Cyprus-Forum.com

[saritlevy]

Dear Sirs

Cypriot, Israeli and Greek people have Joined together to try to bring back
the ferry lines between Israel, Cyprua and Greece.

Join us in our effort to bring back the Med Ferries.

Nowaday there is ABSOLUTELY no way to travel by sea between Greece- Israel, Cyprus-Israel and Cyprus- Greece.

There is a petition in Hebrew and now we are making one

in English to get help from people in Greece and Turkey.

If you think you and others want ferries please sign.

The link to the petition in English-

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/medferries

The link to the petition in Hebrew (416 have allready signed)-

www.atzuma.co.il/ferriesfromisrael

IF YOU WANT TO HELP WITH ANY INFORMATION, WE WILL THANK YOU FOR IT!

Thank you so much!

Merav Levy,

[bill cobbett]

From Varianos Travel...

"...Unfortunately, for reasons beyond our control, we are not offering tickets for ferry boat passage between Limassol, Cyprus and Greece for the 2011 season. At this time we are not aware of any line offering a ferry boat service between any ports linking Greece and Cyprus. We hope to be able to offer this service again in 2012 if the ferry service resumes. We hope to have details on any possible service around April 2012..."

Won't be a car with passenger ferry running again this year.

[annaka]

I don't mind supporting the return of the car ferries, but looking at the property advertisement at the side, don't really want loads of emails to buy property.

We probaby left on the last car ferry boat from Greece to Cyprus, Nissos Kypros, on 13th September 2001 and for the first time in my life, found myself having a good look around to see where the lifeboats were or the blow-up things you strap to yourself in case you land in the sea.

If they are reinstated, ok we would use them. I might even learn to swim.

Annaka.

[Sotos]

But aren't these ferries offered by private companies? If they don't do it that means there is not enough money in this business. I don't think this is something to do a petition! But maybe some companies will see the interest and star the ferries again, who knows!

[bill cobbett]

But aren't these ferries offered by private companies? If they don't do it that means there is not enough money in this business. I don't think this is something to do a petition! But maybe some companies will see the interest and star the ferries again, who knows!

Well yes, see what you mean S, but do believe there is an element of public subsidy in these services...

... and there is a political angle in this, in the light of events of the last couple of years, there is a call from some in Israel to get to Mainland Europe (EU) via the Free Areas and without going anywhere near Turkey.

[annaka]

I understood there was a regular ferry from Israel to the port in Larnaca, but have some recollection of a busload of the passengers being stopped on the way from Larnaca to the casinos in the North - could have been just a rumour.

Salamis lines operated the main car ferry from Limassol to Piraeus and Louis Lines did one to Rhodes using their cruise ships and you got another ferry to Piraeus from there.


Annaka.

[bill cobbett]

I understood there was a regular ferry from Israel to the port in Larnaca, but have some recollection of a busload of the passengers being stopped on the way from Larnaca to the casinos in the North - could have been just a rumour.

Salamis lines operated the main car ferry from Limassol to Piraeus and Louis Lines did one to Rhodes using their cruise ships and you got another ferry to Piraeus from there.


Annaka.

Yes... but are these combined car roll-on, roll-off ferries, so that people can book to travel, driving on and off with their cars and passengers?

[annaka]

The Nissos Kypros ferry boat was in 2001 and we had a cabin and got off in Piraeus the next day. The Louis Line I can't say as we only used the Salamis boat.

The first time we came by car to Cyprus in 1970 from Piraeus to Limassol, we used Efthimiades Line and had to get off the ferry boat at Limassol, into launches and our car was then hoisted by ropes onto a raft and we waited on the quayside for our car to be landed and untied. Being the end of June we were eaten alive by mosquitoes - my husband smoked so he wasn't as badly bitten as me and the two kids. I still remember walking down the steps from the deck into the launch - still it was something to laugh about now.

[Sotos]

But aren't these ferries offered by private companies? If they don't do it that means there is not enough money in this business. I don't think this is something to do a petition! But maybe some companies will see the interest and star the ferries again, who knows!

Well yes, see what you mean S, but do believe there is an element of public subsidy in these services...

... and there is a political angle in this, in the light of events of the last couple of years, there is a call from some in Israel to get to Mainland Europe (EU) via the Free Areas and without going anywhere near Turkey.

Good points. Didn't think of them! Certainly many people in Cyprus would be interested for ferries to Greece so if people from Israel are also interested now then there might be a big enough market for this.

[helios888]

If you want to travel by sea between Greece and Cyprus it's no way.Nobody knows why 10 years the ferries has been suspended.The two companies Salamis Lines and Louis don't answer on this question.Big secret!!! it's ridiculous to have all the connection by all the means of transportation within European borders and in Cyprus to travel only by air.The right person who may give an answer is Siim Kallas. Contact the Commissioner
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