Post by Starbucks Queen on Jan 4, 2007 13:11:06 GMT -8
This is a travel-report about my Christmas - holidays in Athens this
year. I am that sort of, who likes to get away on Christmas - and
this year's destination was Athens. It was a all-included trip by
Helvetic travel, to Athens 23 rd Dec. by "Swiss" airline, back on
the 29 th.
So the main purpose of the trip was for sure not ferries, but to see
Athens and especially some of it's ancient architecture. Greek and
Roman history - always found that very interesting.
But since I am interested in ferries, how could I let go the chance,
to take the metro to Piraeus and not just see some of the ferries
but possibly book a trip ? I have always had some special like
for "Knossos Palace" so I had something certain in mind.
I am not going into details of other aspects of this holiday, since
this is a ferry-forum, but go straight to the experience in Piraeus
and onboard the ships.
However, if you want to know something about my holidays at Athens,
see photos of the non-ferry-related part of the holidays, just ask
me - I try best to give you information !
Special thanks go to two Greek shipping enthusiasts whom I am in
contact with, for a while and who have helped me not just by showing
me great places to take photos of, but who have also helped me with
booking trips, and organized a trip on the ex. East German ro-ro
freighter "Archagelos" ex. "Fichtelberg" - a real piece of floating
communism as there is still some memorabilia from East Germany
onboard.
From Athens to Piraeus it just takes 20 minutes by the super-modern
Metro-system - and the final station is just next to the port. So
when you arrive, the closest ferries are just a 3 minute walk away.
The first thing I noticed were many booking offices for ferry-
tickets. Offices do sell tickets for all kinds of companies, not
just for one. So first thing I did was look out for a "Minoan" logo
and walk in there - to find out that a crossing from Piraeus to
Heraklion including cabin cost around 200 Euros ! Not too expensive
if you think Brittany Ferries standards but a bit too much for that
sort of short break I was planning for. Walking further, at another
agency they were not so helpful just because they thought winter is
not an ideal time - and yes, it WAS very cold there, just what I
would say, like February in Portsmouth - not any warmer !
Finally one suggested a trip to Santorini onboard one of the new
Blue Star Ferries and back with one called "Koronaros" - and of
which they did not have additional information, or a picture but I
got told that it's not an old one. I did as well say that I'd like
to do the crossing on a rather newish ship.
I kept that trip in mind, but it was time to go and meet the two
Greek fellow ferry-enthusiasts. Thanks to them, I was able to take
many photos at Piraeus and places near Piraeus of various ferries
and laid up ferries as well,
These ships are really from all parts of Europe and Japan, I have
read about this very often but it is different to see that, myself.
British ferries from the 70ies, very odd looking Japanese stuff,
super-modern and great looking Blue Star and Minoan Lines ships.
Some of these ships I have only seen on pictures and I have no idea
of their history and the only one which does have North European
History and which I would have known - the Anthi Marina - wasn't in
port that time.
I finally got told, that the trip to Santorini would be onboard Blue
Star's Ithaki and LANE Line's Vitzentzos Koronaros - and I got told
that the latter one is everything but a newish ship but the ex.
Viking Viscount. I wasn't in mood to fiddle around with the
schedules even more so I thought that I'll survive that ship,
which's sell by date must have been expired a long time ago - but
book a cabin so when I have enough I could at least close my eyes
and take a nap.
Getting onboard Blue Star Ithaki on Dec. 26 th morning around 07.15
via the escalator on the right side of the stern, where
footpassengers board - luckily not using the same way as the cars !
My first impression onboard Blue Star Ithaki was, that it is nicely
laid out, modern and it had a laminate floor which was partly
already pretty damaged. The first impression was also, that the
company did save money - they tried to get a as cheap as possible
new ferry and this you could see.
