KarenWoo

Hello,
We are leaving this Thursday, May 12, for Greece. Our first stop is Santorini. On May 16 we are planning on taking the Blue Star Ferry from Santorini to Naxos. (Will buy our tickets when we arrive in Santorini.) I remember reading about the "mad dash" to disembark at Naxos. I am getting a bit nervous because my husband is 75 and I am 72, and we are not good at making mad dashes! We are not so spry any more. In fact, Over the last 10 - 15 years, both of us have fallen at one time or another and fractured or sprained ankles!

When we board the ferry, I know we leave our luggage in the luggage hold. I think I read somewhere that there is an area or room for Naxos-bound luggage. Am I correct about this?

Is Naxos the first stop after Santorini or the second stop?

We should leave the open deck as soon as we hear the announcement for Naxos. Does it make sense to leave a few minutes before the announcement? Are the stairs steep? I have this fear, hopefully irrational, that we could trip and fall as we are making our dash down the stairs. I also have this fear that someone will take our luggage by mistake. I will make sure we have a good identifier on our luggage, such as red ties/ribbons.

Will we be waiting in the dark in the luggage hold?

Approximately how long does the ferry dock at Naxos?

I am probably worrying unnecessarily, but I do have a fear of falling (I have osteoporosis) and a fear of not getting our luggage in time.

Any other good tips/advice for handling disembarkation?
Thank you!

travelerjan

Smart of you to think ahead, Karen ... I'm also in the upper age echelon by now, but have successfully disembarked at Naxos many times. Here's the deal -- think ahead. The "mad Dash" is more the getting-on, than the getting-off, because everyone wants a seat out on the open deck, and those are first-come, first served. At Santorini, arrange transport early enough that you arrive at pier by 2:15 or so for 3:15 departure & you'll be ahead of the crowd. GO into the "Departure SHed" to the far end, where a Port GUy is guarding the exit door. GET a seat RIght by the door, so you 2 will be first in line when they drop the velvet rope. I think that luckily May 15 is early enough to beat the rush of the chief pushers/shovers -- unescorted groups of foreign students whose manners derive from jampacked Metros in their countries. Anyway... when u get into vehicle deck, ask any BLue Star person where to put NAxos bags; it's smart to pile yours on an upper shelf so they wont be covered by others. You might have your husband deal with this, while you head up the escalator (there's an escalator for 1 deck, (business class) then stairs for the next 2 decks, where the back open decks are... Take a peek at 1st deck & if you see chairs, head that way. WHen your husband gets up there, he can look around to find you. Then you can relax, enjoy the breeze and the Mini-cruise.
NAxos is the first stop, THe trip is about 2 hours. If you want to start ahed of time, at the 90-minute level, look around for a Blue Star staffer and ask, how soon til first announcement. Then get a 5-minute start. There is an elevator that goes down to the 2nd level, so you could take that... then u must use stairs for final descent (no down escalator). However, good railings, take your time. ANd there won't be nearly the crowd... after all, maybe 1,000 people got on, but only a few hundred are getting off. And yes, the vehicle floor will be dimly lit, and you may be standing next to a huge 16-wheeler.. but everyone is in a a good mood, You'll feel the ferry slow, & turn, and bump into the dock and Finally, the ramp slams down.. and there you are! Beautiful Naxos Town, gleaming in the sunlight! When u don't linger on the open deck to see the actual docking, you will have plenty of time to disembark slowly... after all, there will be vehicles disembarking also. Take your time walking down the ramp, it's bumpy & you could trip. I hope you're arranging for a pick-up by your hotel. Just keep walking along the pier, & look for the car or van or sign which they've told you about. THen -- your Naxos Adventure Begins!

blakewilson6804

just sit and relax till the main pack disembark then simply follow the chaos calmly at its rear. I've gone several islands especially on the Naxos ferry that's the Athens all the way across to Kos, Kalymnos, down to Rhodes I think or crete . It leaves Athens and heads across the MEDITERANEAN into the Cyclades Naxos ,Santorini Paros, syros and a few others then onto Dodecanese Patmos symos, Lipsi Kalymnos ,Kos etc relax it's a walk in the park nothing to fear no matter what age or health the staff on these ferries are experts with even the captain heading down to departure usually to make sure everything is fine. The ferry also offeres a private berth with beds and shower for another 30 euro I found this very useful when travelling from Kos to athens . Not lugging everything around as I walked the boat and having somewhere I could rest and freshen up was money well spent.

KarenWoo

Travelerjan, thank you for your detailed description! I have made arrangements with the Blue Dolphins Apartments to have their driver bring us to the port on May 16. The ferry leaves at 3:30pm, and I told them we want to be at the port by 2:30pm. So their driver is picking us up at the hotel at 2:00pm to bring us to the port.

