April the 11th, 2023 - Jadrolinija is set to purchase both new and used vessels for use in its fleet, an investment on which it is going to spend as much as 99 million euros.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes, back at the beginning of this year, after several years of criticism from the wider public and indeed from some experts, the Croatian shipping/ferry company Jadrolinija finally resorted to purchasing completely new passenger ships for the renewal of its temporary fleet.

They will be built for the company a few years after it chooses a contractor, until the end of the year 2026, but a decision is still awaited on who that company will be from the seven interested parties who submitted their respective bids for the job at hand with an estimated value of 45 million euros.

In the meantime, rejuvenation continues for Jadrolinija with the quick solutions that have been mostly resorted to so far, by acquiring used ships. A tender has just been announced for the purchase of two such catamarans, for which Jadrolinija is ready to pay up to 14 million euros without the inclusion of VAT.

However, while until now vessels up to 18 years old were acceptable to Jadrolinija, the condition for these ships is that they must be no more than 5 years old. Catamarans should be up to 40 metres long and up to 12 metres wide, each with a capacity of at least 300 passengers, and intended, as stated in the tender, for international lines operating in the waters of the Adriatic Sea. Offers for these high-speed passenger ships will be being accepted until May the 3rd, 2023.

It's also worth noting that Jadrolinija has planned to invest a total of 99 million euros in their business plans for this year. The two catamarans that are now being sought from the used boat market should replace the existing old-timers from the shipowner's fleet, which currently numbers 53 boats with an average age of 28.7 years.

There are four ships currently on the list of ships that Jadrolinija intends to decommission during 2023. Among them is the ship Tijat, which is arguably the oldest in the entire fleet, 68 years old and slightly younger than the company itself, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. The plan is also to dispose of the ships Olea, Valuna and Dubrovnik (all of which are now over 40 years old).

Before it is sent to scrap, ''Dubrovnik'' is trying to sell itself off. Although the news was not encouraging at first, Jadrolinija says that one offer was received and accepted, and work is being done to conclude a sales contract. The initial price, by the way, stood at 2.9 million euros. In addition to the construction of three electrically powered passenger ships, the plan for Jadrolinija is also to announce a tender for the design and construction of another newbuild in 2023, namely a ro-ro passenger ship, the capacity of which would be 80 vehicles and 500 passengers.

The tender for that should follow in June, and the intention is to acquire two more used ro-ro passenger ships, one for the reception of 110 to 120 vehicles and between 600 and 700 passengers, and the other for 90 and 100 vehicles and 800 to 900 passengers. According to that plan as it currently stands, the latter would replace the Lastovo vessel, which is over half a century old at this point.

The start of the activities on the procurement of another ro-ro passenger ship, one for international navigation, with a capacity of 500 vehicles and 1,200 passengers, is scheduled for April. This ship should join Jadrolinija's existing fleet at the end of the year. Just how important the rejuvenation and modernisation of Jadrolinija's fleet really is, is best shown by the fact that three ships are over 60 years old. Along with Tijat, these are Postira and Premuda. Fast passenger ships over 30 years old (Olea, Silba, Novalja and Karolina) and ships that will soon no longer meet ecological standards (Dora, Sis, Sv. Juraj, Mate Balota and Lastovo) are all also now scheduled for replacement.

For more, check out our business section.

April 9, 2023 - Dalmatia is changing slowly - a rather unexpected upgrade in technology on the Jadrolinija ferries.

April in Dalmatia, and Easter on Hvar are among the two greatest joys this wonderful country offers, especially with the weather as exceptional lifestyle. 

Having lived in Dalmatian exile in Varazdin and Zagreb for almost 7 years now, each visit to Dalmatia out of season evokes memories of an extremely happy, and VERY relaxed, way of life. 

But a little incident on the ferry from Split to Stari Grad this week made my wonder if the unthinkable is true - Dalmatia is changing. 

A little background for those not so familiar with the way of life here. The Dalmatian words of 'laganini', 'fjaka', and 'pomalo' epitomise the way of life here. Nothing is to be hurried, and things function without paying too much attention to official detail. 

This was especially true when it came to Jadrolinija ferries, especially if you were a local. Although I always bought a ticket at the correct price, there were occasions when I was literally running to the ferry or catamaran as the doors were closing - there had not been enough time to buy a ticket. It was never a problem. I simply gave the cash to the Jadrolinija staff member, along with something for a coffee for him. Whether or not the cash went into the till was uncertain, but I was happy to have made the ferry and to have paid my way. Unlike one Split builder I knew, who used to come on once a week with a truck full of materials, slip the man 20 kuna and get on virtually for free.

Such is the way of life in Dalmatia, and in other parts of the Mediterranean. 

Chilled. 

But Dalmatia is changing. 

The annual Easter trip to Hvar was made a little more complicated due to the poor recent weather (hard to believe, looking out at the gorgeous Hvar skies right now). 

Easter on Hvar is a special time, especially for families from Jelsa, with the UNESCO Za Krizen procession, which takes place through the night of Maundy Thursday, starting at 10pm. With the uncertainty of the catamaran, the only sure bet to get to the island was the 14:30 ferry from Split to Stari Grad, which takes two hours. My daughter was a little nervous that we might miss the ferry, so asked if we could leave very early in case there was traffic, or the motorway was closed at Sveti Rok due to the bura wind.

