Ferries to Cyprus

Barry and Margaret Williamson
July 2011

Many thanks to Don Madge and to David Parkinson for the following information about possible ferries to Cyprus.

Don Madge (see his 24-article collection on this website) is the MMM's Travel Consultant for Cyprus and the Doyen of many a motorhome Forum. David Parkinson is a motorhomer with a house in Cyprus and therefore a real interest in how to get to the island, other than on the aeroplane.

Until 2001, a weekly vehicle ferry sailed from Athens (Piraeus) to Israel (Haifa) via  the Greek island of Rhodes and Cyprus (Limassol). We took this ferry in 2000, cycling in all four locations. A recent petition for the return of this ferry can be found at: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/medferries. Please add your name.

David Parkinson intends to use the weekly Grimaldi Freighter Cruises ferry which sails from the UK to Cyprus, calling at Salerno in Italy among many other places. He will catch it in Italy and he mentions that it calls at Athens, but passengers are not allowed to join or leave the ferry at that point! Altogether, the ferry docks in 14 places on its 35-day circuit.

The website is: http://www.grimaldi-freightercruises.com/indenen.htm. The full itinerary can be downloaded at: http://www.grimaldi-freightercruises.com/freighter/england/medEnglish.pdf  and more information can be found at: http://www.windowoncyprus.com/ferry_to_cyprus.htm.

Don also mentions that Salamis Lines have a sailing from Lavrio (Athens) to Cyprus but, like the Grimaldi line, expensive freight charges could apply to a motorhome. Visit: http://salamisinternational.com/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=90

You could check with Don for his latest information at: