Anek Lines - Venice to Igoumenitsa

We're (4 bikes) taking the Anek Lines ferry from Venice to Igoumenitsa in September. Has anyone any experience of this, especially of how the bikes are secured? Is it best to take our own tie-downs?

thanks all!

Hi Berin. Did the trip in 2011. Ferry was fine, bikes secured ok tied to deck hoops and cables running along deck. I did take a tiedown to secure the side stand to front wheel so will not fold if bike moves, but I do that on most ferries anyway.
I booked the tickets on internet and collected them from booking office at the terminal on the day, did try and collect the day before but not a chance. Would also get there in loads of time as well, think it said 2 hours before loading.
If you are getting off at Igno you will be loaded last but the bikes were called through first! Should be ok in Sept but no shade and in July was cooked on the quayside for an hour, take some water. Once called through you can't go back to get a drink or anything. If you are taking pillions they can board once you are called through but you have to stay with bike till loaded. Crew very helpful when you park up and go to get room key from ship check in, porter will take you to your cabin so you don't get lost, it's a big ship. As you are very likely to be last on should still have time for a quick change and up on deck for a fantastic view over Venice as you are escorted by tugs through the lagoon, was worth the trip.
When you arrive at Igoumenitsa you are straight off (last on first off)we were just waved through and on the new motorway. Non of the toll booths were working, still not I believe but best slow just incase
We were on route to Turkey so did most of M/way but went off for a change occasionally and roads generally good but you need to pay attention as goats, dogs and bits of hill roads can be a problem (missing) always round a blind bend..
Stayed at a place in Meteorea, fantastic location, good food and price and used to bikes. If you like I will post links/pictures to places.
Hope that helps. Off there again in 2014

Link to a couple of places we stayed at.
http://www.arsenis-meteora.gr/posthaertheteen.php

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1191990-d1473740-Reviews-Xastero_Hotel-Keramoti_Kavala_Region_East_Macedonia_and_Thrace.html

It's like a mill pond. Don't worry.

Thanks all. Do you think it's safe to leave anything on the bikes? Soft luggage only, so not secure.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

We're headed north into Albania, 1st night in Igoumenitsa when we dock (about 3pm is the scheduled time).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Berin said:

Thanks all. Do you think it's safe to leave anything on the bikes? Soft luggage only, so not secure.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Click to expand...

If it's easy to take off and you feel happier then take it with you. We left all our camping gear etc on the bike Just took an overnight bag to the cabin. Lots of other bikes with soft luggage even one with a surf board attached to it's side! All ok next day.
Found Igoumenitsa a bit of a dump to be honest, Meteora about 100 miles and a very easy ride. Loads of places to stay in the area (Kalampaka) due to the monasteries on the pinicals around Meteora, Google it. can even book a place via internet if you want to be sure of a place.
We are heading back through Croatia, Albania and on deeper into Turkey next April. Thats if the USA arnt at war with Syria by then
couple of pictures from the last trip.

Berin said:

We're (4 bikes) taking the Anek Lines ferry from Venice to Igoumenitsa in September. Has anyone any experience of this, especially of how the bikes are secured? Is it best to take our own tie-downs?

thanks all!

Click to expand...

Its a long trip and ferry runs late most sailings. Get a cabin as deck camping is for young only. No need to strap bike down normally but crew will strap down if you ask them. Leave bike on side stand and in gear.

Food on board is basic as is the wine. Beer is good mind and cold.

Check-in is something to behold, as Greeks & Italians can't que and have no patience, ride the bike to the front and watch the front, park just to right front on the terminal building.

ANEK lines

As Mr K says usually like mill pond. Do the trip (or Ancona) at least once a year.

Luggage should be fine as car decks are locked during trip. We have got into habit of putting everything we need on boat in roll bag. Try to avoid lugging too much gear up to cabin. In September in M/C gear you will be a dripping mess.

First gear side stand. I always carry tie down straps ( the ones BMW dealers used to give you for free that came with new bikes) I use them if I can park sideways on to hull or bulkhead but not really necessary. More for my peace of mind.

If there are a few bikes crew will usually make you park at right angles to hull/bulkhead but do tie the bikes down.

Make sure you validate your tickets at booking office near boat and you will get
A label with your arrival port on it.

Enjoy your trip. Food on ANEK ferries is good and reasonably priced

well, it all went fine. The Adriatic was a millpond, but the loaders didn't' have any suitable straps, and left us to tie down ourselves. They also crammed us into the back of the bottom deck, which meant we were first on, so dumped our gear in the cabin and got a great view sailing through the Grand Canal. Downside was last off, but we stayed overnight in Igoumenitsa so only had a few hundred metres to go.

Food and drink on board were reasonable prices, 6-7€ for a meal, 2-3€ for a beer. The boat and cabins were clean and comfortable. The boat was about 2 hours late leaving, and 1 hour late arriving, no queues for tickets in Venice to speak of, and not much queuing to get on the boat. There were a few other bikes on board, all road bikes.

I'd do the trip again, it was a great way to get into Albania.

Berin said:

well, it all went fine. The Adriatic was a millpond, but the loaders didn't' have any suitable straps, and left us to tie down ourselves. They also crammed us into the back of the bottom deck, which meant we were first on, so dumped our gear in the cabin and got a great view sailing through the Grand Canal. Downside was last off, but we stayed overnight in Igoumenitsa so only had a few hundred metres to go.

Food and drink on board were reasonable prices, 6-7€ for a meal, 2-3€ for a beer. The boat and cabins were clean and comfortable. The boat was about 2 hours late leaving, and 1 hour late arriving, no queues for tickets in Venice to speak of, and not much queuing to get on the boat. There were a few other bikes on board, all road bikes.

I'd do the trip again, it was a great way to get into Albania.

Click to expand...

Berin, any advice on Albania for road bikes?

Charles

jeff said:

If there are a few bikes....

Click to expand...

Like 44 of them......

The main roads in general in Albania are in general fine but you need to be concentrating. In my view no reason to avoid on a road bike but not a place to hoon about. Typically, road works are poorly signed and things can crop up unexpectedly and without much warning. Quite normal to see weird stuff like horses and mopeds coming up the hard shoulder of the limited motorways but that's part of the charm. There can be strange stuff like and poor surfaces that crop up in the most odd of places for very short stretches amongst nice tarmac.
The real eek bits were a missing manhole cover, a missing metal linking strip from an fast dual carriageway A road bridge and a bloody great pothole that bent the front wheel of my mates KTM Adventure.

The local driving can be a bit spicy, be defensive, but that isn't especially different from any of the Balkan countries.

Above said Albania is well worth going to so don't be put off- it is worth it- and one of the last weird and wonderful outposts in Europe. Don't miss the road between Vlore and Sarande... it is one of the best you'll ride..