A few questions about island hopping via Blue Star Ferries...

Ive read to buy seats in AK1 or AK2 and not in economy. These are the only non smoking sections? There is a lounge we can go to as well right?

I see there are discounts offered but all require travel before March 31. I am travelling May 24-29. Can i assume more discounts will be offered for that time frame as it gets closer? Do ticket prices go up as it gets nearer like airline prices do?

Any additional information you think could help some first time Greece travellers would be great!

AK1 and AK2 are small reserved seat areas with good views, but there are other non-smoking sections as well. You are free to wander around the ship and enter all public areas except business class. Economy has non-reserved seats in the salons, and plastic seating on outside decks. Many people prefer to sit on deck and take in the fresh air & views.

Suggest you wait and buy your tickets when you get to Greece. The ship will be less than half full at the end of May. Prices are controlled, and won't get higher near the sail date.

butterman, those "reserved economy" seats cost about 3-4€ more than the "regular" economy seats. They are most valuable when you are taking a Blue star on a 5 or 7 hours ride, from Piraeus to Naxos Ios or Santorini, or back to Piraeus, on the beginnning or end of a weekend, when ferries are more filled up by Greeks.

Otherwise, in May, it's only half-filled, and you can easily sit in one of those seats with a "reserved" ticket and will not be challenged. In fact, dumb me, the first several times I took Blue Star I did that, not knowing a thing about reserve. Then one day I took a Sunday ferry back to Piraeus; it was quite full, and someone came along and (rightfully) "bumped" me out of the reserved seat... and i had to hustle. I ended up sitting in a crowded corridor. So -- midweek -- maybe u can save the 3-4€ reservation fee.

Another thing that isn't clear - if you reserve, you dont HAVE to sit inside the whole time. You can sit out on deck as long as you like, watch sunset etc, go to cafe to have a snack ... it is just that when u want to snooze, there's a comfortable lean-back padded seat saved for you. It's your choice.

Last June I was in AK3 (a larger non-smoking section), and watched a backpacker going from seat to seat. Every time he sat down, a few minutes later the ticket holder came along and asked him to move.

I think the extra €3-4 is well worth the price, even when you know the ferry won't be crowded. When you board the ferry, crew members often direct economy ticket holders to the outside deck. Once the ferry is moving, and reserved seat holders sitting down, you can go into the AK areas to look for a spare seat, knowing you may be asked to move later. I would rather go straight to my own reserved seat and be done with it.