SuperFast Ferries
 

Has anyone on Supefat ferries with the deck seat? I can't seem to find any pictures of it on the website. Anyone want to share his/her experience from Bari to Patras or Igoum on the deck seat? After the ferries, were there complications getting from the port to Athens?

Nobody else has answered so I'll take a shot. I have done the Baris to Patras trip two times and the Ancona to Igoumenitsa trip two times, also.

But I've never gone deck passage. As far as I know there aren't really "deck seats" other than the ones at the tables on the rear deck. There are also couches inside, but I don't know if it is permissible to sleep there.

My concern in sleeping deck passage would be for my property while I slept, since I don't think there is a place to check your bags.

I have slept in the dormitories and was surprised by the comfort and safety. In order to get into the dormitory, you needed a pass card. Inside the dormitory there were lockers for bags that cost a Euro, though you got the Euro back when you opened the locker. I think there were 4 bunks in each of three or 4 curtained areas and my friend and I had the space to ourselves. The only problem with the men's dormitory was that the bathroom was one deck up.

I have also had a cabin 3 times and I guess that's the way to go if you want privacy. But it is expensive compared to the dormitory.

The airplane seats are another possibility but I have never tried them and figure I would sleep as well there as I would on an airplane - which is to say that I doubt I would sleep.

As for getting to Athens from Igoumenitsa. . . I think there is bus service, though my destination after arriving in Igoumenitsa has been Corfu so I've never researched bus connections.

From Patras, there is train service and I would guess there is bus service as well.

I'm not sure if I've helped. Maybe you have other, more specific questions I could take a shot at.

I have taken the SuperFast from Bari to Patra and I never saw any DECK SEATS. The regular seats (what I will call "steerage") were inside the boat. They were in a room that looked like the inside of a movie theater.

I did see some younger guys sleeping outside on deck chairs with sleeping bags.

You really don't have to stay in your seat on the Superfast. There is a restaurant, disco, bar, lounge, and cafeteria on board. So, you could stay up all night and watch TV in the lounge if you wanted to.

I had a first-class outside cabin, so I have no idea what "steerage" is like.

I didn't go to Athens upon arrival; I went to Olympia.

Thingorjus

I think the deck seats are actually inside. Click on view next to aircraft seat for a picture.
http://www.superfast.com/site/conten...c=2&query=

I had an outside cabin for two which was quite decent. DD stayed in a quad interior cabin with friends which was less plush and a bit crowded.

Opps! I see there's a difference in the aircraft seats and deck seats. I would e-mail and ask for a picture.

SShepard and the rest, thanks for wonderful responses. I guess my concern is that my friends and I will be on a tight budget. Our plan is to sleep on Superfast, which eliminates one hostel night and provide our way to Greece in one. Secondly, the complications that may arise from getting to the port of Italy and the getting to Athens from the port. We'll be in Rome before we head to Greece. Does anyone suggest a particular route from Rome to Athens?

If you are trying to save money and are in a group, I would say the deck passage would be the way to go. I'm sure you will find some place to get a little sleep. The last time I took the ferry, I saw a person sleeping in his sleeping bag on the hard deck just outside an entrance door. The next morning he was covered in dew but he was still sleeping.

As for transportation from Patras to Athens, try this link:

http://tinyurl.com/6s3z87

I just did a "Patras to Athens" Google search. I'm guessing you would get similar help if you did a Rome to Bari search.

The advantage of leaving from Ancona is that it is closer to Rome. The disadvantage is that it is a much longer journey to Patras. If you went to Igoumenitsa from Ancona, you would save ferry time but I'm not sure about bus connections.

Are you traveling with a Eurail pass, by any chance?