On June 3 I will take HFD FlyingCat-4 from Heraklion Crete to Santorini (2 hours). I cannot stand cigarette smoke. This early in the season should I pay the extra for business class seats? Also, the HFD leaves at 9:15am -- what time do you recommend I be there ready to board?

Thanks!

Rick in Maryland

Truthfully I don't think it will make any difference about the smoke. People in Business Class will be smoking too if it's allowed; it will just drift all over the interior of the ship.

If you buy your ticket the day before you can get there whevever you want before it boards. The early boarders will have a better choice of seats.

You don't have to arrive very early..even 15 minutes before departure it's ok if you have a ticket. The seats in Flying Dolphins are numbered so it doesn't matter how early you'll arrive.
I think that they have a 'non smoking' section. Ask for those tickets if they're available.

Of course, having a no-smoking section and enforcing a no-smoking section are two very different things. I've found that BlueStar ferries have more physical barriers between smoking and non-smoking than Hellas.

The only option between Heraklion and Santorini is the Flying Dolphin, so I guess I will just do that. I will get the ticket the day before and request NON-SMOKING and hope for the best. It's only 2 hours on the boat.

Thanks.

P.S. Can I buy this ticket from a travel agent in advance when I am in Athens several days before hand? Or should I just wait until I get to Crete?

Minoan Lines run a ship from Iraklion to Santorini two or three times a week. See www.minoan.gr and look at the schedule for the service to Thessaloniki. The Iraklion-Santorini journey takes 3 hrs 45 mins, and the ship is the DAEDALUS which has a restaurant, lounges, a sun deck, etc.
All long-distance Greek ferries have a computer booking system (this was imposed by the government to prevent overbooking), so you can book at a travel agency in Athens for Minoan Lines or Hellenic Seaways (the new name of Hellas Flying Dolphins).

You can wait until you're on Crete. It won't be crowded so early in June.

No, people smoke everywhere in Greece, non smoking areas are rare to non existant, if they exist are ignored. In outside restaurants make sure you are up wind otherwise you will be enveloped in clouds of smoke.

Don't be put off however, the islands are a great place to go.