A good 1/3 of the ship was taken by the 1 st class lounge on the
front, which was not occupied by many, the majority had been
squeezing themselfes in various other seats available - or have been
taking more than two seats even. The two places to eat and drink
were "Flo Cafe" - a sort of Greek Starbucks I think, and "Goody's" -
also a brand you can see at Athens' streets and which I think is the
Greek version of Mac Donald's. So far so good, the ship even did
smell good, a bit of vanilla in places, coffee and some smell you
get in newish places.
So, first thing to do was to get a coffee and a vegetable wrap at
Flo Cafe - both was o. k. I took my time because I know we'll arrive
around 15.00 and stop at Paros and Naxos as well. The sea was
everything but calm then, but the Blue Star Ithaki did handle that
very well, and much better than a certain bigger ferry on the North
Sea would do, as well. Time onboard was spent by reading in a book I
had with me.
I noticed, that it became pretty cramped onboard the ship, due it's
open-plan design and there aren't much places where you can find
some peace and quiet. In the reclining seat area they had too many
TV-screens - something which adds more noise to the already noisy
atmosphere you get, when many people are in one room.
It is one of the things I do not understand, and do not like at all -
why do there need to be screens in so many places ? I find it
rather disturbing and adds more noise to places, where there is for
sure not any need for that.
After a few hours I did think, that the whole layout of the ship was
not so well-thought of, as well there was too much use of plastic
and other cheap materials which did result in the ship not having a
good atmosphere onboard. It could of course just be me, I am just
not fond of places, that do look like fast-food restaurants !
And for the design, yes I did wish for one of our nice, luxurious
North European ferries for a short moment - just when I noticed
something very positive, which you do not find SO often in North
Europe though: Passengers were usually quiet, and they did keep
themselfes busy by reading, just looking around, eating - but nobody
was singing loud, drinking too much and misbehaving in another way.
Ferries in the South are a way of transport, and so people did
behave mostly like on a train-trip, and not like a drunken party,
that could get out of control any time.
Blue Star Ithaki does have deckspace, but not very much of it and
not on the bow, either.
Arrive at Santorini, I took a bit too long to get off - and people
were coming already onboard and they told me to get off quick. I did
not know yet, that in Greece the ferries unload and load - as well
berth - incredibly quick ! They anyways berth, stern ramp down -
passengers and cars off all via the ramp and on as well, and off it
sails again.
Took a photo of the ship, and got a taxi up to Thira, the capital of
the island. The place is really beautiful, but it was very cold and
many places were closed. I though could grasp the beauty of the
place more, than if it was crowded with people, but I did soon feel
very cold and for a few minutes there even came some snow down - the
wind got stronger as well. When it was time to get back to the ferry
around 21.00 I got told by the taxi driver that he has heard no
ferries going due to the storm - and it was really a storm then ! He
called at the port and it was confirmed that I got at least one
extra-night at Santorini. Hotel Pelikan was the choice for a night -
nice place, and warm. I was just a bit concerned since it wasn't
sure that there will be ships next day but they promised me to call
me when there are.
My ticket was for LANE Lines Vintzentzos Koronaros and this ship was
stuck at Chania in Crete they told me.
At 07.30 they called me that GA Lines Romilda will go at 08.00 - bad
timing it was for sure too late - and they were not sure about
Koronaros but thought it would be there at noon. Few hours later
they informed me finally that the ferry I am booked on, will arrive
around 12.13 and that I better be at port at 12.00, as it will just
load and leave - no matter when it arrives.
So I was at port at 12.00 , took a photo of the Panangia Tinou which
arrived, while the one I was booked on, arrived at 13.00.
It was indeed the old Viking Viscount, as I got told - just painted
white, and looked like something that had seen better days and
something that probably wouldn't be the right thing to be on, in
rather rough weather. I was not just a bit concerned especially
because I heard that I better keep my fingers off. All that was
definitely as good and as new as 4 weeks old tzatziki and probably
as rotten !
