This product is only available to passengers who have purchased a Busabout Flexistop or Loop Pass. You will need to be issued with a special Busabout Athens Link voucher, which can be exchanged at the port in Venice, Ancona or Patras for a ferry ticket. These vouchers are usually issued by the Busabout On-board Guides when you commence travel or, if you plan to use the Athens Link prior to commencement of travel with Busabout, you may collect them from the Busabout office in London or Siva Travel in Athens. Vouchers cost £39 one way.
The Busabout vouchers are open-dated, and can be used anytime during the 2008 season (May to October). You cannot pre-book the ferries and need only take your voucher to the port office of the ferry operator on the day of travel and exchange it for a ticket.
The ferry companies DO NOT accept Busabout e-tickets !!
Timetables and Port Office Addresses
Minoan Lines operate ferries on both the Venice/Patras route and the Ancona/Patras route. Departures are usually 6 times per week on both routes BUT this is subject to change. PLEASE double check the Minoan timetables BEFORE purchasing the Athens Link www.minoan.gr. Boarding for Minoan Lines begins 2 hours prior to the departure of the ship. At the top of each timetable you will find the address of the local port office - this is where you go to exchange your vouchers for ferry tickets.
VENICE TO PATRAS - Minoan Lines Euroagency srl, Stazione Marittima, Magazzino 123,Venice, Italy
Phone: +39 041 2407177
Operates: 22 May to 31 October
Departs: Daily. Depart Venice 14.00, arrive Patras next day at 20.00. PLEASE CHECK TIMETABLE AS DEPARTURES CAN BE AFFECTED BY WEATHER + SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.
Duration: 29 hrs
PATRAS TO VENICE - Minoan Lines 2-6 Athinon Street, Patras, Greece
Phone: +30 2610 455622
Operates: 22 May to 31 October
Departs: Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun. Depart Patras 23.59, arrive Venice two days later at 07.00. PLEASE CHECK TIMETABLE AS DEPARTURES CAN BE AFFECTED BY WEATHER + SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.
Duration: 32 hrs
ANCONA TO PATRAS - Minoan Lines Oscar Paroletti, Stazione Marittima, Ancona Port, Italy
Phone: +39 071 56789
Departs: Daily. Depart Ancona 17.00, arrive Patras next day at 15.00. PLEASE CHECK TIMETABLE AS DEPARTURES CAN BE AFFECTED BY WEATHER + SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.
Duration: 21 hrs
PATRAS TO ANCONA - Minoan Lines 2-6 Athinon Street, Patras, Greece
Phone: +30 2610 455622
Departs: Daily. Depart Patras 18.00, arrive Ancona next day at 14.00. PLEASE CHECK TIMETABLE AS DEPARTURES CAN BE AFFECTED BY WEATHER + SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.
Duration: 21 hrs
From Athens to Patras, allow yourself plenty of time to make the ferry departure (at least 5 hours).
Patras/Athens (local connection)
The public transport link into Athens requires that you arrange your own transport – you may be able to purchase connecting coach tickets to Athens from the purser on-board the boat, but this will not be the case on all routes. The National Greek Bus Company (KTEL) is one of the easiest ways to travel from Patras to Athens. Departures are roughly every hour from 06.00 to 22.00. The trip takes about 3 hours and costs approximately 15 EUR. Tickets can be purchased at the bus station in Patras, opposite the main port.
From Athens to Patras, allow yourself plenty of time to make the ferry departure (at least 5 hours).
Departures are from KTEL Terminal A in Athens :
Pelopponese station 100 Kifissou St, 10442 Athens
Directions: The Bus Terminal A is south-west of central Athens – take the subway to “Sepolia” then change to bus #420. Alternately one could take a bus #051 from Menandrou Street, near Omonia Square.
Ticket Upgrades
Busabout ferry vouchers are for the basic “deck class” tickets. These allow you onto the boat and give you access to the lounges, but no bed ... backpackers usually sleep on deck. The ferries do have cabins as well as airline-style seating and its possible to upgrade the ticket with the ship's purser by paying the difference between their deck rate and seat/cabin rate.
Upgrade prices will vary depending on the ferry line, the route and the time of year, but the prices below can be used as a general guideline.
- From Deck to Airline Seating approx. €19 - 24 P/P
- From Deck to 4-Berth inside approx. €55 - 83 P/P
- From Deck to Double inside approx. €103 - 144 P/P