I can give you more information BLU if you give me an idea of when you are planning on traveling. I am a frequent traveler to the Cyclades and please note that, unlike the other posters have indicated, few ferry companies (and there are many) make any attempt to produce regular schedule sheets, even Flying Dolphins, the most popular. The only attempt at an all-inclusive Greek ferry guide is located at http://www.gtpnet.com and even that is a master array of bewildering abbreviations and is sporadically updated. This can give you ideas of the time allotments neccessary for ferries though, which is important to plan. Keep in mind too, that ferry schedules are never really produced because the Aegean Sea/weather will change schedules on an hour by hour notice.

Your best bet, if you are going during peak season (end April to mid October) is to NOT WORRY. There are plenty of Ferries to Crete, Santorini, and Rhodes. Since you will probably arrive in Athens airport, take the E96 to Pireas Port and buy ferry tickets there at any agency. Plan to arrive in the morning because ferrys to rhodes or crete will take all day - if you buy hydrofoil (commonly known as "dhelfinia" or "flying dolphins") your trip will be twice as fast on Highspeed 1-4 boats, and also twice as expensive. If you are going to crete or rhodes, consider Aegean Airlines (codesharing with Delta for skymiles this summer) as their one ways are 60 euros plus tax which comes to about 80 euros each way, just slightly more than the dhelfinia will cost you for a far journey, and hours and hours faster. Fly business and they give you a car for the day!

To Santorini, you will probably have to connect in teh bigger port of Paros, to a smaller ship. Getting to Santorini is always a long trip if you dont fly Aegean. Keep in mind there are ferry travel agencies on every corner in teh islands. You will never be stuck and not be able to get somewhere weather permitting... You have also chosen extremely popular islands with vast arrays of ferry service, all the travel agents speak english and many speak french - buy your ferry tickets when you get to the islands or ports, just give yourself enough time to get there.

Any more info let me know...

Good luck and have fun - dont miss Akrotiri and definitely jump in the hot springs and climb the volcano in Santorini - these are unforgettable experiences.

Andrew

Andrew