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CHAMPION JET 2 (ΤΣΑΜΠΙΟΝ ΤΖΕΤ 2) -Sea Jets Built in 1996 (age 30). Registered in Limassol. Current line: Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi The high speed ferry CHAMPION JET 2 was built in 1996 in Australia, as the CONDOR EXPRESS for the French company Condor Ferries. She began her career on the Channel, serving the Poole-Guernsey-Jersey line. In 1999 she was deployed on the Weymouth-Guernsey-Jersey line. In 2005, she was deployed on the Cherbourg-Poole line, under a partnership that was made between her company and Brittany Ferries. The following year she was deployed on the St Malo-Jersey-Guernsey-Poole line. In 2012 she again operated on the Cherbourg-Poole line under the partnership with Brittany Ferries, which was discontinued the following year. She returned to the St Malo-Jersey-Guernsey-Poole line in 2013. She was bought in 2015 by the Greek company Sea Jets, along with her sister ship, namely the CONDOR VITESSE, and the ships were renamed CHAMPION JET 2 and CHAMPION JET 1, respectively. The CHAMPION JET 2 was converted in Elefsina, and she was deployed on the Piraeus-Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini line. In 2017, she was deployed on the Heraklion-Rethymnon-Santorini-Ios-Naxos-Paros-Mykonos line. In 2020 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos line on the Western Cyclades. In 2022 she was inserted on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line, before returning to the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos line in 2023. In 2025 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line. PHOTOS (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) : CHAMPION JET 2 Crossing the CHAMPION JET 2 near Kea (7/2015). CHAMPION JET 2 Crossing the CHAMPION JET 2 near Kea (7/2015). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 arriving in Santorini (7/2015). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just entered the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just entered the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just entered the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just arrived in Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just arrived in Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just arrived in Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 awaiting to maneuver in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 awaiting to maneuver in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 awaiting to maneuver in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 ready to maneuver in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 maneuvering in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 maneuvering in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 maneuvering in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having completed her maneuvering procedure and ready to dock in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having completed her maneuvering procedure and ready to dock in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having completed her maneuvering procedure and ready to dock in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having finished her maneuvering procedure and ready to dock in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 docked in the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 departing the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 departing the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 departing the port of Ios (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 departing the port of Ios and heading towards Naxos (7/2017). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 departing Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 leaving Mykonos and heading towards Paros (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 en route from Mykonos to Paros (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 en route from Mykonos to Paros (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 berthed in Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 berthed in Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 beginning to leave Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 departs Mykonos (6/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having arrived in Naxos (7/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 approaching the port of Paros (7/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 approaching the port of Paros (7/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 approaching the port of Paros (7/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 heading towards the docking spot of the port of Paros (7/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 heading towards the docking spot of the port of Paros (7/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 heading towards the docking spot of the port of Paros (7/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 maneuvering in Paros (7/2018). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen resting in Piraeus (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen resting in Piraeus (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen resting in Piraeus (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 about to depart the port of Piraeus for her afternoon service on the Western Cyclades (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 about to depart the port of Piraeus for her afternoon service on the Western Cyclades (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 about to depart the port of Piraeus for her afternoon service on the Western Cyclades (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing the port of Piraeus (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing the port of Piraeus (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing the port of Piraeus (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having exited the port of Piraeus and heading towards Serifos (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having exited the port of Piraeus and heading towards Serifos (8/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 docked in Piraeus during the morning (9/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 docked in Piraeus during the morning (9/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in the port of Piraeus at night (9/2020). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 docked in Piraeus (7/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just exited the port of Piraeus (7/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just exited the port of Piraeus (7/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing Piraeus at dawn (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing Piraeus at dawn (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing Piraeus at dawn (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus at dawn (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus at dawn (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus at dawn (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 on her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 on her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 on her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 making her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus in order to head towards Serifos, Sifnos and Milos (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 making her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus in order to head towards Serifos, Sifnos and Milos (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 about to head towards the entrance of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 about to head towards the entrance of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 about to head towards the entrance of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the entrance of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the entrance of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the entrance of the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the port of Piraeus (8/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus (9/2021). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen docked in Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen docked in Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen docked in Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 A view of the CHAMPION JET 2 in Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she exits the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she exits the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she exits the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just exited the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just exited the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just exited the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen right after having exited the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen right after having exited the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen right after having exited the port of Piraeus (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having exited the port of Piraeus and now sailing at full-speed towards Paros (8/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just arrived in Piraeus (9/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just arrived in Piraeus (9/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus (10/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just arrived in Piraeus during the evening (10/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just arrived in Piraeus during the evening (10/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having just arrived in Piraeus during the evening (10/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she heads towards her docking spot in Piraeus (10/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she heads towards her docking spot in Piraeus (10/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (10/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (10/2022). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen while she undergoes her annual winter lay-up in Piraeus (1/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen while she undergoes her annual winter lay-up in Piraeus (1/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 performing her annual winter lay-up in Piraeus (2/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 performing her annual winter lay-up in Piraeus (2/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus (3/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus (3/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus, having returned to service on the Western Cyclades (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus, having returned to service on the Western Cyclades (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus, having returned to service on the Western Cyclades (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she proceeds towards her docking spot in Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she proceeds towards her docking spot in Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she proceeds towards her docking spot in Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she heads towards her docking spot in the port of Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she heads towards her docking spot in the port of Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she heads towards her docking spot in the port of Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen shortly before beginning her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in the port of Piraeus (4/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen docked in Piraeus (5/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen during an afternoon departure from Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen during an afternoon departure from Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen during an afternoon departure from Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards her docking spot in Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards her docking spot in Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards her docking spot in Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus and about to undergo her maneuvering procedure (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen docked in Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen docked in Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing the port of Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing the port of Piraeus (7/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 docked in Piraeus (8/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 docked in Piraeus (8/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 docked in Piraeus (8/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 resting in Piraeus (8/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 resting in Piraeus (8/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 resting in Piraeus (8/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just arrived in Piraeus during the evening (11/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just arrived in Piraeus during the evening (11/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just arrived in Piraeus during the evening (11/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just arrived in Piraeus during the evening, and heading towards her docking spot (11/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just arrived in Piraeus during the evening, and heading towards her docking spot (11/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen undergoing her annual winter refit in Piraeus, following the completion of her services on the Cyclades for the 2023 season (12/2023). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing Piraeus in the morning. She had resumed service and she was temporarily serving the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing Piraeus in the morning. She had resumed service and she was temporarily serving the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing Piraeus in the morning. She had resumed service and she was temporarily serving the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus during the morning (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus during the morning (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus during the morning (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (4/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (5/2024) CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (5/2024) CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (5/2024) CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen making her way towards her docking spot in the port of Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen making her way towards her docking spot in the port of Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen making her way towards her docking spot in the port of Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having returned to Piraeus and heading towards her docking spot (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having returned to Piraeus and heading towards her docking spot (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 having returned to Piraeus and heading towards her docking spot (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 proceeding towards her docking spot in the port of Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she is docking in Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she is docking in Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having docked in Piraeus (5/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus. She had returned to her usual service on the Western Cyclades, as she would spend the summer on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos line (6/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus (6/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus for her afternoon service to the Western Cyclcades (6/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus for her afternoon service to the Western Cyclcades (6/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus for her afternoon service to the Western Cyclcades (6/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus (6/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen docked in the port of Piraeus (6/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus during the morning (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus during the morning (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen departing the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus for her morning service to the Western Cyclades (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus for her morning service to the Western Cyclades (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she is departing the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she is departing the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she is departing the port of Piraeus (7/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus for her afternoon service to the Western Cyclades (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus for her afternoon service to the Western Cyclades (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus for her afternoon service to the Western Cyclades (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus and heading towards her docking spot (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus and heading towards her docking spot (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having docked in Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having docked in Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus immediately afterwards (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus immediately afterwards (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus during the evening (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus during the evening (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having returned to Piraeus during the evening (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards her docking spot in Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in the port of Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she is docking in the port of Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having docked in Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having docked in Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen resting in Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having left Piraeus and now sailing at full-speed on the Saronic Gulf, in order to head towards the Western Cyclades (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having left Piraeus and now sailing at full-speed on the Saronic Gulf, in order to head towards the Western Cyclades (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 spotted in the port of Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen as she leaves Piraeus (8/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus during the morning, while undergoing her annual winter lay-up following the completion of her season on the Cyclades (12/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus, while undergoing her annual winter lay-up (12/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus, while undergoing her annual winter lay-up (12/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus, while undergoing her annual winter lay-up (12/2024). CHAMPION JET 2 The CHAMPION JET 2 seen in Piraeus (12/2024).

TALOS (ΤΑΛΩΣ) -Creta Cargo Lines Built in 1971 (age 55 ). Registered in Piraeus. Current lines: Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini-Ikaria-Samos and Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos The Ro-Ro carrier TALOS was built in Norway in 1971. She was delivered as the STARMARK to Starmark Reederei, the German subsidiary of the Finnish company Avomeri Line, but she was then chartered during the 1971 season to the Swedish company Svenska Lloyd, being deployed on the Tilbury-Gothenburg line on the North Sea. In 1972 she was chartered to the Swedish company Tor Line, and she was deployed on the Rotterdam-Gothenburg line. She returned under the full-time management of Avomeri Line in 1974, and she was deployed on the Stockholm-Hanko-Helsinki line on the Baltic Sea. That same year she ran aground in Helsinki, but she was quickly repaired and she resumed service. In 1981, after her company went bankrupt, she was sold to the Greek company Manta Line. She was renamed RORO TRADER, and she began cargo operations in various destinations on the Mediterranean Sea and on the Red Sea while being based in Piraeus. In 1985 her company ceased operations, and she was sold to the Dutch company Holland-Sweden Line. She was renamed NIEKERK and she made her return to the Rotterdam-Gothenburg line. Her spell did not last long as her owners encountered financial and legal problems, and as a result she was chartered in 1986 to the British company Belfast Freight Ferries. She was deployed on the Heysham-Belfast line on the Irish Sea. She was bought by Belfast Freight Ferries the following year, and she was renamed SPHEROID. She was lengthened in 1990, and she continued to serve the Heysham-Belfast line until 2000, when she was laid-up in Birkenhead and she was listed for sale. She was bought in 2001 by the Greek company Mykonos ANE, and she was renamed MYCONOS. After a small conversion in Drapetsona, she was deployed on the Piraeus-Andros-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Limnos line. Her name was changed to MYKONOS in 2005. In 2008 she began operating on the Piraeus-Andros-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Skyros-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos line. In 2010 she was chartered to NEL Lines and she began operating under the NEL Lines Cargo division on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ikaria-Samos line, while in 2011 her service was extended to the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ikaria-Samos-Chios-Mytilene line. Her charter to NEL Lines ended in 2013, and she was laid-up in Drapetsona for one year. In 2014 she was bought by the newly-established Greek company Creta Cargo Lines. She was refitted in Perama and she was renamed TALOS. She began service on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ikaria-Samos-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos line and on the Piraeus-Santorini-Kythira-Chania-Rethymnon-Kos-Rhodes line. She grounded off in Chios in late 2016, but she was repaired in Chalkida and she returned to service. In 2017 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Ikaria-Samos-Chios-Mytilene line, on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Kos-Rhodes line and on the Piraeus-Santorini-Chania line. In 2020 she was inserted on the Piraeus-Andros-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ikaria-Samos-Kos-Rhodes line and on the Piraeus-Santorini-Chania line. In 2021 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini-Ikaria-Samos-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos line. In 2024 she operated on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Ikaria-Samos-Chios-Mytilene line and on the Piraeus-Santorini-Heraklion line. In 2025 she operated on the Piraeus-Heraklion line and on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Ikaria-Samos line, while in 2026 she was assigned on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini-Ikaria-Samos line and on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos line. PHOTOS (2020, 2022, 2024): TALOS The TALOS seen heading towards Piraeus during the morning (9/2020). TALOS The TALOS seen heading towards Piraeus during the morning (9/2020). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, as she is heading to Piraeus (8/2022). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, as she is heading to Piraeus (8/2022). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, as she is heading to Piraeus (8/2022). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf as she approaches Piraeus (8/2022). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf as she approaches Piraeus (8/2022). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf as she approaches Piraeus (8/2022). TALOS The TALOS seen heading towards Piraeus, after having returned from the Cyclades and the Northeast Aegean Sea (8/2022). TALOS The TALOS seen heading towards Piraeus, after having returned from the Cyclades and the Northeast Aegean Sea (8/2022). TALOS The TALOS seen in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (4/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (4/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (4/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on drydock at the Main Vassiliadis Drydock in Piraeus (5/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on drydock at the Main Vassiliadis Drydock in Piraeus (5/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on drydock at the Main Vassiliadis Drydock in Piraeus (5/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen undergoing her annual refit while on drydock at the Main Vassiliadis Drydock in Piraeus (5/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while she waits for her turn to berth in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (7/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while she waits for her turn to berth in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (7/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while she waits for her turn to berth in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (7/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while heading towards the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (7/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while heading towards the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (7/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while she waits for her turn to berth in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (8/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while she waits for her turn to berth in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (8/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while she waits for her turn to berth in the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (8/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while heading towards the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (8/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while heading towards the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (8/2024). TALOS The TALOS seen on the Saronic Gulf, while heading towards the Ro-Ro carrier terminal of Piraeus in Drapetsona (8/2024).

