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Ferries (渡船) have clear advantages over cruises: you don’t keep bumping into the same people, and they are more environmentally sustainable. Plus, a passage on a Greek ferry costs just a tiny part of the price of a cruise voyage.

Some trips are economical: Piraeus to Rhodes takes 15 hours, but costs only £58 one-way. It pays to familiarize yourself with Greece using a good map and then start planning with a ferry booking site such as greekferries.gr, ferryhopper.com or UK-based directferries.com. You will see all the main tour operators (公司) and be offered fast boats which compete with traditional, slow-paced ferries; the former are sometimes sealed like aeroplanes, while the latter allow deck walks and views.

If you want to hop around, please have a look at the followings.

Top Tips

Going deck (economy) — which is even available on overnight trips — is a surefire way to save money.

When to go

The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are ideal for a holiday in southern Europe. It isn’t the peak time for holidays; it has fewer tourists and lower accommodation prices.

Do it yourself

Wizz Air (wizzair.com) is offering flights from London to Athens in October from £34 return. A Ferryhopper booking for Athens-Paros-Mykonos-Kea-Athens over eight days in October came in at £101.

Perfect package

Med Experience (020 45717689; medexperience.com) is quoting (要价) £790 for a nine-day island-hopping holiday, including shared B&B accommodation, ferry tickets, tour manager and parties. Flights not included.