I did as she asked, and we were on the road from Zagreb at 07:15, driving in glorious weather along an empty motorway, arriving at the ferry terminal at 11:15, more than 3 hours before departure. There were only 6 cars in front of us. When I last lived on the island, the car loading was strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. I was pleased with myself. My daughter was pleased, and we also had 3 hours to walk around Split where I could introduce the kids to the joys of Tri Volta, the Discover Croatia shop and my Romanian friends at Break Time. 

Did I mention that Dalmatia is changing? I went to buy the tickets and was shocked to be told that while the kids could get on as foot passengers, I would have to wait for the 20:30 crossing (too late for the procession) to get to the island - the ferry was completely sold out! 

Unbelievable. Apparently, a couple of years ago, the way of selling tickets changed. No longer first-come, first-served, but now you can book online and reserve your spot. I was told that if I explained I was on the 20:30, I could wait in front of the ferry. Usually, several people bought tickets but never showed up, or were delayed on the motorway and would take the later ferry. As I was 7th in the queue, I would almost certainly get on. But I would have to wait until the last minute to find out, meaning I could not plan the day's events. 

But this is Dalmatia, everything is chilled, I thought to myself. I knew that I would be first in the reserve queue, but this laganini lifestyle meant that I should have no problem getting onto the ferry. We returned to the ferry at 14:00 as instructed, and I showed the tickets to the guy checking and collecting, the 14:30 passenger tickets on top. And, as I inspected, a cursory check and we were waved on. We had done it, the kids were ecstatic, and so was I.

And then...

Something rather remarkable happened. As I was being guided close to the car in front on the ferry, it seemed there was a problem. The ferry guy had some kind of gadget in his hand. which told him that there was a problem with my vehicle being on the 14:30 crossing. He asked for my ticket and told me I had to get off this ferry as I was booked on the later one. Holding my hands up to the error, I immediately did as he said, waited second in the reserve line for a nerve-wracking 45 minutes (the ferry left late), before being allowed on - some 20 cars who had reserved tickets had not turned up. 

I felt pleased that such a level of control has come to the service, along with a twinge of sadness that a tiny slice of the old Dalmatian ways is disappearing. But I wonder how this is going to work in the season in the heat, when a tourist who gets on with a later ticket will try and argue his case to be allowed to remain. Loading the ferries in peak season is stressful enough. 

Any stressful thoughts soon disappeared on top deck, however, taking in the magical sea air on a perfect Dalmatian afternoon. 

Dalmatia in April, why aren't you here? 

****

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August 24, 2022 - The influencer who was photographed topless in the residence of the Finnish Prime Minister, Sabina Särkkä, also partied on the Croatian coast. This time, a lucky Jadrolinija ferry was greeted with a peek of her breasts.

As Index writes, on her TikTok profile, there is a video published in May this year, in which the pretty model, together with her friends, shows her breasts to the Jadrolinija ferry that passes by the ship they were on.

@sabinasarkka Tässä on ollut vähä kaikennäköistä @Julia Toivola #foryoupage @Lotta Soini @Dr. Rannisto ♬ alkuperäinen ääni - Sabina Särkkä

It seems that the girls had a good time on the Croatian coast, and for their gesture, the captain “rewarded” them with a honk of the ship's siren. Some users asked in the comments whether Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin had fun with them, but they did not get an answer.

The Finnish prime minister also apologised for the photo

As a reminder, a photo circulating on social media shows two influencers kissing, covering their bare breasts with the words “Finland” from the Prime Minister's official residence in Helsinki. The Finnish prime minister also apologised for that photo.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Sabina Särkkä (@sabinasarkka)

“I don't think the picture is appropriate. I apologise for that. There should not have been such a photo, but otherwise, nothing extraordinary happened at the party”, Marin told reporters, confirming that the sign was from her residence.

Marin (36) said that the photo was taken at a private party with her friends after a music festival in July. “We were in the sauna, bathing and spending time together”, Marin said about the party.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Lifestyle section.

August the 23rd, 2022 - The Croatian ferry company Jadrolinija is edging ever closer to the record numbers it and we all saw back during the pre-pandemic year of 2019, having transported 1.1 million passengers during the month of August so far alone.

As Morski/Alenka Juricic Bukarica writes, this year's tourist season, in terms of physical indicators, is coming extremely close to the eye-watering figures we saw back during the record year of 2019, and therefore the traffic in passenger ship transport is also returning, writes Rijeka portal Novi list.

As such, from the beginning of the year to August the 15th, Jadrolinija's fleet transported an impressive 7,850,000 passengers in total, which is just four percent less compared to the same period back in 2019, as well as 2,248,000 vehicles, which is 7.7 percent more than 2019.

During the month of August alone, more precisely from August the 1st to the 18th, Jadrolinija transported a total of 1,150,000 passengers, which is just 9.1 percent less than in 2019, and 400,000 vehicles, which is 3.5 percent less than during the record pre-pandemic year of 2019.

''We are approaching the figures we saw back in 2019. On certain Jadrolinija ferry lines, vehicle traffic is surpassing the figures from 2019, but passenger traffic is still lagging slightly behind.

The reason for the smaller number of passengers is the absence of larger tourist groups that regularly came to Croatia by bus in earlier years, Jadrolinija pointed out, adding that the lines with the most passengers are Valbiska - Merag, Brestova - Porozina, Prizna - Zigljen, Zadar - Preko, Split - Supetar and Split - Stari Grad (Hvar).

