Can someone who has travelled on a Hellenic highspeed ferry answer something for me please? I am looking to travel from Athens to Santorini and just discoved Hellenic is much quicker than Blue Star. They have an economy, vip table, and business sections. What do each of these consists of and what is the best for the money? Thanks!

Economy seats on HS highspeeds are all that most people need. They are reserved, and roomier than economy on a jet airliner. I have only ridden economy, and as long as the ferry isn't full, find it just fine.

Business class is a separate section with larger seats. VIP is another separate section on the upper deck with the most comfortable seating. VIP Table simply means you will have a seat with a table. Both Business and VIP have their own bars, and are restricted to passengers holding tickets for those sections.

MUCH roomier than economy seats on a jetliner... more like business class on a jetliner. Plenty of leg room. Seats are upholstered, and I think they may even lean back a bit; I forget.

Does the economy section have a bar as well?

Yes, economy will have a bar, snacks, etc. Plenty of room to move around in the cabin as well.
http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=264

Thanks for all the info!

can someone please describe the economy seating? i read above that its very roomy and enough, but is it like an airplane seat? or like a picnic bench seating that i've read about on other ferries. thanks in advance!

no no no ... That is for REGULAR ferries, not the Fast Ferry. Here's the hwole drill --

REGULAR -- THe plain "economy fare"on regular ferries entitles you to an outside deck seating, on white plastic armchairs around tables or "picnic bench seating" . If it gets windy or rainy you can also sit inside at a cafe OR inside in chairs along a corridor. "Reserve economy" ticket on REGULAR ferry gives you a numbered inside seat (upholstered, wide, much legroom, moderate lean-back). You are not REQUiRED to stay there... you can sit on deck & sun as long as you wish. It just means that when you want to rest or snooze u hve a guaranteed seat inside.

FAST-FERRIES -- There is NO deck seating... it's all interior seating... there are aisles to walk around, and at the back of the room or front, there are snack bars & bars.

"AIRLINE SEATING" -- This strikes horror into hearts of peolpe who are crammed into awful plane seats. But it's not like that. It means the seats are in rows... but they are large seats, and upholstered, and usually have a slight lean-back ability, and small armrests. You can doze. NOTE: Sometimes a TV set will be on loud, and so earplugs and an eye mask are good things to keep n our day-bag.

thanks travelerjan!
the ferry i am considering taking is the highspeed 5 on Sept 28, and arrives early on Sept 29th. There is only Economy, do you think it will be comfortable enough that I will be able to sleep? there is also the VIP... is that comfortable to sleep? which would you choose for an overnight ferry in regards to comfort and budget.
thanks again!

i found this link online -do you know if economy looks the same for the highspeed 5? http://www.greekislands.gr/hfd/fc4-gallery.htm
thank!

Giggle Economy is roughly the same on all the highspeeds... if u buy from an agency, ask for seats on the sections by the windows, rather than the middle. And as I say, earplugs & eye mask. Can you doze in a chair at home? Then you can do so in these, VIP or not.

You jumped in here without givng any detail so I cannot understand your question ... Are you going to Santorini?? The highspeed 5 for Sept 28 leaves Piraeus at 7:30 AM , and arrives at 12:30...5 hours. There is an ANEK ferry, the Preveli, that leaves at 16:00 (4pm) and arrives at 45 minutes afer midnight. That is a "Regular" ferry.

If you want advice, give more detail and say where you got it. All u are doing is confusing me.

Sorry for the confusion! But you've answered my question! Thanks so much travelerjan!

SO? Glad to do so, but as a thank-you -- relieve our puzzlement and explain what you meant by that apparent reference to an overnight high-speed.

I've been to the Greek Islands twice this year, and have now started travelling business class. I used business class/VIP on Highspeed 5, Blue Star (twice), and Nissos Mykonos, so have a good means of comparison.

My favourite was Blue Star, which has it's business class arranged like a hotel lounge, with a bar, tables, chairs, and sofas. If the section isn't full, and it rarely is, no one objects to your stretching out on a sofa to take a nap. The seats aren't numbered in business class, but a steward stands by the door to stop economy passengers from entering the section.

Highspeed has separate business and VIP sections, both very comfortable. The seats are numbered, but you can move around within the section if there are empty seats.

Nissos Mykonos has the VIP section divided between 'Atrium' and 'Panorama', both having comfortable leather seats lined up along the sides of the ship, allowing an excellent view. Panorama is reached by two curved stairways from Atrium, which has the bar, and seats and tables arranged in the middle.

I'm afraid it's a case of once having tried business class, you don't want to go back to economy, and the price difference isn't as great as you may think. That said, flying is even better. ;-)

I am trying to decide between the Atrium and Panaorama VIP sections on Nissos Mykonos. Does anyone know the difference, and which one I should choose. They are both the same price.

I thought your question was answered in my previous post. If you want to sit at a table in a cafe setting, choose Atrium. If you want a comfortable reclining seat in a quieter area, choose Panorama. For a look at these two sections, go to http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=833 and click on 'Virtual Tour'.