How early would you recommend arriving at Pireaus Port to catch a Blue Star Ferry departing at 18:00? How early do they allow passengers to board?
How early would you recommend arriving at the Airport to catch a 06:00 flight on Air France to Paris (changing planes to continue on to Seattle)? Will the check in counter be open at 04:00?
Thanks!
At the airport plan to arrive a minimum of 2 hours before the departure of your flight. If you can arrive before 4:00 it will be even better, especially if you have luggage to check in.
On the left of the checkin desks there is an automatic kiosk where you can print your boarding pass and baggage tag yourself. There is a dedicated baggage conveyor to drop off your luggage.
About the ferries
If you already have your ticket, make sure to be at the boarding pass at least 30 minutes before departure.
Ferries do not wait for late passengers.
For the Cyclades the Blue Star ferries leave from Gates E6 and E7, to the Dodecanese islands it is from Gates E1 E2.
If you take a taxi, inform the driver of your departure gate, he will drop you off right in front of the boarding area.
By metro, leaving the Piraeus metro station you will be right next to Gates E6/E7 for the Cyclades islands (5 minutes walking distance)
For each Gate all departures are displayed on large electronic displays.
Departure time and destinations are also displayed in Greek and English on large electronic displays on the ferry itself
The disembarkation and the embarkation are done as quickly as possible sometimes in an incredible mess of passengers, trucks, cars, which disembark and embark. So be ready to board when the ferry arrives.
If you have luggage, you will have to leave it on shelves located on the cars deck before going up to the passenger decks.
About the luggage, You Heave it onto the shelf yourself. THere are separate areas for different destinations - Paros, Naxos etc. Higher shelf, the better, & if you have 2 bags stack them, so they won't get buried. And do not wait around for a "Luggage receipt" , there is none. But these bags are perfectly safe -- Your "vitals" - phone, camera, cash, Passport etc -- are in your daypack / shoulder bag you take with you up to the open decks & inside seating areas. If you care about outside seating (1st come 1st served) and there are 2 of you, have one deal with stowing luggage while the other scampers up the stairs to snag best seats.
(If u are talking about 6 plm departure from Naxos arr Pireaus 11:45pm or so, good to buy "reserved economy" tickets.... that's a looong ride outside. U can sit outside for sunset, but if & when you want to read/snooze in comfort, u come indoors & your assigned seat is there. TIP: I buy tickets at an agencvy, not online because in person y ou can request locatiaon -o- and the better locations are in the smaller SIDE compartments, near windows.
Thank you for your helpful responses! We are excited to finally being heading to Greece after a 2 year COVID delay.
