• I booked a deluxe cabin on an eight-hour ferry from Santorini to Athens. 
• My upgraded cabin made it feel like I was traveling in a floating hotel room.
• I'd upgrade on this journey again, and I wouldn't even mind booking a cabin for a longer ride.

I recently went on a short trip to Santorini from my home in Athens and decided to take a ferry both ways.

On my way to Santorini, I booked an economy ticket on Blue Star Ferries for 45 euros, or about $50. But I upgraded to a 157-euro deluxe cabin for the ride back.

Here's what my luxurious eight-hour trip was like.

I arrived at the port in Santorini 45 minutes before my departure.

My ticket stated that I should arrive at the port an hour before departure, but a few locals advised me it wasn't necessary.

I decided to chance it by arriving 45 minutes early and spent most of that time scrolling on my phone, so I probably could've come even later.

There were a few cafés and restaurants at the port, but not much else. Because the port was so small, I could keep an eye on my boat as it came in from its previous destination.

There were no boarding benefits for having an upgraded ticket.

All passengers were kept in a busy boarding lobby, and everyone boarded at the same time. There were no deluxe lounges or first-to-board priorities as you might find at an airport.

I found the boarding process a bit chaotic, with everyone almost fighting to be at the front of the queue.

But I was pleased that having a cabin meant I could take all my luggage with me. On my economy ferry, I had to leave my bags at boarding and pick them up when I disembarked.

It was easy to find my cabin.

Once on board, I easily found a reception desk and walked right up to ask the employee for my room key.

She issued the key card and gave me instructions on how to find my cabin.

The deluxe cabin was very spacious.

There are 192 cabins on Blue Star 1, but only two deluxe cabins with forward-facing windows.

I was impressed by the size of the room and the furnishings. It was akin to a midsize hotel room.

Two (slightly firm) single beds were pushed together in the middle of the room, topped with duvets and soft pillows. Around the bed was a sofa, a dining table and chairs, a desk, a mirror, and two bedside tables with lamps.

The cabin also had a small but effective bathroom with a shower that had nice water pressure.

My cabin came with lots of benefits.

My deluxe cabin included three (European) plug points, two sets of slippers, and a tray of dishes and utensils.

I received a kit, similar to bags I've gotten on airplanes, with a toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving supplies, a shower cap, two sewing kits, a nail file, cotton pads and cotton buds, and a small hairband.

A shower-gel dispenser was fixed to the bathroom wall, but there wasn't any shampoo or conditioner.

Wi-Fi was available for purchase, and the room had a television with 10 Greek-language channels. But during my sail, only six of them were coming through.

I was glad I’d planned my dinner ahead of time.

Since the journey was nearly eight hours long, I brought my own dinner on board and stored it in the cabin's mini fridge — which also came stocked with complimentary fruit and soft drinks.

When I got hungry, I plated everything up, sat at the small table, and enjoyed my meal while listening to music on my phone.

There were also two cafés and a fast-food restaurant on the deck below my cabin if I didn't bring food.

I left my cabin to catch the sunset.

Watching the sun set behind the Greek Island of Naxos was beautiful.

I'd already left my cabin a few times to stretch my legs on the outdoor decks and take in the sea views. But after dark, I spent most of my time in the cabin.

My trip passed by quickly.

Considering I spent almost eight hours in a fairly confined space, I thought the journey would feel longer.

But I read, worked, ate dinner, and slept for about 45 minutes — the time passed quickly.

As we approached Athens, I was getting tired and could've happily spent eight more hours getting some sleep in the cabin's bed.

Port arrival announcements were made in the hallways outside the cabins, but if you're sleeping, I think they could be easy to miss. Thankfully, about 30 minutes before reaching Athens, a staff member knocked on my door to inform me.

Disembarkation in Athens at night was easy, but finding a ride was not.

I was guided alongside the rest of the foot passengers to leave through the same door as the cars, trucks, and bikes on the boat.

We docked at a remote port, away from public transportation, but I found a free bus that brought me closer to the main port gates.

App-based taxis wouldn't come into the port, and the ones already inside only took cash. I didn't have any, so I had to walk down some dark, empty streets to call a cab.

But other than planning my transportation in advance next time, I'd definitely book a deluxe cabin again. The ride was smooth, easy, and enjoyable — I could easily do a longer journey in what was essentially a floating hotel room.

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