ANEK LINES S.A. Reviews 94

I travelled with all kind of different ferries from Anek lines. They all have the same features: expensive, extremly bad food, uncunfortable, and if you are lucky, no possibility to shut down the cooling freez AC in the cabin (it was november, not summer). However, at least, personel and crew are reallt really nice.

Total disregard for all customers.
I have to give it one star because there is nothing less…
The only thing Anek Lines cares about is taking as much money from their customers as possible, for an acknowledged substandard service. On one of my previous voyages I spoke with the Chief Purser, and he told me that he will not allow any of his family to sail with Anek Lines.
Anyone looking to sail from Italy to Greece should know the ship only operates on Greek time. This means if you wish to have mediocre food in the appalling restaurant, where the canteen is more expensive than the à la carte restaurant, it closes at 7:30pm Italian time. The Chief Purser thinks this is entirely acceptable because they tell you at some point when you’re not listening, the ship is operating on Greek time, because it flies a Greek flag, bringing people from the Italian mainland towards Greece, where they’ve likely been staying awhile, and are operating on Italian time. The level of customer service with this company, and I am one of their hallowed SeaSmiles Gold members, is so atrocious, appalling, disgusting, reprehensible and every other objectionable adverb to describe such an entrenched and institutionalised mentality that in future I would rather pay slightly more with Grimaldi for the same substandard service.
Couple the rumblings of my empty stomach with the fact that when you pay €12 for 24 hours Internet time, it only works on one device. The advice to turn off one device to access it from the other doesn’t actually work in practice. The response from the reception desk is worthy of the French, with the renowned Gaelic shrug. To my detriment, I have found the mentality of the chief officers, and staff who sail with Anek Lines is mirrored by the total distain and “couldn’t care less” attitude that emanates from the stench of Head Office. A more unworthy company to spend money on is difficult to consider.
After my return voyage, I will never sail with this company again. I would rather drive down the Dalmatian coast and through Macedonia into Greece than waste money on this unworthy company.

Rude staff. Unprofessional. Not clear. Restaurants are of bad quality. Very bad experience.

Worst experience ever.

We have been traveling with Anek line since 2012 and used to love the experience with lots of space on the deck, multiple toilets and showers for people to use.

However now on our July 2025 trip it has been the worst. They really are pushing you to buy cabin but even that’s not available at all. 2 toilets for over 500 people to use which is disgusting, they bully you off your airbed as they don’t want you to have space as they cram a lot of people in.

Massive delays with the departure and arrival time changing 5 times. I was suppose to arrive at my destination by 16.30 but I did not arrive until 22.00.

All Anek want is money. You give them your money for a service but you don’t even get a decent experience back.

Will I ever book with Anek ? NEVER !

Boarding on the bus 90 at 11.30 from Heraklion to Rethymno, we've been treated like animals as they were our shepherds. I was the teacher for 6 very quiet 17yo students and they didn't allow us to take our small backpacks up with us and in the rudest and most brutal way forced us to put them down with other passengers luggages, while half of the people were allowed to have their backpacks on (I took pictures, so I'm sure), but I guess they looked more respectable than the students. A different kind of well-dressed, paying tourists. I tried to ask the reason why and to explain that I had documents and keys for all of them that I could not lose or damage because we could risk huge fines and also to be stuck in Crete and not be able to go back to our Country, but they didn't listen nor explain to me why it wasn't possible and they really treated me like sh*t.

We paid for the transfer of goods to Athens, only for them to be stolen during transit.

Despite witnesses reporting that the thief was captured on camera, the company made no effort to retrieve or review the footage.

They flatly denied everything and insultingly offered us just €6 as compensation for the stolen goods.

No investigation was conducted, no attempt was made to identify the thief, and the company completely shirked its responsibility to ensure the safe delivery of our items.

To make matters worse, their so-called customer support was borderline hostile, deliberately misusing legal terminology to intimidate us into dropping the issue.