We are staying at the Hotel Palatia in Naxos. I haven't made arrangements for them to meet us at the port. They told me there are always lots of taxis at the port. Would I be better off having the hotel pick us up?

Blakewilson6804, thank you, too!

travelerjan

NO, you'll be just fine! I only suggested because you seemed rather worried about the whole thing. A taxi will be fine. BTW, friends of mine will be at Hotel Palatia just after you, late May... ships that pass in the night (day). Weather is brightening for you trip -- Aathens reports 80° this weekend.

geetika

Karen, bon voyage to you from Santorini, have a fabulous vacation! We’ve been here for two days and fly out to Athens tomorrow. The weather’s been gorgeous, though chilly in the evenings and you certainly need a jacket, prepare to layer.

We had dinner at Akaiton last evening and it was perfect. Excellent food and service, in one of the loveliest settings one could imagine, with gorgeous views of the sunset. Travelerjan, thanks for your suggestions.

The Nafplio part was way too short, but nonetheless we greatly enjoyed our stay at the little fishing village of Kiveri, we stayed at an old fisherman’s cottage right on the water.

One more day in Santorini before our last part in Athens, so far it’s been everything I thought and more!

Heimdall

Don’t worry about luggage left on the car deck. The watertight doors are closed while the ship is at sea, and not opened until the ferry approaches Naxos, the first stop for Blue Star after Santorini. You will take the luggage yourself aboard ship, and collect it yourself when you disembark, so it never changes hand during the trip.

You are more likely to lose your luggage at the airports you travel through, where your bags go through a complicated conveyor system, and baggage handlers who load them on the aircraft. That said, it would be useful to have colourful straps or tags to set your luggage apart from others, not only on the ferry, but collecting it from the carousel at the airport.

KarenWoo

Heimdall, thank you for your advice and reassurance!

Geetika, what has the temperatures been like in Santorini during the day? I've been checking on timeanddate.com, and it keeps reporting in the 60's for Santorini. Seems low to me. I hope it will be a bit warmer. It's been a very chilly spring here in MA. Still wearing warm pajamas and using our heat! I am bringing a lightweight jacket and a shawl or sweater. We will be in Nafplio for 5 nights!

I have the restaurant Aktaion on my list for Santorini! Did you make reservations?

geetika

Karen, temperatures have been between highs of 66/67 and lows in the high fifties. Sunday was overcast and windy, pretty chilly in Oia. Yesterday and today have been bright and sunny, but it gets progressively colder by the evening. Warm and toasty in the sun though.

I made reservations at Akaiton a few days earlier, especially since we’re a group of seven. It appeared to me everyone has reservations, they’re a small restaurant and don’t have many tables.

We’re going down to the fish restaurant at Ammoudi Bay in a bit, no reservations for this one.

Surprisingly it hasn’t been crowded at all, especially in Oia, where we’re staying. Fira was a little crowded yesterday afternoon, but not so many people in Firostefani later, I expected big crowds to watch the sunset.

travelerjan

KKarenWoo, I re-read my message about ferry and was wrong about 1 thing - IOS Is the first stop ... so you get to see from the deck, the process of a ferry docking, and people disembarking.

KarenWoo

Hmmm? According to Heimdall, the first stop after Santorini is Naxos. Do you think it depends on which ferry we take? I plan on getting tickets for the Blue Star Ferry that leaves Santorini at 3:30pm. This one sails through the Caldera.

Debbielynn

KarenWoo, I see you are already on your trip. I wish you a good one. Stay healthy and enjoy! We go on our trip to Greece, Austria and Slovenia next month and your trip report was very helpful for planning. Hope you post when you return, including pictures! Debbie

KarenWoo

We just returned from Greece yesterday. Had a fabulous trip! Will try to do a TR and photos. Maybe in a few weeks. Some sad stuff happened at the end, so this week will not be a good week. But I hope a TR with photos will be therapeutic for me. And I will need a distraction!
When do you leave on your trip?

geetika

Am happy you had a fantastic trip Karen, hope the sad stuff isn’t something too bad. Will wait for your TR and pictures, take care 😊

Debbielynn

So sorry you had some troubles. Hopefully not very serious. We leave on June 14. Will be in Greece till June 24. then flying to Munich and off to Austria and Slovenia. Returning July 3rd. I will try to post pictures and TR when I return also.

KarenWoo

Where are you going in Greece? Our itinerary was Santorini, Naxos, Nafplion, and Athens. Maybe I can give you some restaurant suggestions before I actually write the report.

Debbielynn

KarenWoo, we will be in Northern Greece. We are flying from NYC to London and then on to Thessaloniki. We have a family wedding and will stay a few days with my husbands sister in law before we fly to Munich, rent a car and go to Austria and Slovenia. But thank you for the offer.

Debbielynn

We did the Naxos, Santorini , Nafplion, visiting family and Athens the last time we went in 2016.