Blue Star 2

Blue Star 2 was built in 2000. It measures about 176 meters long and 25 meters wide and can accommodate 1,890 passengers and 780 vehicles.
Continue reading to learn about the routes, the seat and cabin types, the onboard facilities, and much more.

Blue Star 2 is a major ferry linking the port of Piraeus in Athens with the Dodecanese islands, operating primarily on the route through Syros, Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, and Rhodes.

On the Athens-Kos segment, one of the busiest legs of the route, the journey generally takes around 11 to 12 hours and is served several times per week, with extra sailings in summer. The Athens-Rhodes connection usually lasts about 15 to 17 hours, making it one of the longest but also one of the most important services in the southeastern Aegean. Intermediate calls such as the Athens-Patmos crossing average 7 to 8 hours, while the Athens-Leros trip takes roughly 9 hours and 30 minutes.

In addition to its long-distance routes from the port of Piraeus, Blue Star 2 also provides vital inter-island connections within the Dodecanese. The Kos-Rhodes crossing is one of the busiest, usually lasting 3 to 3.5 hours. The Leros-Kos service averages around 1 hour and 30 minutes, while the Patmos-Leros leg is shorter, at about 1 hour. Smaller but significant hops, such as Kalymnos-Kos, take less than 1 hour.

Discover the seat and cabin types available on the vessel:

Economy seats

Economy seats are located in indoor lounges and outdoor public areas. They are the most budget-friendly way to travel and are popular for short or daytime crossings where passengers spend much of their time on deck.

Aircraft-type seats

Blue Star 2 is equipped with several lounges offering numbered, reclining seats similar to airplane seating. These provide a quieter, more organized space than general economy areas and are well suited for longer sailings when passengers want extra comfort without booking a cabin.

Business Class lounge

The vessel features a Business Class Lounge located in a quieter area of the ship. Seating is unassigned, and passengers are served drinks and light refreshments directly at their seats.

Cabin types

For maximum comfort and privacy, Blue Star 2 features fully equipped cabins, all with a private bathroom, air conditioning, fresh linens, and basic amenities such as TV and telephone.

• • Inside and outside cabins: They are available in single, double, triple, and quadruple layouts. Outside cabins include a porthole with natural light and sea views, while the inside cabins are windowless.
• • Deluxe (Luxury) cabins: These are spacious cabins featuring a double bed, private lounge area with sofa, TV, and minibar for added comfort.
• • Accessible cabins: Designed for travelers with reduced mobility, these cabins offer wider doors, adapted bathrooms, and close access to elevators and main facilities.
• • Pet-friendly cabins: Adapted for passengers traveling with pets, these cabins have hard flooring for easier cleaning and maintenance.

Passengers aboard the vessel can enjoy a diverse selection of facilities for a relaxing and enjoyable voyage.

Food & drink

Blue Star 2 provides passengers with a wide choice of food and beverage outlets. A self-service restaurant offers full meals, including traditional Greek dishes, vegetarian choices, and children’s options. For something lighter, an indoor café/bar serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and snacks throughout the day. On the open deck, outdoor bars provide refreshments in a pleasant setting with sea views.

Shopping facilities

The ship features an onboard shop where passengers can purchase a variety of goods, ranging from travel essentials and local products to perfumes, cosmetics, spirits, and souvenirs. An ATM is available on board for cash needs.

Entertainment

Public lounges fitted with flat-screen TVs offer spaces to relax and watch programs during the voyage. Passengers also have access to the @sea infotainment portal, available on personal devices via the ship’s Wi-Fi, which includes music, podcasts, weather updates, real-time vessel tracking, and online games. A children’s play area also ensures younger passengers are kept entertained.

Pet-friendly facilities

Blue Star 2 is fully pet-friendly. It offers outdoor kennels along with a limited number of pet cabins. Pets over 10 kg may travel on the open decks as long as they are leashed (and muzzled if necessary), while smaller pets under 10 kg may be carried inside in approved pet carriers. Certified assistance dogs are allowed in all indoor and outdoor public areas of the ship. Owners are responsible for their pets’ documentation and hygiene during the crossing.

Accessibility features

Accessibility has been integrated into the vessel’s design. Elevators and ramps connect passenger decks and garages, wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available, and storage areas for mobility devices are provided. Specially adapted cabins can also be booked by passengers with reduced mobility, offering step-free showers, grab rails, and wider doorways.

Wi-Fi and connectivity

Wi-Fi coverage is available across Blue Star 2, with access codes available for purchase at the reception desk or onboard bars. Though service quality may vary depending on the vessel’s position at sea, it allows passengers to remain connected throughout their journey.

Additional services

The vessel also offers a number of additional amenities for comfort and convenience. These include a reception desk where passengers can request information or assistance and a 24-hour telemedicine service that provides medical support if required.

Blue Star 2 has a capacity for approximately 780 vehicles on its garage deck, accommodating cars, motorbikes, bicycles, campers, caravans, trailers, and trucks. Bicycles are transported free of charge.

Passengers on Blue Star Ferries can carry up to 50 kg or 1 cubic meter of luggage free of charge. If a passenger exceeds the allowance, additional arrangements must be made with the Chief Purser, who may refuse excess baggage or direct it to paid storage.

Valuable possessions can be handed over to the Chief Purser for safekeeping, with a receipt issued. The company is responsible for the damage or loss of luggage on board only if it has been handed over for safekeeping and a relevant receipt has been issued. The company is not responsible for any loss of money, valuables, or luggage left in the cabins, the vessel's common areas, or inside vehicles.

The transportation of flammable and hazardous materials is strictly prohibited.

Discover the story of the vessel:

Construction and delivery (1999-2000)

Blue Star 2 was built in the Netherlands at Van der Giessen de Noord (Krimpen aan den IJssel, yard no. 978). Its keel was laid on 24 August 1999, it was launched on 25 March 2000, and it was completed on 7 July 2000. It was delivered new to Strintzis Lines/Blue Star Ferries (Attica Group) in mid-2000 and entered service that summer.

Adriatic service (2000-2002)

Following delivery, Blue Star 2 was introduced on the Italy-Greece Adriatic routes, advertised alongside its sister ship Blue Star 1 to operate Patras-Ancona/Brindisi with higher service speed and large capacity. This period established the ship on long international crossings between western Greece and Italy.

Redeployment to the Dodecanese (from 2002)

On 22 July 2002, Attica announced the start of its Piraeus-Dodecanese operation, marking the shift of the company’s modern tonnage, including Blue Star 2, onto the long Aegean line linking the port of Piraeus to Kos and Rhodes via intermediate islands. That corridor has remained the vessel’s signature role, with year-round service and denser summer schedules.

Service focus and later years (2010s-2020s)

Through the 2010s and into the 2020s, Blue Star 2 continued as a backbone ship on the Athens (Piraeus)-Dodecanese chain (serving ports such as Syros, Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, and Rhodes).