How punctual are Blue Star ferries in August?

[Mike Lane]

On Fri, 6 Jul 2007 21:46:26 +0100, Matthew Jenkins wrote
(in article <CSxji.29434$_14.17219@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net>):

> Hello,
>
> We are booked on the Blue Star ferry from Naxos to Piraeus which is due to
> arrive in Piraeus at 15:00 on 7th August. I have now worked out that if the
> ferry is more than 2 hours late we have a good chance of missing our flight.
>
> Can anyone with recent experience of Blue Star ferries and/or experience of
> this route give me a indication of the chances of this happening?

The ferries are normally quite punctual provided the weather is good. In
August the weather in the Aegean is normally quite settled so you will
probably have no problems. However sudden storms can occur at any time of
year (unlikely in August but possible). If you are unlucky enough to have one
of these then anything can happen, including the possibility that the ferry
can be cancelled altogether. This has happened to me in June a few years ago
and to my daughter who was once stranded for several days on Naxos in
September.

It is generally reckoned to be safer to get back to Athens the day before
your flight. I normally arrange to spend the last day or two on Poros which
is much nearer to Piraeus and very close to the mainland.

By the way it's not usually necessary to book ferry passages more than a day
or two in advance (unless you need a cabin). Most people just turn up on the
day and get their tickets at the harbour.

[Stuart]

> On Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:20:42 GMT, Mike Lane <invalid@mac.com> wrote:
>> It is generally reckoned to be safer to get back to Athens the day before
>> your flight. I normally arrange to spend the last day or two on Poros which
>> is much nearer to Piraeus and very close to the mainland.
>>
>> By the way it's not usually necessary to book ferry passages more than a day
>> or two in advance (unless you need a cabin). Most people just turn up on the
>> day and get their tickets at the harbour.

> Alexander Arnakis wrote:
> This is all very good advice.
>

I can't remember if you said what day you are travelling on. The only
thing that I would add is to be careful in August if you are travelling
on a Sunday. Without checking I am not certain if they all do, but most
of the ferries from Naxos to Piraeus go via Paros and at the end of a
weekend it can be fully booked with Athenians returning home from Paros
after a weekend away. I would always buy my ticket a couple of days
before at this time of year.

Best Regards

[Greecemad]

Matthew,

Not all Greek ferries run on time. I've known them be 1.5 hours late
and half an hour late is quite normal for some of them. However, Blue
Star Ferries are some of the most modern in Greece. In my experience
they run more or less to schedule, so they should certainly arrive
within 2 hours of the scheduled time.

However, as other people have mentioned they are at the mercy of the
weather (and also strikes, though in many years of island hopping I've
never experienced one). So there is more likely to be a cancellation
than a long delay.

What I have experienced is missing a flight due to all ferries being
cancelled due to the weather. On my return home I managed to contact
the headquarters of the ferry company by phone/fax and get a letter
stating the reason for the cancellation. I also got a photocopy of my
ferry ticket to prove that I had booked on it, but I surrendered the
actual ticket to get a refund. In recent years I have booked a local
flight from the last island back to Athens.

Some people say that you should get back to the mainland a day before
the return flight. I don't see any point in this - I think it's only a
small risk and if you plan on taking the ferry the day before, you
could still get stuck.

Greecemad