Ships Gallery In the following pages you can find the pictures of the different ships I have seen and photographed. Please note that all pictures are under my property, unless it is mentioned otherwise. Please do not use any picture for any secondary project without having asked for my permission first. Enjoy! PHOTOGRAPHED SHIPS: ACTIVE GREEK FERRIES AND HIGH SPEED CRAFT: ACHAEOS ADAMANTIOS KORAIS AGIA BARBARA AGIA MARINA AGIA MARINA ANTIPAROU AGIOI ANARGYROI AGIOS ATHANASIOS AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV AGIOS GERASIMOS II AGIOS NEKTARIOS AEGINAS AGIOS NIKOLAOS AGIOS NIKOLAOS L AGIOS SPIRIDON AIAKOS AIANTAS ALEXANDROS M ALKYON II ANDREAS KALVOS ANDROS JET ANNA MARIA ANO CHORA II ANTIGONE APOLLON HELLAS APOSTOLOS M AQUA BLUE AQUA JEWEL ARIADNE ARIS IV ARTEMIS ATHINA P BLUE CARRIER 1 BLUE GALAXY BLUE HORIZON BLUE STAR CHIOS BLUE STAR DELOS BLUE STAR MYCONOS BLUE STAR NAXOS BLUE STAR PAROS BLUE STAR PATMOS BLUE STAR 1 BLUE STAR 2 CALDERA VISTA CHAMPION JET 1 CHAMPION JET 2 DIAGORAS DIMITRIOS P DIMITRIOS S DIONISIOS SOLOMOS EIRINI K EKATERINI P ELENA A ELENI ELYROS EMPEDOKLIS EVIA STAR EXPRESS SKOPELITIS FANEROMENI FANEROMENI POROU IV FAST FERRIES ANDROS FESTOS PALACE FIOR DI LEVANTE FLYINGCAT 3 FLYINGCAT 4 FLYINGCAT 5 FLYINGCAT 6 FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA FLYING DOLPHIN VENUS I FLYING DOLPHIN XVII FLYING DOLPHIN XIX FLYING DOLPHIN XXIX GEORGIA M GEORGIOS GIANNIS S (ex-HYDRA I) GLYKOFILOUSA IV GLYKOFILOUSA V GLYKOFILOUSA VIII HELLENIC HIGHSPEED HIGHSPEED 4 IOANNIS SOPHIA K IOANNIS THIRESIA IOANNIS II IONAS IONIS KAPETAN CHRISTOS KAPTAN STAVROS KATERINA STAR KEFALONIA KONSTANTINOS K KNOSSOS PALACE KRITI I KRITI II KYDON PALACE KYRIAKI MACEDON MARE DI LEVANTE MARIA T MARMARI EXPRESS MATOULA K MEGANISI II MENEKRATIS MICHAIL N NAXOS JET NIKOLAKIS D NIKOLAOS A NISSOS POROS NISSOS RODOS NISSOS SAMOS NISSOS THIRASSIA OLYMPIC CHAMPION OLYMPUS ORION III OSIA METHODIA PANAGIA KOIMISIS II PANAGIOTIS D PANORAMA PANTANASSA PAROS JET PELAGITIS PHIVOS POSIDON HELLAS Show More POWER JET PREVELIS PROKOPIOS M PROTOPOROS VI PROTOPOROS X PROTOPOROS XI PROTOPOROS XIII PROTOPOROS XIV PSYTTALEIA II SALAMINOMACHOS SANTORINI PALACE SEA JET 2 SIFNOS JET SPEED CAT I SPEEDRUNNER JET (ex-SPEEDRUNNER III) SPORADES STAR (ex-AQUA STAR) SPYRIDON S STAVROS N SUPERCAT JET (ex-SUPERCAT) SUPEREXPRESS SUPERFAST I SUPERFERRY SUPER JET SUPERRUNNER JET (ex-SUPERRUNNER) SUPERSPEED SUPERSTAR (ex-SUPERFERRY II) SYMI TALOS TELAMON TERA JET Show More THEOLOGOS P THEOLOGOS V II THEOMITOR THEOTOKOS THUNDER VASOS K WORLDCHAMPION JET ACTIVE GREEK SMALL PASSENGER SHIPS: AGIA MARINA AEGINIS AGIOS EFRAÏM AGIOS NIKOLAOS AGIOS NIKOLAOS II AGIOS SOSTIS AGISTRI EXPRESS I AIMILIA ALCYON ALEXANDER ANEMOS ANNA MARU ANNA II ANNOULA II ANTIPAROS STAR ARTEMIS ATHANASIOS V AZIMUT BARBAYANNIS BOB SFOUGKARAKIS BUONA FORTUNA CALYPSO CAPTAIN KOULIS CAPTAIN LEFTERIS CHRISTINAKI CHRISTOS COSMOS DELFINI DELOS EXPRESS DIMOSTHENIS DIMOSTHENIS K ELAFONISOS ELEFTHERIOS D ELENA F EXPRESS PANORMITIS FANTASIA FREEDOM II FREEDOM III GARBIS GEORGIOS BROUFAS GEORGIOS BROUFAS II HELLAS HERMES K (ex-AFRICANA) IASON IKAROS PALACE IOANNIS D IONIAN SUN KAPETAN KONSTANTIS KAPETAN YIANGOS KASSANDRA DELFINOUS KELLY CRUISE KING THIRAS KYRIARCHOS KYRIARCHOS II KYRIARCHOS III KYRIARCHOS IV MAÏSTROS MARGARITA CH MENIA MARIA I MYKONOS EXPRESS MYKONOS JEWEL Show More MYKONOS SPIRIT MYKONOS STAR MYTILINAIOS CH NAXOS STAR NERAÏDA NISSOS TINOS OKEANOS ORCA ORPHEAS PANAGIA PANAGIA KAMATEROU PETROULA PLATYTERA TON OURANON POSEIDON POSEIDON PRESTIGE SALAMIS EXPRESS I SALAMIS EXPRESS III SANTA IRINI SANTORINI SARGOS II SEBECO SEBECO II SETI SOPHIA STAR SPETSES EXPRESS I SPETSES EXPRESS II SPYROS V STAVROULA V TAXIARCHIS D Show More THALASSA THEOSKEPASTI THIRASSIA II THYELLA TZORTZIA YPAPANTI INACTIVE GREEK FERRIES, HIGH SPEED CRAFT AND SMALL PASSENGER SHIPS: ALEXANDRA L EL. VENIZELOS KALLI P SAONISOS TAXIARCHIS ZAKYNTHOS 1 FORMER GREEK FERRIES, HIGH SPEED CRAFT AND SMALL PASSENGER SHIPS OPERATING OVERSEAS: AGGELIS F AQUA SPIRIT ARIS III CRUISE EUROPA FLYINGCAT 1 HIGHSPEED 6 KNOSSOS PALACE KYDON NEARCHOS ODYSSEAS ELYTIS PANAGIA FANEROMENI PROTOPOROS XVI SUPERFAST XII THEOCHARIS MARIA L RETIRED SHIPS HAVING PREVIOUSLY OPERATED IN THE GREEK COASTAL SERVICE: BARI EUROPEAN EXPRESS EXPRESS PEGASUS FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII IONIAN SKY JET FERRY 1 MYTILENE PANAGIA TINOU RIGEL I VITSENTZOS KORNAROS PHOTOGRAPHED PORTS: AEGINA AGISTRI ANTIPAROS ANTIRRION DELOS FLOISBOS GALATAS TROIZINIAS HYDRA IGOUMENITSA IOS KIMOLOS KOUFONISI KYLLINI LAVRION MYKONOS NAXOS NEA KAMENI PAROS PERAMA PIRAEUS POROS RAFINA RION SALAMINA SANTORINI SIFNOS SPETSES SYROS TINOS ZAKYNTHOS OTHER PHOTOS: FUNNELS MODELS STICKERS

Paros is undoubtedly one of the most popular and most visited islands of the Cyclades and of Greece as a whole. Known for its proximity to other popular islands like Mykonos, Santorini and Naxos, it is known for its beautiful architecture, excellent beaches and hospitality, and delicious food. Moreover, the island has the well-known port village of Naoussa, where one can find some amazing restaurants and bars right next to the sea. Its close neighbour, Antiparos, is also a well-known and visited island, notably amongst campers. Generally-speaking, it is a fantastic island worthy of visiting during the summer. In terms of maritime transportation, Paros is surely one of the most favoured islands in Greece. Indeed, the island sees the most connections, arrivals and departures on all of the Aegean Sea, if the Saronic Gulf is not included. In the summer, it welcomes dozens of ships from most of the major Greek coastal service companies. During that period, there are also numerous high speed craft serving the island, and almost all the top ships of the Greek coastal service make calls there. As the island is part of the extremely popular Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line, is connected with Naxos and the Lesser Cyclades, is included on popular summer Heraklion-Cyclades services, and has now recently been added to itineraries of ships leaving from Rafina, the island is guaranteed to have dozens of calls from different ships everyday. Thus, for a shipping enthusiast like me, such a place is ideal. During the summer of 2018, I got to discover many Cyclades islands for the first time in my life. Paros was one of them, as I stayed there with my family from 26 July to 29 July, just after having spent four days in Naxos. I arrived there with the BLUE STAR PATMOS of Blue Star Ferries, which brought me from Naxos to Paros on the morning of 26 July 2018. We stayed at nice house (which we had booked through Airbnb), which happened to have an incredible view towards the sea, and notably in the area where ships begin to approach the island's port, located in the town of Paroikia. Therefore, I could see several arrivals and departures from various Greek ferries and high speed craft. Hence, just like the post dedicated to the high speed craft that had called the port of Ios when I visited the island during the summer of 2017, this post will display all the arrivals and departures of ferries and high speed craft that I managed to capture throughout my stay in Paros. I took several pictures on the morning of 27 July, as well as on the morning and evening of 28 July, while also taking two additional pictures in the morning of 29 July, shortly before leaving the island in order to head back to Athens. Thus, I will show you each picture according to its respective date of capture. Without further ado, let the photo show begin. 27 July 2018: The first ship that I got to see that morning was the BLUE STAR PATMOS of Blue Star Ferries, on which I had traveled the day before. She was heading to Paros from Naxos. The impressive BLUE STAR PATMOS seen approaching the port of Paros. Built in 2012, she spent her first three seasons on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line, before transferring to the Cyclades in late 2014. Since the summer of 2015, she has been serving Paros every summer. She was on the Piraeus-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Donousa-Amorgos-Ios-Santorini-Anafi-Astypalaia line in the summers of 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2018, her service was limited to the Piraeus-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini-Anafi line. The BLUE STAR PATMOS seen heading towards the port of Paros. I have traveled onboard her three times (the most times I have traveled with one ship on the Cyclades): the first time was on 7-8 July 2015 from Piraeus to Santorini, the second time from Santorini to Ios on 10 July 2017, and the third time was just a day before I took this picture, on 26 July 2018 from Naxos to Paros. After the BLUE STAR PATMOS had arrived in Paros, I saw a ship departing the port: it was the well-known high speed ferry HIGHSPEED 4 of Hellenic Seaways, which was departing the island in order to head towards Naxos. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen leaving Paros. Built in 2000 in Australia, she has spent her entire career under the same owner. Hellenic Seaways was previously known as Minoan Flying Dolphins (1999-2002) and then as Hellas Flying Dolphins (2002-2005) before being rebranded under its current name in 2005. The HIGHSPEED 4 has impressively served Paros in all but two seasons throughout her 19 years in Greece so far! Indeed, the only two times when she did not make calls to Paros were in 2005, when she was on the Piraeus-Chania line, and in 2009, when she was on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line. Thus, she is one of the most appreciated ships in the island and has been identified with Paros throughout all of her incredible career. The HIGHSPEED 4 leaving Paros in order to head towards Naxos, which she has also been serving every summer, except for 2005, 2009 and 2015. Since 2016, she has been deployed on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line, a line that she also served successfully in 2014. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen exiting the port of Paros. The HIGHSPEED 4 now at full-speed on her way to Naxos, Koufonisi and Amorgos. Shortly after the BLUE STAR PATMOS had docked in Paros, she was already departing in order to return to Piraeus. The BLUE STAR PATMOS seen from the house where we were staying during our time in Paros. She is now departing the island in order to return to Piraeus. The much-acclaimed BLUE STAR PATMOS departing Paros. She operates from Piraeus to the Cyclades during the evening, and returns from the islands to Athens' main port during the morning. The BLUE STAR PATMOS having started her return trip to Piraeus. The BLUE STAR PATMOS, which I have grown to know very well thanks to the three great trips that I had with her. The BLUE STAR PATMOS now at open sea, making her return to Piraeus. Barely a few minutes after the BLUE STAR PATMOS had left Paros, I saw another ship approaching the port: it was the high speed craft NAXOS JET of Sea Jets. The NAXOS JET arriving in Paros, after having arrived from her namesake island, Naxos. The NAXOS JET was formerly known as the CYCLADES EXPRESS of NEL Lines, operating for them only during the 2010 season on the Heraklion-Santorini line. Afterwards, due to the company's financial problems, she was laid-up in Salamina from 2010 to 2016. That year, she was sold to Sea Jets, which went on to refit her during two years. She entered service for the first time in 8 years on the Rafina-Andros-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line, where she operated successfully. In the meantime, another ferry was seen approaching the island: it was the BLUE STAR NAXOS, which was arriving from Piraeus and Syros. Built in 2002, the BLUE STAR NAXOS has spent her entire career on the Cyclades under Blue Star Ferries. In these 17 years, she has spent all but three summer seasons calling the island of Paros! This was only during the summers of 2012, 2013 and 2014, when she was operating on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line. Since 2015, she has been operating on the Lesser Cyclades lifeline, being on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Irakleia-Schoinousa-Koufonisi-Amorgos-Santorini line in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2018, she was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Irakleia-Schoinousa-Koufonisi-Donousa-Amorgos-Santorini-Astypalaia line (adding Donousa and Astypalaia, which were previously served by the BLUE STAR PATMOS). The BLUE STAR NAXOS approaching Paros. She connects Piraeus with the Lesser Cyclades on a daily basis through a very tight schedule leaving Piraeus at 06:45 every morning, and returning there the following day at 05:00. The crew only has one hour and thirty minutes to rest before her next departure there. This is why she is such an exceptional ship. While the BLUE STAR NAXOS was arriving in Paros, she would begin to see some company, as the high speed ferries TERA JET of Sea Jets and SUPERRUNNER of Golden Star Ferries were also racing against each other, having arrived from Mykonos. The BLUE STAR NAXOS approaching Paros, with the TERA JET and the SUPERRUNNER seen right behind. The BLUE STAR NAXOS begins to approach the port of Paros located in Paroikia. In the meantime, the TERA JET and the SUPERRUNNER are seen racing against each other in order to see which ship will make it to the port first. Both ships became fierce competitors in 2017, the year during which they made their debuts on the Rafina-Cyclades service provided by their companies. The TERA JET was indeed deployed on the Rafina-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line, while the SUPERRUNNER (previously known as the SPEEDRUNNER IV of Aegean Speed Lines from 2009 to 2016) began service under her new owners on the Rafina-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line. The BLUE STAR NAXOS, one of the best ships in Greece, seen approaching Paros. The never-ending racing contest between the TERA JET and the SUPERRUNNER. Due to both of them being excellent and very fast high speed craft, their owners engaged in both a price war and port racing contests in Tinos, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos (as the SUPERRUNNER then continues her trip to Ios and Santorini, while the TERA JET heads back to Rafina) in order to see which ship would moor first (with a view of impressing passengers). Despite the heated rivalry, both ships had an excellent first season, as they also did in 2018. No incidents and very rare engine failures have been reported so far. Thanks to them, their companies won the prestigious award 'Passenger Line of The Year' provided by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards, in 2017 and 2018, respectively. While the show is taking place near the Northern part of the Paroikia Bay area, I got to see another ship, which had just been behind her fleetmate while heading towards Paros. It was the BLUE STAR DELOS of Blue Star Ferries, the sister ship of the BLUE STAR PATMOS, which had also arrived from Piraeus. The racing contest between the TERA JET and the SUPERRUNNER, two of Greece's best high speed craft. Two things the ships have in common is that they were both built in the same country, Italy, and in the same year, 1999. The racing contest coming to a close here. Due to her making a sharper turn, the SUPERRUNNER seems to be the one that will be docking in Paros first. In the meantime, the BLUE STAR DELOS was arriving in Paros at her own pace. I had traveled onboard her four days before taking this picture, as I was heading from Piraeus to Naxos (via Paros). The SUPERRUNNER seen near Paros, after having overtaken the TERA JET. She was hence the winner of the racing slot from Mykonos to Paros. The TERA JET seen following her rival from right behind. She is the flagship of Sea Jets, and has had two massively successful seasons so far while operating from Rafina