This time there was no escalator, trucks, cars, and passengers all
went onboard the same narrow ramp - and I just did stay behind
someone else who looked as if she did know what she was doing -
walking onboard, and just at the reception someone was interested in
the tickets. My first impression was, that all was pretty old and
rundown, but clean. I got a key for the cabin which was on the port
side and nr. 313 on deck Nr. 5. A 2-bed cabin which has seen better
days as well, but with a clean carpet, all was just so "yesterday"
and someone must have been bored enough to try to peel off the
wallpapers on some places and nobody did yet get around to fix it.
A further stroll around onboard did give me the same impression -
all was very outdated and I sort of had the feeling that I am
onboard a P&O ship - it just did look like this in some places !!!
Especially in the self-service area and some of the bars. It was
pretty run-down as well, but the crew seemed to have a like for
plants - there were plenty of those ones onboard, and luckily
smoking was restricted as well. They were though not so keen on the
use of plastic onbaord as well they did not adopt the bad habit of
having screens at almost every place onboard - which is something
that gave a few plus-points to the ship. Over all, it seemed to be
divided into many smaller places, and there are more places where a
passenger could hide away - despite that I think, both ships are
similar according to size. Takiing a coffee and sitting at the
forward lounge and looking over the bow, the sea was anything but
calm - the old rustbucket though seemed to handle the seas quite
good, something I did not expect - small as it was, in comparison to
the ships I am used to.
After a two hour or so nap in the cabin, it was time to test the
restaurant and I intended to use the 1 st class restaurant at the
stern of the ship, which's interior did not look that faded, but
nonetheless very much 70ies.
Food was good, best tzatziki I had was there, main dish was o. k.
and the galaktoburiko dessert was delicious as well. The crew over
all, did not appear as professional as the ones onboard Blue Star
Ferries, or let's say there was something like a lazy attitude, but
yet friendly service. It could be, because it was not the main-
season and the fact that they have been stuck at Chios the night
before. But there was a difference to the service Blue Star does
offer. Got to talk with one of the guys who worked onboard and he
said that in the main season in summer they are often very crowded
and that for winter it was also busy due to the fact that people who
have been moving from the islands to Athens have been visiting
relatives over Christmas and are returning. As well told that the
crews usually stay around 8 months and have 3-4 months off, which
surprised me really - anyone can confirm ?
Arrived finally at Piraeus - after a quick stop at Milos as well -
at around 22.30, which I was thankful for because I knew I'd still
get a train to the hotel.
To sum it up, all is much different and really not compareable to
ferry-traffic in Northen Europe, it's not just the fact that they do
partly still have fleets which you could regard as a floating ferry-
museum, but also due to the fact that ferries there are
transporta,and a lifeline for the islands. I think, this is
something, that one, using ferries for amusements, minicruisees does
sometimes forget.
Therefore, these ferry-crossings in Greece have given me some very
interesting insight in the way of ferry-travel there. I think, I
might come back.. and meanwhile save enough money to afford the
expensive crossing onboard Knossos Palace or Knossos Festos !!!
i13.tinypic.com/2j64ba1.jpg
i17.tinypic.com/29cqjv6.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/2qip5k8.jpg
i13.tinypic.com/3yedehc.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/2dkalc3.jpg
i14.tinypic.com/48nzmys.jpg
i18.tinypic.com/4ic8sh0.jpg
i17.tinypic.com/2qkmstf.jpg
i13.tinypic.com/2a4s945.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/30a8jsn.jpg
i14.tinypic.com/49ilcoy.jpg
i11.tinypic.com/2zghmdy.jpg
i10.tinypic.com/30iapap.jpg
and here some pics of V. Koronaros, including interior.
i13.tinypic.com/33d8h86.jpg
i18.tinypic.com/2jbtn48.jpg
i10.tinypic.com/44vr32u.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/30w5put.jpg
i13.tinypic.com/2nk5my9.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/2laak95.jpg
i16.tinypic.com/47b866h.jpg
i17.tinypic.com/2ykhuzr.jpg
i17.tinypic.com/49j50gj.jpg
and last not least a pic I do quite like ..
year. I am that sort of, who likes to get away on Christmas - and
this year's destination was Athens. It was a all-included trip by
Helvetic travel, to Athens 23 rd Dec. by "Swiss" airline, back on
the 29 th.
