Greece: Ferries- Which online website?
 

Maybe I haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I am having trouble figuring out which website to book through online. I just need four tickets for Paros-Naxos in June. I'd like to pick up the tickets at the port in Paros a day or two before boarding. Could someone please explain to me what is meant by "whole cabin" or "berth/seat" on the accommodation portion of the reservation, and also whether we can all sit together? Some of these websites seem to suggest that there are male/female cabins, but maybe I'm misreading the information. Thanks in advance for your help!

Weadles ... You are looking at a website that is specific to ONE ferry line. the best site to use is gtp.gr. It is not limited to ONE ferry line, but lists all that are available. It does require a little attention but it gives FAR more information.

(1) For instance it doesn't just list the ferries for a specific day; if you put in a MONTH (6) but leave the Day slot at "any" you see the PATTERN of service for the entire month... very useful.

(2) Also, it codes different kinds of ferries: CF = car ferry = huge (1000 - 1,700 passengers), no need to book ahead at ALL, except for overnight cabins OR the end of a huge holiday weekend in High Season... neither of which concern you. CC = car-carrying catamaran = a large fast-ferry; stable, fewer seats (450?), no outside decks for view, 2x as expensive as CF. and CM = passenger-only catamaran, fewer seats still (250-400) same € as CCs, in windy weather, more likely to be delayed or a bumpy ride on long journeys.

(3) If you click "more info" you see a moving red line showing exact route, and a cute foto of the actual ferry; Blue Star even gives the exact passenger capacity & speed per hour.

(4) If you're trying to find if a ferry even GOES from 1 isle to another, put your first Island (Paros) into "Port" and leave "destination" blank & hit "Continue". A pull-down menu will show all the destinations served by ferry from Paros. Isn't that wonderful!!

After saying all this, I have to tell you---- no way you need to buy tickets now!! Ferries go from Paros-Naxos many times a day. Buy tix at waterfront the day of, or day before... no difference in price vs. advance -- prices are govt. controlled.

I am giving you all this information so you will learn to use GTP.Gr -- if everyone took the time to do this, our ferry-inquiry threads would shrink dramatically.

travelerjan,

What we would do without you?!! Thank you so much for sharing this information w/me. I'm a bit obsessive over having everything in place BEFORE I travel, but this time I'll take your advice and just buy tix at the port the day before. Thanks again!

There will be a good choice of sailings between Paros and Naxos. Some ferry companies publish schedules in advance and some don't. For a journey like this, there is absolutely no need to worry in advance: just look at the agencies at the port and buy a ticket there. Cabins/berths are only relevant for overnight sailings. The gender is only relevant if you're travelling overnight and sharing a cabin with strangers; it's totally irrelevant for a daytime sailing where you do not want a sleeping berth.

Geoff,

Thanks! I know it's a very short ride, so the gender issue that kept cropping up online confused me. Anyway, thank you for the information.

Weadles, the gender issue only applies when people want to reserve a BUNK in an all-male or all-Female cabin for 4 for overnight sailings ... somehow the software brings this up even when one is simply booking a short sailing during the day. If you see it again, ignore it.

BTW, I have DONE that bunk thing and it's perfectly fine, and a BARGAIN -- your ticket becomes not only your transport but your hotel for the night.

travelerjan,

The "bunk thing" does sound like a bargain, and we may opt for that on the way back to Athens from Naxos. How far ahead should I be thinking of booking that trip in mid-June?

I'm not sure whether there are any overnight sailings to Naxos. It's only about five hours from Pireas on the Blue Star ferries which isn't really long enough for a night crossing. The overnight sailings to Crete and some of the more far-flung islands can be very popular; Friday nights are usually the busiest.

Geoff is right, you can't book a sailing that doesn't exist.