''In this jubilee year, when Jadrolinija celebrates a whole 75 years of existence, we are optimistic and hope for a successful season and that we manage to reach the results from the record-breaking year of 2019,'' Jadrolinija concluded.

For more on Croatian maritime transport, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

August the 13th, 2022 - Croatian maritime traffic is 50% stronger than it was last year, and the charter sector is blowing the record, pre-pandemic year of 2019 out of the water, no pun intended.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, almost 8.5 million passengers were boarded and disembarked in various Croatian seaports throughout the second quarter of this year, which is 55.7 percent of the number last year, according to official statistics. At the same time, 8.2 million passengers were transported on ferries and passenger ships, which is a 50.8 percent increase compared to the same period back in 2021.

The number of vessels in Croatian maritime traffic also grew...

The increase in passengers was achieved in all major Croatian ports, as well as in international traffic. 32.5 percent more passenger vehicles and 127.7 percent more buses were loaded and unloaded on ships compared to the same quarter last year.

Out of the total number of passengers in Croatian sea ports, 255 thousand of them disembarked from cruise ships and visited, among others, the Dalmatian ports of Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar. Considering the fact that back during the second quarter of 2021, there were only 12 thousand passengers aboard cruise ships, after that period there was a noticeable return of cruise ships to Croatian seaports, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) notes.

The total turnover of goods increased by 14.5 percent when compared to the same period back in 2021, and the port of Ploce had the highest growth of 55.5 percent, followed by Split with a growth of 42 percent. Furthermore, in the first half of 2022, the total number of ships arriving at Croatian seaports increased by 13.4 percent, the total traffic of passengers by 46 percent, and the total traffic of goods by 9.7 percent.

Although Croatian maritime traffic in tourist ports was significant even during the global coronavirus pandemic, and therefore the nautical sector represented the strongest segment of tourism, this summer season is bringing with it a new increase. In July 2022, there were 120,000 arrivals and 770,000 overnight stays in the nautical charter, which is a 23 percent increase in arrivals and 5 percent in overnight stays compared to July 2019.

Over the first six months of 2022 with revenues of 98 million kuna, the national chain of marinas (ACI) exceeded the revenue earned back in 2019 by 4.6 million kuna, meaning that results achieved are 16.4 million kuna or 20 percent higher than they were back during 2021.

In addition to all of the above, after last year's 44 million kuna worth of investments in infrastructure and services, in the first six months of 2022 alone, ACI exceeded that amount by an impressive 3.9 million kuna, realising new investments totalling 47.9 million kuna.

ACI claims that the income is the result of investments, thorough and adequate preparation for the season in all of Croatia's ACI marinas, and the easing of measures introduced during the coronavirus pandemic. ACI achieved a positive financial result in the first half of the year in the amount of 3.2 million kuna, while the realised EBITDA for the first half of the year amounted to 36.2 million kuna in total.

For more on Croatian maritime traffic and nautical tourism, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

July 2, 2022 - We're going to take a look at the destinations you can visit by ferry from the main Croatian ports. In this fifth installment of our Croatia Ferry Guide 2022, where to go from the port of Zadar?

When advertising the Adriatic Sea and the Croatian islands abroad, the experience of being on board a sailboat, yacht, or catamaran is usually highlighted. However, there is no destination a Croatian ferry can't reach, and why not mention that it's totally worth saving a good amount of euros on sailboat rentals and crews?

Today we tell you more about the island destinations you can reach from the ferry port of Zadar.

Photo: Matti Blume/Wikimedia Commons

First of all, how to buy your ferry tickets? There are three ways. The first is via the official Jadrolinija website. In it, you can not only see the updated sailing schedules, but you can also buy your tickets online. Simply choose the port of departure, the port of destination, and the date of your trip, and you will find the available times. Once you have chosen the time and the number of tickets, in addition to completing all your personal information, you can proceed to pay for your tickets online with a credit or debit card.

The second way is through the official Jadrolinija mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Playstore for Android. The application is very easy to use and, just like on the website, just select the port of departure and you will be able to see the ports that you can travel to from the one you selected. The process is very similar, and you will find that it is even more comfortable and intuitive to use. Payment also allows the use of credit and debit cards.

Finally, the third type of payment is the most traditional and has its benefits. All ferry ports in Croatia have a Jadrolinija office, where you can go to buy your tickets in person. Sometimes one can be a bit confused before buying their tickets both on the website and in the app, so having a Jadrolinija agent to guide you is a great help.

Where is the Zadar ferry port located? Most of the ferries departing from Zadar depart from the east coast of Zadar's Old Town. You can find it on the map below.

