horra

hi can someone help me with some advice. I am using blue star ferries for the first time early June and want to go to Kos. I believe it will be the blue star 2 but not sure, however I would like a recommendation on seating as their website is not thorough. ill be travelling through the night so i wont need to see anything outside and my priority will be resting and sleeping. so could someone please recommend the best seat to book..business class or the airbeds (with the airbeds I noticed on the photo there is single seating on their own what would they be called?) would appreciate if anyone can help. thanks

Heimdall

Hi Horra,

Business Class is a separate lounge with more comfortable seats, and being open only to business class ticket holders, it's usually quieter. I've used Business Class on Blue Star Paros and Naxos, but don't know what they have on Blue Star 1 or 2. There is no such thing as "air beds". You are thinking of air seats, or aircraft-style seats, which are in the economy section but numbered and reserved. As the name suggests, they are similar to seats in airliners, but larger and with more legroom.

You can explore the ship in Our Fleet > Panoramas on the Blue Star website: http://www.bluestarferries.com/site/...?sel=877&loc=2. Move the mouse around to get a panoramic view.

brotherleelove2004

It doesn't appear as if there are any business class lounges on the Blue Star 2, at least according to www.danae.gr, the booking website I checked. The basic economy ticket is €51. This is first-come, first-served unreserved seating. If you leave your seat someone can take it. The reserved, reclining aircraft-style seats are €55. You don't say if you're traveling alone or with someone. If you're traveling by yourself and are willing to share a 4-bed cabin with others the price of a bed will be €80. The cheapest you will pay for a 2-bed sleeping cabin is €132 unless you're willing to share it with a stranger, in which case it will cost you €88. Sometimes the other bed will not be booked and you will have the cabin to yourself.

Heimdall

I suspect brotherleelove is correct about no business class on Blue Star 1 & 2, as they don't show one in the panorama. Another possibility to check into is a flight from Athens to Kos. Aegean Airlines has a 16:20 flight with seats going for as low as €82 including taxes in early June. Olympic Air has a 19:10 flight with seats going for a little over €100.

horra

Thanks guys great info. Yes im traveling alone so I was't sure what would be the best option for me, particularly that it's a 7pm departure and arrives in KOS at 0635am. Would want to probably get some sleep throughout the journey. Unfortunately I will misconnect with a domestic flight as you suggested as the day I arrive in ATH there isn't a late afternoon or night flight to KOS. Yes I would have preferred to fly into KOS rather than catch a ferry, however I don't think I have a choice. Could you advise me whether it is better to pre purchase my ferry ticket online or should I get it from the port prior to departure. and just to confirm the info about the seating, I anticipate using the ferry on or about the 10th-12th of June so what do you recommend as I want the best option possible but of course not costing a fortune. I noticed single seating on a photo but not sure what blue star ferry they were on. do you know what they are called or do we get a specific seat allocated when a the port. Could you please explain the process. thank you. oh one more thing...what the best and cheapest way to get from ATH airport to Pireaus (i think that's the port it's leaving from)

Heimdall

What time do you arrive in Athens? The Aegean Airlines website is showing seats available for the 4:20 pm flight on all three of those days, and Olympic Air shows seats for its 7:10 pm flight on the 10th and 11th but not the 12th.

Anyway, since you are uncertain which day you are travelling you can buy your ferry tickets when you get to the port or from Amphitrion Holidays at their airport ticket agency. You can book online directly with Blue Star if you wish, but will only be given a reference number, and still have to pick up the tickets from their booth at the port.

If you use the panorama link in my previous post it will take you directly to Blue Star 1 and Blue Star 2 (both have the same layout). Click on 11. Air-type Seats, and you can navigate around 360° and up & down in the air-seat lounge. It gives you a very good view of the area. That's where I would go if travelling alone on an overnight ferry. When you buy your ticket you will be allocated a seat number. Some people just sleep on the deck, but that can't be very comfortable.

To get from the airport to Piraeus take the X96 bus, which departs from directly outside the terminal and stops near the Blue Star docks in Piraeus. Allow about 1hr 30min for the journey that time of day. You will need to be at the docks at least 30min before the ferry departs. Tickets on the bus cost about €5. You buy them from a booth next to the bus rank, and validate them in a little machine on the bus.

horra

Hi Heimdall thank you for your prompt reply. I did use the panorama link you sent me and was very useful. I will land in ATH at 325pm and won't make the 420pm flight and Olympic doesn't have a 710pm flight on Wednesdays so I think my only choice will be the ferry which I don't mind. May I also ask if I waited to purchase my ticket on landing in ATH will I have time and how do the seat allocations go if I want the air-seat lounge? Is it first in first serve with choice of seats because I can't see a facility to choose online? For example: window or aisle seat or a specific level or section. What section do you recommend? Also do you suggest I just get on the bus and get to the port and worry about getting my ticket from there incase I am strapped for time? Thanks for your feedback.

Heimdall

Hi horra,

Okay, I understand now why you can't take a flight, but with a 3:25pm arrival you should have plenty of time for the 7pm ferry. If you are strapped for time the Amphitrion agency at the airport is very quick. I've never had to wait in line there, and you will get the actual ticket rather than a reference number, so can go straight to the ferry when you arrive at the port. Amphitrion is also an authorised pick-up point when you book online through danae.gr: http://www.danae.gr/faq.asp#part9_2

The Dodecanese ferries (e.g. Blue Star 2) leave from a different gate than the Cyclades ferries. I believe the X96 bus goes all the way to the Dodecanese docks (gate E1), but you could ask directions at Amphitrion or the airport bus ticket booth to be sure.

As far as I know there is no way to choose a particular seat when you book or purchase an air-seat ticket — you are just allocated a seat number. That's not a problem, though, unless the ferry is full, and that's unlikely in early June. Just wait until the ferry is at sea and everyone settled down, then move to an empty seat. You may be asked to move later if the valid ticket holder turns up.

horra

Oh ok thanks for that. I think I'll take your suggestion and buy the ticket from the agency at the airport on arrival. Do they charge the same amount of money as if I was to buy directly from Blue Star? Also for the seating if I had a choice is section 1 better than section 2 on the blue star 2? And is it safe to leave your hand baggage in the storage shelves unattended if I was to walk around the ship? Thank you for your assistance.

Heimdall

There is a small service charge of €2-3 to buy your tickets at the airport, which you can avoid by using the Blue Star ticket booth at the port. Personally for me it is worth the extra charge to have my tickets in hand before leaving the airport, but others feel it is a waste of money.

I don't think there is much difference between Sections 1 and 2 — just two separate lounges located next to each other, as far as I know. If you don't like where you are sitting just change seats. As long as you have an air-seat ticket the worst that can happen is someone will ask you to move.

I would never leave my passport and other valuables unattended when walking around the ship, but other belongings would probably be safe enough.

horra

Thank you sooooooooo much you have been very informative. I feel heaps better knowing I can be a bit better organized.