she operated on the Piraeus-Limassol line in 2001. She was then bought by Zante Ferries in 2002, for whom she underwent a conversion into a conventional ferry as the ANDREAS KALVOS. She began operating on the Ionian Sea in 2003, before heading to the Western Cyclades in 2015. After two years there, she returned to the Ionian Sea in 2017, and she joined Levante Ferries in 2019, just a few months after the latter had acquired the KEFALONIA from Kefalonian Lines, thereby ensuring it would have a monopoly on the services to Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Ithaca with four ferries.

Another view of the ANDREAS KALVOS in Zakynthos, just before I proceeded to embark onboard her for the third time in my life.

The reliable ANDREAS KALVOS, which has been a much-appreciated ferry on the Ionian Sea for almost 20 years, seen docked in Zakynthos.

Another view of the ANDREAS KALVOS in the port of Zakynthos, right before my embarkation.

After embarking onboard the ANDREAS KALVOS, I then had a better view of the port, and there I had the chance to see four ships of Voutirakos Cruises. There were the ATHANASIOS V, the STAVROULA V, the MENIA MARIA I and the DELFINI.

Another view of the DIMOSTHENIS along with the DIMOSTHENIS K and the MY WAY, before their planned cruises around the island and to Marathonisi.

At the opposite side of the port, I again saw the four ships of Voutirakos Cruises, just before they were also due to begin their cruises for the day.

At 08:00, the ANDREAS KALVOS began to leave the port of Zakynthos. Here is another view of the ATHANASIOS V, the STAVROULA V, the MENIA MARIA I and the DELFINI.

The four ships of Voutirakos Cruises seen together in Zakynthos. While the DELFINI is a traditional small passenger ship that serves as a tour boat, the MENIA MARIA I is a wooden pirate-themed passenger ship providing an original experience for those choosing to sail with her. The STAVROULA V and the ATHANASIOS V are two of the most modern ships of the company, as they are small high speed boats that provide a quick tour of the island and to its main beaches. They were built in 2014 and in 2016, respectively.

Another view of the four ships of Voutirakos Cruises. The fifth and most recent member of the fleet is the small high speed boat SPYROS V, which was built for the company in 2021.

The ATHANASIOS V, the STAVROULA V, the MENIA MARIA I and the DELFINI seen once again in Zakynthos.

The MENIA MARIA I and the DELFINI seen together in Zakynthos. They are the two longest-serving ships of Voutirakos Cruises, as the latter has been operating for them since 2001, while the former has been with them since 2011.

A better view of the DELFINI, which is the flagship of Voutirakos Cruises. She is the only ship of the company onboard which I have traveled, having done so in 2009 when I did a cruise around the island and to Marathonisi with her.

The MENIA MARIA I and the DELFINI seen once again in the port of Zakynthos.

Another view of the MENIA MARIA I and of the DELFINI together in Zakynthos.

The IKAROS PALACE seen along with the CAPTAIN KOSTAS. The latter joined Seven Islands Cruises in 2021, after having previously spent the first 26 years of her career as the EXPRESS NIKOS for Nikos Express (a company owned by the Fragkakis family which is based in Chalki), for whom she operated on the Rhodes-Chalki line on the Dodecanese. After being bought by Seven Islands Cruises, she underwent a major refit in Lefkada, during which her indoor areas were upgraded, while her outdoor decks were extended and her aft section was fully remodeled. As for the IKAROS PALACE, she has been owned by the company since 2003, and she has been performing her cruises based in Zakynthos since 2007. The other ships of Seven Islands Cruises serve the entirety of the Ionian Sea, with most of them performing cruises based in Lefkada, which is the island of origin of the Ktenas family which owns the company

Another view of the DIMOSTHENIS together with the DIMOSTHENIS K and the MY WAY. The two ships of Top Cruiser have been in Zakynthos since 1999 and 1994, respectively.

After having exited the port of Zakynthos, we were now sailing on the Ionian Sea in order to head to Kyllini. There, I saw a fleetmate of the ANDREAS KALVOS, namely the MARE DI LEVANTE, which was heading towards the opposite direction.

