ferry--santorini

It docks at the ferry docks. There is only one. You will not find any motels near the docking. There is a steep climb by minibus to the top of the island. You expect a hotel proprietor to upon up at 2AM?. Suggestions: get another ferry that is running during the day.

The ferry docks in Athinios the port of Santorini, I don't recall seeing any accomodation there at all. That particular ferry returns at 07:00 back to Piraeus, so you could just stay on the ferry until around 06:00 when the bus to Fira starts. I have done this on a ferry docking in Piraeus at that time of night, they don't seem to mind.

Thanks for your help.

You might find an enterprising taxi driver or two waiting for passengers, or even a hotel transfer van, but there's no way of knowing and I'm sure the competition will be fierce for the ride if there are taxis there. There's no rooms available right at the port, but I suppose it's possible that one of the cafes might be open (I doubt it). Otherwise do as Ouzo has suggested and just stay on board until the morning's commerce begins, probably around 6 AM.

The Blue Star website shows the ferry departing Astypalia at 0515 on its return to Piraeus, so it doesn't look like you will be able to stay aboard until 0700 (that's the ferry departing Piraeus on Thursdays, the only day it arrives Santorini at 0200 the next morning).

Were it me, I would either stay overnight in Athens and get the 0725 ferry arriving Santorini at 1500, or rearrange my itinerary to visit another island first, and arrive on Santorini at a more civilized hour.

Santorini experts, do they really allow Blue Star passengers to disembark at 0200, and just sit at the port until the next morning? Surely they must be more hospitable than that?

Checking again, the ferry does depart at 0700 on Friday - my apologies.

Blue Star Naxos is a very large vessel - I am assuming that there should be some sort of arrival facilities to cover the passengers not arriving by private car/bike.
I too would follow Thrym's advice and stay the night in Athens, departing on a morning ferry, or take a flight out in the evening at least.
If you are unable to do so, perhaps pre-book a couple of night's accomm + arrival transfer, as the port of Athinios is very inhospitable.
I am quite surprised to learn that one is allowed to stay on board and wait, because the ferries are cleared of passengers upon disembarkation at the end of the schedule, not only for security reasons, but also to be serviced.

If you try and book somewhere in advance they may have a bus at the dock - We arrived at 2am to Naxos from Athens (I know you are talking about Santorini but as an example) and there were buses waiting for people - we had booked a campsite and the bus was there waiting for us. We went to Santorini from there but arrived during the day - there were hoards of proprieters picking up people, so I would reserve somewhere if they say they will pick you up.