I have just bought my ferry tickets for 3 September from Anek's web site and see that I will need to pick up the tickets in Athens/Piraeus. I'm flying into Athens from USA with a transfer in Munich. My questions is will I be able to pick up the tickets at the airport at one of agents where you can buy ferry tickets or do I need to get them at the Port in Piraeus.

Another question has to do with timing. Anek tells me I need to check-in 2 hours before departure (7PM for the 9PM ferry). If I miss my fairly tight connection in Munich I won't arrive in Athens until 6PM. Plenty of time to make the ferry but not so for getting to Piraeus by 7PM.

I've taken the ferry from Hania to Athens but I've always flown to Crete from Athens. I picked a bad date to arrive and the flights are really expensive. I think school starts soon and there's lot of travelling going on.

On an unrelated matter, I'm thinking of skipping the Samaria Gorge walk as I suspect it might still be pretty warm the 1st week of Septmber. I've done the walk before so it's not the end of the world if I miss it this time. But if someone wants to tell me things start cooling down quickly in September i might change my mind.

Also in case any one is interested Lufthansa has flights from Dulles to Athens for just over $800 total for certain dates in September and October. I had been thinking of going to Munich and found that the tickets to Athens were cheaper (even though I fly through Munich both ways).

The confirmation of your ferry booking will tell you where to pick up your tickets. Had you waited until arriving in Athens, you could have bought your tickets at the airport or from any other agency. I've never heard of 'check-in 2 hours before departure' for a ferry - normally you just show up with your ticket sometime before they raise the boarding ramp and you are okay.

Thanks for the reply. Normally I would have waited to get my tickets when I arrived in Athens, but I was a bit worried about how crowded the ferry might be, being the last Friday before school starts. Plus Anek's web site was really easy to use. Just not so specific after I bought the tickets.

My confirmation from Anek lists under "How to Claim your Tickets" 4 choices - ANEK Regional Offices, Certified ANEK Agents, ANEK Ticketing Port Booths, and Self-Service Ticketing Kiosks (new).

It would be simpler to get the tickets at the airport if possible, but I also have their Port Address in Piraeus which I assume isn't too tough to find.

Usually there is a ticket booth near the departing ferry, but I can't say for sure in the case of ANEK. There are several ticket agents at Piraeus, and at least some of them will be ANEK agents. Check with Pacific Travel and Amphitrion Holidays before you leave the airport (they are both in the lobby outside Arrivals) - if they can't issue the tickets themselves, they should be able to tell you where to go.