Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, has announced new discounts on ferry tickets for specific groups traveling on remote island routes. The announcement came through a video posted on social media, on Thursday, August 29.
“We are moving forward with even stronger discounts on ferry tickets for our islanders through the new tender for remote routes,” Kikilias said. “We are providing tangible support to those who need it most. Island life is not a disadvantage—it is a strategic advantage for our country.”
The new measures include:
• Free travel (including a companion and vehicle) twice a month for kidney patients, cancer patients, and people with disabilities over 67%.
• 50% discount for families with three children.
• Free tickets for athletes of amateur sports clubs.
• Free travel for coast guard personnel traveling to and from their duties.
• 50% discount for retirees of the Naval Retirement Fund (NAT).
Kikilias has emphasized that passenger and worker safety is non-negotiable. “Legislation will be strictly enforced, and anyone who disregards the rules will face penalties,” he said, following an incident on August 18 where vehicle loading regulations were not followed on an open-type passenger–vehicle ferry on a Peloponnesian route.
