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| Monday July 11 1. Ancona to Split (overnight) on ANCONA (SVEA, 1966) Tuesday July 12 2. Split to Supetar on SPLIT PRVI (SUPERFLEX KILO, 1989) 3. Supetar to Split on VALUN Wednesday July 13 4. Zadar to Pula on MARINA (KRONPRINSESSAN INGRID, 1936) |
| Top: Ship number 1: the amazing Ancona of Blue Lines, seen at Ancona on 11 July. Of all the ex-UK ferries now operating in Southern Europe, this ship possibly ranks above all the others for interest, originality and style. |
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| Above: The Venezia at Ancona, 11 July. Originally of fallen Italian giant Adriatica, the ship had been transferred by current owners AGEMAR to operate an Ancona-Durres (Albania) route in lieu of failed ex-sister Riviera del Conero of Adria Ferries. |
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| Above: Enermar's Dalmatina at Split on July 12 in her first season running to Croatia after sale by Spain's Trasmediterranea. |
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| Above: Ship number four: The age-defying Marina, originally built in 1936 seen leaving Pula on July 13. |
| Click here for the pictures from Part Two of the 2005 July trip |
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| Above: The main bar on the Ancona, aft on the starboard side. Throughout the main passenger deck, the ship is in near-original condition with wooden panelled-walls abounding. |
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| Above: Heading forward from the bar is the starboard-side arcade, seen here looking aft: a relaxed, sociable place for a game of cards or a quiet snooze. The equivalent on the port side initially had reclining seats installed by Blue Line and, although these have been removed, much of the original furniture has unfortunately not been returned. |
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| Above: Right forward to starboard is the Ancona's restaurant: although service standards are variable, the food was fine and the location immaculate. |
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| Above: Ship Number 2, the Split Prvi seen at Supetar on July 12. SEM's big selling point are fares 25% lower than rival Jadrolinija. The best thing that can be said about their ship is that it is perhaps the nicest Superflex I've travelled on. Given their awkward nature, cluttered deck space, disturbingly steep stairwells, grimy corners and seemingly generically gloomy interiors it would be a shock for a sail on one of these to be anything other than deeply unpleasant. SEM have almost achieved it, which is a major achievement. |
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| Above: Aboard ship number 3, Jadrolinija's eccentric Valun. These giant foot spas from the ship's original Japanese service have found a new purpose as sit-in ash trays in Croatia. |
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| Above: Seen at Zadar on July 13 is SNAV's Zara Jet, originally the Hoverspeed Belgium, but more familiar as the Seacat Danmark. |
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| Above: The Marina's main amidships lounge area, looking aft, a perfectly preserved timepiece. |
| SHIPS OF THE CROATIA, ITALY & GREECE TRIP: JULY 2005 All pictures © matt@hhvferry.com |