to the Cyclades. In 2018, the island of Andros was added to her itinerary, hence she was deployed on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line. It impressive how she arrives in Paros at the same time as the SUPERRUNNER, as the latter does not serve Andros. The SUPERRUNNER seen advancing towards the port of Paros, right behind her rival. That summer, I had the chance to travel onboard her on 17 June 2018, heading from Ios to Mykonos, via Naxos and Paros. The BLUE STAR DELOS on her way towards Paros. Built in 2011, before her sister ship, she has spent her entire career so far on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line (though she does not serve Ios during the summer), and has been hailed as the best day ferry in Greece by many. The TERA JET and the SUPERRUNNER having lowered their speed in order to begin their maneuvering procedures in Paros. The TERA JET and the SUPERRUNNER both beginning to head towards the port of Paros. The BLUE STAR DELOS is seen behind them. If you check the pictures I took during my trip with her, I had the exact same pattern of departures and arrivals when the ship was heading towards Paros. Indeed, I saw the BLUE STAR PATMOS leaving Paros in order to head towards Piraeus, then saw the NAXOS JET leaving the island in order to go to Mykonos, followed by the departures of the SUPERRUNNER and of the TERA JET from Paros to Naxos, followed shortly by the BLUE STAR NAXOS. Hence, I witnessed the same spectacle both from the sea and from the shore, within a span of five days. A nice view of the Paroikia Bay: the TERA JET and the SUPERRUNNER are heading towards the port of Paros, while the NAXOS JET has just departed, whereas the BLUE STAR NAXOS has just docked there. The two rivals, the TERA JET and the SUPERRUNNER, heading towards the port of Paros. You can see that the TERA JET makes a last attempt at trying to pass by the SUPERRUNNER shortly before docking. The NAXOS JET seen departing Paros. In her debut season under Sea Jets, the NAXOS JET would leave Rafina for the Cyclades islands in the afternoon, reaching Naxos in the evening and spending the night there. She would leave her namesake island in the morning, in order to return to Rafina in the early afternoon. The TERA JET operated on the same line as her (with the exception of Syros), but carried out the trip in the morning, returning to Rafina in the late afternoon of the same day. The BLUE STAR DELOS seen approaching the port of Paros. The BLUE STAR DELOS having entered the Paroikia Bay and heading towards Paros' port. The BLUE STAR DELOS and the NAXOS JET seen right outside of the port of Paros, repeating the same encounter that I had experienced four days earlier while traveling onboard the Blue Star Ferries ship. Another view of the BLUE STAR DELOS approaching the port of Paros. In the meantime, all three ferries that had been docked immediately departed it. All of them were heading towards the same destination: Naxos. The SUPERRUNNER had left first, followed by the TERA JET and then by the BLUE STAR NAXOS. The SUPERRUNNER taking the lead and heading from Paros to Naxos, during her second season under Golden Star Ferries. The TERA JET following her right behind. The summer of 2018 was her fifth consecutive in Greece and under Sea Jets. Both high speed ferries were being followed by the BLUE STAR NAXOS, which was also heading towards her namesake island. The TERA JET beginning to sail under full-speed towards Naxos, hoping to catch up the SUPERRUNNER. The BLUE STAR NAXOS on her way from Paros to Naxos. This was it for the day, and I really got to see how impressive the morning traffic in Paros is. 28 July 2018: The following morning, I unexpectedly saw some new faces which I had not seen the previous day. One of them was the ferry AQUA BLUE of Sea Jets (trading as Sea Jets Ferries), which was heading towards the port of Paros, followed by the BLUE STAR PATMOS which was arriving from Naxos. The veteran ferry AQUA BLUE preparing to enter the port of Paros. It was her debut summer under Sea Jets Ferries, which had acquired her in 2017. Before that, she was the notable IERAPETRA L of ANEK Lines (from 2009 to 2016) and of LANE Sea Lines (from 1999 to 2009). She had also operated earlier in her Greek career under ANEK Lines having served the Adriatic Sea initially as the KYDON (1991-1995) and then as the TALOS (1995-1999). Her debut season under Sea Jets Ferries marked her first summer of operations since 2014, when she had been operating on the Bari-Durrës line. After that year's summer, she suffered a severe fire incident while heading from Igoumenitsa to Perama for her annual refit, and was badly damaged. Due to her advanced age (she was built in 1975) and her damages following that fire, it was believed that she would be sold for scrap. However, miraculously, the ship was saved by Sea Jets Ferries, which bought her and repaired her in Perama and in Drapetsona in 2017, renaming her AQUA BLUE in 2018. For her debut season, the AQUA BLUE operated on an impressively long lifeline: the Thessaloniki-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos-Andros-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Santorini-Heraklion line. She thus connected Thessaloniki (Greece's second largest city, located in the Northern part of the country, in Macedonia) with the Sporades, the main Cyclades islands and Crete. This was the first time that a ship had been on such a line since the late DIMITROULA of GA Ferries, which had operated there until 2008. Due to her slow speed, the ship would arrive in Heraklion two days after leaving Thessaloniki. The BLUE STAR PATMOS arriving in Paros from Naxos, just like she had done when I did my trip with her two days before taking this picture. The AQUA BLUE, having arrived from Mykonos, seen heading towards the port of Paros. The BLUE STAR PATMOS seen approaching Paros as well. The BLUE STAR PATMOS on her way to Paros. The BLUE STAR PATMOS, which was on the Piraeus-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini-Anafi line that season, seen heading towards Paros. The magnificent BLUE STAR PATMOS seen near Paros. The BLUE STAR PATMOS having entered the Paroikia Bay. Next to her (the small ship at the bottom left of the picture) is the small passenger boat HELLAS of Antiparos Speedline NE, which operates on the Paros-Antiparos line. A few moments after the arrival of the BLUE STAR PATMOS in Paros, the HIGHSPEED 4 was seen arriving from Piraeus. The HIGHSPEED 4 having quickly entered the Paroikia Bay. The HIGHSPEED 4, a favourite in Paros, approaching the island's port. The HIGHSPEED 4 maneuvering in Piraeus. She is now the only high speed ferry to operate for her company alongside the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED, following the sale of the HIGHSPEED 7 to Minoan Lines in 2018, which spent her first season under her new owners as the SANTORINI PALACE. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen approaching Paros, while the AQUA BLUE has already unloaded passengers and vehicles and loaded new ones. She was now leaving the islands in order to head to Naxos. The HIGHSPEED 4 and the AQUA BLUE, two completely different ships, seen together outside of the port of Paros. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen alongside the AQUA BLUE. The latter was built 25 years before the former, and she had arrived in Greece 10 years before the high speed ferry did. The AQUA BLUE was built in Japan, while the HIGHSPEED 4 was built in Australia. The AQUA BLUE heads towards Naxos, while the HIGHSPEED 4 heads towards her docking spot in Paros. The nice AQUA BLUE seen leaving Paros. The AQUA BLUE heading out of the Paroikia Bay. While the AQUA BLUE was leaving Paros, she spotted one of her fleetmates approaching the port. This was the ANDROS JET of Sea Jets, which, like the AQUA BLUE, was having her debut season under her new owners. The ANDROS JET and the AQUA BLUE seen near Paros. The AQUA BLUE heading from Paros to Naxos. The ANDROS JET meanwhile heads towards the port of Paros, having arrived from Syros. The ANDROS JET joined Sea Jets in late 2017, following a 20-year-long career in Turkey, having operated on the Yalova-Pendik line as the CEZAYIRLI HASAN PAŞA 1 for the Turkish company İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri (İDO). After a conversion in Perama and in Chalkida, she entered service in 2018, on her company's inter-Cyclades lifeline. She was more specifically on the Lavrion-Kea-Kythnos-Andros-Tinos-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Donousa-Amorgos-Koufonisi-Schoinousa-Irakleia-Folegandros-Sikinos-Ios-Thirassia-Santorini-Anafi line. Taking over the service from her fleetmate, the classic ferry AQUA JEWEL, which was sent on charter to Azores-based company Atlântico Line for the summer, she endured a very troublesome first season. Despite being faster than the AQUA JEWEL she could not transport lorries, and was also plagued by a handful of engine failures, which resulted in several delays and multiple trip cancellations. This was not essential for a very long and demanding line. The ANDROS JET seen heading towards Paros, having arrived from Syros. The ANDROS JET on her way towards the port of Paros. Later that day, I saw the BLUE STAR DELOS approaching the port of Paros. As it was early in the evening, she had been returning to the island from Santorini and Naxos. After 20 minutes in the port, the BLUE STAR DELOS left Paros in order to begin her return trip towards Piraeus. The fantastic BLUE STAR DELOS on her way to Piraeus having left Paros. The BLUE STAR DELOS having left Paros in the evening, just before the incredible Cyclades sunset. 29 July 2018: That morning, I only took two pictures. Here, the BLUE STAR PATMOS is seen leaving Paros in order to return to Piraeus, just like her sister ship had done so the previous evening, as seen in the pictures right above. The HIGHSPEED 4 following the BLUE STAR PATMOS, though she was heading towards Naxos. Later that day, I would find myself onboard her, as I traveled with her in order to return from Paros to Piraeus. There is no doubt that these days were absolutely unique from a shipspotting point of view. Seeing so many well-known and acclaimed ferries and high speed craft come and leave one after the other was incredibly fascinating. Notably, I saw how the traffic in Paros is intense compared to other islands in Greece. The first day saw me witnessing countless arrivals and departures, including an entertaining racing contest between two rival high speed craft, while the second and third day showed both habitual as well as occasional visitors to the island. It really was a fantastic experience which I will hardly forget. #ferries #highspeedcraft #summer2018 #greece #cyclades #aegean #paros #paroikia #bluestarpatmos #bluestarnaxos #bluestardelos #bluestarferries #highspeed4 #hellenicseaways #naxosjet #terajet #aquablue #androsjet #seajets #seajetsferries #superrunner #goldenstarferries #hellas #antiparosspeedlinene

Trip: 29 July 2018. From Paros to Piraeus, with the HIGHSPEED 4 of Hellenic Seaways. Among the best high speed craft and ships of the Greek coastal service, the HIGHSPEED 4 was built in 2000 in Australia, being the fourth high speed ferry to join the Greek company Minoan Flying Dolphins. The latter was formed in 1998 by the late Pantelis Sfinias as a subsidiary of Minoan Lines, and by late 1999 it had become the primary ferry operator on the Aegean Sea, having acquired almost all conventional ferries from traditional family-owned companies (such as Agapitos Express Ferries, Agapitos Lines, Lindos Lines, Nomicos Lines and more) and all the high speed craft (hydrofoils and passenger catamarans) of Ceres Flying Dolphins. Having become the company with the largest market share on the Cyclades, the Sporades, the Saronic Gulf as well as having a strong presence on the Dodecanese, Crete and the Northeast Aegean Sea, Minoan Flying Dolphins sought to strengthen its presence by introducing the 'Highspeed' brand, which consisted at the time of four high speed ferries that were to be deployed on the Cyclades. The first one, namely the HIGHSPEED 1, had already been built in 1996 in The Netherlands and had served under Minoan Lines from 1997 to 1999. The other three were all ordered for 2000 at the well-known Austal Shipyard. The HIGHSPEED 2 and the HIGHSPEED 3 were completed in early 2000 and entered service on the Cyclades. The larger and faster HIGHSPEED 4 followed them a few months later, and she began service on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos line, where she immediately earned much acclaim for her fast and comfortable service. She made such an impact that her success, being one of the few shining stars of Minoan Flying Dolphins just as the company saw its reputation being completely tarnished the tragic sinking of the ferry EXPRESS SAMINA on 26 September 2000. Despite the impact of this horrifying and the subsequent instability that it caused on both her owners and the Greek coastal service as a whole, the HIGHSPEED 4 was still able to uphold strong competition, notably against Blue Star Ferries which had also deployed newly-built ferries on the Cyclades. Minoan Flying Dolphins was renamed Hellas Flying Dolphins in 2002, and during that same year the ship was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Paros line. She was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line in 2003. In 2005 her company was rebranded as Hellenic Seaways, and she was deployed on the Piraeus-Chania line, where she would be making the trip between the two ports in just four-and-a-half hours! Despite this success, Hellenic Seaways preferred to operate a conventional ferry there, while having the 'Highspeed' brand focused primarily on the Cyclades. Thus, in 2006 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Chania line. In 2008 she was assigned on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line. In 2009 she was on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line, and in 2010 she operated on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line, where she would go on to form a spectacular duo with her fleetmate, namely the HIGHSPEED 5, during both seasons. She stayed there in 2011 and in 2012, before being deployed solely on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos line in 2013. In 2014 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line, where she was very successful. In 2015, following the fire suffered by the HIGHSPEED 5 (which later became the HIGHSPEED 7 and which is now the SANTORINI PALACE of Minoan Lines), the HIGHSPEED 4 replaced her on her usual service, namely on the Heraklion-Santorini-Ios-Paros-Mykonos line for the summer. She returned to the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line in 2016, where she has since been remaining. Based on this detailed historical background, everyone can clearly see that, for almost two decades, the HIGHSPEED 4 has been among the most successful ships in the Greek coastal service and a major asset for her company on the Cyclades, which she has served in every year of her career except during the 2005 summer season (when she was operating on the Piraeus-Chania line). Her long presence in the area, combined with her extremely fast and comfortable service, has made her a favourite amongst Cyclades residents and tourists, and she has been praised for contributing to a faster connection between the islands and Athens. Rarely hit by engine troubles, she has also been able to efficiently cover any service left by her fleetmates when they would be having an incident, including during the summer. Due to her success, she has been one of the most appreciated ships of the Cyclades, and she is particularly acclaimed in Paros and in Naxos, which are the two islands that she has been serving for almost every season since she began her career in Greece. Furthermore, her deployment in Koufonisi and in Amorgos in the past few years has also played a key role in the continued growth of the tourist activity for both these up-and-coming islands of th Cyclades. Throughout her career, she has also done some popular overnight trips, notably in Paros (which she has been doing since 2016), as well as in Santorini, Syros and Mykonos. Over the years, the Greek economic crisis and bad decisions made by her company have led to a decline of the 'Highspeed' brandname, with Hellenic Seaways selling the HIGHSPEED 2 and the HIGHSPEED 3 to the now-defunct Moroccan company Comarit in 2010, the HIGHSPEED 1 to the South Korean company Jang Heung Ferry in 2011, the HIGHSPEED 6 to the Spanish company Naviera Armas in 2017, and the HIGHSPEED 5/HIGHSPEED 7 to Minoan Lines in 2018. Currently, only the HIGHSPEED 4 and the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED (previously known as the HELLENIC WIND, and which has been owned by Hellenic Seaways since 2009, but she only actually began operations for them from 2016 onwards) are the two remaining high speed ferries of their type that still operate for the company. The HIGHSPEED 4 is notably the only ship of the 'Highspeed' brandname to have operated in every single summer season of Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins/Hellenic Seaways throughout their whole existence. Now that Hellenic Seaways has been acquired by Attica Group since early 2018, her future is uncertain as the latter is not particularly fond of high speed craft. Nevertheless, she is set to operate this season and to continue her excellent service under Hellenic Seaways, always on the Cyclades. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen in the port of Paroikia in Paros, three days before my trip with her. Now it is finally the time to speak about my trip with this much-acclaimed ship. Indeed, as you now know it based on my previous posts, I had spent some time in Paros with my family during the summer of 2018. Indeed, we stayed there between 26 July and 29 July, while having also spent most of 27 July in the neighbouring island Antiparos. It was obviously my first-ever trip with this ship, and, as I had already traveled with the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED back in 14 July 2017 from Ios to Piraeus, this meant that I had now traveled with both the current Hellenic Seaways ships that are part of the 'Highsped' brandname. It was also my first-ever trip with an Austal-built high speed craft, and overall my fifth trip with a Greek high speed ferry (with all trips involving ships operating on the Cyclades). It was also my second-ever trip with a ship of Hellenic Seaways outside of the Saronic Gulf, after my aforementioned trip with the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED during the summer of 2017. We arrived in the port of Paroikia in Paros 30 minutes before the ship's planned arrival and immediate departure. She was arriving from Naxos, as part of her return trip from the Cyclades to Piraeus during the day. As she was operating on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line, Paros was obviously the last island in which she would stop during her return leg to Piraeus. Therefore, this trip did not include any stops in any islands (therefore making it my first-ever trip with a Greek high speed ferry without making any intermediate stops between my embarkation port and my disembarkation port). She was due to arrive at 14:10 and leave at 14:20, which she performed as planned. Before the HIGHSPEED 4 arrived, I witnessed an unexpected but exciting arrival, namely that of the legendary conventional ferry SUPERFERRY II of Golden Star Ferries, which was arriving from Mykonos. Built in 1974 in Belgium and present in Greece since 1992, the SUPERFERRY II has spent her entire career on the Greek coastal service serving the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line, with additional islands being added over the years. Surely the best-ever ship to have operated on this specific service, she is regarded by many as the greatest day ferry, and possibly the greatest Greek coastal service ship, of all time. Her longevity, large capacity, speed, comfortable amenities and exciting outdoor areas have been all hailed for more than 25 years. Her conversion is also considered to be one of the best amongst second-hand ships delivered to Greek ferry operators. The iconic SUPERFERRY II seen approaching Paros. In 2018, she had her debut season on a new service introduced by her owners, which linked Rafina with the Cyclades and Crete for the first time ever, namely on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Ios-Santorini-Heraklion line. She was deployed there together with her fleetmate, namely the SUPERFERRY. The SUPERFERRY II heading towards the port of Paroikia Paros. Despite her now being one of the oldest ferries operating on the Cyclades, her service is still appreciated and acclaimed by passengers. Her indoor areas were notably refurbished in 2017, making them more modern and comfortable, and therefore allowing her to continue to provide excellent service onboard for many more years to come. The SUPEFERRY II seen in Paros. She was bought by the now-defunct Greek company Strintzis Lines in 1992. Initially renamed IONIAN EXPRESS and planned to be deployed on the Patras-Kefalonia-Ithaca line on the Ionian Sea, it was decided during her conversion that she would take over the service of her fleetmate, namely the SUPERFERRY (the 'original' one, which still operates today, as the MAHABBAH of Egyptian-Saudi Arabian company Namma Lines, on the Safaga-Jeddah line, which connects Egypt and Saudi Arabia via the Red Sea), which was deemed too large to operate on the Cyclades, while also lacking the necessary garage (despite her tremendously successful indoor amenities). Having been renamed SUPERFERRY II, she was introduced on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Syros-Astypalaia-Kalymnos-Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Rhodes line in 1993, before operating solely on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Syros line beginning in 1994. From the moment she began service on the Cyclades, she immediately earned great acclaim. The ship then joined Blue Star Ferries in 2000, which had been established after Strintzis Lines were taken over by Attica Group, and she remained on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line. After the 2010 season, she was sold to the newly-established Greek company Golden Star Ferries, which refurbished her and redeployed her on the Rafina-Cyclades service. Her success inspired the company to purchase more ships in the following years, with their fleet now reaching six ships as of April 2019. The SUPERFERRY II seen making her way towards the port of Paros. Since operating for Golden Star Ferries, she has made extensions to Naxos in 2011 and 2012, as well as in both Naxos and Paros in 2016. During her twenty-sixth season in Greece, she was now performing a long trip from Rafina to Heraklion, via six islands of the Cyclades. The SUPERFERRY II seen about to begin her maneuvering procedure in Paros. The impressive SUPERFERRY II, with her famous front-section balconies (which were added during her conversion in 1992-1993), preparing to maneuver in Paros. The SUPERFERRY II seen about to maneuver in Paros. She is the last ship among those built in Belgium between the 1950s and the 1970s which went on to have successful spells in Greece (mostly on the Cyclades), after having first operated under the iconic Belgian company Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT). This group of ships is known as the 'Gentle Belgians', and it included legendary ships, such as the late AIGAION of Agapitos Lines (1976-1992) and later of Agapitos Express Ferries (1992-1996); the late GEORGIOS EXPRESS, perhaps the best ferry in the history of the Greek coastal service, of Ventouris Ferries (1980-1983), Ventouris Sea Lines (1983-1996) and later Agios Georgios Ferries (1996-2009, although the company had ceased operations in 2001); the latter's sister ship, namely the BARI EXPRESS, of Ventouris Ferries (1983-1997), and later the EXPRESS HERMES of Agapitos Express Ferries (1997-1999) and then a fleetmate of the HIGHSPEED 4 under Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins (1999-2003); the late LYDIA of the now-defunct Greek company Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (1985-1995); and lastly the sister ship of the SUPERFERRY II, namely the PANAGIA TINOU 2 of Ventouris Sea Lines (1993-1997), later the EXPRESS ATHINA of Agapitos Express Ferries (1997-1999), then being a fleetmate of the HIGHSPEED 4 under Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins (1999-2005) and Hellenic Seaways (2005-2007), before ending her career as the EXPRESS LIMNOS of Saos Ferries (2007-2011). The SUPERFERRY II is the only ship from that group that is still in existence and still operating in Greece to date. A view of the well-known funnel of the SUPERFERRY II. Its shape has remained intact since the start of her career on the Channel. It now features her current owners' logo, which is that of a star painted in both gold and white. If you can see the funnel more precisely, you can notice the marks of the old logo of RMT, which is still visible despite having been painted over evert since the ship left Belgium in 1992. The SUPERFERRY II seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Paros. The SUPERFERRY II, which is the true definition of a legendary ferry, is seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Paros. She would then head towards Ios, Santorini and Heraklion, arriving at the Cretan port towards the evening. The SUPERFERRY II having finished her maneuvering procedure and beginning to head in Paros. I know that this post should be focusing on the HIGHSPEED 4. However, after having seen the SUPERFERRY II before my planned trip, I could not avoid posting all the photos I took of that legendary ship. The SUPERFERRY II having finished her maneuvering procedure and now about to dock in Paros. The SUPERFERRY seen having almost docked in Paros. I had the chance to perform a trip along a large portion of her new service on 14 June 2018, when I traveled from Rafina to Ios (via Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Paros) with her fleetmate, namely the SUPERFERRY. The SUPERFERRY II seen docking in Paros. Several minutes after the SUPERFERRY II had arrived and docked in Paros, the HIGHSPEED 4 had finally arrived in Paros, and she began to unload several passengers and vehicles immediately. The ones that were about to board immediately quickly started to approach the vessel. Like all high speed craft of Hellenic Seaways, she carries a livery promoting the Greek telephone service company Cosmote, whose logo is visible on both sides of her hull and in her aft section (next to the garage entrance). The HIGHSPEED 4 was previously promoting the rival operator Vodafone even back in her Hellas Flying Dolphins days, when the two companies agreed to paint all high speed craft (except hydrofoils) with Vodafone's red colours in 2003. This lasted until 2013, when Hellenic Seaways opted to switch from Vodafone to Cosmote. All high speed craft (this time including the hydrofoils) were painted in lawn green (which was Cosmote's main colour at the time). After Cosmote changed its logo in the fall of 2015, all ships were repainted ahead of the 2016 season in different shades of blue around their aft section, in white in the middle section of their hull, and in different shades of green around their bow. It was now time for us to board the ship. The entrance can be accessed through both sides of the aft section thanks to the side ramps (which are used by passengers only, while the main central ramp is used by vehicles). They each lead to an alley which takes passengers to the upper decks, where the indoor lounge areas are located. Above the entrance to this alley, one can see the logo of Hellenic Seaways. Underneath it, there are welcome signs written in Greek (top) and English (bottom), as well as the company's website and telephone number. After arriving at the first accommodation deck thanks to the staircase, one can spot the company's reception desk near the starboard side. The small reception desk features a glass poster featuring the logo of Hellenic Seaways, hanging in the background. Next to the reception desk, I spotted a large banner featuring the company's logo (known for its famous three dolphins). Above it, the company states, in Greek, 'For 18 years, the Aegean Sea has been our destination'. Hence, the poster was to commemorate the company's 18 years in service (although the company was founded in 1999, their first summer was during the 2000 season). Thus, despite being known under that name since 2005, Hellenic Seaways still considers their predecessors, namely Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins, as part of the company's history. Next to the reception desk, the indoor lounge area of the lower deck could be already seen. As it is common with high speed craft, most of the seats are aircraft-style seats aligned throughout the length of the of the area. The aircraft-style seats on the starboard side of the ship on the lower deck, which features the Economy Class. The seats used for the VIP Class section is located on the upper deck. A view of the indoor lounge area on the ship's lower deck, which features very comfortable aircraft-style seats, some of which are placed around tables, while the ones next to the windows are usually aligned in triples one behind the other. A view of the indoor lounge area of the lower deck towards the middle section of the ship. Between the open alleys, there are some aircraft-style seats with a blue cover, with all of them having a table in front of them. Not far from the reception desk, the ship has a large bar, which is operated by the Greek coffee chain Everest. The modern bar has a wide range of products for passengers, namely coffee, water, juices, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, fruits, sandwiches, snacks and biscuits. The ship's onboard retail store, called Shopping Island, which sells various products such as clothes, bags, jewelry, toys, books, gadgets and more. The front section of the Economy Class lounge area in the lower deck, which also features aligned aircraft-style seats placed around wooden tables. At the back of the room are the ship's well-known front-section windows. At the corner of the starboard side towards the front section of the indoor lounge area in the lower deck, one can see a small alley leading to a staircase which heads towards the front section of the ship's garage. A quick view of the ship's garage, which is only accessible to cars, motorcycles and small vans. In total, she can carry up to 190 such vehicles onboard. Towards the middle section of the Economy Class lounge area covering the lower deck is the ship's well-known atrium area, which leads to the upper deck featuring the VIP Class lounge area. The glass underneath the rails was decorated with stickers advertising Coca-Cola beverages on the Cyclades. The small outdoor area of the HIGHSPEED 4, located on the aft section the lower deck. It is only accessible to passengers when the ship is in a port and hence at low speed. You can also see the ship's Greek flag proudly flying from the upper deck. While I was exploring the HIGHSPEED 4's outdoor areas, I noticed that the SUPERFERRY II had already departed for Ios. And I instead saw another ship having arrived in Paros. Indeed, it was the high speed ferry ANDROS JET of Sea Jets, which operates on one of the two main subsidised inter-Cyclades lifelines together with the fleetmate of the HIGHSPEED 4, namely the conventional ferry ARTEMIS. The ANDROS JET seen in Paros. This was her first summer under Sea Jets, after having been bought shortly after the completion of the 2017 