So the main purpose of the trip was for sure not ferries, but to see
Athens and especially some of it's ancient architecture. Greek and
Roman history - always found that very interesting.
But since I am interested in ferries, how could I let go the chance,
to take the metro to Piraeus and not just see some of the ferries
but possibly book a trip ? I have always had some special like
for "Knossos Palace" so I had something certain in mind.
I am not going into details of other aspects of this holiday, since
this is a ferry-forum, but go straight to the experience in Piraeus
and onboard the ships.
However, if you want to know something about my holidays at Athens,
see photos of the non-ferry-related part of the holidays, just ask
me - I try best to give you information !
Special thanks go to two Greek shipping enthusiasts whom I am in
contact with, for a while and who have helped me not just by showing
me great places to take photos of, but who have also helped me with
booking trips, and organized a trip on the ex. East German ro-ro
freighter "Archagelos" ex. "Fichtelberg" - a real piece of floating
communism as there is still some memorabilia from East Germany
onboard.
From Athens to Piraeus it just takes 20 minutes by the super-modern
Metro-system - and the final station is just next to the port. So
when you arrive, the closest ferries are just a 3 minute walk away.
The first thing I noticed were many booking offices for ferry-
tickets. Offices do sell tickets for all kinds of companies, not
just for one. So first thing I did was look out for a "Minoan" logo
and walk in there - to find out that a crossing from Piraeus to
Heraklion including cabin cost around 200 Euros ! Not too expensive
if you think Brittany Ferries standards but a bit too much for that
sort of short break I was planning for. Walking further, at another
agency they were not so helpful just because they thought winter is
not an ideal time - and yes, it WAS very cold there, just what I
would say, like February in Portsmouth - not any warmer !
Finally one suggested a trip to Santorini onboard one of the new
Blue Star Ferries and back with one called "Koronaros" - and of
which they did not have additional information, or a picture but I
got told that it's not an old one. I did as well say that I'd like
to do the crossing on a rather newish ship.
I kept that trip in mind, but it was time to go and meet the two
Greek fellow ferry-enthusiasts. Thanks to them, I was able to take
many photos at Piraeus and places near Piraeus of various ferries
and laid up ferries as well,
These ships are really from all parts of Europe and Japan, I have
read about this very often but it is different to see that, myself.
British ferries from the 70ies, very odd looking Japanese stuff,
super-modern and great looking Blue Star and Minoan Lines ships.
Some of these ships I have only seen on pictures and I have no idea
of their history and the only one which does have North European
History and which I would have known - the Anthi Marina - wasn't in
port that time.
I finally got told, that the trip to Santorini would be onboard Blue
Star's Ithaki and LANE Line's Vitzentzos Koronaros - and I got told
that the latter one is everything but a newish ship but the ex.
Viking Viscount. I wasn't in mood to fiddle around with the
schedules even more so I thought that I'll survive that ship,
which's sell by date must have been expired a long time ago - but
book a cabin so when I have enough I could at least close my eyes
and take a nap.
Getting onboard Blue Star Ithaki on Dec. 26 th morning around 07.15
via the escalator on the right side of the stern, where
footpassengers board - luckily not using the same way as the cars !
My first impression onboard Blue Star Ithaki was, that it is nicely
laid out, modern and it had a laminate floor which was partly
already pretty damaged. The first impression was also, that the
company did save money - they tried to get a as cheap as possible
new ferry and this you could see.
A good 1/3 of the ship was taken by the 1 st class lounge on the
front, which was not occupied by many, the majority had been
squeezing themselfes in various other seats available - or have been
taking more than two seats even. The two places to eat and drink
were "Flo Cafe" - a sort of Greek Starbucks I think, and "Goody's" -
also a brand you can see at Athens' streets and which I think is the
Greek version of Mac Donald's. So far so good, the ship even did
smell good, a bit of vanilla in places, coffee and some smell you
get in newish places.
