Due to a 24-hour strike by Greek seamen's unions to be held on Friday, October 30, 2026, significant cancellations and schedule changes will occur for ferry services departing from main ports such as Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio. This strike will particularly affect services to the Dodecanese and North Aegean islands, while direct services from Turkey to the Greek islands are excluded from the strike.
Friday, October 30, 2026 Greece Ferry Strike Details
Greek seamen's unions have decided to hold a strike starting at 00:01 on Friday, October 30, 2026, which will last for 24 hours. During this strike, disruptions are expected for all vessel services from major ports including Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio, Patras, Igoumenitsa, and Elefsina. Additionally, the Rio-Antirrio ferry line will also be affected by the strike.
Which Services and Regions Will Be Affected?
The regions most affected by the strike include the Dodecanese and North Aegean islands. Adjustments have been made to services, especially from Piraeus to the Dodecanese islands (Kos, Rhodes, Leros, Kalymnos, Patmos) and the North Aegean islands (Samos, Chios, Lesvos).
- Blue Star Ferries: Some of its long-distance services have been shifted to Friday night, with vessels scheduled to reach the islands on Saturday. The services of Blue Star 1 and Blue Star Paros, which were scheduled to depart from Piraeus to the Cycladic islands on Friday morning, have been canceled along with their return journeys. Tickets for these services will need to be rebooked. For some night services, rebooking tickets is not necessary.
- Seajets: Has announced cancellations and changes for some of its services departing from Piraeus and Rafina on Friday.
Port Workers and Work Stoppages
In addition to the seamen's unions' strike, the port workers' organization OMYLE will also hold a three-hour work stoppage between 10:00 and 13:00 on Friday. The Piraeus Labor Center has also decided on a 24-hour strike for the same day and will organize a rally at 10:00 AM in Piraeus Municipal Theater Square.
Will Turkey-Greece Ferry Services Be Affected?
The strike decision does not directly cover ferry services from Turkey to the Greek islands. Routes such as Bodrum-Kos, Marmaris-Rhodes, Çeşme-Chios, and Ayvalık-Lesvos have not been included in the strike announcements.
Important Warnings and Recommendations for Passengers
All passengers traveling within Greece, whether island-hopping or connecting via Piraeus, must check their tickets, departure times, and potential connecting services with the relevant ferry companies for Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31.
- Connecting Journeys: Passengers planning to travel from Piraeus to the islands and then onward to Turkey on the same day should be aware that their connecting journeys may be disrupted due to changes in services on Friday night or Saturday.
- Visa-on-Arrival Application: Turkish citizens traveling to the Greek islands with a visa-on-arrival are also advised to check their itineraries. Since a visa-on-arrival can only be used for stays on the island where it was issued, passengers using this application cannot travel to the Greek mainland (such as Piraeus) via the islands. Therefore, even though the strike may not directly affect passengers traveling directly to the islands with a visa-on-arrival, it is critically important to obtain updated service information from ferry companies.
- Departures from Turkey: Passengers traveling from Turkey to the Greek islands, even if not directly affected by the strike, are advised to confirm their tickets and departure times with the relevant ferry companies before finalizing their travel plans.