season. During her first year, she operated on one of the two main inter-Cyclades lifelines, namely the Lavrion-Kea-Kythnos-Andros-Tinos-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Donousa-Amorgos-Koufonisi-Schoinousa-Irakleia-Folegandros-Sikinos-Ios-Thirassia-Santorini-Anafi line. The ANDROS JET seen departing Paros. Her first season under Sea Jets was quite turbulent, as she had several engine failures, which caused her to experience significant delays. This was problematic, especially when considering the long and demanding line on which she was operating. However, when she was operating normally, she would perform the service much faster than the ship that she was replacing and which was present there during the 2017, namely the conventional ferry AQUA JEWEL (also owned by Sea Jets), which had been sent on charter to the Portuguese company Atlântico Line in order to operate on the Azores Archipelago for the summer. A view of the small funnel of the ANDROS JET, which features the logo of Sea Jets under a navy blue background. The ANDROS JET seen departing Paros. Coincidentally, she was built in the exact same shipyard as the HIGHSPEED 4, namely at the Austal Shipyard in Australia. She was built three years before the latter, having been ordered by the Turkish company İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri, under the name CEZAYIRLI HASAN PAŞA 1. She operated on the Yalova-Pendik line for exactly twenty years, until she was sold to her current owners, namely Sea Jets, in 2017. The ANDROS JET seen leaving Paros. Although she was built in the same shipyard as the HIGHSPEED 4, she is much smaller in length and beam, in addition to having far lower passenger and vehicle capacity levels. The ANDROS JET seen having departed Paros. The ANDROS JET now sailing at full-speed after having left Paros. While the ANDROS JET was leaving the port of Paros (followed by our own eventual departure), I also spotted her fleetmate, namely the high speed ferry CHAMPION JET 2, which heading towards the port after having arrived from Naxos. The CHAMPION JET 2 seen approaching Paros. Owned by Sea Jets since 2015, she was operating on the Heraklion-Rethymnon-Santorini-Ios-Naxos-Paros-Mykonos line, which she served for the second season in a row. The ANDROS JET seen leaving Paros, while the CHAMPION JET 2 heads towards the latter. The ANDROS JET seen leaving Paros in order to head towards Naxos. The CHAMPION JET 2 seen making her way towards Paros, while we are departing the port. Passing by the CHAMPION JET 2 in Paros. She was built in 1996, also in Australia. However, she was not built in Austal, but rather in the rival shipyard, namely the Incat Shipyard. Most high speed craft currently owned by Sea Jets were built there during the 1990s. Hellenic Seaways only had one Incat-built ship, namely the HIGHSPEED 6, which was built there in 2000 (the same year as the HIGHSPEED 4). She joined Hellenic Seaways in 2010, and she was sold by the company to the Spanish company Naviera Armas in 2017. She now operates in Spain as the VOLCÁN DE TENO, having spent the 2018 season on the Las Palmas-Santa Cruz de Tenerife line on the Canary Islands Archipelago. The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the port of Paros. She was previously operating on the Channel as the CONDOR EXPRESS of the French company Condor Ferries, connecting France and Great Britain with the British Channel islands of Guernsey and Jersey. She was sold in 2015, alongside her younger sister ship, namely the CONDOR VITESSE, to Sea Jets. She was renamed CHAMPION JET 2, while the CONDOR VITESSE was renamed CHAMPION JET 1. The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the port of Paros, during what was her fourth season under Sea Jets on the Cyclades. She spent her first two seasons on the Piraeus-Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini line, before moving to her current service in 2017. The speedy CHAMPION JET 2 seen about to begin her maneuvering procedure in Paros. The CHAMPION JET 2 beginning to undergo her maneuvering procedure in Paros, as we have already departed the port. Another view of the ANDROS JET as she is making her way towards Naxos. The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having finished her maneuvering procedure in Paros and beginning to dock in the port. As the HIGHSPEED 4 begins to depart, I was able to take a picture of her starboard side water jet, which is the main source behind her speed. It located right underneath the passenger ramp. I unfortunately had to head inside the ship's indoor area as no passenger is allowed to remain outdoors while the high speed craft is sailing (a policy found on all Hellenic Seaways high speed ships). After barely three hours, we had reached Piraeus at 17:30. As access to outdoor areas was still restricted while the ship was heading towards her docking spot in the E7 gate, I had no choice but to head to the garage alongside my family. As the garage was at full capacity, we had to wait for a long time before making it out, thus ending our trip. While this trip with the HIGHSPEED 4 was short and lacked intermediate stops, I was still happy to have finally been able to travel with her, as she is a ship that is considered to be one of the most beloved ships of the Cyclades. Her service is extremely fast, but also very comfortable. In fact, I barely had the time to sit and read a shipping magazine and I had already felt like we were near our destination. Her indoor areas are very impressive and still give the impression that she is a newly-built ship, even though she will be turning 20 next year. While the 'Highspeed' brandname is unfortunately on a considerable decline, luckily she is still operating in Greece, showing how she has been one of the best high speed craft of her company, and of the Greek coastal service as a whole, for so many years. It is not surprising to hear that she is one of the favourite ships of the Cyclades residents and tourists. This trip further made me understand the reasons behind their statements. #highspeed4 #hellenicseaways #atticagroup #summer2018 #greece #cyclades #aegean #paros #piraeus #superferryii #goldenstarferries #androsjet #championjet2 #seajets #tribute

Trip: 12-13 August 2022. From Rhodes to Piraeus, via Kos and Samos, with the ARIADNE of Hellenic Seaways. The beautiful cruiseferry ARIADNE (bearing my grandmother's name) was built in 1996 in Japan. She began her career there, as the RAINBOW BELL for the Japanese company Kyuetsu Ferry, being deployed on the Naoetsu-Fukuoka line. She was laid-up in 2001 in Naoetsu. In 2002 she was sold to Shuttle Highway Line, being deployed on the Yokosuka-Fukuoka line, and two years later she was sold to the Japanese company Miyazaki Car Ferry, being renamed FERRY HIMUKA. She entered service on the Hannan-Hyūga-Miyazaki line, before being laid-up in 2006. A few months later, however, she was sold to the Greek company Hellenic Seaways, thus becoming their first acquisition under their new company name (they were previously known as Minoan Flying Dolphins from 1999 to 2002 and later as Hellas Flying Dolphins from 2002 to 2005). She was renamed ARIADNE, becoming in the process the third ship in the history of the Greek coastal service, with the first having been previous ferries of Minoan Lines (the first one was the legendary ARIADNE which operated from 1975 to 1999, while the second one was the 2002-built Ro-Pax ferry which was later renamed ARIADNE PALACE before being sold in 2006 to the Italian company Moby Lines). The new ARIADNE underwent an extensive conversion in Keratsini, during which her indoor areas were fully renovated, and in late 2007 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Chania line, where she competed against ANEK Lines. Despite her impressive size and amenities, she began service during the late high season and ANEK Lines was able to hold on to their loyal customers by bringing in their flagship, namely the OLYMPIC CHAMPION, from the Adriatic Sea. The move proved to be effective, and therefore Hellenic Seaways sought to find another area of employment for their large ferry. As such, in the winter of 2008, the ARIADNE was briefly chartered to Minoan Lines in order to replace that company's ships on the Adriatic Sea, which were undergoing their annual refits. She was deployed on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Venice line. Later in 2008 she was chartered to ANEK Lines, being deployed once again on the Piraeus-Chania line. After that summer she went to the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona line, and in 2009, as Hellenic Seaways still did not manage to find a spot for her within their plans, she moved abroad as she was chartered to Algérie Ferries for the summer. There, she was inserted on the Marseille-Oran line between France and Algeria. She repeated the same process in 2010 and in 2011 (namely a winter charter to ANEK Lines on the Adriatic Sea and a summer charter to Algérie Ferries). In 2012 however she did not operate at all, except for her usual summer charter in Algeria. In 2013 she was again due to operate only in the summer for Algérie Ferries. Having been left over by Hellenic Seaways as a result of her large size (which at the time prevented her from being used across many services that included underdeveloped ports) and high running costs, she remained sidelined from her company's plans, despite being one of the most modern and luxurious ferries carrying the Greek flag and despite being one of the favourite ships of Greek shipping enthusiasts (including myself). That year, however, she unexpectedly made a breakthrough for Hellenic Seaways. Her fleetmate, namely the NISSOS MYKONOS (today the BLUE STAR MYCONOS of Blue Star Ferries), which was operating on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Ikaria-Samos line on the Northeast Aegean Sea, suffered a minor fire incident, which caused her to undergo repairs for a month. She was replaced by her sister ship, namely the NISSOS CHIOS, which had been operating on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line. However, there was no replacement for the latter, apart from the ARIADNE, which was being prepared for her charter in Algeria. She was therefore deployed on a temporary basis on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line, and she was a massive success, helping her company return to profitable levels. Although she later left for Algeria, she returned to the Northeast Aegean Sea once the summer season ended, and she replaced the NISSOS CHIOS (today the BLUE STAR CHIOS of Blue Star Ferries) on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line. The latter was then chartered in 2014 to the Spanish company Baleària for four years, which meant that the ARIADNE had permanently taken over the line. In 2015, she operated on the Piraeus-Samos-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos-Kavala line for the summer. The following year, with the introduction of the NISSOS SAMOS, she returned to the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line. In 2018, with the various changes undertaken by Attica Group following their acquisition of Hellenic Seaways, she unfortunately left Greece once again, as she was chartered to the Italian company Tirrenia Di Navigazione, being deployed on the Naples-Cagliari-Palermo line on the Tyrrhenian Sea. After three years there, she returned to Hellenic Seaways in 2021, and she was deployed on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Santorini-Samos-Patmos-Leros-Kos-Symi-Rhodes line, thus taking over the service left by the BLUE STAR 1 of Blue Star Ferries (previously her competitor on the Northeast Aegean Sea from 2015 to 2018), which was chartered to Irish Ferries. Having now completed two consecutive summers in Greece after having been away in Italy for some time, it is certainly a joy for shipping enthusiasts like me to know that she has returned to the country with the purpose of remaining there. Indeed, considering her career path and the various moves that she made, she has certainly been one of the most 'mobile' ships in the Greek coastal service. If we exclude her successful spell on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line from 2013 to 2018, she has alternated between temporary deployments on services of Hellenic Seaways and charters both within Greece and abroad, serving the former in Crete and on the Adriatic Sea. She was originally due to make her mark for her company on the Piraeus-Chania line, but after just a few months of operations with them, she was deemed to surplus requirements and not used for any of their services until she finally found a role on the Northeast Aegean Sea in 2013. The reasons behind this certainly include the different managerial and financial issues faced by the company in late 2000s and in the early 2010s, but it is mostly due to the ship's attributes. In fact, some believe that she is 'excessive' as a ship for the Greek coastal service. This is true to a certain extent, as in the start of her Greek career she was deemed too large to operate on certain islands of the Cyclades or the Dodecanese, and even on the Northeast Aegean Sea. She was instead considered ideal for Crete and the Adriatic Sea, but her smaller amount of cabins for services to the former and her slower speed for services on the latter have put her at a disadvantage. Moreover, her status as 'excessive' is also highlighted by the fact that her large size and numerous amenities require a larger crew and higher engine and onboard consumptions, which has also meant higher running costs at the expense of her operators. But in spite of these issues and her regular service changes, she has proved to be a very popular ship and one of the most beloved ferries in Greece. Her impressive and imposing silhouette, her large size, and her beautiful indoor areas have made her an acclaimed ferry that was appreciated by many passengers in Crete and on the Northeast Aegean Sea in particular. She also has very good speed levels for the Aegean Sea, and she is performs smooth sailings providing much comfort to anyone traveling with her. And now, she completed her second summer serving the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, where her owners had previously avoided sending her due to her size. On the contrary, she has proved that she is also able to serve these areas' main islands with great success, and she therefore complemented the services of Blue Star Ferries with much effectiveness. Since her return, she has also become a workhorse for Attica Group, having provided services on the Adriatic Sea and on the Dodecanese during the winter, while covering for the usual ships operating there as they underwent their annual refits. As such, one can hope that she finally found a useful purpose within the operating structure of Hellenic Seaways, just like she had done so back when she was operating on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line with much success. Having stated the above, the idea of traveling with the ARIADNE was without a doubt a major dream of mine as soon as I learned that she had returned to Greece in 2021. She is a ship that has always impressed me, and she also has an additional symbolical value as she reminds me of my late grandmother who was also named Ariadni. I was always curious to experience a trip on the Aegean Sea onboard her, and this dream finally became a reality when we decided to plan a trip on the Dodecanese with my parents for the 2022 season. Having visited the islands of Patmos, Arkioi, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos and Symi, we finished our 10-day trip by spending two evenings in the area's main island, namely Rhodes. We had arrived there from Symi on 10 August 2022 with the BLUE STAR CHIOS, with which we had therefore done our second trip, after having previously done our very first one to the Dodecanese by sailing