Božava (Dugi Otok)

Dugi Otok is a large island (its very name is ''long island'' in Croatian), and the farthest from Zadar. Božava is a small and quiet town located in the northeast of the island of Dugi Otok, which can be reached by catamaran via line 9404 (Zverinac - Božava - Sestrunj - Zadar). From Monday to Saturday, the catamaran makes one trip from Zadar to Božava, while on Sundays it makes two trips. From Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 15:00 pm and arrives in Božava at 16:20 pm. On Fridays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 16:30 pm and arrives in Božava at 17:50 pm. Finally, on Sundays, the first catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:15 am and arrives at 9:35 am, and the second one leaves at 21:00 pm and arrives in Božava at 22:10 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Image: Dugi Otok Tourist Board

Brbinj (Dugi Otok)

Brbinj is another village located on the island of Dugi Otok, also in the northeast but 14 kilometers south of Božava. To get to Brbinj, the catamarans from line 9404 (Zverinac - Božava - Sestrunj - Zadar) will also take you there. From Monday to Saturday, the catamaran makes one trip from Zadar to Brbinj, while on Sundays it makes two trips. From Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 15:00 pm and arrives in Božava at 16:45 pm. On Fridays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 16:30 pm and arrives in Božava at 18:15 pm. Finally, on Sundays, the first catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:15 am and arrives at 10:00 am, and the second one leaves at 21:00 pm and arrives in Božava at 22:35 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Image: Dugi Otok Tourist Board

Brgulje (Molat)

Molat is an attractive island north of Dugi Otok, and the catamarans of line 9403 (Ist - Molat - Zadar) can take you to Brgulje, located on the central west coast of the island. A catamaran departs daily from Zadar, making one trip from Monday to Saturday, and two trips on Sunday. On Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday the catamaran leaves Zadar at 14:05 pm and arrives in Brgulje at 15:05 pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it leaves at 11:00 am and arrives at 12:00 pm. On Fridays, it leaves Zadar at 17:30 pm and arrives at 18:30 pm. On Sundays, the first catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:00 am and arrives at 9:00 am, while the last catamaran leaves on the same day at 18:50 pm and arrives in Brgulje at 19:40 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Photo: Mladen Radolović/Zadar Tourist Board

Ist

The island of Ist is located just north of Molat, and that is why line 9403 (Ist - Molat - Zadar) can also take you to the village of Ist. A catamaran departs daily from Zadar, making one trip from Monday to Saturday, and two trips on Sunday. On Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday the catamaran leaves Zadar at 14:05 pm and arrives in Ist at 15:55 pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it leaves at 11:00 am and arrives at 12:50 pm. On Fridays, it leaves Zadar at 17:30 pm and arrives at 19:20 pm. On Sundays, the first catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:00 am and arrives at 9:00 am, while the last catamaran leaves on the same day at 21:00 pm and arrives in Ist at 22:10 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Iž Mali (Iž)

The island of Iž is a very popular one, and it is located between the islands of Ugljan and Dugi Otok. From Zadar, one can reach two destinations on the island: Iž Mali and Iž Veli. For both, the catamaran line is 9405 (Zadar - Iž - Rava). To Iž Mali, a catamaran makes a daily trip from Zadar, except on Sundays. From Monday to Friday, the catamaran of line 9405 leaves Zadar at 11:00 am, and arrives in Iž Mali at 11:35 am. On Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 10:00 am and arrives at 10:35 am.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Iž Veli (Iž)

To Iž Veli, 5 kilometers north of Iž Mali, a catamaran makes a daily trip from Zadar, except on Sundays. From Monday to Friday, the catamaran of line 9405 leaves Zadar at 11:00 am, and arrives in Iž Veli at 11:55 am. On Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 10:00 am and arrives at 10:55 am.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Mala Rava (Rava)

Rava is a smaller island compared to the rest, but it is also worth knowing. Mala Rava is a small village located in the north of the island, and one of the destinations that can be reached by catamaran from Zadar. To reach the island of Rava, the catamaran line 9405 (Zadar - Iž - Rava) is responsible for taking passengers there. A catamaran makes a daily trip from Zadar to Mala Rava, except on Sundays. From Monday to Friday, the catamaran of line 9405 leaves Zadar at 11:00 am, and arrives in Mala Rava at 12:15 pm. On Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 10:00 am and arrives at 11:15 am.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Image: Zadar Tourist Board

Molat

Brgulje is not the only destination on the island of Molat that can be reached from Zadar. Those interested in visiting the island can also do so by getting off at the town of Molat, in the southwest of the island. 

A catamaran from line 9403 (Ist - Molat - Zadar) departs daily from Zadar, making one trip from Monday to Saturday, and two trips on Sunday. On Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday the catamaran leaves Zadar at 14:05 pm and arrives in Molat at 14:50 pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it leaves at 11:00 am and arrives at 11:45 am. On Fridays, it leaves Zadar at 17:30 pm and arrives at 18:15 pm. On Sundays, the first catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:00 am and arrives at 8:45 am, while the last catamaran leaves on the same day at 18:50 pm and arrives in Brgulje at 19:55 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Photo: Mladen Radolović/Zadar Tourist Board

Preko (Ugljan)

Ugljan is Zadar's second-largest and most populous island. Ugljan is also the closest to Zadar, which explains why there are so many daily catamaran trips. From Monday to Friday the catamaran of line 409 (Zadar - Preko) makes eleven trips, on Saturdays seven trips, and on Sundays eight trips.

From Monday to Friday, the schedule is the following:

• Leaving Zadar at 6:20 am, arrives in Preko at 6:45 am.
• Leaving 7:35 am, arrives at 8:00 am.
• Leaving 9:30 am, arrives at 9:55 am.
• Leaving 11:30 am, arrives at 11:55 am.
• Leaving 13:15 pm, arrives at 13:40 pm.
• Leaving 15:30 pm, arrives at 15:55 pm.
• Leaving at 16:45 pm, arrives at 17:10 pm.
• Leaving at 18:15 pm, arrives at 18:40 pm.
• Leaving at 19:35 pm, arrives at 20:00 pm.
• Leaving at 20:45 pm, arrives at 21:10 pm.
• Leaving at 22:15 pm, arrives at 22:40 pm.