Their short-sighted and unprofessional approach has not only caused us to lose trust in them but has also prompted us and our associates to avoid this company entirely moving forward.

Following the cancellation of the planned trip to Venice, on the 23rd of August, 2024, we were doomed to drive almost all the way back, since we could, luckily, depart from Igoumenitsa to Brindisi with Grimaldi Lines. That was the result of the lack of competence and inability for the company and associated agents to find us an alternative route to other ports, e.g., Ancona, offering the earliest available ferry on the 26th of August, which we could not afford to accept due to time constraints and commitments. Consequently, we had to pay for another ticket for the crossing from Igoumenitsa (Greece) to Brindisi (Italy). The company refused to compensate us for the petrol and tolls for the route Patras - Igoumenitsa and Ancona - Venice as they, according to their claims, already did for passengers on the alternative ferries for Ancona and for the road trip Ancona - Venice. Apparently, the company does not seem to understand and accept the fact that a family's plan is messed up when the family cannot arrive at the destination on the planned day and time, i.e., 24th of August. Besides, the company does not either seem to understand and accept the fact that we had to react to this cancellation out of desperation and pressure to catch another ferry for the very same dates in a very busy period of the year with most ferries fully booked.

We traveled in December with two dogs on an overnight cruise from Patra to Bari. Although we had booked seats in airplane seats, the crew asked us to go to the outside deck. We spent over 17 hours on chairs and the dogs on the floor, sometimes the temperature dropped to 6 degrees. I also can't imagine traveling inside and my dog ​​in a kennel on another deck. If anyone is thinking about traveling whit dog by ferry between Greece and Italy, choose another line!

Positives: Ferry arrived early, friendly & helpful staff, shuttle for foot passengers in Patras, Greece to ferry terminal.

Negatives:
1. Air quality in the private cabin was atrocious. Constant stream of cigarette smoke, like being in a bodega bar which left you unable to sleep. Then around 5am at the docking time for the Igoumenitsa stop, the cabin then stank of petrol. Both made you feel sick.
2. No shuttle for foot passengers from Bari ferry terminal to the boat. It’s a very long walk in 30 plus degrees with luggage
3. Pointless web check in service offered as you still need to check in at the ferry terminal regardless for them to check your passports (which they then do agin at border control anyway).
4. Ferry definitely has not been refurbished for 20 plus years. It’s very tired and shabby. Not a major gripe but when you are paying 430 euro for a foot passenger cabin ticket, you expect better.

For the third trip in succession I find that I have to complain yet again, although nothing is likely to be done, nor will I even get a response from the dispicable company that is Anek.
Our problems this time began on the 2 Jun 24. I would like to add that my wife and I are both in our 80's and have mobility problems.
We were booked and paid for on the 2 Jun crossing from Venice to Patras on the F/B Ariadne. We arrived at about 1000hrs and joined the long queue to book in. Eventually we were told that boarding would begin at 1100hrs and so about that time we joined the hundreds of vehicles of all shapes and sizes, that were waiting to board. We were also told that the boat would now be a Superfast Ferry called "Claudia". The ferry did not arrive until well after the sailing time and we eventually got to our cabin at 1540hrs. At 1600hrs we departed Venice. Things just went downhill from there. The main complaints are that there was no tea or coffee for the whole journey. The bar was not open for drinks or snacks and the food was disgusting. Another couple that we were talking to stopped a passing "officer" and asked if we could speak to the Capt. "Not possible" was the reply. "Why?" asked my acquaintance. "Because" - and the "officer" walked away. Members of the crew would only respond "No speak English". When we came to disembark I asked a young officer in Reception if the escalator was working and he replied, "Of course". It was - it was working up and I wanted to go down. My wife and I managed to negotiate the stairs with the help of a couple of young motorcyclists and on reaching the car deck discovered another three "officers" chatting amongst themselves. The F/B Claudia is not fit for purpose and as for the crew - from the Captain down - I would not pay them in washers. The sooner this company goes out of business the better. I will certainly not be travelling with them again and will have no hesitation in telling all and sundry just what this company is like at all levels.

Old ship they put my car at the parking in the water so I coudnt get out .Cabin I pay for double bed no refrigerator no TV
Very bad quality for this price.

Everything wrong has already been said… fake arrival times when you buy tickets so you are sure to miss any connections and loose money and this happens daily. Ship is old as s and dirty. The crew would care more to watch litsa patera on tv than helping with any of their customers needs. Joke of a company. They need to be closed down and hunted legally!!!

Ship arrived to late in Ancona, 30 minutes prior to departure. Cabins were not yet ready. Cleaning staff shouting at passangers to make way. Very rude. Cashier in self service restaurant insulted me; he did not know I speak Greek fluently.
Way back: had a cabin in the front of the vessel, right above the room with the machines for the winches of the anchors. Those machines make at least 85-90dB noise. The noise was on and off from 23:00 / 0:30 hours. Went to reception to ask for explanation. Again very impolite staff member, who was annoyed by my question. Staff in general was at least in a very bad mood, I suppose. Had to abandon my cabin 1,5 hours before arrival in Ancona, though the ship would return the next day. So why the hurry?
For all the insults and bad service I paid 567 euro's.
Never again.

When reading the reviews, i was prepared for the worst, but honestly it was a good experience. The ferry was 1,5 hours early, check in went smooth, the food was decent, the atmosphere was good, prices were correct. Some things could’ve been cleaner and some things didn’t open but overall a good experience. People work hard to make this happen. Don’t expect a cruise experience, but expect a decent ferry line.

the ship is a reflection of the crew

basically as things have broken down and stopped working, they have simply been taped off.so half the ship is out of bounds. i guess they have decided that maintenance, cleaning etc is costing too much, so they will simply sail the Olympic champion aka the floating trash can/the disgrace of the adriatic, into oblivion then buy a new one... maybe.

the difference between superfast and anek was night and day. the superfast ship was 10 years older, yet, was looked after. the crew, helpful, friendly, courteous.

ANEK, the staff just didnt even try to hide their distain for the customers. no, we have no free cabins,yet were giving cabin upgrades at the same time? they just didnt want the extra work and hassle. so the entire deck was full of families trying to sleep.

the ship is an absolute disgrace, it stinks, every single toilet is broken in some way, water is dripping through half the corridors. a decision was made at some point at anek to go down this path and turn what was once a luxury ferry into a cattle transport. yet ticket prices have never changed to reflect this policy alteration.

ANEK a never to be repeated experience

We sailed on such a ferry for the first time and despite the apprehensions that arose due to some apparently meaningless reviews, it ended up being a nice experience for us. Boarding without any problems. We ate on the boat for a reasonable price. The cabin for four was elegant and clean, we slept comfortably. We left the cabin in the morning after the ship landed. Disembarkation without any problems. Thanks to this cruise, we had a nice vacation in Crete with our own car. We thank you!

I had the worst experience possible, being an anek Client.
We waited almist three hours in the port of Athens without ANY notice from the company about what was going on. The boat left with 2.5 hours delay.
Once in the boat a very sloppy officer told me that they are always late by at least two hours and I should consider myself lucky.
DON'T BUY THEIR SERVICES, STAY SAFE

I have been using ANEK, both on domestic and international services, for over 30 years. During that time, l have never had an issue with them. Recently, l missed a ferry, entirely through my own late arrival. ANEK issued a credit for a future trip, even though they had no obligation to do so.

Thanks ANEK, you were great.

The Staff was really bad and unfriendly. I was kicked out of everywhere with the words „go out!“ and „you can’t go here!“. I was feeling like i was an animal in a factory farming. Also the ship came 3hours late and there was no excuse.

Attention!!
Worst Ferry Company ever !!
Rude staff with unwelcoming behaviour & very dirty salons!!
You pay a lot of money for this miserable trip .
If u want to go to Chania ,Crete prefer the airlines or go to Heraklion first with the alternative ferry line .