Croatian island ferries and catamarans
Check the port, sailing date and vehicle rules before choosing between Jadrolinija and Krilo.
Choose the arrival port before choosing the boat. Hvar Town and Stari Grad are both on Hvar island, but arriving at one does not put you beside a room booked in the other. The same problem comes up with Korčula Town and Vela Luka.
Start with the address where you will stay. Then compare the sailing and the journey from its port, including any bus or taxi. This often matters more than a small difference in the boat fare.
Match the boat to your trip
| Your plan | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Walk off the boat into Hvar Town | A passenger service that names Hvar Town as its stop |
| Take a car from Split to Hvar island | The vehicle ferry to Stari Grad, followed by an island drive |
| Stay near Korčula's old town without a car | A passenger service calling at Korčula Town |
| Take the Split car ferry to Korčula island | Check the Vela Luka arrival and the onward drive before booking |
The Hvar guide and Korčula guide explain the different arrivals. Search the actual travel date with Jadrolinija or Krilo. Some direct island connections are seasonal, so check the outward and onward journeys before paying for rooms.
Does the ticket reserve your sailing?
Jadrolinija's local ticket rules distinguish reserved departures from routes without reservations. Its local catamarans use reservations. Vehicle-space reservations are available on selected ferry routes, including Split to Stari Grad and Split to Vela Luka.
On a route without reservations, a paid ticket does not hold a place on the departure you hoped to take. Boarding still depends on available space. Read the route's conditions instead of assuming that choosing a time in a search result settles the matter.
For reserved ferry journeys, Jadrolinija's boarding notice advises arriving at the port 60 minutes before departure in summer and 30 minutes in winter. Follow any more specific instruction on your booking. Finding the vehicle queue can take longer than walking onto a passenger boat.
Krilo tickets apply to the route, date and departure time shown on them. They do not give you a general right to board another company's boat. Check Krilo's terms before choosing a connection that would be expensive to miss.
Taking a car, bicycle or large bag
Cars need a vehicle ferry. A passenger catamaran cannot take a car added at the last moment. Have the vehicle registration details ready and declare the right dimensions, including a trailer or roof load where required.
Bicycles, pets and luggage have their own rules. Check them with the carrier for your sailing, especially when changing companies during an island trip. Keep documents, water and anything needed during the crossing with you; Jadrolinija does not allow passengers to remain in the car-ferry garage during the voyage.
Check Italy crossings separately
Jadrolinija lists Split–Ancona, Dubrovnik–Bari and Split–Bari as suspended until 21 October 2026 because of a technical problem with Dalmacija. Read the route-specific notice before making onward bookings. It does not describe all Croatian domestic ferries or every carrier's Italy services.
For the Dubrovnik–Bari crossing, confirm an operating departure before arranging your stay on either side. A published seasonal timetable is not confirmation that a disrupted sailing will run.
Leave room for a changed sailing
Keep the ticket available offline, but check the operator's current messages before leaving for the port. If a sailing is cancelled, contact the company or seller that issued the ticket about its replacement or refund arrangements.
A mainland night before an important flight is often the easier plan. It gives you time to deal with a changed boat without spending the last island morning watching the clock. When comparing accommodation, include that final mainland stay in the same budget.