SUMMER 2016 - July ferrying, Part 2

Saturday 16th July 2016
We woke up on the island of Naxos to yet another beautiful sunny day, and soon made our way between the local houses set beside the steep winding cobblestoned little streets, down to the port.

Display boards of ferry/boat times

View back up to the castle and hotel

Superferry II arrived

Here we go


We watched SUPERFERRY II, of Golden Star Ferries, arrive and were soon able to embark up her ramp. We are to sail at 8.20 a.m. from here in Naxos to Mykonos which should take an hour and a half. I had bought a cheese pie on the quayside and that and coffee on the ship soon revived me. We have tickets in Distinguished Class, which always makes for a very comfortable journey for very little extra money. As we left the port we could see the little town of Naxos and the nearby island of Ariadne with its ancient arch built in 530 BC, which is all that remains of a temple to Apollo. We thought Naxos town was on a good-sized hill, but the further away we sailed the more we could see the mountains behind the town. They were extremely high and put the port town in perspective as we sailed away.

This ship was built in 1974 as PRINCE LAURENT with a gross tonnage of 4,986.

Coo, that's orange!

The view forward

Purser's Office

Arch on the island of Ariadne

Just look at those mountains

View of funnel and seating

More mountain views

Part of the Distinguished Class Lounge


We arrived at the new port of Mykonos at 9.50 a.m., with several hours to spare before catching our next ferry this afternoon. I remembered the small hotel with pool that we had enjoyed visiting last year, and so we headed for Maki's Place. Sun loungers beside the pool, under palm trees, seemed the perfect place to enjoy a snack lunch and cool drinks, and a swim.

Several hours later we managed to get a lift from the hotel taxi down to the port, money changed hands, and all was well. The ship was to be late in, so we found some shade to sit in and I had an interesting chat in English (me) and Japanese (them) with two young ladies. They were using small hand-held battery-operated fans which had been filled with a little water, and when they were switched on the water became mist and sprayed their faces. We had a demonstration and each of us enjoyed trying the girls' new 'toys'.

Hellenic Highspeed

Superferry II leaving

Crowds heading for the fast craft

Champion Jet 2

Superferry II in the background as Champion Jet 2 arrived

Champion Jet 2 getting on the berth

Hellenic Highspeed further along the quay

Passengers embarking on the Hellenic Highspeed

And she's off

And so is Champion Jet 2

There they go

Theologos P

Fast Ferries Andros and Paros Jet

Stern of Paros Jet

Which then left

Nissos Mykonos arriving

And leaving

Blue Star Naxos on the left, just about to turn and berth

Superferry, our next ship of the trip


We saw SUPERFERRY II leave, CHAMPION JET 2 arrive, load and leave, HELLENIC HIGHSPEED arrive, load and leave, THEOLOGOS P arrive, load and leave, FAST FERRIES ANDROS arrive, load and leave, PAROS JET arrive, load and leave, NISSOS MYKONOS arrive, load and leave, BLUE STAR NAXOS arrive, load and leave, and finally a sight to gladden our hearts: SUPERFERRY arrived and unloaded. She is to be our next ship of the trip. She joined Golden Star Ferries just 2 weeks ago, having been re-built in Piraeus this year (2016); her previous name was KOGANE MARU, built in Japan.

We are to sail from here in Mykonos to Rafina, with a call at Andros on the way. We had to wait for SUPERFERRY to unload and then we could board and climb the stairs. I admired the new artwork of what looked like illuminated glass fishes as we climbed the stairs and arrived in the empty but spacious lounge. Everything looked very new and unused, with a lot of dark wood-effect panelling all around the walls. The artificial flowers looked decorative amongst the seating. There was the inevitable little Japanese-styled staircase up to another part of the lounge; we enjoyed seeing the artwork of 'charts' amongst the airline style seating, with bigger charts on the side walls. Out on deck we admired the interesting seating curved into the outer railing.

Artwork that I liked

My view aft from the top of the stairs

Golden Star Ferries logo

Bar and seating area

Japanese staircase

Charts pictured on the walls

Piraeus work done

Port of Andros


We left Mykonos at 2.30 p.m. and enjoyed looking around this newly refurbished ship; nearly 3 hours later we arrived at the island of Andros and enjoyed seeing the Andros Hotel where we stayed last year as we neared the port.

Apiliotis in the port

Passengers off and on


People disembarked and many people embarked as we sailed off into the wide blue yonder. It was hot, we could see the distant mountains and revel in the blue sky and sea around us. At one point we passed sister ferry SUPERFERRY II, which we were on only this morning, and it was fun to hear the exchange of whistles as we passed each other.

