Hello, my wife and I will be in Croatia in early May. We are thinking about taking the ferry from Dubrovnik to Split. Our biggest concern is whether you can sit outside or not. I have seen reviews where that was not allowed. Is it worth taking the ferry if we cannot be outside? Are the view still nice from inside? How comfortable is the ferry? Is one company better than another? Thank you for any info you can provide.
Posted by
11881 posts
Aren’t you considering visiting an island or two, Korçula, Brac, or Hvar? We enjoyed that part of our trip so much.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
I have struggled with that. We have come up with a itinerary of Dubrovnik, Split, Krka/Plitvice, Ljubjana and Lake Bled in Slovenia, and finish in Zagreb. Two week is not enough to see it all. We had to eliminated Monte Negro, Istria coast, and the islands. But I am re-thinking of hitting at least one island on the way to Split.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2500 posts
The faster Krilo Catamarans and TP Line vessels have no outside space to accommodate passengers, so there’s no way to be outside. Some larger ferries of the Jadroliniga line do have outdoor decks that allow passengers outdoor access. There are large windows on all the vessels however, so it’s still a scenic ride even when there’s no outdoor decks.
Time permitting, it makes sense to break up the trip and stop on an island or two en route.
Posted by
5613 posts
I think it would be unlikely you would want to sit outside in early May, it can be pretty chilly then. One of the fast catamarans would be good for breaking up the trip.
Posted by
12 posts
Hi there! In early May, only fast catamarans operate on the Dubrovnik to Split route — no traditional ferries with open decks. These catamarans don’t have dedicated outdoor seating areas, but passengers may be allowed outside. That said, it’s not guaranteed.
Also, keep in mind that early May can still be a bit chilly and windy on the Adriatic, so even if stepping outside is allowed, it might not be the most comfortable experience for long.
In terms of operators, Krilo (Kapetan Luka) and TP Line are the two main companies on this route. More details below:
https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/dubrovnik-split
Posted by
1110 posts
The catamaran is quite comfortable. It goes fast, so you wouldn’t want to be outside even if you could. Honestly, it’s not like you miss too much. As beautiful as the landscape is, it has a certain sameness to it. And you’re well away from the shore. It’s not at all like a ferry on the Amalfi Coast. Take the catamaran and don’t second guess it.