Blue Star Patmos

The Blue Star Patmos was built in 2012. It measures around 145 meters in length and 23 meters in width and accommodates approximately 2,000 passengers and up to 430 vehicles.
Continue reading to learn about its routes, seat and cabin types, onboard facilities, and much more.

The ferry plays a crucial role in linking the port of Piraeus in Athens with the Dodecanese islands and beyond. Its signature route begins in Piraeus and sails through a chain of islands including Astypalea, Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Nisyros, Tilos, Symi, and Rhodes, before continuing on to Kasos, Karpathos, and Kastellorizo, forming one of the longest passages in the Aegean. This route operates year-round, with more frequent and extended sailings during the high season.

On the Piraeus-Patmos leg, travel time averages around 7 to 8 hours, with more departures during the summer months (roughly six weekly crossings), while services become less frequent in the shoulder seasons.
On the Piraeus-Kos connection, the Blue Star Patmos operates several crossings per week, averaging about 12 to 13 hours. These sailings are regular year-round, with increased frequency during the summer.
The Piraeus-Nisyros route is one of the longest connections, taking approximately 12 hours to complete.
The Patmos-Nisyros route provides an important inter-island connection, with travel times of about 5 hours. On the Patmos-Kos route, the ferry frequently runs short daily crossings, generally in the range of 1 to 1.5 hours, making it another heavily used link on the service network. The Patmos-Syros crossing usually operates several times a week and takes just under 4 hours.

Other connections include Patmos-Leros in about 1 hour and 10 minutes, Patmos-Kalymnos in roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, and Lipsi-Kalymnos in just over an hour. Shorter links such as Leros-Kalymnos take 45 minutes to 1 hour, while longer southern stretches like Symi-Rhodes last about 3 to 4 hours.

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 option and are popular for short or daytime crossings, when passengers spend much of their time on deck.

Aircraft-type seats

The vessel 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 to longer sailings for passengers seeking extra comfort without booking a cabin.
These seats are found in lounges called Air Seats Lounge 1, 2, and 3.

Business Class lounge

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

Cabin types

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

• • Inside and outside cabins: Available in single, double, triple, and quadruple layouts. Outside cabins include a porthole for natural light and sea views, while inside cabins do not have windows.
• • Deluxe (Luxury) cabins: Spacious cabins featuring a double bed, a private lounge area with a sofa, a TV, and a minibar for added comfort.
• • Accessible cabins: Designed for passengers with reduced mobility, featuring wider doors, adapted bathrooms, and easy access to elevators and main facilities.
• • Pet-friendly cabins: Adapted for passengers traveling with animals, these cabins have hard flooring for easier cleaning and maintenance.

The vessel is equipped with a wide range of services to enhance comfort and enjoyment during your trip.

Food & drink

Travelers can choose between a fast-food-style restaurant and an indoor café/bar serving coffee, pastries, and snacks, as well as outdoor bars on the sun deck where passengers can enjoy refreshments with sea views.

Shopping facilities

Guests have access to a gift shop offering a curated selection of items, including fragrances, cosmetics, spirits, travel accessories, local products, and souvenirs. An ATM is available onboard for cash withdrawals.

Entertainment

The Blue Star Patmos features several lounges with flat-screen TVs, providing comfortable spaces for relaxation. The '@sea' infotainment portal, accessible on passengers’ personal devices via Wi-Fi, provides music, podcasts, real-time ship tracking, weather updates, and games. Younger passengers can also spend time in the children’s play area.

Pet-friendly facilities

The vessel is fully pet-friendly, offering both outdoor kennels and specially designated pet cabins. Pets weighing over 10 kg may travel on the open decks when leashed and muzzled, while smaller pets under 10 kg may be brought indoors if kept in carriers. Assistance dogs are permitted in all public areas of the ship. Pet owners remain responsible for their animals’ hygiene and travel documents during the voyage.

Accessibility features

The ship is fully accessible, with elevators and escalators connecting all passenger decks and garages, wheelchair-friendly restrooms, and storage spaces designed to accommodate mobility devices. Passenger areas are designed to be inclusive for those with reduced mobility.

Wi-Fi and connectivity

Wi-Fi internet access is offered throughout the ship, with access codes available for purchase at reception desks and onboard bars. Coverage may vary depending on the ship’s location at sea, but passengers can stay connected during their journey.

Additional services

The Blue Star Patmos further enhances the onboard experience with a 24-hour telemedicine service. There’s also a reception desk where passengers can seek help with travel queries.

The vessel has a capacity for approximately 430 vehicles in its garage deck, accommodating cars, motorbikes, bicycles, campers, caravans, trailers, and trucks. Bicycles are transported free of charge.

Passengers on Blue Star Ferries may 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 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 vessels’ common areas, or inside vehicles.

The transportation of flammable and hazardous materials is strictly prohibited.

Discover the story of the vessel:

Construction & delivery (2009-2012)

Ordered by Blue Star Ferries in June 2009 as the second unit of a two-ship series, Blue Star Patmos was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in Okpo, South Korea, and delivered in June 2012.

Entry into service & early deployment (2012-2014)

After delivery in June-July 2012, the vessel entered service on the Piraeus-Chios-Lesvos (Mytilene) line, inaugurating its Aegean career on Northern Aegean routes. It also received design awards in 2013 for its overall and interior design.

Grounding & repairs (2017-2018)

On 30 August 2017, while entering Ios, the vessel grounded in shallow water. All 205 passengers and 87 crew were unharmed; the ship sustained hull damage and water ingress but was stabilized and later refloated. It was towed to Piraeus and then repaired in Perama/Elefsina, returning to service thereafter.

Environmental retrofit & return (2020)

In early 2020, the Blue Star Patmos underwent a refit at Palumbo Shipyards (Valletta, Malta) for the installation of exhaust gas scrubbers and associated modifications; it departed Malta on 15 June 2020 to resume Greek service.