Hello
We are planning to buy a reserved lounge seat on a Blue Star ferry which will be going from Santorini to Naxos on May 6 at 3:30 pm. There are 5 different lounges but no ship map showing their locations, as far as I can see.
Any idea which lounge we should choose if we want a view but in a shady spot?
It costs only 2 additional euros per person so we are willing to pay extra even if there is a good chance that the ferry won't be full.
Parakalo!
S.
All lounges are located inside the ferry in closed areas, they do not necessarily have a better view than the Economy areas but are located in quieter areas.
Only business lounges are located at the front of the ferry (with a view of the front).
In economy there are places inside and outside on the decks, shaded, with seats and tables.
Cabins, lounges and decks on the Blue Star Delos:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRszjqxDCzD7CrUCiR1g4p8GS-Uw4uZX/view?usp=sharing
Lounges 1 to 5 map (decks 6 and 7):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YV_nlnYYn9FMsnD2E-Hfv5WvHfNhv2R_/view?usp=sharing
BTW “parakalo means “you are welcome” . "Thanks" in Greek is "Efharisto" (roughly phonetically: ef cha ree ‘sto)
Does the business class lounge have access to an outside deck?
I believe there are dedicated outdoor spaces on decks 6, 7 and 8 for cabins, lounge and business classes, but as a simple economy passenger whose needs are easily satisfied, I have never explored the Delos in these areas
JoLui
Thanks very much for your reply including the Greek lesson!
Efharisto ,
S.
Parakalo, susan. :-))
I always recommend this Youtube video to easily learn some basics in Greek. Susan, you can watch especially at 1:59.
I don't believe the Business-Class lounge has an open back deck -- its attraction is supposed to be that the seating is "club-style" chairs arranged in 4s around a table, or long bench-style seating with tables, and waiters come around & take your orders.
The 2 upper back open decks are chairs around tables, plus some bench seating... and it is all first-come, first-served, at an Econmy ticket.. so knowledgeable Economy-ites try to be front of line, and hustle up the steps when boarding is announce. For those who get upstairs too late to snag an outdoor seat, Economy ticket-holders are entitled to use seats in any of the several cafes inside, or any chairs lined up in the corridors. You can also become a "squatter" in any of the hundreds of unoccupied "reserved-economy" seats inside. NOTE: If you choose a seat that has been sold, and the Reserve Ticket -holder shows up, you will have to move... but there will be plenty of choice on an early May Monday sailing, which may be 1/2 or 1/3 empty indoors. On Sundays returning to Athens, its a far different story.
IF you dont care about sitting on deck & enjoying the sea view as a 2-hour mini-cruise, you can always pay the €3-5 additional for a "reserved Economy" tickets. You should be aware that buying such a ticket does NOT require you to sit in that seat the whole time -- you are perfectly free to hustle & snag any of those nonreserved deck seats.. it just gives you a falback option. When I get one of these seats, I always request a SIDE copartment, near the windows... These are smaller compartments, fewer seats, quiet. (In the Old days, these used to be the Smoking sections). The central section on each floor is like a huge movie theatre, several aisles, brightly lit, TVs on constantly, noisy, nothing to recommend.
The tested strategy for this Blue Star sailing is to get down to the pier by 2:30 at latest, go into the "waiting shed" and get right tothe front-exit door, to be at front of line. When the door-gate opens, all will scramble up the ramp. Your large suitcases ned to be stacked on the "Naxos rack" on the main (vehicle) deck. It's smart to have one person do that, while the other person(s) scampers up the escalator & 1 flight of steps to snag deck seats for both.
Do business class passengers also store their luggage with economy class or do they have a separate area for it? Or if you only have a small carryon suitcase, can you bring it up to the business class lounge?
We paid for business class and found it very comfortable. We were also heading to Santorini from Naxos and the view out those front windows as we approached were spectacular. The staff were really nice too. We did have to leave our bags downstairs on the car deck like everyone else.
On the vehicle deck, there is no class/caste distinction ... the peasants & the privileged alike stack their larger bags on the same rack. However, it should be noted that these bags are perfectly safe...after all, one is at sea, no one can leave, and besides, who wants someone else's laundry. Plus. the vehicle deck swarms with boat officials. And of course all of us-- business & economy passengers alike -- always take with us our smaller shoulder bags wih valuables, cameras, etc. In addition, anyone willing to heft a heavy suitcase full of laundry & shoes & huff-puff up the stairs, may of course set it somewhere near their seat, in the business lounge or a reserved-econoomy lounge.