So, first thing to do was to get a coffee and a vegetable wrap at
Flo Cafe - both was o. k. I took my time because I know we'll arrive
around 15.00 and stop at Paros and Naxos as well. The sea was
everything but calm then, but the Blue Star Ithaki did handle that
very well, and much better than a certain bigger ferry on the North
Sea would do, as well. Time onboard was spent by reading in a book I
had with me.
I noticed, that it became pretty cramped onboard the ship, due it's
open-plan design and there aren't much places where you can find
some peace and quiet. In the reclining seat area they had too many
TV-screens - something which adds more noise to the already noisy
atmosphere you get, when many people are in one room.
It is one of the things I do not understand, and do not like at all -
why do there need to be screens in so many places ? I find it
rather disturbing and adds more noise to places, where there is for
sure not any need for that.
After a few hours I did think, that the whole layout of the ship was
not so well-thought of, as well there was too much use of plastic
and other cheap materials which did result in the ship not having a
good atmosphere onboard. It could of course just be me, I am just
not fond of places, that do look like fast-food restaurants !
And for the design, yes I did wish for one of our nice, luxurious
North European ferries for a short moment - just when I noticed
something very positive, which you do not find SO often in North
Europe though: Passengers were usually quiet, and they did keep
themselfes busy by reading, just looking around, eating - but nobody
was singing loud, drinking too much and misbehaving in another way.
Ferries in the South are a way of transport, and so people did
behave mostly like on a train-trip, and not like a drunken party,
that could get out of control any time.
Blue Star Ithaki does have deckspace, but not very much of it and
not on the bow, either.
Arrive at Santorini, I took a bit too long to get off - and people
were coming already onboard and they told me to get off quick. I did
not know yet, that in Greece the ferries unload and load - as well
berth - incredibly quick ! They anyways berth, stern ramp down -
passengers and cars off all via the ramp and on as well, and off it
sails again.
Took a photo of the ship, and got a taxi up to Thira, the capital of
the island. The place is really beautiful, but it was very cold and
many places were closed. I though could grasp the beauty of the
place more, than if it was crowded with people, but I did soon feel
very cold and for a few minutes there even came some snow down - the
wind got stronger as well. When it was time to get back to the ferry
around 21.00 I got told by the taxi driver that he has heard no
ferries going due to the storm - and it was really a storm then ! He
called at the port and it was confirmed that I got at least one
extra-night at Santorini. Hotel Pelikan was the choice for a night -
nice place, and warm. I was just a bit concerned since it wasn't
sure that there will be ships next day but they promised me to call
me when there are.
My ticket was for LANE Lines Vintzentzos Koronaros and this ship was
stuck at Chania in Crete they told me.
At 07.30 they called me that GA Lines Romilda will go at 08.00 - bad
timing it was for sure too late - and they were not sure about
Koronaros but thought it would be there at noon. Few hours later
they informed me finally that the ferry I am booked on, will arrive
around 12.13 and that I better be at port at 12.00, as it will just
load and leave - no matter when it arrives.
So I was at port at 12.00 , took a photo of the Panangia Tinou which
arrived, while the one I was booked on, arrived at 13.00.
It was indeed the old Viking Viscount, as I got told - just painted
white, and looked like something that had seen better days and
something that probably wouldn't be the right thing to be on, in
rather rough weather. I was not just a bit concerned especially
because I heard that I better keep my fingers off. All that was
definitely as good and as new as 4 weeks old tzatziki and probably
as rotten !
This time there was no escalator, trucks, cars, and passengers all
went onboard the same narrow ramp - and I just did stay behind
someone else who looked as if she did know what she was doing -
walking onboard, and just at the reception someone was interested in
the tickets. My first impression was, that all was pretty old and
rundown, but clean. I got a key for the cabin which was on the port
side and nr. 313 on deck Nr. 5. A 2-bed cabin which has seen better
days as well, but with a clean carpet, all was just so "yesterday"
and someone must have been bored enough to try to peel off the
wallpapers on some places and nobody did yet get around to fix it.