On Saturdays, the schedule is the following:

• Leaving Zadar at 7:35 am, arrives in Preko at 8:00 am.
• Leaving 9:30 am, arrives at 9:55 am.
• Leaving 11:30 am, arrives at 11:55 am.
• Leaving 13:15 pm, arrives at 13:40 pm.
• Leaving at 16:30 pm, arrives at 16:55 pm.
• Leaving at 19:35 pm, arrives at 20:00 pm.
• Leaving at 22:15 pm, arrives at 22:40 pm.

On Sundays, the schedule is the following:

• Leaving Zadar at 7:35 am, arrives in Preko at 8:00 am.
• Leaving 9:30 am, arrives at 9:55 am.
• Leaving 11:30 am, arrives at 11:55 am.
• Leaving 13:15 pm, arrives at 13:40 pm.
• Leaving at 16:30 pm, arrives at 16:55 pm.
• Leaving at 19:35 pm, arrives at 20:00 pm.
• Leaving at 20:45 pm, arrives at 21:10 pm.
• Leaving at 22:15 pm, arrives at 22:40 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 26 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 10 kunas.

Image: Preko Tourist Board

Rava

Another port that passengers can reach on the island of Rava, is in the village of the same name, perhaps the most important port on the island. A catamaran makes a daily trip from Zadar to Rava, except on Sundays. From Monday to Friday, the catamaran of line 9405 leaves Zadar at 11:00 am, and arrives in Mala Rava at 12:30 pm. On Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 10:00 am and arrives at 11:30 am.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Photo: Mladen Radolović/Zadar Tourist Board

Rivanj

Rivanj is a small island north of Ugljan, and to get there you need to get on a catamaran on line 9404 (Zverinac - Božava - Sestrunj - Zadar). The catamaran makes a daily trip, with schedules that vary by day. From Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 15:00 pm and arrives in Rivanj at 15:35 pm. On Fridays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 16:30 pm and arrives in Rivanj at 17:05 pm. On Sundays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:15 am and arrives at 8:50 am.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 38 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 17 kunas.

Image: Preko Tourist Board

Sestrunj

Sestrunj is also north of Ugljan, and east of Riganj, and can be reached by catamaran via line 9404 (Zverinac - Božava - Sestrunj - Zadar). From Monday to Saturday, the catamaran makes one trip from Zadar to Sestrunj, while on Sundays it makes two trips. From Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 15:00 pm and arrives in Sestrunj at 15:45 pm. On Fridays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 16:30 pm and arrives in Božava at 17:15 pm. Finally, on Sundays, the first catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:15 am and arrives at 9:00 am, and the second one leaves at 21:00 pm and arrives in Božava at 21:35 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 38 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 17 kunas. 

Image: Preko Tourist Board

Zapuntel (Molat)

In addition to Brgulje, another reachable destination on the island of Molat is Zapuntal, a village that is located in the extreme north of the island. A catamaran departs daily from Zadar, making one trip from Monday to Sunday. On Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday the catamaran leaves Zadar at 14:05 pm and arrives in Brgulje at 15:34 pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it leaves at 11:00 am and arrives at 12:29 pm. On Fridays, it leaves Zadar at 17:30 pm and arrives at 18:59 pm. On Sundays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:00 am and arrives in Zapuntel at 9:29 am.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Zverinac

Zverinac Island is located between the islands of Sestrunj and Dugi Otok, and to reach it it is necessary to board a catamaran from line 9404 (Zverinac - Božava - Sestrunj - Zadar).  From Monday to Saturday, the catamaran makes one trip from Zadar to Zverinac, while on Sundays it makes two trips. From Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 15:00 pm and arrives in Zverinac at 16:10 pm. On Fridays, the catamaran leaves Zadar at 16:30 pm and arrives in Zverinac at 17:40 pm. Finally, on Sundays, the first catamaran leaves Zadar at 8:15 am and arrives at 9:25 am, and the second one leaves at 21:00 pm and arrives in Zverinac at 22:00 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Image: Dugi Otok Tourist Board

The ferry lines mentioned above are those with confirmed schedules for the next three months. Prices are subject to change. Visit the official Jadrolinija website for more information on other ferry lines from Zadar.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

July 2, 2022 - We're going to take a look at the destinations you can visit by ferry from the main Croatian ports. In this fifth installment of our Croatia Ferry Guide 2022, where to go from the port of Hvar Town?

When advertising the Adriatic Sea and the Croatian islands abroad, the experience of being on board a sailboat, yacht, or catamaran is usually highlighted. However, there is no destination a Croatian ferry can't reach, and why not mention that it's totally worth saving a good amount of euros on sailboat rentals and crews?

We know that in the past editions of this series of articles we have covered the destinations reachable from coastal cities such as Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, or Dubrovnik, but this does not mean that your ferry trips have to be limited to the classic trip from coastal city to island. A great travel plan is to go to one island, from there to another, and so on... that's where the concept of island hopping comes from. And so, today we tell you more about the island destinations you can reach from the ferry port of Hvar Town.

Photo: Mario Romulić

First of all, how to buy your ferry tickets? There are three ways. The first is via the official Jadrolinija website. In it, you can not only see the updated sailing schedules, but you can also buy your tickets online. Simply choose the port of departure, the port of destination, and the date of your trip, and you will find the available times. Once you have chosen the time and the number of tickets, in addition to completing all your personal information, you can proceed to pay for your tickets online with a credit or debit card.

