A technical problem on the ferry Dalmacija has stopped all three of Jadrolinija's routes to Italy from 8 September. Ticket holders are entitled to a refund under EU Regulation 1177/2010. What it means for an Adriatic crossing in September and October.
What happened before: Dubrovnik to Bari ferry suspended after technical fault
Checked: 8 September 2026
At noon on 8 September 2026 Jadrolinija published a short notice: because of a technical problem on the ship Dalmacija, all sailings on the international routes L53 Split to Ancona, L54 Dubrovnik to Bari and L56 Split to Bari are cancelled until 21 October 2026. All three routes are served by the same ship, and the notice mentions no replacement.
What it means in practice
- No Jadrolinija ferry from Croatia to Italy for six weeks: between 8 September and 21 October nothing sails from Split or Dubrovnik.
- Tickets are refunded: Jadrolinija promises compensation under EU Regulation 1177/2010, which gives passengers on a cancelled sailing the choice between a refund and re-routing.
- Zadar to Ancona is no way around it: the catamaran Jelena ended its season on 6 September.
- 21 October is a cut-off, not a promise: the notice says the cancellation runs until then, it does not say sailings resume that day.
How to get to Italy now
For Ancona the only remaining sea option is to check whether SNAV's seasonal service from Split is still running; it normally ends in September, so the date matters. For Bari there is no other ferry. That leaves land: the motorway via Slovenia and Trieste to Ancona is about ten to eleven hours of driving from Split and two to three more from Dubrovnik. Direct flights from Split and Dubrovnik to Italian cities exist in the summer schedule, which ends in late October.
A stop that began in August
The stop did not come out of nowhere. The Dubrovnik to Bari route has been idle since mid-August, when the ship stayed moored in Dubrovnik after a technical fault; we reported on it on 16 August. The new notice is the first to name an end date, and it extends the stop to both Split routes.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Split to Ancona ferry running in September 2026?
- Not with Jadrolinija: route L53 is cancelled until 21 October 2026 because of a fault on the ship Dalmacija. Check with SNAV whether its seasonal service from Split is still running.
- Do I get my money back for a ticket I already bought?
- Yes. Jadrolinija promises compensation under Regulation (EU) 1177/2010: for a cancelled sailing you are entitled to a full refund within seven days or to re-routing to your destination.
- Is there a Dubrovnik to Bari ferry in October 2026?
- Not until 21 October 2026. No other operator sails that route, so the options are the road via Ancona or a flight.
Official sources
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