|
Post by muriman on Jul 12, 2015 9:54:27 GMT
We are considering getting the Dodekanis Seaways catamaran at 0830 on a Thursday in September after a late evening flight and overnight stay in Rhodes. Have not used the catamaran before. Can anyone with past experience advise: is it necessary to book or buy tickets beforehand, and if so, what's the best way of doing that? The alternative would be the normal taxi to KS and (one hopes) later ferry; maybe that would be the more reliable option.
|
|
|
Post by howard on Jul 12, 2015 14:07:23 GMT
It is a very quick, efficient service and comfortable as long as the sea is fairly calm. Air conditioned cabin with airline type seats. You will need a ticket before you get on board. I believe these can be purchased at the dock or any local travel agent. When in Rhodes Town we stay at the Savoy Hotel, tel 22410 21720. Not like the Savoy in London, a small simple hotel for the night, near Mandraki and run by very nice people. You will need a taxi to get to Collona harbour where the boat goes from as it is too far to cart luggage.
|
|
|
Post by carol on Jul 12, 2015 20:01:14 GMT
Muriman, we are using it to get to Tilos in August and then again a week later from Tilos to Halki, as Howard says, you need to buy your tickets before you board, you can order them online but they still have to be picked up at the port. The catamaran is comfortable and fast and very reliable.
|
|
|
Post by muriman on Jul 14, 2015 17:27:02 GMT
Many thanks, Howard and Carol. We have stayed at the Savoy, Howard, and that was where I was planning to stay - I agree with you, it's a good little place and conveniently located. There seem to be different online ways to pre-book tickets including one called, I think, Direct Ferries where it seems one can pre-pay in sterling, although if possible I think I'd prefer to pay at the harbour (in whatever currency is in use by September!). I believe the system operated by Direct Ferries involves getting a voucher and then swapping it for tickets at the port.
Our flight is not scheduled to arrive until after midnight on the Wednesday and the catamaran is scheduled to depart at 0830, so - in the interests of allowing for sleep and perhaps breakfast! - I'd be interested to have any info on the time it's necessary, or advisable, to get to the port by, ie how long before 0830?. Also does anyone know - is it possible to order tickets (ie reserve seats on the catamaran) online but leave payment until getting the actual tickets at the port? That would make it easier to switch to Plan B (turn the taxi round to go to KS) if, say, the catamaran service were cancelled due to bad weather (this will be Sept 24th so weather should be OK but one can never be certain).
|
|
|
Post by howard on Jul 15, 2015 10:28:13 GMT
Glad to hear you are staying at the Savoy Muriman, give Lefteris the owner our regards. You can book the catamaran on line via www.12ne.gr/en/index.asp or telephone them on Tel : (+30) 22410 70590 to get information. If you can use Skype, the call is virtually free. I would allow at least 15 minutes for the taxi ride and 20 minutes for ticket collection if necessary and boarding. If the boat is cancelled because of bad weather, it is highly unlikely that anything will be running from KS. I use a preloaded Euro Visa card which can be useful for paying for ferries, hotels etc. However it is only useful on Halki if the ATM is working. If you are there at the end of September, we hopefully will see you.
|
|
|
Post by carol on Jul 15, 2015 11:18:08 GMT
I agree with what Howard has said but maybe at the end of September you could just get to the harbour a bit earlier and not book in advance just in case it is cancelled, we are going across on the 20th August to Tilos and the 27th to Halki and will definitely be booking in advance particularly with the big festival in Halki on the 29th, it will be busy.
|
|
|
Post by Di on Jul 16, 2015 13:30:19 GMT
Hi Carol
We've used the "Dodee" several times and will be using it again this year to get to Tilos. We have always booked and paid in advance, particularly this year because we reckon it might be quite busy with there being no Wednesday crossing. We've always picked our tickets up from the kiosk on the harbour after arriving at the hotel on the Wednesday but loads of people pick them up in the morning (the kiosk is on the harbour where the cat is moored). I'd aim to get there at least 1/2 an hour before (but that's me) because it can get quite busy. As someone said earlier (Howard?) if the Dodee is cancelled, there won't be anything going from KS, and Fedon told me in May that they weren't doing the crossing this year (although they might have changed their mind).
Looks like we won't get the chance to get together for a drink because I think you go back the day we arrive, but we might see you along the front. Have a great time. Di x
|
|
|
Post by Di on Jul 16, 2015 13:37:42 GMT
Duuuuh, I've just realised that it wasn't Carol that posted the original post but Murriman (and Murriman, you're probably going to Halki) Oh well, same applies as it calls in at Halki on the way to Tilos.
|
|
|
Post by carol on Jul 16, 2015 13:43:44 GMT
Hi Di, yes we leave on the afternoon Catamaran on the Thursday, hope we can still meet up though even if it is briefly We will definitely prebook our tickets with the festival being two days after we arrive. Will be in touch before we leave xx
|
|
|
Post by muriman on Jul 22, 2015 17:29:24 GMT
Di - Ref your comment that you have always booked and paid in advance - can you tell me by what means you have done this? For example, have you done it from the UK using a credit card, paying in pounds or euros? If so, have you done it via the Dodekanisos Seaways website or via an agent?
|
|
|
Post by Di on Jul 22, 2015 18:04:42 GMT
Hi Muriman We book it via their website www.12ne.gr/en/ just click on the "on-line" booking tab top right and it takes you through the process (they're actually really efficient - which can be a bit disconcerting the first time ). You pay in euros on your card and it's then converted to sterling on your statement. You print off the confirmation and take it with you to collect your tickets from the ticket office at the port.
|
|
|
Post by Di on Jul 22, 2015 18:05:43 GMT
Forgot to say, they e-mail you confirmation of your booking as well.
|
|
|
Post by muriman on Jul 25, 2015 22:30:28 GMT
Thanks, Di, that's useful information. Even though it will be latish September, I think it will be best to book in advance and it always feels more secure having confirmation which can be printed off and taken along.
|
|
|
Post by carol on Jul 25, 2015 23:00:23 GMT
We booked ours online last night Muriman, it was fairly simple and we pick the tickets up at the harbour.
|
|
|
Post by muriman on Jul 26, 2015 8:04:42 GMT
Carol, since I was typing my posting at about 11.30pm, you must have been doing this at about midnight! Perhaps this all shows how poor the telly programmes are on a Saturday evening. I'm grateful for the helpful advice. I assume that as long as we get to the harbour by, say, half an hour before the 0830 departure time, that should allow enough time for picking up pre-booked tickets?
|
|