Newly appointed Greek primary and secondary school teachers will receive ferry ticket discounts of up to 50 percent to travel to their island posts. The price reductions apply for the 2026 to 2027 academic year under a joint scheme announced by government ministers.
The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports worked with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy to secure the fare cuts from passenger shipping lines. Most participating ferry operators are offering the discounts between August 23, 2026, and September 11, 2026, to assist educators relocating to schools across the Aegean and Ionian islands.
In Greece, thousands of newly hired public school teachers are posted each year to remote island communities, where maritime transport provides the primary link to the mainland. The seasonal relocation places a significant financial burden on teaching staff who must travel to their new school posts before the start of the academic term.
Ferry company discounts and terms
Attica Group, which operates Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, ANEK Lines, and Hellenic Seaways, is offering a 50 percent discount on passenger and vehicle tickets. The reduction covers all passenger seat categories, private cars, and motorcycles across its entire domestic network between August 23 and September 11, 2026. The offer applies to journeys in the Cyclades, Dodecanese, North-East Aegean, Saronic Gulf, and Crete on the Heraklion and Chania routes, including intermediate island connections.
Seajets is providing a 50 percent discount on individual passenger tickets as well as car and motorcycle fares from August 23 to September 11, 2026. The Seajets discount applies across all vessels in its fleet, but tickets must be purchased exclusively through partner ticketing agencies rather than online booking systems. Levante Ferries Group is also granting a 50 percent fare reduction for passenger and vehicle tickets for newly appointed primary and secondary teachers traveling during the same August 23 to September 11 period.
Minoan Lines is making a 50 percent discount available on passenger tickets and vehicles on its Piraeus to Milos to Heraklion route in both directions between August 23 and September 11, 2026. The Minoan Lines reduction covers all accommodation categories except Lux cabins and A1 or AB1 cabins. Goutos Lines, operating as Karthaia N.E., is offering a 50 percent price cut on individual, car, and motorcycle tickets for the August 23 to September 11 travel window, while extending the discount for the entire 2026 calendar year.
Fast Ferries is granting a 30 percent reduction on passenger tickets and a 20 percent discount on vehicle fares for travel between August 23 and September 11, 2026, with tickets issued through its main port offices. Golden Star Ferries is providing a 30 percent discount for passengers and 20 percent for vehicles subject to availability during the same period on ships including Superferry, Andros Queen, Andros King, Superexpress, and Golden Princess. Its offer covers routes serving Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Ios, and Thira.
Saronic Ferries is offering a special 30 percent passenger discount for newly appointed teachers from August 23 to September 11, 2026, excluding vehicles and prohibiting combination with other promotional offers. Skyros Shipping Company is providing a 30 percent fare reduction on individual passenger tickets, cars, and motorcycles for the 2026 to 2027 school year during the August 23 to September 11 window, applicable strictly to its non-subsidised routes.
Verification documents and booking instructions
Eligible educators must present mandatory official documentation both when booking their tickets and when boarding the vessels. Requirements include showing the official Government Gazette publication or Ministerial Decision confirming their school assignment, alongside a valid police identity card.
For Golden Star Ferries, tickets must be collected and purchased at central company offices at departure points upon displaying the hiring decision and identity card to travel agencies and boarding inspectors. Officials noted that additional shipping companies may join the scheme in the coming days, with further announcements to be issued as new operators confirm participation.
Ministerial response and support measures
Sofia Zacharaki, the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, expressed her warm thanks to Vasilis Kikilias, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, and to the participating shipping lines. She said the companies responded immediately to the Education Ministry's request and helped facilitate the travel of newly appointed staff.
The Education Ministry stated that the discount program forms part of its ongoing effort to support teaching staff across the country. It added that the measure represents practical recognition of the vital contribution educators make to the Greek public school system.