with her from Piraeus to Patmos on 2 August 2022. After having seen all these wonderful islands and spending a fantastic time in each one of them (while also getting to see and travel with numerous ships of the Greek coastal service for the first time), we were planning to make our return back to Athens. And that trip would be done onboard the ARIADNE, which would be leaving in the afternoon of 12 August 2022 in order to arrive in Piraeus the following morning. This overnight trip would include us staying at a cabin, which would also be a nice experience as I had not been on one in many years. Altogether, traveling with the ARIADNE was quite eventful as it had several fun facts marked by numerous 'firsts'. Indeed, it was my first trip from an island of the Dodecanese to Piraeus, my first such trip while sailing overnight, my first-ever full-night trip (meaning that I would be reaching my destination the following day at daylight) on the Aegean Sea and my first one in Greece since 2018, and the trip also became the longest that I ever did on the Aegean Sea both in terms of duration and distance covered. It was also my first trip while using passenger cabins since 2008 (the last time having been while heading from Patras to Ancona with the OLYMPIC CHAMPION), and my first-ever such trip on the Aegean Sea. It was also my first-ever trip with a ship of Hellenic Seaways on the Dodecanese, and my first trip with a conventional ferry of the company since 2012, with the last one having been when I sailed from Piraeus to Aegina with the POSIDON HELLAS (which has been owned by 2way Ferries since 2015) a decade prior. The trip was also my first one with a conventional ferry of Hellenic Seaways outside of the Saronic Gulf, and my first trip with a conventional ferry of the company since the latter was taken over by Attica Group in 2018. Furthermore, by heading to Samos as part of our return leg, this would mark my first time sailing through the Northeast Aegean Sea, even though I did not disembark there. Finally, it was my first-ever trip with a Japanese-built cruiseferry on the Aegean Sea, and my first trip with this kind of ship since 2006, with the last one having been from Patras to Venice onboard the LEFKA ORI of ANEK Lines, which has been known as the BLUE GALAXY of Blue Star Ferries since 2015. A view of the beautiful ARIADNE in the port of Rhodes, just a few moments before embarking onboard her for the first time in my life. The ARIADNE seen while docked in Rhodes. This was her second consecutive season on the Cyclades and on the Dodecanese, which she began serving in 2021 following her return to Greece and to Hellenic Seaways after having spent three years under charter to Tirrenia Di Navigazione in Italy. A view of the ARIADNE in Rhodes. Ever since been owned by Hellenic Seaways, she has been the largest passenger ship to have ever operated for the company. A view of the large garage of the ARIADNE, which is spread across five out of the ship's 11 decks (namely from Deck 2 to Deck 6). The ferry can carry up to 650 vehicles, which makes her a very useful ship for the transportation of numerous cars and lorries across the Cyclades, the Northeast Aegean Sea and the Dodecanese. This is a view from the main entrance area from Deck 3. Something noteworthy to state is that the ship has three ramps allowing for vehicle embarkation and disembarkation, with two of those located on the starboard side of the vessel (one in the aft section and the other in the front section behind the bow). This is a typical feature found on large Japanese-built cruiseferries, which continue to use them upon their deployment in the Greek coastal service, as it enables them to load and unload large amounts of vehicles in a very efficient manner. Upon embarking onboard the ARIADNE, we took the escalators which led us to the central section of Deck 7, where we got to see the Embarkation Desk area, which features the well-known ceiling displaying a white compass looking over the top of the small desk located there. While this area is no longer in use, it remains the greeting point for passengers upon their embarkation. Besides the Embarkation Desk area, there is one small lounge area featuring several comfortable aircraft-style seats. Known as the Santorini Lounge, it is one of the many lounge areas featuring only aircraft-style seats onboard the ship. All these areas are named after Greek islands, something which is even more prominent on Deck 8 and on Deck 9. The seats on the Santorini Lounge area were recently refurbished, and they feature a nice purple design, while the walls are decorated with beautiful paintings depicting different kinds of ships. After passing by the Santorini Lounge area, we headed to the main reception area, whereupon we collected our keys for the cabin in which were planning to stay overnight. Located on Deck 7 (which is one of the three indoor decks dedicated to passenger accommodation), it has nicely-shaped desk made by both wood and marble. Next to it are several dark brown armchairs together with a brochure holder displaying numerous magazines promoting the companies which are part of Attica Group, namely Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways. Another view of the section located next to the main reception, known as the Central Lounge, which features more dark brown armchairs. While moving towards the middle section of the ship after having gone by the reception area on Deck 7, one can pass through the Agora Lounge, which covers the two promenade sections on both sides of the ship that surround a bar which bears the same name. There, one can find a beautifully-decorated lounge area with several grey lounges located next to the ship's windows. Inside the Agora Lounge area is the ship's self-service restaurant, which covers a significant area owing to the large amount of passengers that the ship can carry. At the other side of the self-service restaurant is the ship's à la carte restaurant, which is known as 'Restaurant Silver Star'. With a beautiful setup of tables looking towards the sea, it gives passengers the chance to enjoy a nice meal while also admiring the Aegean Sea. Inside the Agora Lounge, on the port side, one can also find the ship's onboard shop, which is known as 'Shopping Island'. As it is the case with most ships of the Greek coastal service, it sells various souvenir items and gadgets primarily for tourists traveling in Greece. Moving further towards the front section of Deck 7, there is a much larger indoor lounge area known as the Crystal Lounge, which features more brown lounge and comfortable orange armchairs. Another view of the Crystal Lounge area, which also has a bar operated by Flocafé, which serves coffee, juices, soft drinks and snack to passengers seating there. After having seen Deck 7, I proceeded to Deck 8, with the atrium area towards the aft section displaying a sign showing the names of the three lounge areas that cover that deck at that specific section of the ship. These are the Corfu Lounge and the Cefallinia Lounge (Cefallinia is an alternative way to refer to Kefalonia), which are named after the two famous islands of the Ionian Sea. Next to them is another lounge area featuring a bar known as 'Café Del Mar'. A view of the chairs and table located next to the 'Café del Mar' bar, which is located right next to the outdoor sun deck area that is located in the aft section of Deck 8. These seats are much more modern and have a more original shape compared to the armchairs found on Deck 7. A view of the bar found in the 'Café del Mar' lounge area, which is operated by the well-known Greek coffee chain Everest. Interestingly, the sign at the top of the bar displays the area's name as 'Café del Mare', which differs from the name displayed on other signs found onboard the ship. Besides the outdoor sun deck area and the 'Café del Mar' bar, Deck 8 primarily features passenger cabins and indoor lounge areas featuring only aircraft-style seats. There are five such areas on that deck, with the first one being the Kalymnos Lounge area (named after the island of the Dodecanese which I got to see for the first time just six days before my trip with the ARIADNE). Right in front of the Kalymnos lounge area is the Ikaria lounge area, which features aircraft-style seats with the same design as the former. It is named after the famous island of the Northeast Aegean Sea. At the central section of the ship is the Rhodes Lounge area, which is wider and features more aircraft-style seats. Named after the main island of the Dodecanese (and also the island on which we happened to be at the start of the trip), it features rows of sage green and dark brown aircraft-style seats. Another view of the Rhodes Lounge area, as seen from the ship's starboard side. It features the same pattern of aircraft-style seats seen in the previous picture, which was covering the port side. Moving back towards the aft section from the ship's starboard side, the lounge areas that feature the aircraft-style seats at the same level as the Kalymnos Lounge area and the Ikaria Lounge area are known as the Patmos Lounge Area (shown in this picture) and the Samos Lounge Area. Both of them have names of islands that the ARIADNE began to service since her return to service under Hellenic Seaways in 2021. Moving further forward along Deck 8, from the central section covering the Rhodes Lounge area up until the front section windows, one can find many of the ship's passenger cabins. The ARIADNE has a total of 145 cabins for a total of 467 berths, and they can be found on Deck 9 as well. This number is deemed sufficient for trips along the Northeast Aegean Sea and the Dodecanese, but it is far below the required demand for service in Crete. This was one of the main factors behind her withdrawal from the Piraeus-Chania line on which she was originally deployed at the start of her career in Greece. A view of the cabin in which I stayed with my parents during my trip with the ARIADNE. It was a four-bed cabin that also had one small office desk. It also featured the usual upper beds that are able to be folded into the wall. The beds were very comfortable, in spite of the area's small size. After seeing the indoor areas of Deck 8, I quickly headed to Deck 9, which features more passenger cabins and indoor lounge areas that only have aircraft-style seats. There are six of those on that deck, with all of them being named after islands of the Cyclades. Most specifically, these include the Amorgos Lounge area, the Syros Lounge area and the Delos lounge area (which are all located towards the central section of the ship), together with the Paros Lounge area, the Naxos Lounge area and the Mykonos Lounge area (which are further towards the front section). The latter is reserved to First Class ticket-holders, and features more modern aircraft-style seats. This picture shows the Delos Lounge area, which is the only one that is not located next to any of the ship's windows. Having seen and photographed most of the ship's indoor areas, it was now time for me to explore the outdoor areas too. This is a view of the aft section outdoor sun deck area located on Deck 8, just outside of the 'Café del Mar' bar. It is the smallest of the two outdoor sun decks, with the other one being located on Deck 9. The latter is connected to Deck 8 through two main staircases, one of which (at the left corner of the picture) has a slight spiraling shape. A view of the larger outdoor sun deck area located in the aft section of Deck 9. Featuring several blue plastic chairs surrounding small white round tables attached to the deck, they offer passengers a nice view of the vessel's surroundings. A further view of the outdoor sun deck area located in Deck 9, while facing towards the ship's middle section. In addition to the numerous chairs and tables, there is also another bar which is operated by Everest. Moving further towards the front section of the ship, there is a side alley that enables passengers to head up to the vessel's bridge. This is the one found on the starboard side on Deck 9. On the right side, one can find several life-rafts as well. Deck 10 and Deck 11 (which only covers a length from the aft section to the middle section) are located just above, and they are know to host the crew cabins. As I began looking around the port of Rhodes, I got to see this nice little wooden sailing ship, named ARGO, which was heading towards the port's entrance. Further in the background is a product tanker of the well-known Greek shipping company Avin International, which is under the control of the prominent Vardinogiannis family (of which one of its members, namely Ioannis S. Vardinogiannis, used to be the chairman of the board of Hellenic Seaways from 2008 to 2013, and he is currently the CEO of ANEK Lines. Back when the latter company had shares in the former during the late 2000s, he orchestrated the numerous charters of the ARIADNE to his company and Algérie Ferries). Right behind the sailing ship ARGO, I saw a small passenger ship that was also heading back to the port of Rhodes. Indeed, it was the CAPTAIN MICHALIS of Captain Michalis Cruises, which is one of the many ships of her kind that perform daily cruises around the island, serving some of its most popular beaches. She specifically heads to the famous beach of Lindos, as well as to the small islet of Exonisi. Another view of the CAPTAIN MICHALIS as she completes her daily cruise in Rhodes. Just after the summer season ended, she was sold to another company based in Rhodes, namely Rhodes Day Cruises. She was subsequently renamed ROMANTIKA DREAMS, and she is due to begin service for her new owner for the first time this summer. At about 16:15, the ARIADNE departed from Rhodes, thus marking the start of our trip. From a further distance, I got to spot a familiar face, namely the BLUE STAR CHIOS of Blue Star Ferries, which was seen arriving from Castellorizon. A view of the BLUE STAR CHIOS as she is seen arriving in Rhodes from Castellorizon. Built in 2007 in Greece, she is none other than the former fleetmate of the ARIADNE, namely the ex-NISSOS CHIOS of Hellenic Seaways. Indeed, she spent the first 13 years of her career with that company before it was taken over by Attica Group in 2018, after which she joined Blue Star Ferries in 2020. Her sister ship, namely the NISSOS MYKONOS (built in 2005), also did the same move, becoming the BLUE STAR MYCONOS in the process. The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen as she is arriving in Rhodes, from which the ARIADNE had just departed. Since joining Blue Star Ferries, she has been the main ship operating on the lengthy Dodecanese lifeline linking all islands of the archipelago with Piraeus and the Northeast Aegean Sea, having been deployed on the Piraeus-Ikaria-Fournoi-Astypalaia-Patmos-Leipsoi-Leros-Kalymnos-Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Symi-Rhodes-Kasos-Karpathos-Castellorizon lifeline since 2020. She had also been serving the latter since 2018, having been inserted there during her final two seasons with Hellenic Seaways. With Blue Star Ferries, she also performs one return tip per week during the summer season on the Piraeus-Mykonos-Chios-Sigri line on the Northeast Aegean Sea. Another view of the great BLUE STAR CHIOS, on which I had the chance to travel twice during the summer of 2022. Indeed, she was the first ship on which I traveled in order to head to the Dodecanese, doing so on 2 August 2022 in order to go from Piraeus to Patmos. I then sailed onboard her for the second time while heading from Symi to Rhodes on 10 August 2022. It was therefore nice to see the ship with which the trip to the Dodecanese began, as well as the ship which took my to Rhodes for the first time (just as we were leaving the island and the Dodecanese altogether). A view of the BLUE STAR CHIOS during her third season with Blue Star Ferries. Just like the ARIADNE, she first began