Blue Star Delos - Island hopping in comfort

Essentially a bus service on water, I was instantly impressed as soon as I stepped aboard Blue Star Delos - my preconceptions of what a Greek domestic ferry would be like were immediately quashed!

Come and have a look...

Starting off in Piraeus watching the hustle and bustle of the port over the rim of my coffee cup in my favourite pavement cafe - only my favourite because my accommodation had no coffee making facilities and this outlet was literally just next door, ideal for my early morning caffeine fix - I watched Blue Star Delos loading vehicles for her first crossing of the day.

Thinking 'why not', with no prior commitments for the day ahead I dashed back to my hotel, grabbed my belongings and made my way across the road to the port with the intension of getting aboard.

Tickets can be purchased from one of the numerous dockside ticket offices, subject to availability.

Having chosen the Port of Naxos as my destination, Blue Star Delos will first be calling at Paros before sailing deeper into the Cyclades.

Painstakingly keeping to the pedestrian black and white walkway - this is a busy port, the other foot passengers and I embarked via her lowered stern ramp which was resting on the quay edge.

Ascending the escalator from the main vehicle deck having had my ticket checked by a member of ships' crew, I arrive on Deck six, one of three passenger decks aboard this 2011 built vessel.

Stairs are available however, the coffee hadn't kicked in and I didn't fancy the hike up from Deck three!

Immediately I was impressed!

Ahead of me is a tiled floor mural depicting a compass with the selfie magnet which is a ‘Welcome’ message.

The bright and spacious carpeted reception lounge with its stylish sofas and armchairs is an ideal place to call home for the next few hours, not least because the ships reception desk is opposite in which crew can facilitate with any queries you may have during the voyage.

On the starboard side of this area one can find ‘air seats’; airline style seating facing in the direction of travel enabling those within to relax in a peaceful environment. Privacy is given from those passing through the adjacent corridor thanks to the attractive frosted glass screening.

The only shop aboard is located within the aforementioned starboard side corridor and although small does offer a selection of light clothing, fragrances, children’s toys and some souvenirs.

Continuing forward down the tiled corridor, amidships one will find Goody’s Dining Room – a casual affair which serves a selection of burgers of differing types and fries – the décor having an American vibe with fire red coloured seating and bulkheads with cooling tones of grey and off white on the counter tops, tables and light fittings.

Note how the ceiling panel with inset spot lighting mirrors the aisle of grey floor tiles leading one's eye ahead to tempt passengers deeper into the ship and encourage them to explore further.

If burgers and fries are not to your taste, an array of dishes can be found within the ships secondary dining room at the stern of this deck behind the foot passenger entrance hall.

Lower key than Goody's, the décor features more earthy tones of greens and browns and offers an exterior deck where you could dine alfresco should you desire.

Going back to where we were, next to Goody's is a counter service Coffee Bar occupying an area on the port side. Its illuminated façade is particularly inviting.

The adjacent coffee lounge is of similar design to the reception lounge and benefits from having sofas and armchairs in comforting and relaxing shades of grey and brown and is subdivided from the port side corridor by floor to ceiling panels allowing sunlight to flood in.

Finally, at the forward end of Deck six is the highly comfortable Economy Class bar and lounge.

Offering an abundance of tub chairs, sofas and reclining 'air seats' galore, this full width open plan facility is a real hub, primarily for families and groups attracted by the casual and informal ambience, numerous TV monitors showing various programmes from cartoons to local news and the large picture windows.

A forward-facing counter service bar offers a wide selection of drinks and light snacks.

Isn't Blue Star Delos impressive; bright, spacious and very modern.

Let's head up to Deck seven and have an explore.

Ascending the forward stairs and studying the wall mounted deck plans I discover the forward section

is predominantly reserved for those passengers with Business Class tickets and strictly out of bounds to other passengers.

This area has its own bar and larger seating than that found downstairs. The decor is modern, contemporary and chic.

Two peaceful breakout lounges flank the forward stairs.

Aft of the business lounge are a series of cabins. Regrettably I wasn't able to gain access to show you inside.

Expansive reclining seat lounges, port and starboard, with overhead TV monitors dominate the amidship section of Deck seven and offer a peaceful environment for those within to sleep, read a book or watch the passing vistas through the windows.

Speaking of vistas, let's head on outside.

Flanking these lounges are promenade exterior decks and admittedly is where I spent most of my voyage with a cold beer in hand.

These promenade decks are the only spaces aboard which offer direct overhead sunlight - the others have shelter canopies restricting the sun so top tip, if you too are a sun worshiper grab a seat at the earliest opportunity as this area gets very busy and space is limited owing to the positioning of the lifeboats.

You don't need to go downstairs to grab that cooling beer, just head to the bar/café at the stern of

Deck 7 which is located under the canopy.

Hot and cold beverages and light snacks are also available including crisps, chocolate and baguettes. I personally highly recommend the cheese and spinach pie with flaky puff pastry - absolutely gorgeous.

Full height glass screens encapsulate this area and makes it a facility in its own right; bar stools and tables enable passengers to dine here and charge their laptops/tablets and mobile phones as sockets are available.

Further 'exterior' deck space is available up on Deck eight.

Dominating this deck is a partially enclosed vast seating area where one can get plenty of fresh air without getting burnt in the hot Aegean sun.

A further counter service café and bar takes prime position between the port and starboard sides and serves the same beverages and treats as that downstairs.

Although primarily covered a small area at the extreme stern does offer direct sun as the overhead shelter does not extend to the ships' edge. However, BEWARE - soot from the funnel tends to fall on those sitting here.

The falling soot maybe a hazard worth putting up with as you can marvel at beautiful views such as this!

Seemingly within no time we arrive at our first stopping port of Paros.

On average the ferry only remains in port for around fifteen to twenty minutes - enough time to disembark those foot passengers and vehicles who intend to visit this island and embark those who are travelling deeper into the Cyclades.

I would strongly recommend a visit to Paros - here are some pictures from one of my visits (click for a larger view).

After a short time we depart Paros bound for Naxos

Arrival in Naxos, foot passengers are called down to the vehicle deck for disembarkation via the stern ramp.

Note, if travelling with children keep a good hold of them as the quayside has an unobstructed edge with lots of obvious hazards, including wake from departing ferries cascading over the quayside.

Naxos, click for a larger image

Both Paros and Naxos have an airport although the later only has a very small facility which can only handle smaller aircraft from Athens.

My point is why would you want to fly when you can enjoy the highly comfortable and luxurious surroundings of Blue Star Delos - a ferry, which like others, moors right in the heart of town and within moments of docking you could be having lunch in a waterfront restaurant or browsing the myriad of boutique shops in a maze of paved narrow alleyways with vibrant bougainvillea cascading down the whitewashed walls.

Why travel from A2B any other way?

Here is my journey vlog filmed for YouTube channel A2B via Sea on TV:

More ferry blogs can be found on my website:

A2B via Sea