The Ferry Tale of a Cancelled Flight: Croatia-to-Italy Adventure

Hey there, travel enthusiasts! It’s Elena, back with a story about how my boyfriend and I accidentally added a side quest to Italy during our dreamy Croatian vacation. What started as a chilled 2.5 weeks exploring the Dalmatian Coast ended in an unexpected (and hilarious) sea voyage, thanks to an airline that quite literally disappeared.

Flights, Plans, and Chaos (Oh My!)

Let me set the stage. It was September, and we were all set to fly into Zadar on the 10th and leave Dubrovnik on the 27th. Ryanair took care of our inbound flight, and Blue Air (remember them?) was supposed to whisk us back to Bucharest.

Related article: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Zadar, Croatia.

Cue the ominous music. On August 31st, Blue Air casually slid into my inbox to let me know our return flight was canceled. Why? “Operational reasons.” (Translation: we’re about to implode.)

They gave us three options:

Change the flight for free.
Cancel the booking and get a 25% bonus in their e-wallet (such generosity).
Cancel and get a refund via the original payment method.

Naturally, I tried Option 1. But surprise! There were no other flights available between Dubrovnik and Bucharest. Option 2 briefly tempted me—until I remembered all the chatter about Blue Air’s looming bankruptcy. By September 6th, they confirmed the gossip by suspending operations entirely. Option 3? A joke. To this day, I’m still waiting for that refund.

The Great Escape Plan

Now we were stuck. No return flight, no help, and dwindling options.

We scoured the internet for flights from Dubrovnik, Split, Mostar, Podgorica… basically, any airport within shouting distance. Either they were booked solid or laughably expensive. We even flirted with the idea of taking a bus, but couldn’t find a direct route. (Besides, the thought of spending 30+ hours cramped in a bus didn’t exactly scream “romantic adventure.”)

Then, a stroke of genius. I looked at the map, and my eyes locked onto Bari, Italy. A lightbulb went off. I remembered that Bari has plenty of budget flights to Bucharest. Sure enough, the prices checked out. But how to get there?

Enter the Ferry: Our Knight in Shining Steel

The answer was right across the Adriatic: a ferry from Dubrovnik to Bari. It felt like a long shot, but a quick search revealed that Jadrolinija runs overnight ferries between the two cities. Because we were switching countries, we had to go through customs, of course.

The details: Departure at 9 PM, arrival at 8 AM. Total travel time? 11 hours. Price? Around €120 per person for a private cabin with a bathroom. Not exactly budget, but after weeks of stress, we figured we deserved a little comfort.

And honestly? It was worth every euro.

A Night at Sea

The ferry itself was massive, almost cruise-like. We spent the first hour exploring every corner, channeling our inner Titanic vibes (minus the iceberg).

Later, we stepped out onto the deck. Let me tell you, I’ve never seen blackness like that before. The sea at night is the definition of pitch black. It was eerie but mesmerizing, the kind of moment that makes you feel tiny and awestruck. Another thing that I LOVED was the sunset and sunrise that have a special vibe when you’re out on the sea.

Now, let’s talk food. We’d made a tactical decision to eat dinner before boarding, assuming ferry food would either be overpriced or inedible. Wrong! Not only did the ferry have a restaurant, but the prices were surprisingly reasonable. Lesson learned: Don’t judge a ferry by its cover.

Bari: The Unexpected Bonus

Once we docked in Bari, we decided to make the most of our detour and stayed a few extra days. Sure, it stretched our budget, but Bari charmed us.

Its narrow streets, delicious food, sunny weather and relaxed vibe were worth every penny.

We even joked that Blue Air did us a favor by forcing us to visit Italy. (Though let’s be real—where’s my refund, Blue Air?!)

Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Have to Learn Them the Hard Way)

Don’t Trust Airlines on the Brink. If the news starts hinting at bankruptcy, don’t hold out hope. Start planning your backup route ASAP.
Think Outside the Box (or Map). Sometimes the best solutions aren’t obvious. A quick scan of nearby cities can open up new possibilities.
Always Check the Ferry Menu. You might be surprised!
Embrace the Chaos. Travel isn’t always smooth, but the best stories come from the unexpected.

So, that’s how our Croatian vacation turned into a cross-Adriatic adventure. Would I plan it this way again? Well, maybe. After this trip I started considering ferries more as a mean of transportation. Am I grateful for the memories (and the Instagram-worthy ferry shots)? Absolutely.

Until next time, keep wandering and rolling with the punches—because sometimes the detours are the best part of the trip.