Ferries Heraklion

The port of Heraklion applies the security measures of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code: passengers, luggage and vehicles may be checked before boarding, and access to operational areas is restricted to ticket holders.

On routes within the Schengen area there are no systematic border checks, but shipping companies still require every passenger, including minors, to carry a valid identity document, which may be checked at boarding by the police.

Document requirements are set by the customs and border authorities and may change: before travelling, check the latest information on official channels and carry valid documents for all passengers and for your vehicle.

For travel with dogs, cats and ferrets to and from the port of Heraklion, the rules of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals apply: the animal must be identified by a microchip, have a valid rabies vaccination and be accompanied by an EU pet passport.

The first rabies vaccination can be given from 12 weeks of age and becomes valid after 21 days, so plan your trip in advance.

In addition to the health requirements, the shipping company may ask you to add the pet to your booking and show its documents at boarding. Check the latest rules with your vet before departure.

Any bans or restrictions on specific dog breeds entering Greece are set by national legislation and may include prior authorisation, lead and muzzle requirements or a ban on bringing in certain breeds and their crosses.

These restrictions depend on the law of the destination country, not on the shipping company: if your journey continues to another country, check its rules too. Before travelling, check the latest information with the veterinary authorities or the country's embassy or consulate, as the rules may change.

In ports and on board ships, passengers may not carry dangerous goods, or may do so only under strict limits: the rules are set by national maritime law, by the competent maritime authorities and by the international conventions on maritime safety (SOLAS and the IMDG Code), applied by the shipping companies.

You may not carry fuel cans, unauthorised gas cylinders, fireworks, solvents, paints or other flammable liquids, explosives, or corrosive or toxic substances in your luggage or vehicle. Service gas cylinders in campervans and caravans are accepted only where the company allows them and with the valves closed, and LPG, natural gas and electric vehicles must be declared.

Anyone who needs to transport dangerous goods for work must use the procedures for freight transport. Security checks in the port may lead to non-permitted items being confiscated and boarding being refused.

Embarkation and disembarkation port taxes and fees at the port of Heraklion are set by the port authority and the competent public bodies in Greece. They are normally already included in the final ticket price and shown as a separate item.

The amount varies by port, route, passenger type and any vehicle, and may be updated by the competent bodies independently of the shipping company.

If you cancel your trip, the refund of unused taxes follows the company's conditions of carriage and the applicable law.