We arrived early evening in Rafina and shared a taxi to the port of Piraeus, so that we could make sure of catching our next ferry, overnight to the island of Crete on board KYDON.

Kydon in Piraeus

The stern view of Kydon

Panagia Tinou from close up


Before we boarded we walked along the quay to look at the sad sight of PANAGIA TINOU, the ex-HENGIST of Sealink days, sitting on the bottom of the quayside nearby. She looks so forlorn and terrible, and I could see just where I had sat out on her deck so many times in other years as we sailed out of Piraeus.

Once on board KYDON we could walk around and take pictures of this ship which is new to me, but has been with ANEK for some time. She was built in 1990 at 29,991 gross tons.

Blue Star Naxos nearby, seen from the deck of Kydon

High Speed 6 further away

Adamantos Korais in the distance

The Restaurant

Stern Deck at dusk


We watched our sailaway from Piraeus after dusk, then had a good dinner in the ship's restaurant. The daytime temperature had been 34C and even at night it was 29C so the outside air was wonderful, and we are looking forward to our arrival early tomorrow morning at the port of Souda on the island of Chania (Crete). We plan to have a relaxing day at a favourite tree-lined beach on the island.


Ships seen at Naxos: Superferry II

Ships seen at Mykonos: Superferry, Sea Bus Taxi from the new port to the old port, Nissos Mykonos, Paros Jet, Ekaterina P, Fast Ferries Andros, Theologos P, Hellenic Highspeed, Champion Jet 2, Superferry II,

Ships seen at Andros: Apiliotis

Ships seen at Piraeus: Highspeed 7, Highspeed 6, Highspeed 4, Blue Star Naxos, Kydon, Kritti II, Adamantos Korais, Panagia Tinou (ex-Hengist)


To be continued...

MORE FERRYING IN '15 Part 4

Thursday 17th September 2015
What a pleasure to wake up in a Greek island hotel and prepare for breakfast on a pretty terrace, looking out to sea and other islands in the Cyclades. The sun was shining and hot again today under a cloudless blue sky. The mountains at the back of Gavrio were still dark-looking in the early morning light but the flowers and trees below us were abundant in their growth. This is a lovely place for a twenty-hour visit and I would happily spend more time on this island on another occasion.

Andros Holiday Hotel

Looking to the right from the terrace

Looking to the left

Distant views

Anyone for tennis?


We left the hotel just before 10 a.m. and walked down the paths to the port of Gavrio, ready to catch our next ferry of the trip; we are booked on SUPERFERRY II of Golden Star Ferries, leaving Andros and heading for Mykonos again. After time for lunch and an afternoon there, we are to take the NISSOS MYKONOS (again, how appropriate) back to Piraeus, leaving late afternoon.

Down at the port we could see the ship approaching us and, with a long hoot of the whistle and a stylish turn, the SUPERFERRY II came alongside. Many people disembarked and lots of us waited to embark.

Here she comes

Into the bay

Nice turn

Nearly in


The abiding memory of boarding the Superferry II was seeing a gentleman who was hauling crates of paperwork down the ship’s stern ramp as we waited to embark. As it was a slightly windy day, one of the lids became detached and papers went flying everywhere, including into the sea. Chaos, and he looked pretty downcast afterwards!

Windswept papers (photographed by Matt, www.hhvferry.com)

On we go


We will be on board for just two hours and twenty minutes, so rucksacks could be left safely down on the car deck. I put mine down where suggested, and discovered to my delight that it was right beside all the mail sacks. What fun, I'm on a Mailship yet again in my life!

Oooh look, I'm on a Mailship!

Golden Cafe

Map

Andros Holiday Hotel

Out of the harbour

Round the headland

Our lovely Andros Holiday Hotel

Off we go

The ship's wake

Glorious blue sea

Windy conditions

Garbage disposal at sea

Distinguished with comfort and flowers

Purser's Office


We sailed on time, called at the island of Tinos, and then there was time to chat with the man in the shop who was selling local products. He was very pleased to show me so many Greek products and I was happy to buy a box of Greek Delights (which I know as Turkish Delight...). I hoped to get them home before needing to open the box. I also bought a bottle of water; as part of the regulation of the Greek ferry system, operators are obliged to sell certain basic items of food and drink on board at fixed prices. These regulated prices include small (350ml) bottles of water for €0.35 and 500 ml bottles for €.50. Also on the regulated menu are basic coffee (Nescafe) and cheese and ham toasts. Interestingly the same tariff for water applies at Athens airport.

We arrived at Mykonos and again it was very windy in the bay, but we were soon walking off the ship.

Superferry II


The water taxis were not in sight so we strolled past their little office, across the bridge, and onto the side of the main road. We could see the wonderful Matthew restaurant, but as it looked rather full we decided to go along a path next door and up to a terrace restaurant. It was very sheltered there so we stayed for lunch and I decided to go up some stairs to look at another terrace. Wow, there was a huge swimming pool with loungers, palm trees, a wonderful view out to the sea, and heat without wind. The hotel manager was consulted and he was happy for us to hire towels, swim if we wanted to, and use the facilities at this hidden hotel - how lucky for us. We did just that for the rest of the afternoon; I had a swim in extremely cold water, but it was exhilarating and is probably the first time I have been in an infinity pool. Ships may have called and sailed, but my eyes were closed for a while and I didn't know what I missed, relaxing in the shade of a large palm tree.

Feet and pool

View to the Old Town

Makis Place


Eventually real life had to take over, so we returned the towels, had a meal, shook hands with the staff and thanked the manager, before walking back down to the port. We felt very happy to recommend Makis Place, Mykonos New Port, Tourlos village, based on what we had seen and enjoyed.

Seajets Champion Jet 2, which we sailed on yesterday

Champion Jet 2 leaving and Nissos Mykonos arriving

Celestyal Crystal was nearby

Seen through the spray

Here she comes

Nissos Mykonos arriving alongside


We had been told that NISSOS MYKONOS would probably be late in because of the wind, and indeed she was, as the 5.50 p.m. departure became 6.35 p.m. She was built in 2005 at 7,882 gross tons, and the ship was full. We had Distinguished Class seat tickets but even when we climbed up to the lounge we had to ask a couple of people to move out of our numbered seats. They did so reluctantly but since we stood there smiling patiently and showing our tickets, they really had no option. There were no spare seats to be seen. Another couple standing near us showed their tickets but the two women with four noisy small children playing in the space in front of their seats refused to understand or move.

We subsequently noticed that a ship security person was on duty at every doorway on our two-deck lounge seating/bar area. The circular staircase in the middle connecting the two seating areas was busy with people moving to and fro but no-one sat on the stairs.

On many ferries around the islands over the years we have often seen 'the pretzel man', who has a wicker basket on his arm, filled with bread snacks, which many people buy. We were surprised to see him on board now but he did a good trade. I think many people were reluctant to leave their seats and were grateful to see the pretzel man.

I was happy to discover that the man in the seat behind me had his canary with him, in a cage. The little bird chirped happily for much of the journey so obviously they both felt relaxed.

We are sailing from Mykonos to Piraeus, to stay overnight, and are due to arrive at 11.15 p.m. but it seemed a long journey, despite the television screens everywhere. We normally expect to be able to go out on deck and enjoy the night sky and facilities on other decks, but this time we discovered why the security people were so much in evidence. Also on board, but confined to the stern outer decks, were 500 or 600 refugees. We did go out on deck but these poor people were much in evidence and I felt so sorry for them. They had obviously come on board before the call at Mykonos, possibly at the island of Samos, another island near to the Turkish coast. The conditions under which they travelled on board were not good, and I did feel that more seating and certainly more rubbish bins could have been provided, both on deck and in the toilet facilities. There were many babies and small children with the adults, and I felt so grateful that I was not in their position and having to flee my home.

Eventually we arrived in Piraeus to the usual hubbub; walking out of the port gates we found a local taxi to take us to our overnight hotel, at a nearby bay to Piraeus. A driver with Satnav was happy to drive us round to the wonderful-sounding Hotel Queens Leriotis, at Piraiki, and I think we all marvelled at his skill in getting us there in good time. Many of the rooms seem to face the sea with small terraces, which bodes well for watching the morning arrivals in Piraeus Roads and the Great Harbour tomorrow.

Ships seen: Superferry II, Fast Ferries Andros, Blue Star Paros, High Speed 4, Champion Jet 1, Highspeed 4, Theologos P, Ekaterini P, Grimaldi Lines ro-ro (distant off Andros), Superjet, Express Mykonos, Aegean Paradise of Turkish ETSTUR line, Nissos Mykonos, Champion Jet 2

Ships seen in Piraeus:
Speedrunner IV, Blue Star Patmos, Blue Star Delos, Blue Star Paros, Panagia Tinou, Phivos, Ionis, Agios Nektarias Aegina, Achaeos


To be continued...