A further stroll around onboard did give me the same impression -
all was very outdated and I sort of had the feeling that I am
onboard a P&O ship - it just did look like this in some places !!!
Especially in the self-service area and some of the bars. It was
pretty run-down as well, but the crew seemed to have a like for
plants - there were plenty of those ones onboard, and luckily
smoking was restricted as well. They were though not so keen on the
use of plastic onbaord as well they did not adopt the bad habit of
having screens at almost every place onboard - which is something
that gave a few plus-points to the ship. Over all, it seemed to be
divided into many smaller places, and there are more places where a
passenger could hide away - despite that I think, both ships are
similar according to size. Takiing a coffee and sitting at the
forward lounge and looking over the bow, the sea was anything but
calm - the old rustbucket though seemed to handle the seas quite
good, something I did not expect - small as it was, in comparison to
the ships I am used to.
After a two hour or so nap in the cabin, it was time to test the
restaurant and I intended to use the 1 st class restaurant at the
stern of the ship, which's interior did not look that faded, but
nonetheless very much 70ies.
Food was good, best tzatziki I had was there, main dish was o. k.
and the galaktoburiko dessert was delicious as well. The crew over
all, did not appear as professional as the ones onboard Blue Star
Ferries, or let's say there was something like a lazy attitude, but
yet friendly service. It could be, because it was not the main-
season and the fact that they have been stuck at Chios the night
before. But there was a difference to the service Blue Star does
offer. Got to talk with one of the guys who worked onboard and he
said that in the main season in summer they are often very crowded
and that for winter it was also busy due to the fact that people who
have been moving from the islands to Athens have been visiting
relatives over Christmas and are returning. As well told that the
crews usually stay around 8 months and have 3-4 months off, which
surprised me really - anyone can confirm ?
Arrived finally at Piraeus - after a quick stop at Milos as well -
at around 22.30, which I was thankful for because I knew I'd still
get a train to the hotel.
To sum it up, all is much different and really not compareable to
ferry-traffic in Northen Europe, it's not just the fact that they do
partly still have fleets which you could regard as a floating ferry-
museum, but also due to the fact that ferries there are
transporta,and a lifeline for the islands. I think, this is
something, that one, using ferries for amusements, minicruisees does
sometimes forget.
Therefore, these ferry-crossings in Greece have given me some very
interesting insight in the way of ferry-travel there. I think, I
might come back.. and meanwhile save enough money to afford the
expensive crossing onboard Knossos Palace or Knossos Festos !!!
i13.tinypic.com/2j64ba1.jpg
i17.tinypic.com/29cqjv6.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/2qip5k8.jpg
i13.tinypic.com/3yedehc.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/2dkalc3.jpg
i14.tinypic.com/48nzmys.jpg
i18.tinypic.com/4ic8sh0.jpg
i17.tinypic.com/2qkmstf.jpg
i13.tinypic.com/2a4s945.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/30a8jsn.jpg
i14.tinypic.com/49ilcoy.jpg
i11.tinypic.com/2zghmdy.jpg
i10.tinypic.com/30iapap.jpg
and here some pics of V. Koronaros, including interior.
i13.tinypic.com/33d8h86.jpg
i18.tinypic.com/2jbtn48.jpg
i10.tinypic.com/44vr32u.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/30w5put.jpg
i13.tinypic.com/2nk5my9.jpg
i12.tinypic.com/2laak95.jpg
i16.tinypic.com/47b866h.jpg
i17.tinypic.com/2ykhuzr.jpg
i17.tinypic.com/49j50gj.jpg
and last not least a pic I do quite like ..
These boxes might not be the prettiest ships in this world but they are a damn impressive sight - you stand in front of them and look just so massive ! 