The second way is through the official Jadrolinija mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Playstore for Android. The application is very easy to use and, just like on the website, just select the port of departure and you will be able to see the ports that you can travel to from the one you selected. The process is very similar, and you will find that it is even more comfortable and intuitive to use. Payment also allows the use of credit and debit cards.

Finally, the third type of payment is the most traditional and has its benefits. All ferry ports in Croatia have a Jadrolinija office, where you can go to buy your tickets in person. Sometimes one can be a bit confused before buying their tickets both on the website and in the app, so having a Jadrolinija agent to guide you is a great help.

Where is the Hvar ferry port located? The port of Hvar Town is located at the end of its long riva. You can find it on the map below.

Bol

Starting on Friday, July 8, a catamaran of line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split) will take passengers from Hvar to Bol on the island of Brač. From Monday to Sunday, a catamaran will depart from Hvar at 10:50 a.m. and arrive in Bol at 11:40 a.m. The price of the ferry ticket for both adults and children is 130 kunas.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Dubrovnik

Starting on Thursday, July 7, a catamaran of line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split) will take passengers from Hvar to the Pearl of the Adriatic. From Monday to Sunday, a catamaran will depart from Hvar at 17:55 p.m. and arrive in Dubrovnik at 21:25 p.m. The price of the ferry ticket for both adults and children is 280 kunas.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Korčula

Starting on Thursday, July 7, a catamaran of line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split) will take passengers from Hvar to the Korčula. From Monday to Sunday, a catamaran will depart from Hvar at 17:55 p.m. and arrive in Dubrovnik at 19:10 p.m. The price of the ferry ticket for both adults and children is 140 kunas.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Split

Split is perhaps the destination with the most frequent catamaran trips from Hvar. In addition, there are four different catamaran lines that connect Hvar with the Dalmatian city. One of them is line 9604 (Lastovo - Vela Luka - Hvar - Split), which has a daily catamaran trip. From Monday to Saturday, a catamaran leaves at 6:35 am and arrives in Split at 7:40 am. On Sunday, however, it leaves at 9:15 am and arrives at 10:20 am. The price of the adult ticket is 63 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 30 kunas.

The second ferry line from Hvar to Split is the 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korcula - Hvar - Bol - Split). This catamaran line will start taking passengers from Hvar to Split from Friday 8th July. Every day a catamaran of line 9811S will depart from Hvar at 10:50 am and will arrive at the port of Split at 12:55 pm. The price of the ferry ticket for both adults and children is 130 kunas.

Photo: Mario Romulić

The third ferry line from Hvar to Split is the 9602 (Vis - Hvar - Milna - Split), and works only every Tuesday, where a catamaran departs from Hvar at 8:15 am and arrives in Split at 9:20 am. The price of the adult ticket is 63 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 30 kunas.

The fourth catamaran line is the 9604S and the one with the highest frequency among the four. From Wednesday 13 July it will start making up to six direct trips from Hvar to Split every day. The itinerary is as follows: the first catamaran leaves at 10:15 am from Hvar and arrives in Split at 11:20 am, the next one leaves at 11:30 am and arrives in Split at 12:35 pm, the third departs at 12:45 pm and arrives at 13:50 pm, the fourth departs from Hvar at 14:45 pm and arrives at 15:50 pm, the fifth leaves at 18:00 pm and arrives at 19:05 pm, and the last catamaran departs from Hvar at 21:00 pm and arrives at the port of Split at 22:05 pm. The price of the ferry ticket for both adults and children is 130 kunas.

Ubli

Every day a catamaran of line 9604 (Lastovo - Vela Luka - Hvar - Split) departs from Hvar in the direction of Ubli, on the island of Lastovo. It leaves Hvar at 16:25 pm and arrives in Ubli at 18:25 pm. The price of the adult ticket is 63 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 30 kunas.

Image: Lastovo Tourist Board

Vela Luka

Every day a catamaran of line 9604 (Lastovo - Vela Luka - Hvar - Split) departs from Hvar in the direction of Vela Luka, on the island of Korčula. It leaves Hvar at 16:25 pm and arrives in Ubli at 17:20 pm. The price of the adult ticket is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

Vis

One catamaran departs from Hvar and arrives at Vis, and that is the 9602 (Vis - Hvar - Milna - Split), and works only every Tuesday, where a catamaran departs from Hvar at 17:15 pm and arrives at Vis at 18:05 pm. A change in schedule will be introduced from Tuesday 30th August, and the catamaran will leave Hvar at 16:30 pm and arrive in Vis at 17:20 pm. It is worth mentioning that this catamaran will work until September 27. The price of the adult ticket is 63 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 30 kunas. The price of the adult ticket is 48 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 22 kunas.

Photo: Mario Romulić

The ferry lines mentioned above are those with confirmed schedules for the next three months. Prices are subject to change. Visit the official Jadrolinija website for more information on other ferry lines from Hvar.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

June the 26th, 2022 - The popular cross-border Zadar-Ancona Jadrolinija line is now back in function which is sure to delight all those seeking a trip from this coastal Dalmatian town across the Adriatic Sea to neighbouring Italy and back again.

As Morski writes, the "Marco Polo" Jadrolinija ferry is set to sail on the line Zadar-Ancona Jadrolinija line, as was recently announced by the aforementioned company.

