By the Dalmatia Express crew — skippers who run the Split–island routes every day, 24/7. Updated August 2026.

Croatian ferries do not cancel at random. They cancel because of wind. The bura is a cold, strong wind from the northeast. It comes in sudden, hard gusts and can close whole ports. The sap is a warm wind from the southeast. It makes long, high waves that stop open-sea crossings. Fast catamarans cancel first. Car ferries cancel last. On a day when every fast passenger boat stops, the big car ferries from Split often still run. So do closed private boats.

Zie het aankomen: de checklist van 48 uur

Tip van de schipper: most cancellations happen at the start and end of the season, in May–June and September–October. Timetables are also shorter then. In summer the main problem is different: boats are full. A full August catamaran is the same as a cancelled one for you.

The backup plan, step by step

1. De autoveerboot. Foot passengers almost always get a place, even when catamarans stop. It is slower. It also arrives at a different port: Stari Grad (a ferry port on Hvar island, about 20 km from Hvar Town) and not Hvar Town. Our Veerbootgids van Split naar Hvar explains the ports.

2. Change your route. Can you not reach Bol, the main town on the south coast of Brač island? Take the Supetar car ferry (Supetar is the main ferry port on Brač) and then a local taxi. See our Split to Brač guide. Can you not reach Vis? Sometimes the honest answer is “tomorrow”.

3. A closed private boat. Our closed-cabin boats with radar run in most weather that cancels public fast boats. Same-hour bookings are normal. If the port authority closes all traffic, we move your trip to another time or refund it. We do not charge you for a trip that could not start.

4. De regel van de vluchtdag. If bad weather is coming on the day of your flight, cross to the mainland the evening before. A hotel in Split costs less than a missed flight.

What this looks like in real life

We get this call every week in spring and autumn. A family of six has a cancelled catamaran at 19:00 and a flight at 10:00 the next morning. Our answer: a closed boat leaves at 20:30 and arrives at the airport side of Split by 21:30. The family sleeps in an airport hotel and makes the flight. The cost is small next to six missed seats. Save our number: +385 99 200 9920. We answer 24/7.

Tip van de schipper #2: when many sailings cancel, the ferry company refunds you automatically. But seats on the sailings that still run are not automatic. Rebook as soon as the app shows the cancellation. Do not wait for the email. The car ferry fills up in the first 30 minutes.

Why a private boat is a strong backup (2026)

When the jugo or bura blows, Jadrolinija or Krilo may cancel. Many travellers are then stuck. A closed-cabin boat with radar can often still cross safely. That is why our boats exist. We run Splitsen naar Hvar en de airport to Hvar transfer in weather that stops the big catamarans. A cancelled ferry does not have to mean a lost night at your villa or a missed flight. For prices, read our Prijsgids voor watertaxi's 2026.

Ferry, catamaran or private boat? A simple comparison

Our private boat is not the cheapest option for one person. For a group of four or more, the price per person is often close to catamaran tickets plus a lost hotel night. See the Split to Hvar taxi boat.

Costs and travel times for a private boat

Private transfers from Split are priced per boat, not per person. They suit couples, families and small groups who share the price. You choose the departure time. You can leave when your flight lands or when a ferry is cancelled. You do not wait for the next scheduled sailing. These are 2026 starting prices:

Save our contact before you need it. See all our private boat routes.

A booking plan that works when ferries cancel

Travellers who never get stuck plan extra time. Arrive in Split at least one day before any ferry trip. Do not take the last sailing of the day. If you fly home from an island trip, choose a morning crossing, not an afternoon one. Then even a rough-weather day leaves you options. Save our contact details. If the forecast looks bad, we can place a boat near you so you do not rush at the port.

Een concreet voorbeeld: een geannuleerde veerboot in de middag.

Your family’s 16:30 catamaran to Hvar is cancelled at 15:00 on a windy August afternoon. The next sailing is tomorrow. Your villa is paid for. The refund line has forty people in it. A private boat with radar can usually reach the port within the hour. You can be at your home on Hvar by early evening. If four people share the price, it often comes close to four last-minute tickets plus a lost night. You pay a little more, but you save your arrival day.

Bottom line: weather in Dalmatia can change your plans overnight. A private boat that you can call at short notice is cheap insurance for the whole trip.

Veelgestelde vragen

Hoe vaak worden Kroatische veerboten geannuleerd?

Car ferries rarely cancel. Fast catamarans cancel on a few days each month outside summer, mostly when the bura or jugo wind blows.

Krijg ik mijn geld terug als een veerboot wordt geannuleerd?

Yes. If the ferry company cancels and cannot move you to another sailing, you can get a full refund. The company does not pay for your hotel night or a missed flight. That is the real cost.

Can private boats really sail when ferries do not?

Closed-cabin boats with radar can sail in most weather that stops catamarans. If the port authority closes all sea traffic, no boat sails, including ours. This is rare.

What is the safest booking plan if I have a flight?

Never take the last sailing of the day. In spring and autumn, cross to the mainland the evening before your flight.

Where can I check if my ferry is cancelled?

Use the ferry company’s status page or app (Jadrolinija, Krilo, TP Line). Check the evening before and again at dawn.

If nothing sails at all, you can use a private driver by road and ferry. Split companies such as Connecto Transfers offer this. It keeps you moving toward the coast.

Gerelateerde handleidingen

• Hvar-transfers bij ruwe zee of 's nachts — what happens to your transfer when the sea is rough or the ferry is late.
• Prijzen voor watertaxi's vanuit Split — what a private water taxi from Split costs.
• Luchthaven Split naar de eilanden — Hoe bereik je de eilanden rechtstreeks vanaf de luchthaven van Split?
• Een bezoek aan Dalmatië in oktober — what travel is like in the quieter season.
• De beste eilanden vanuit Split, gerangschikt — our ranked list of islands you can reach from Split.