The MARE DI LEVANTE seen as she heads to Zakynthos. She was built just one year before the ANDREAS KALVOS, in 1984, and also in Japan, and she also began to operate on the Ionian Sea in 2003. This was after she was bought by the now-defunct company Tyrogalas Ferries, back when she was known as the IONIAN STAR. Together with the ANDREAS KALVOS (when the latter was still owned by Zante Ferries), she operated on the Kyllini-Zakynthos line and on the Kyllini-Kefalonia line under the Ionian Ferries joint venture, which was dissolved after she was acquired by Levante Ferries in 2015. This resulted in the formation of the Ionian Group joint venture (which included Levante Ferries and Zante Ferries), which itself ended in 2019 once the ANDREAS KALVOS also joined Levante Ferries, and with Zante Ferries therefore no longer having any ships operating on the Ionian Sea.

The MARE DI LEVANTE seen on the Ionian Sea, as she heads towards Zakynthos. This was her eighth season with Levante Ferries, which she joined in 2015. She was renamed MARE DI LEVANTE in 2016, when she underwent her first major refit with the company in Perama. She was the second ship to join the company, following the FIOR DI LEVANTE which had been bought in 2012 and had started service in late 2014 with much success.

Another view of the MARE DI LEVANTE on the Ionian Sea while she heads to Zakynthos. As she began service for Tyrogalas Ferries in late 2003, this was therefore her eighteenth consecutive season on the Ionian Sea, where she has been serving the Kyllini-Zakynthos line and the Kyllini-Kefalonia line. When she was owned by Tyrogalas Ferries, she was the flagship of the company. The latter ceased operations in 2016, when they sold the IONIS (which had previously been sent to operate on the Saronic Gulf during the 2015 season) to Leve Ferries.

The MARE DI LEVANTE seen en route towards Zakynthos. Since she began service for Levante Ferries, I have traveled with her four times, with the first time being exactly five years before my trip with the ANDREAS KALVOS, back on 30 July 2017. This was while I was heading from Kyllini to Zakynthos in order to spend time in the island during that year. My most recent trip with her last year, as I again was traveling with her from Kyllini to Zakynthos on 6 August 2021.

Another view of the MARE DI LEVANTE, which was one of the three ships of Levante Ferries that operated on the Kyllini-Zakynthos line and on the Kyllini-Kefalonia line during the summer of 2022, together with the ANDREAS KALVOS and the FIOR DI LEVANTE.

The MARE DI LEVANTE seen once again as she makes her way towards Zakynthos.

One last view of the MARE DI LEVANTE, as she continues to head towards the port of Zakynthos.

At about 09:15, we had finally arrived in Kyllini. Unfortunately, I was not able to spot the FIOR DI LEVANTE, as she had already headed to Kefalonia. Here is the ANDREAS KALVOS shorty after disembarking from her.

The ANDREAS KALVOS seen right after having docked in Kyllini.

The ANDREAS KALVOS seen docked in the port of Kyllini, prior to her next departure for Zakynthos.

The ANDREAS KALVOS seen in Kyllini for the last time before I headed to Athens with my family by car. After the summer ended, she returned to her winter service on the Patras-Kefalonia-Ithaca, while the KEFALONIA returned to serve on the Kyllini-Zakynthos line and on the Kyllini-Kefalonia line. I got to see the ship a few days ago, when I headed to Patras on 28 October 2022. I got to witness her departure from the old port of the city in order to head towards Kefalonia and Ithaca, which was quite exciting as this had been the first time that I had seen in a port other than Kyllini and Zakynthos.

And this therefore concludes the first Blog post covering the 2022 season. While this was a quick trip with very few other ships seen along the way, it was great to travel once again on the Ionian Sea, onboard a reliable ferry like the ANDREAS KALVOS, which continues to provide services of good quality despite her age. I did not note any differences between the last time that I had traveled with her back in 2021 and my trip with her this year, and she still has a nice front section balcony that gives a nice view over the Ionian Sea. Overall, this was a great way for me to start the summer in Greece, one which was then filled with many new experiences and discoveries, and, with that regard, numerous pictures and trips. All of them will be published in the next few weeks, but for the meantime, enjoy this nice post dedicated to the beautiful island of Zakynthos, where I was once again fortunate to go for yet another summer.

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