In the period until July the 15th, the Zadar-Ancona Jadrolinija line will sail once a week, and from July the 18th, it will make that journey twice a week. The line will be maintained until September the 9th this year, according to Jadrolinija's statement.

Back in April, the Coastal and Liner Transport Agency gave Jadrolinja the consent to maintain the international line between Zadar and Ancona throughout the aforementioned period in 2022.

The timetable between the nearest part of the Croatian and Italian coasts across the Adriatic Sea will be maintained with three different traffic dynamics of the "Marco Polo" ferry, which will, during these 80 days, be engaged on the line between Split and Ancona.

Namely, in the period from June the 23rd to July the 17th and from September the 1st to the 9th, the ferry will operate once a week. The ferry will depart from Ancona on Thursday at 22:00, and will arrive in Zadar on Friday at 07:00. On the same day at 10:00, the ferry from Zadar will return to Ancona (17:00).

In the period from July the 18th to August the 18th, when the highest traffic of the Croatian summer tourist season is expected, the ferry will operate twice a week. It will depart from Zadar for Ancona on Mondays at 22:00 (with an arrival in Ancona on Tuesday at 07:00) and on Fridays at 10:00 (with an arrival in Ancona at 17:00). Departures from Ancona to Zadar are scheduled for Monday at 10:00 (arriving in Zadar at 18:00), and Thursday at 22:00 (arriving in Zadar at 07:00).

The third version of the sailing schedule along the Zadar-Ancona Jadrolinija line refers to the period from the 9th to the 26th of August, when two lines per week are also planned. Departure from Zadar will take place on Mondays and Fridays at 22:00 (arriving in Ancona on Tuesday and Saturday at 07:00), while the ferry from Ancona will depart for Zadar on Mondays and Fridays at 18:00 (with an arrival in Zadar on Mondays and Fridays at 10:00).

This 49-year-old ship which will carry out this service is otherwise 128 metres long and has 153 cabins or a total of 551 beds. The ship can accommodate 1082 passengers.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

June 21, 2022 - In the newest TCN series, we take a look at the destinations you can visit by ferry from the main Croatian ports. In this second installment of the Croatia Ferry Guide 2022, where to go from the port of Dubrovnik?

When advertising the Adriatic Sea and the Croatian islands abroad, the experience of being on board a sailboat, yacht, or catamaran is usually highlighted. However, there is no destination a Croatian ferry can't reach, and why not mention that it's totally worth saving a good amount of Euros on sailboat rentals and crews?

Today we tell you more about the island destinations you can reach from the ferry port of Dubrovnik.

Photo: Mario Romulić

First of all, how to buy your ferry tickets? There are three ways. The first is via the official Jadrolinija website. In it, you can not only see the updated sailing schedules, but you can also buy your tickets online. Simply choose the port of departure, the port of destination, and the date of your trip, and you will find the available times. Once you have chosen the time and the number of tickets, in addition to completing all your personal information, you can proceed to pay for your tickets online with a credit or debit card.

The second way is through the official Jadrolinija mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Playstore for Android. The application is very easy to use and, just like on the website, just select the port of departure and you will be able to see the ports that you can travel to from the one you selected. The process is very similar, and you will find that it is even more comfortable and intuitive to use. Payment also allows the use of credit and debit cards.

Finally, the third type of payment is the most traditional and has its benefits. All ferry ports in Croatia have a Jadrolinija office, where you can go to buy your tickets in person. Sometimes one can be a bit confused before buying their tickets both on the website and in the app, so having a Jadrolinija agent to guide you is a great help.

Where is the Dubrovnik ferry port located? Unlike previously covered cities like Split or Rijeka, the port of Dubrovnik is not located in the old part of the city. The port of Dubrovnik is located in Gruž Bay, a 10-minute drive from the Old Town.

Bari

Apart from Ancona, Bari is the other destination in Italy that one can reach from Croatia by sea. However, Bari can only be reached from Dubrovnik. The ferries that depart from the Pearl of the Adriatic to Bari depart on Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays through line 54 (Dubrovnik-Bari). Just one per day. On Sundays, they leave Dubrovnik at 12:00 pm and arrive in Bari at 19:30 pm, while on Mondays and Fridays they leave Dubrovnik at 21:00 pm and arrive in Bari at 8:00 am. Passengers can travel from Dubrovnik to Bari in three ways: deck passenger, seat, or cabin. For the adult ticket (from twelve years old or older), the deck passenger ticket price is 528 kunas, the seat ticket is 588 kunas, and there are two types of cabins: outdoor shower and WC (1193 kunas) and indoor shower. and WC (1097 kunas). For the child ticket (from 3 to 12 years old), the deck passenger ticket price is 303 kunas, the seat ticket is 363 kunas, and there are two types of cabins: outdoor shower and WC (228 kunas) and indoor shower. and WC (208 kunas).

