Ferries are the cheapest way to move between islands and the easiest way to lose two days of a short trip. The schedules are real but conditional, and the condition is the sea.
The goal is not to find the perfect connection. It is to build a route that still works when one boat does not sail.
Take the first boat of the day, always
Sea conditions build through the afternoon, so cancellations cluster later in the day. The first departure is the one most likely to sail and the one that leaves you a second chance if it does not.
It also means arriving with daylight left, which matters when onward transport from a small port stops early.
- Morning crossings are cancelled far less often than afternoon ones.
- Arrive at the port an hour before, more during holidays.
- Onward jeeps and vans often stop running by late afternoon.
Understand what actually gets cancelled
Small fast craft stop sailing well before large roll-on vessels do. When the coastguard suspends trips, it is usually by vessel class, not by route.
If a crossing is served by both a fastcraft and a larger ferry, the slower boat is the one that will still be running when the weather turns.
- Fastcraft first to be suspended, large ferries last.
- A suspension is issued by the coastguard, not by the operator.
- Check the operator page and a local group, not just the schedule.
Book so that a cancellation is not expensive
Advance booking secures a seat on busy routes but ties you to a sailing. On quiet routes the seat is rarely the constraint.
- Book ahead for holidays and for routes with one daily sailing.
- Buy at the pier for frequent short crossings.
- Keep a screenshot of the booking; port wifi is unreliable.
- Ask the refund rule for weather cancellation before paying.
Build the route with slack in it
A chain of tight connections fails at the first weak link. Put the buffer where the risk is, which is the longest and most exposed crossing.
- Never connect a ferry to a same-day flight.
- Give the most exposed crossing a spare day on either side.
- Have a land alternative in mind for at least one leg.
- Carry enough cash for two unplanned nights.
In closing
Plan the route so that any single cancellation costs you a few hours rather than a destination. That usually means one fewer island than you first wanted, which is a better trip anyway.
Book the flight home with a full day of margin after the last crossing.