Anek Lines

ANEK Lines is a Greek ferry operator based in Crete that runs large conventional overnight car ferries on the Piraeus–Crete routes (Piraeus–Chania and Piraeus–Heraklion) and has long served the international Greece–Italy Adriatic crossings. Its full name is Anonymi Naftiliaki Etaireia Kritis (Ανώνυμη Ναυτιλιακή Εταιρεία Κρήτης, "Anonymous Shipping Company of Crete"). Founded on 10 April 1967 and headquartered in Chania, Crete, ANEK is a passenger-and-vehicle line built around cabin-class overnight sailings rather than fast day craft.

Routes served

ANEK Lines operates two core categories of service:

• Domestic (Crete): overnight sailings from the port of Piraeus (Athens) to Chania and to Heraklion, the two main gateways to Crete. These are the operator's flagship lines, typically departing in the evening and arriving the next morning.
• International (Adriatic, Greece–Italy): ANEK has historically run crossings between Greece (Patras, Igoumenitsa and Corfu) and Italy (Ancona, Venice and Bari), for many years operated jointly with Superfast Ferries under the "ANEK–Superfast" service. These Adriatic connections now sit within the wider Attica Group ferry family.

The conventional overnight fleet & cabins

ANEK runs conventional Ro-Ro passenger ferries — sizeable overnight vessels (such as Elyros, Kissamos and Asterion II) carrying roughly 1,000–1,900 passengers plus cars, campers, motorcycles and freight trucks. Because sailings run overnight, accommodation is central to the experience:

• Cabins: inside and outside (sea-view) cabins, including 2-, 3- and 4-berth cabins, with family discounts on 4-berth bookings.
• Air-type seats (reserved reclining seats) and open deck/economy space for budget travel.
• Onboard facilities typically include restaurants, cafés/bars, self-service dining and lounges.

Booking

Tickets are sold on the official site anek.gr, through the shared Attica Group booking platform, and via authorised travel agents and ferry-ticketing portals. ANEK runs a Seasmiles loyalty programme offering members discounts (up to 20% on selected passenger and car fares).

Background & co-operation with Superfast / Attica

ANEK Lines was created in 1967 through a broad public share offering among Cretans. On 1 June 2011 it entered a joint venture with Attica Group (Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries) branded ANEK–Superfast, pooling vessels on key Aegean and Adriatic routes. In December 2023, ANEK Lines was acquired by Attica Group, joining Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways as a subsidiary while retaining the ANEK brand and Crete identity.