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Bol

Bol is one of the most sought-after island destinations in Croatia, and it is possible to get there from Dubrovnik. Every day, a catamaran leaves the port of Dubrovnik for Bol on the island of Brač. Through line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split), the catamaran leaves Dubrovnik at 7:00 am and arrives in Bol at 11:40 am. The price of tickets, both for adults and children, is 280 kuna.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Hvar

One would think that to visit the wonderful island of Hvar, it is necessary to be in Split. However, if you are in Dubrovnik, you can do it too. Via line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split), a catamaran departs from Dubrovnik at 7:00 am and arrives in Hvar Town at 10:30 am. Ticket prices for both adults and children are 280 kuna.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Koločep

The island of Koločep is one of the three inhabited Elaphiti Islands situated near the city of Dubrovnik. It is the southernmost inhabited island in Croatia. Two ferry lines go to Koločep: 831 (Dubrovnik - Suđurađ - Lopud) and 807 (Šipan - Lopud - Koločep - Dubrovnik). From Monday to Sunday, ships of line 807 depart for Koločep 5-6 times a day. The trip takes 30 minutes. Ferry line 831 departs from Dubrovnik on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and only one trip per day. It leaves at 9:00 am and arrives in Koločep at 9:45 am. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 31 kunas for both lines. Ticket prices for children vary. On line 831 it costs 15.5 kunas, and on line 807 it costs 12 kunas.

Photo: dronepicr/Wikimedia Commons

Korčula

Among the islands of Dubrovnik, the island of Korčula is surely the most popular. A catamaran of the line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split) departs from the port of Dubrovnik every day, with only one trip per day. The catamaran departs at 07:00, arriving in Korčula at 09:00. Ideal for a day trip. The price of the catamaran ticket, both for adults and children, is 160 kuna.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Lopud

Lopud, like Koločep, belongs to the Elaphite Islands archipelago. Lopud is the central island of the archipelago, well known for its sandy beaches, and is also the most developed of the three Elaphiti islands in terms of tourism. Like Koločep, two ferry lines go to the island of Lopud: 831 (Dubrovnik - Suđurađ - Lopud) and 807 (Šipan - Lopud - Koločep - Dubrovnik). From Monday to Sunday, ships of line 807 depart for Lopud 4-6 times a day. The trip usually takes 55 minutes. Ferry line 831 departs from Dubrovnik on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and only one trip per day. It leaves at 9:00 am and arrives in Lopud at 10:25 am. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 31 kunas for both lines. Ticket prices for children vary. On line 831 it costs 15.5 kunas, and on line 807 it costs 13 kunas.

Photo: dronepicr/Wikimedia Commons

Suđurađ (Island of Šipan)

Šipan is the largest island of the Elaphiti Islands archipelago. Those going from Dubrovnik will arrive in the town of Suđurađ. In the case of Suđurađ, and compared to Lopud and Koločep, ferry line 831 is more frequent. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, two ferries of line 831 depart from Dubrovnik to Suđurađ (9:00 am and 15:30 pm), while on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, they make a single trip. Travel time can vary from 65 to 110 minutes. Ships of line 807 make up to 4 trips every day from the port of Dubrovnik to Suđurađ. Trips take 75 minutes. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 31 kunas for both lines. Ticket prices for children vary. On line 831 it costs 15.5 kunas, and on line 807 it costs 14 kunas.

Photo: Dmitry Mozzhukhin/Wikimedia Commons

The ferry lines mentioned above are those with confirmed schedules for the next three months. Prices are subject to change. Visit the official Jadrolinija website for more information on other ferry lines from Dubrovnik.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

June the 21st, 2022 - Croatian ferry and bus line prices are set to significantly increase as inflation continues to bite and the cost of fuel keeps on increasing. Croatian ferry and bus line operators have asked customers for their understanding, and their forgiveness during a time which is proving difficult for all pockets.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a lot of people from Zadar like to joke about swimming across to Ugljan instead of paying for the ferry, but all jokes aside, transportation on a Croatian ferry to the Adriatic islands this summer will cost thirty percent more than it did last year.

"I think it's a really great price (speaking sarcastically) and we'll end up al going bankrupt, but for as long as it's like that, it's going to be like that. You only live once,'' said Pavao from Zagreb.

Many passengers, however, are now thinking twice about whether they can go on day trips to nearby islands at all with prices for a Croatian ferry ticket being so high. Shipowners themselves are also in troubled waters, no pun intended. The catamaran that sailed on the line between Split - Bol - Makarska - Korcula - Mljet - Dubrovnik will not sail at all this season. The reason is cited as excessive costs, writes Dnevnik.hr.

The private shipowner has issued an apology to all would-have-been passengers, offering a refund for any tickets already purchased. Unlike commercial lines, public service lines are co-financed for the year with more than 320 million kuna from the state treasury. Nevertheless, in order to sail, part of the burden is paid by customers.

"Of course, shipowners can't incur losses even though they have contracts, they must be at a certain zero both according to the law and the regulations of the European Commission, including the real profit in doing their job," explained Paula Vidovic.

They added that prices have not changed in the last twenty years, and in the last few months, the increase has been felt by bus transport companies as well.

For the Zadar - Vodice or Vodice - Zadar section, tickets were purchased a few days ago, and the difference in price is 15 kuna. The global coronavirus pandemic has thinned bus lines out totally, and fuel prices dictate ticket prices, which depend on both the carrier and the cost-effectiveness of the line. The unprofitability of local lines has plagued these companies for years, and rising fuel prices, they say, have only added fuel to an already fairly out of control fire.

"Certainly with this announcement of an additional increase in fuel prices on Tuesday, we can expect additional corrections to the price of our services," concluded Vedran Tomicic from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK).

They see the solution either in subsidising all local lines or by introducing monthly tickets at the state level, following the example of some other European countries, in order to save public line transport, but also to stop the prices going wild.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.