Major ferry operators
Blue Star Ferries
Blue Star Ferries is a Greek shipping company that began as Strintzis Lines in 1965 in Kefalonia and adopted the Blue Star brand in 2000. Today it is part of Attica Group, alongside Superfast Ferries, Hellenic Seaways and ANEK Lines. Blue Star Ferries operates Ro-Pax ferries between mainland Greek ports, Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio, and the islands of the Cyclades, Dodecanese, North Aegean and Crete.
Key facts
- Trade name
- Blue Star Ferries (Blue Star Maritime S.A.)
- Origins
- Strintzis Lines, founded 1965 in Kefalonia
- Blue Star brand
- Adopted in 2000 after the Attica Enterprises stake
- Parent group
- Attica Group
- Sister brands
- Superfast Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, ANEK Lines
- Headquarters
- 1-7 Lysikratous & Evripidou, Kallithea, Athens, Greece
- Service area
- Cyclades, Dodecanese, North Aegean, Crete, Saronic Gulf
- Mainland ports
- Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio, Kavala, Thessaloniki
- Web check-in window
- 48 hours up to 2 hours before departure
- Boarding
- At the embarkation area at least 1 hour before departure
- Free luggage allowance
- 50 kg or 1 m³ per passenger
Official websitebluestarferries.com
Top Blue Star Ferries routes on SimpleFerry
- Piraeus → Syros → Paros → Naxos → Ios → Santorini
- Piraeus → Syros → Paros → Naxos → Santorini → Amorgos → Iraklia → Schinoussa → Koufonissi → Donoussa → Astypalea
- Piraeus → Syros → Tinos → Mykonos
- Piraeus → Chios → Mytilene (Lesvos)
- Piraeus → Santorini → Anafi → Heraklion (Crete) → Sitia → Kasos → Karpathos → Diafani → Chalki → Rhodes
- Piraeus → Kalymnos → Kos → Rhodes → Astypalea → Ikaria → Patmos → Lipsi → Leros → Nisyros → Tilos → Symi → Karpathos → Kastellorizo
- Piraeus → Syros → Mykonos → Evdilos → Fourni → Karlovassi → Vathy (Samos) → Chios → Lesvos → Lemnos → Thessaloniki
- Rafina → Andros → Tinos → Mykonos
- Lavrio → Kea → Kythnos
Fleet and onboard experience
Blue Star Ferries operates conventional Ro-Pax vessels designed for the Aegean island network. The current fleet includes Blue Star Delos, Blue Star Patmos, Blue Star Naxos, Blue Star Paros, Blue Star Myconos and Blue Star Chios. Cruising speeds range from 23 to 30 knots. Seat options on board cover deck (open seating in lounges and outdoor decks), business class lounges, VIP seating and cabins (interior, exterior and deluxe). Onboard amenities include self-service restaurants, à la carte dining, bars, mini-markets and shops, plus children's play areas on selected vessels. Specially designed cabins for passengers with reduced mobility are available; due to limited numbers, advance reservation is required.
Booking, check-in and luggage on SimpleFerry
On SimpleFerry, Blue Star Ferries tickets are bookable in real time with transparent pricing and instant e-ticket delivery. Boarding starts at the embarkation area at least one hour before departure, and the same rule applies to passengers travelling by car. Vehicle drivers are obliged to embark and disembark their own vehicle. The Blue Star Ferries web check-in service issues an e-Ticket from 48 hours up to 2 hours before departure; at boarding it must be presented alongside a valid ID card or passport. Free luggage allowance is 50 kg or 1 m³ per passenger, placed in the designated areas as instructed by the crew.
Pet policy
Pets must be declared at the time of booking; ticket issuance is mandatory. Each passenger may travel with up to 5 fully vaccinated pets, each with its own health booklet, in line with EU Regulation 576/2013. Pets travel in three ways depending on the vessel: in dedicated pet cabins, in specially designed kennels on the open deck, or in a pet carrier. Pets are not permitted in regular cabins, bars, restaurants or other indoor public areas. On the open deck, pets must wear a muzzle and be on a leash, accompanied by their owner. Unaccompanied pets are not accepted for embarkation.
Prepare for your Blue Star crossing
Keep the booking confirmation and boarding ticket separate
The operator's current FAQ places online check-in between 48 hours and 2 hours before scheduled departure. Use the operator's check-in process for an eligible booking, and keep the resulting ticket available for boarding. A SimpleFerry price quote is not a ticket and cannot be used to obtain a carrier boarding pass.
Blue Star ticket and check-in FAQ
Plan luggage and accommodation together
The published conditions allow luggage up to 50 kg or 1 cubic metre without a luggage charge. That allowance does not choose your seat or cabin. Compare the available accommodation on the selected sailing, and keep the items you need during the crossing easy to reach. Ask the operator about any oversized or unusual item before relying on the standard allowance.
Blue Star domestic travel conditions
Declare a pet before ticket issuance
The operator requires a pet to be registered when reserving or issuing tickets. Its published registration fields include the health-book or passport number, animal marking number, category and size. Pet cabins and other permitted travel arrangements depend on the vessel. Select an offered pet option and confirm the carrier's current requirements; do not assume that a regular cabin accepts a pet.
Blue Star pet registration requirements
Sources reviewed . Check the linked operator guidance again before departure.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive at the port?
Passengers must report at the embarkation area at least 1 hour before departure. Drivers travelling by car must do the same and embark and disembark the vehicle themselves.
What is the free luggage allowance?
Each passenger may carry up to 50 kg or 1 m³ of luggage free of charge. Luggage must be placed in the designated areas as instructed by the crew. Valuables can be deposited with the Chief Purser for safekeeping against an official receipt.
What document do I need for travel?
Ticket must be presented at boarding together with an ID card or passport. For Adriatic lines, travel documents have to be checked at the port office before boarding.
Are pets allowed on Blue Star Ferries?
Yes. Pets must be declared at booking and require a valid health booklet (EU Pet Passport for EU residents). Travel options depend on the ship: pet cabins, deck kennels, or pet carriers. Unaccompanied pets cannot board, and pets are not allowed in indoor public areas.
Book Blue Star Ferries ferries
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