service for Hellenic Seaways in 2007. As the NISSOS CHIOS, she was initially on the Piraeus-Chania line, before moving to the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line after the ARIADNE has completed her conversion. She would later go on to be replaced by that very same ship once again after the 2013 season, after which she spent four years under charter to the Spanish company Baleària. As such, despite being two of the best ferries that Hellenic Seaways has ever had, both the ARIADNE and the NISSOS CHIOS actually spent very moments operating together for the company at the same time. Indeed, from early 2008 until 2013, the ARIADNE was being chartered to various other operators, while the NISSOS CHIOS was absent from Greece from 2014 to 2018. By the time she came back, the ARIADNE was sent under charter to Tirrenia Di Navigazione in Italy. And by the time the ARIADNE had returned to Hellenic Seaways in 2021, the NISSOS CHIOS had already joined Blue Star Ferries as the BLUE STAR CHIOS in 2020. While they are no longer fleetmates, they nevertheless still remain collaborators as both their companies are part of Attica Group. One last view of the BLUE STAR CHIOS, as she is about to head towards the entrance of the port of Rhodes. Moments after our departure, I got to see another notable ship. Indeed, it was the conventional ferry STAVROS of Saos Ferries, which was seen heading towards Rhodes. The STAVROS seen as she is making her way towards Rhodes. Built in 2001 in Greece, she has spent her entire career so far with Saos Ferries, being initially known as the SAOS II during her first 18 years with them, before she was renamed in 2019. She operates on the Astypalaia-Kalymnos-Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Chalki-Symi-Rhodes-Castellorizon lifeline, thus providing additional inter-Dodecanese services in addition to those offered by companies such as Dodekanisos Seaways or ANEK Sea Lines. Another view of the STAVROS. She has been operating on the Dodecanese since 2020, having first been deployed on the os-Nisyros-Tilos-Chalki-Symi-Rhodes-Castellorizon lifeline, before she began to serve Kalymnos and Astypalaia as well during the 2022 season. Crossing the STAVROS on the Dodecanese, as she is seen heading towards Rhodes. Her company was previously based in Samothraki, while having also deployed several ships on the Northeast Aegean, on the Sporades and on the Cyclades, during the 2000s. After the infamous fiasco in Samothraki during the 2019 season (during which the STAVROS-then still known as the SAOS II-and her fleetmates all experienced major engine failures which prevented the island from being connected with the rest of Greece by ferry), Saos Ferries moved to the Dodecanese in 2020, having since deployed the STAVROS and their small high speed boat, namely the ZEFYROS (which was introduced on the Samos-Agathonisi-Farmakonisi-Arkioi-Patmos-Leipsoi-Leros-Kalymnos-Pserimos-Kos lifeline). The company's other conventional ferry, namely the SAONISOS, has not resumed service since 2019, and, despite rumours of a potential deployment on the Dodecanese as well, she has remained laid-up in Lavrion since 2021. The STAVROS seen sailing towards Rhodes, during her third consecutive season on the inter-Dodecanese lifeline. Another view of the Greek-built STAVROS, which had previously operated on the Northeast Aegean Sea, while having also connected the island of Samothraki with the Cyclades and the Sporades on certain occasions during the mid 2000s. Back then, Saos Ferries experienced a major fleet expansion, buying numerous ferries from abroad on which they performed (for most cases) questionable conversions, and ultimately by 2009 they were on the verge of bankruptcy, with all their ships except for the STAVROS (then known as the SAOS II) being arrested by their crews. Most of them were eventually sold for scrap between 2011 and 2013. The only ship, namely the STAVROS (as the SAOS II), remained in service on their flagship itinerary along the Alexandroupolis-Samothraki line, which she served until 2019 (she also operated on the Lavrion-Limnos-Samothraki-Alexandroupolis line during the 2017 season only). After her company withdrew from that service, the latter was taken over by the ADAMANTIOS KORAIS of Zante Ferries. Crossing the STAVROS, as she heads to the port of Rhodes. The STAVROS seen as she sails on the Dodecanese. In spite of all the troubled years that her company has experienced since the turn of the century, the ship has notably been providing regular services, and always at very high standards. The STAVROS seen as she heads to Rhodes, from which she would then sail in order to reach Castellorizon, which is the Easternmost island of the Dodecanese and of Greece as a whole, being about 74 nautical miles East of Rhodes. One last view of the STAVROS, as she continues to make her way towards Rhodes. As we were sailing towards Kos (which was our first stop, followed by Samos), we also passed by the island of Symi (which was not part of our itinerary that day). I had the chance to go there for the first time on 9 August 2022, before heading to Rhodes the following day. From a far distance, I saw one of the many ships that operate on the Rhodes-Symi line, namely the small high speed boat SEBECO of Sebeco Lines, as she was heading back to Rhodes. Built in 2018 in Greece for ANES Ferries, she began operations on the Rhodes-Symi line, before spending a single season on the Piraeus-Northern Aegina line (serving the ports of Souvala and Agia Marina) on the Saronic Gulf in 2020. During her spell there, I got to see her several times in Piraeus. She returned to the Rhodes-Symi line in 2021, while in 2022 she was acquired by the newly-established Greek company Sebeco Lines, which has kept her on her current service. After having passed by Symi, and as we continued to make our way towards Kos, I then spotted another ship based on the Dodecanese, namely the high speed ferry DODEKANISOS EXPRESS of Dodekanisos Seaways. Built in 2000 in Norway, she has spent her entire career on the inter-Dodecanese service, and she currently operates on the Rhodes-Symi-Chalki-Tilos-Nisyros-Kos-Kalymnos-Leros-Leipsoi-Patmos-Agathonisi lifeline. Her fleetmate and sister ship, namely the DODEKANISOS PRIDE, joined the company in 2005. I had the chance to travel with her during my spell on the Dodecanese during the summer of 2022, as I was onboard her while going from Patmos to Leros on 5 August 2022. After just over three hours of sailing, we had arrived at 19:20 in the port of Kos, which I got to see again after three days, having sailed from there in order to go to Symi on 9 August 2022, when traveling onboard the BLUE STAR 2 of Blue Star Ferries. Upon arriving in Kos, I got the chance to once again spot a familiar face which I had previously not seen in two years prior to my first visit to the island. Indeed, it was the small passenger ship GEORGIOS BROUFAS II of Broufas Vessels, which has notably spent the bulk of her career under her owner on the Piraeus-Salamina line, although she has been assigned to the Hellenic Army since 2021, transporting soldiers around the Northeast Aegean Sea Islands and the Dodecanese. She was once again seen resting in the port of Kos. While looking further down towards the marina area of the port of Kos, I also got the chance to once again spot the two Greek-owned ships that operate on the Kos-Bodrum line, namely the small high speed boat APOLLON II of Lafasi Maritime Company and the high speed catamaran RODON of Sky Marine Ferries. After 30 minutes in Kos, we departed from the port at about 19:50 in order to begin heading towards Samos. Patmos, Leros and the islands of the Cyclades usually served by the ARIADNE were also not part of our itinerary, meaning that we would be then heading directly from Kos to Samos and then from Samos to Piraeus. Here is a view of the outdoor side alley on Deck 9, as seen from the port side and from the aft section, with the outdoor sun deck area located right next to it. Towards 21:30, we headed for dinner at the ship's self-service restaurant, after which I headed straight to our cabin together with my parents. At around 00:30, we had arrived in the port of Vathy in Samos, but unfortunately I was unable to witness this as we were asleep during that time. Towards 01:00, the ship left Samos in order to complete the final part of the return leg towards Piraeus. Having gone to sleep quite early during the previous evening, I woke up on my own at 07:00 the following morning, meaning it was now 13 August 2022. I proceeded towards the outdoor areas of the ship once again, in order to witness the final two hours of sailing prior to our morning arrival in Piraeus. Here is a view towards 08:00, as seen from the port side of the outdoor side alley located on Deck 9, with Deck 10 and Deck 11 being visible as well. Just moments after I had returned to Deck 9, I got to see one of the first ships sailing on the Aegean Sea following their morning departure from Piraeus. Indeed, that was the high speed ferry WORLDCHAMPION JET of Sea Jets, which was sailing at full-speed towards Syros. The WORLDCHAMPION JET seen as she sails towards Syros. Built in 2000 in Australia, she joined Sea Jets in 2018, and she began service for them on the Cyclades in 2019. That season, she had an acclaimed spell on the Piraus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini line, and in 2020 this service was extended as she was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line. Since 2021, she has been on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line. A view of the WORLDCHAMPION JET as she was sailing at full-speed towards Syros, during her fourth consecutive season under Sea Jets. She is the fastest ship in the Greek coastal service, and she was previously the fastest passenger ship in the world, from 2000 until 2013, when her speed record was overtaken by the FRANCISCO of the Argentinian company Buquebus. Crossing the WORLDCHAMPION JET between the Cyclades and the Saronic Gulf, as she continues to head at full-speed towards the beautiful island of Syros. The WORLDCHAMPION JET seen once more, during her journey en route towards Syros. The WORLDCHAMPION JET, which has been a major contributor to the rise of Sea Jets as one of the most dominant players in the Greek coastal service as a whole in recent years, seen as we meet her between the Cyclades and the Saronic Gulf, with the small island of Agios Georgios seen in the background. So far, I have traveled with her three times, with the first two being from Piraeus to Syros and back on 20 September 2020 (coincidentally, on the day of my grandmother Ariadni's birthday), followed by a trip from Piraeus to Ios on 22 July 2021. One last view of the WORLDCHAMPION JET, as she continues to sail towards Syros at full-speed. At about 08:25, we had entered the Saronic Gulf, and by that time we could see the coast of Attica from the starboard side. But from the port side, there was some ferry traffic that could not be overlooked, in spite of the far distance from where the ARIADNE was. Indeed, I got to see two ships of Blue Star Ferries which had also left Piraeus earlier in the morning. These were the BLUE STAR DELOS, which was being followed by the BLUE STAR MYCONOS. A view of the great BLUE STAR DELOS, which operates on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line (although she does not serve Ios during the summer). She was built in 2011 in South Korea, and she is the second youngest ship of Blue Star Ferries, after her sister ship, namely the BLUE STAR PATMOS, which was built a year after her. Another view of the BLUE STAR DELOS, as she is heading towards Paros. Since beginning service on the Cyclades in 2011, she has been considered by many as the best day ferry currently operating in Greece. Behind the BLUE STAR DELOS was, as we mentioned it previously, another former fleetmate of the ARIADNE. Indeed, the BLUE STAR MYCONOS was previously known as the NISSOS MYKONOS from 2005 until 2020, when she joined Blue Star Ferries together with her sister ship. The BLUE STAR MYCONOS seen as she sails on the Saronic Gulf. She operates on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Patmos-Ikaria-Fournoi-Samos-Chios-Oinousses-Mytilene-Limnos-Kavala line, being one of the two ships of Blue Star Ferries that serve the Northeast Aegean Sea lifeline from Piraeus together with the DIAGORAS. The BLUE STAR DELOS seen once again as she sails towards Paros, as part of her usual daily service to the Cyclades. The BLUE STAR MYCONOS seen as she sails towards Syros, before she would continue her long trip to the Northeast Aegean Sea. Back when the ARIADNE was operating on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line from 2013 to 2018, the two ships were two of four ships of Hellenic Seaways that were permanently operating on the Northeast Aegean Sea during the mid 2010s, together with the NISSOS RODOS from Piraeus and the EXPRESS PEGASUS from Lavrion (until that ship moved to the Dodecanese in 2020, before being sold for scrap the following year). At about 09:10, we had arrived next to the entrance of the port of Piraeus. There, I got to witness a few more departures. The first one was that of a fleetmate of the ARIADNE, namely the high speed ferry HIGHSPEED 4, which operates on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen having just exited the port of Piraeus in order to begin her trip ti the Cyclades. The HIGHSPEED 4, which has been one of the most successful high speed craft in the history of both the Cyclades and the Greek coastal service, seen as is leaving Piraeus. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen following her exit from Piraeus, now ready to sail at full-speed towards Paros. Built in 2000 in Australia, she has spent her entire career on the Cyclades, having been previously owned by the predecessors of Hellenic Seaways, namely Minoan Flying Dolphins (later Hellas Flying Dolphins), before the latter was rebranded in 2005. She is therefore one of the most experienced ships in the company's fleet. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen as she begins to sail at full-speed towards Paros. This was her second consecutive season on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line, which she also served in 2014 and from 2016 to 2018. In 2019 she was only servinf the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi line. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen after having exited Piraeus. She has been the only ship of the 'Highspeed' brandname to have operated for Hellenic Seaways in every summer season in the company's history (in addition to her first years under Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins). With the only other remaining high speed ferry of the company, namely the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED, having spent the 2022 season on charter to Africa Morocco Link, this meant that the HIGHSPEED 4 was the sole ship of her kind to operate in Greece for her company during that summer. This, unfortunately, goes on to show that, despite success on the Aegean Sea, Attica Group does not really rely on high speed craft in the long term. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen as she is sailing past her fleetmate, namely the ARIADNE. The HIGHSPEED 4 seen once again, as she heads towards Paros. I have traveled with her once, having sailed onboard her from Paros to Piraeus on 29 July 2018. This had previously been one of my two only trips with a ship of Hellenic Seaways outside of the Saronic Gulf (having also traveled on the Cyclades from Ios to Piraeus with the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED on 14 July 2017), until my trip with the ARIADNE. Another view of the HIGHSPEED 4, as she is now sailing at full-speed towards Paros. Just after seeing the HIGHSPEED 4, I got to see another high speed ferry which also had a link to Hellenic Seaways. Indeed, it was the SANTORINI PALACE of Minoan Lines, which was also a previous fleetmate of the ARIADNE. More specifically, she was previously owned by Hellenic Seaways, as the HIGHSPEED 5 from 2005 (the year during which she was built) until 2016, and then as the HIGHSPEED 7 from 2016 until her sale to her current owners in 2018 (following the takeover of Hellenic Seaways by Attics Group). A view of another extremely successful Greek high speed ferry, namely the SANTORINI PALACE. This was her fifth year with Minoan Lines, and her second consecutive summer on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Santorini-Heraklion line, on which she was introduced in 2021. The SANTORINI PALACE also seen sailing at full-speed after having exited the port of Piraeus, in order to head towards Syros. The SANTORINI PALACE, which was previously one of the best ships of Hellenic Seaways, and a major contributor to the company's dominance on the Cyclades during the mid 2000s, seen continuing her work with Minoan Lines, being their only high speed craft. A final view of the SANTORINI PALACE, after she met her former fleetmate near the entrance of the port of Piraeus. The amount of ships exiting Piraeus just as we were arriving kept growing. Indeed, just behind the SANTORINI PALACE was the conventional ferry BLUE STAR PAROS of Blue Star Ferries, which had also left the port in order to being her trip to the Cyclades. The BLUE STAR PAROS seen having exited the port of Piraeus. Built in 2002 in South Korea, she has been one of the most successful ships to have ever operated on the Cyclades. She has been on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line since 2018 (having also made extensions to Ikaria, Fournoi and Samos on the Northeast Aegean Sea until 2019). One last view of the BLUE STAR PAROS as she begins sailing towards Syros. I had notably traveled with her four years prior to my trip with the ARIADNE, having headed from Mykonos to Piraeus with her on 20 June 2018. Following the BLUE STAR PAROS at the entrance of the port of Piraeus was another conventional ferry, namely the PHIVOS of Nova Ferries, which was heading towards Aegina on the Saronic Gulf. The PHIVOS seen having exited the port of Piraeus as well. Built in 1980 in Spain, she was bought by Nova Ferries in 2004, and she began service on the Saronic Gulf in 2005. The PHIVOS seen having exited the port of Piraeus, during her eighteenth consecutive season on the Saronic Gulf. During her first two seasons, she operated on the Piraeus-Aegina-Methana-Poros-Hydra line. Afterwards, from 2007 to 2013, she operated exclusively on the Piraeus-Aegina line. Since the formation of the Saronic Ferries joint venture (which previously included Hellenic Seaways) in 2014, she has been operating on the Piraeus-Aegina-Methana-Poros line. The PHIVOS, which is my all-time favourite ship of the Greek coastal service, seen leaving Piraeus while passing in front of the ARIADNE, which is also a ship that I consider amongst my favourites. The PHIVOS seen in Piraeus, as she begins her trip to Aegina. During the 2022 season, I traveled with her just once, while heading from Aegina to Piraeus on the evening of 20 October 2022. The PHIVOS seen as she has exited Piraeus in order to go to Aegina, an island on which I would also head to on that very same day that this picture was taken, following my trip with the ARIADNE. The PHIVOS, which is the sole ship of Nova Ferries, seen heading from Piraeus to Aegina. The other company that is part of the Saronic Ferries joint venture is 2way Ferries, which operates three ships on the Saronic Gulf. Since the 2022 season, both member companies of the joint venture have deployed a landing craft which they co-own, namely the ANTIGONE, on the Piraeus-Northern Aegina line (serving the port of Souvala). A view of the PHIVOS following her exit from the port of Piraeus, while the BLUE STAR PAROS has started to proceed towards the Cyclades. The PHIVOS seen once more, as she performs her first trip of the day to Aegina, Methana and Poros. After having witnessed so many departure from the port of Piraeus, it would have been unfair not to have a ship arriving at the same time as us. Indeed, following us was a fleetmate of the ARIADNE, namely the high speed catamaran FLYINGCAT 5 of Hellenic Seaways, which was returning to the port from the Saronic Gulf. The FLYINGCAT 5 seen following us just as we began entering the port of Piraeus at about 09:20. As we entered the port of Piraeus, I noticed another fleetmate of the ARIADNE that was docked there. Indeed, it was the cruiseferry NISSOS SAMOS, which operates for the company on the Northeast Aegean Sea, being assigned on the Piraeus-Psara-Oinousses-Chios-Mytilene line (where she has been present since 2018). She is one of the three Japanese-built cruiseferries of Hellenic Seaways, together with the ARIADNE and the NISSOS RODOS (which is also operating on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line, having taken over the service previously covered by the ARIADNE before the latter was chartered to Tirrenia Di Navigazione). Looking further down towards the E10 gate in Piraeus, I spotted three ships which were all operating on the Western Cyclades during the 2022 season. These were the conventional ferry DIONISIOS SOLOMOS of Zante Ferries, the high speed ferry TERA JET of Sea Jets and the high speed ferry SUPERRUNNER JET, also of Sea Jets. Just after we had entered the port of Piraeus in order to begin docking in the E1 gate (which is were the ships operating on the Dodecanese usually dock), the FLYINGCAT 5 did the same thing, although she was heading towards the E8 gate. A view of the FLYINGCAT 5 following her arrival in Piraeus. Just like the ARIADNE, she was built in 1996, albeit in Norway. She began service for Hellenic Seaways in 2005, during the company's first season. She operates on the Piraeus-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line, where she has been deployed since 2020. She had also operated there in 2014 and in 2017. From 2005 to 2013, in 2015, and from 2018 to 2019, she was operating on the Sporades. Another view of the FLYINGCAT 5 as she heads towards her docking spot in Piraeus. Her fleetmate and sister ship, namely the FLYINGCAT 6, had spent the 2022 season on the Volos-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos line on the Sporades, after having previously spent four consecutive seasons on the Saronic Gulf from 2018 to 2021. The last two were together with the FLYINGCAT 5, and during both seasons, the ships were operating on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line. The FLYINGCAT 5 seen after having entered the port of Piraeus, during her third consecutive season on the Saronic Gulf. The FLYINGCAT 5 seen as she heads towards her docking spot in the E8 gate in Piraeus. During the summer of 2022, she was one of the two 'Flyingcats' operating on the Saronic Gulf, together with the FLYINGCAT 4. As stated previously, the FLYINGCAT 6 was on the Sporades during that time, while the fourth ship of that category, namely the FLYINGCAT 3, was spending her second consecutive season on the Rafina-Tinos-Mykonos-Naxos line on the Cyclades. The FLYINGCAT 5 seen continuing her course towards the E8 gate in Piraeus, just as the ARIADNE was completing her maneuvering procedure in order to dock in the E1 gate. At about 09:35, after having finished maneuvering in Piraeus, the ARIADNE docked and subsequently began unloading vehicles and passengers alike. We therefore disembarked, thus completing our long trip which had started from Rhodes, and after having sailed throughout a large portion of the Aegean Sea. As you can see in this picture, the ship also began to lower her aft section starboard side ramp, thus facilitating the unloading process for the many vehicles that were still inside the garage. Just after we had disembarked from the ARIADNE, I had the opportunity to witness a few more departures and arrivals of other ships in Piraeus. Among them was the TERA JET, which began heading towards the port's exit in order to begin her trip on the Western Cyclades. A view of the TERA JET while she leaves Piraeus. She was spending her debut season on the Western Cyclades, having been deployed on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos line, which she served together with the SUPERRUNNER JET. The TERA JET seen proceeding towards the exit of the port of Piraeus. Something notable to state is that this ship was formerly owned by Tirrenia Di Navigazione (for whom the ARIADNE operated from 2018 to 2021), as she spent the first 12 years of her career under their ownership, most specifically from 1999 to 2011. Her introduction to service in Italy was not successful, as her high running costs made her and her other three sister ships extremely unprofitable, and they were all laid-up by 2008. Two of them were sold for scrap in 2011, while the TERA JET (then known as the SCORPIO) was spared from such a fate, being eventually bought by Sea Jets, which reactivated her during the 2014 season. The TERA JET seen as she makes her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus. Besides spending her first season on the Western Cyclades, she was also operating for the first time since 2020, as she had remained inactive for two years owing to her high running costs. The summer of 2022 was therefore a comeback season for the Italian-built high speed ferry. One more view of the TERA JET as she passes by the ARIADNE in order to begin sailing at full-speed towards Serifos, Sifnos and Milos. The next ship leaving after the TERA JET was the conventional double-ended ferry POSIDON HELLAS of 2way Ferries. She operates on the Saronic Gulf, serving the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri-Methana-Poros line. Before joining her current owners in 2015, she was previously operating under Hellenic Seaways, therefore making her another former fleetmate of the ARIADNE. The POSIDON HELLAS seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus. Built in 1998 in Greece, she is the first-ever conventional double-ended ferry in the history of the Greek coastal service. She has spent her entire career so far on the Saronic Gulf. Just as the POSIDON HELLAS was leaving Piraeus, another high speed craft based on the Saronic Gulf was seen having arrived, namely the hydrofoil FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA of Aegean Flying Dolphins. The FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA seen having returned to Piraeus from Aegina. Built in 1991 in Georgia, she has been owned by Aegean Flying Dolphins since 2010, and she has been operating on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri line since 2011. The POSIDON HELLAS seen about to cross the FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA in Piraeus, just as the ARIADNE is watching. Another view of the POSIDON HELLAS, just as she is about to exit the port of Piraeus. As it was mentioned earlier in this post, she had been the last conventional ferry of Hellenic Seaways on which I had traveled prior to my trip with the ARIADNE, having done so while heading from Piraeus to Aegina on 15 July 2012, back when the ship was still owned by the company. Ten years later, I had just completed a trip onboard one of its best conventional ferries. Finally, the last ship that I saw departing the port of Piraeus was the high speed catamaran SPEED CAT I of Alpha Lines, which was also serving islands of the Saronic Gulf. Indeed, she operates on the Piraeus-Poros-Hydra-Spetses line, where she was introduced in 2021. The SPEED CAT I seen leaving Piraeus, during her second summer in Greece and under Alpha Lines. During the 2022 season, I got to travel with her twice, heading from Piraeus to Hydra on 24 September 2022 before making the return leg the following day. I had previously done my first trip with her while heading from Poros to Piraeus on 9 September 2021. After taking this picture, I joined my father in our car and we headed to Central Athens in order to make our final preparations prior to making our early afternoon trip to Aegina, whereupon we traveled onboard the APOLLON HELLAS of 2way Ferries, which was also a former fleetmate of the ARIADNE under Hellenic Seaways, having operated for them from 2005 to 2016. After spending more than 10 days traveling to and within the Dodecanese, I could not have found a better way to end this wonderful journey along these unique islands than by completing it upon heading back to Piraeus with a ship like the ARIADNE. It was the just the perfect way to cap it off, being able to enjoy an overnight trip onboard a spectacular ship which made the entire journey very enjoyable and comfortable for both my parents and myself. The ARIADNE is truly a gem for the Greek coastal service, and her return in 2021 has proved very effective, as she provides passengers with several good options through her services on the Cyclades, the Northeast Aegean Sea and, in particular, the Dodecanese. After several years of being underutilised or chartered to other operators both in Greece and abroad, it has been a pleasure to see that Hellenic Seaways (and Attica Group by extension) count on her in order to cover operations across several well-known islands of the Aegean Sea, in addition to having the ship serving other key areas during the winter, while other ships are undergoing their annual winter refits. The ship continues to have an incredible potential, offering large passenger and vehicle capacity, while having several impressive indoor areas that are both wide and comfortable. Her conversion has made her look like a true cruise ship, being extremely useful for long-distance trips such as the one we just did. She is now due to be sent to operate on the Adriatic Sea in order to replace the SUPERFAST I of Superfast Ferries while the latter undergoes her annual refit, although there are rumours that she might stay there beyond the winter. In either case, no matter where she goes in Greece, she will never go unnoticed and unappreciated. It was truly a pleasure to have managed to travel onboard her at last, and I do hope that the next trip with her will happen again very soon. #ariadne #hellenicseaways #atticagroup #summer2022 #dodecanese #northeastaegeansea #aegean #rhodes #kos #samos #piraeus #captainmichalis #captainmichaliscruises #bluestarchios #bluestardelos #bluestarmyconos #bluestarparos #bluestarferries #stavros #saosferries #sebeco #sebecolines #dodekanisosexpress #dodekanisosseaways #georgiosbroufasii #broufasvessels #apollonii #lafasimaritimecompany #rodon #skymarineferries #worldchampionjet #terajet #superrunnerjet #seajets #highspeed4 #flyingcat5 #nissossamos #santorinipalace #minoanlines #phivos #novaferries #dionisiossolomos #zanteferries #posidonhellas #2wayferries #flyingdolphinathina #aegeanflyingdolphins #speedcati #alphalines #tribute This Blog Post is dedicated to my beloved grandmother, Ariadni-Maria Vraila, or Granny as I would call her, whose name the ship shares. She unfortunately left us in 2021, but her memory and all the unique moments that I got to spend with her live on forever, and anything that reminds me of her adds additional value, especially on the sentimental side. Among them is the ship ARIADNE, which I remember taking pictures of and sending them to her on her phone in order to show her the ship that happened to have one of the most beautiful names in the world. Now, seeing the ship immediately reminds me of her, and there was not a single moment during that trip in which I did not think about her. That would have been the case for any ship in fact, as she always loved talking about the sea and Greek shipping with me, but the imposing and marvelous ARIADNE is more than just a fantastic ship. She helps me remember how grateful I was to have had such a wonderful and unique grandmother who always was and will always be by our side, for both my family and myself.