Bonjour,
J'ai pris la ligne Burgas - Batumi début Mars avec la compagnie PBM, à cette époque je n'ai pas eu de soucis , à l'origine je devais partir d'Odessa mais il m'a manqué une semaine...
pour embarquer, il fallait un PCR du jour, façile à trouver , les cliniques le délivrent dans l'heure, le bateau part dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi et arrive le lundi matin à Batoumi. Pas de Wifi à bord, pas de TV...
à ce qu'il me semble , à cette époque il longeait les eaux territoriales Turques pour éviter les soucis que l'on sait, en mer nous avons vu un bateau militaire, sans en connaitre la nationalité.
Le cout est de 180€
Jean-Claude
Black Sea Ferries Q&A
Poti to Constanta Ferry
[May 2024]
I highly recommend NOT taking this ferry. For the price of €800 you get rotten eggs for breakfast and rooms which haven't been cleaned since the fall of the USSR. It took 7 days in total due to long delays (4 day delay on the Georgian side where we stayed at the port but were not allowed to leave the boat, 2 days at sea, 1 day delay at the Romanian side).
If you really want to throw away your money, I'll give you instructions how to do it. I urge you to first consider donating that money to a good cause instead.
It took quite some searching but we finally found out how to get on the ferry from Poti, Georgia, to Constanta, Romania. It's run by E60 Shipping Line and goes approximately once a week. They said it's been running for 3 months and they plan to continue as long as the war prevents having a ferry to Ukraine.
The booking office is in Poti on the southeast corner of Aghmashenebeli and 9th April Ave across the street from the church in a building that looks entirely abandoned and has a dilapidated 'for sale' sign on it. Try to figure out which door is unlocked/still works, ignore the trash and unfinished construction, and go up the stairs to the third floor. There are a few offices in the hallway. One guy spoke okay English and the rest spoke Russian. Once you get a ticket and pay, keep calling them every day to check when the ferry will actually leave. Expect long delays and 12+ hours to load and unload. We waited for 3 days.
Phone: +995 591 04 60 60 Tamar (speaks good Russian, I'm not sure about English, has Whatsapp but probably won't reply unless you call)
Price [May 2024]: €600 for small campervan and driver, €200 for passenger
Office location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vohMN2GzmcNnjCHEA
Port & customs entrance: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tdEU4QMGysMcb2XD9
I highly recommend NOT taking this ferry. For the price of €800 you get rotten eggs for breakfast and rooms which haven't been cleaned since the fall of the USSR. It took 7 days in total due to long delays (4 day delay on the Georgian side where we stayed at the port but were not allowed to leave the boat, 2 days at sea, 1 day delay at the Romanian side).
If you really want to throw away your money, I'll give you instructions how to do it. I urge you to first consider donating that money to a good cause instead.
It took quite some searching but we finally found out how to get on the ferry from Poti, Georgia, to Constanta, Romania. It's run by E60 Shipping Line and goes approximately once a week. They said it's been running for 3 months and they plan to continue as long as the war prevents having a ferry to Ukraine.
The booking office is in Poti on the southeast corner of Aghmashenebeli and 9th April Ave across the street from the church in a building that looks entirely abandoned and has a dilapidated 'for sale' sign on it. Try to figure out which door is unlocked/still works, ignore the trash and unfinished construction, and go up the stairs to the third floor. There are a few offices in the hallway. One guy spoke okay English and the rest spoke Russian. Once you get a ticket and pay, keep calling them every day to check when the ferry will actually leave. Expect long delays and 12+ hours to load and unload. We waited for 3 days.
Phone: +995 591 04 60 60 Tamar (speaks good Russian, I'm not sure about English, has Whatsapp but probably won't reply unless you call)
Price [May 2024]: €600 for small campervan and driver, €200 for passenger
Office location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vohMN2GzmcNnjCHEA
Port & customs entrance: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tdEU4QMGysMcb2XD9
1 x
Re: Black Sea Ferries Q&A
Hi everyone,
anyone here who has managed to cross the Black Sea from Burgas to Batumi lately using the ferry?
I know they are running, I contacted them to book an adult ticket (no vehicle, just me) for the 6th September and I was told to check back beginning of month. They are mainly a freight operator, so they prioritise truck drivers over passengers.
So, I was just wondering if anyone has managed to do it, how easy/straightforward the booking process was and how was the trip.
(also, cause if they don't let me on the ferry I need to figure out a different way to get to Georgia without flying)
Many many thanks
anyone here who has managed to cross the Black Sea from Burgas to Batumi lately using the ferry?
I know they are running, I contacted them to book an adult ticket (no vehicle, just me) for the 6th September and I was told to check back beginning of month. They are mainly a freight operator, so they prioritise truck drivers over passengers.
So, I was just wondering if anyone has managed to do it, how easy/straightforward the booking process was and how was the trip.
(also, cause if they don't let me on the ferry I need to figure out a different way to get to Georgia without flying)
Many many thanks
0 x
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JeanClaude
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2019 8:30 pm
- x 1
Re: Black Sea Ferries Q&A
Bonjour,
J'ai pris ce bateau en 2022, au tout début de la guerre en Ukraine, je devais embarquer à Odessa, mais on connais la suite, il n'y a pas de probleme pour voyager seul sans véhicule, il faut se présenter le vendredi matin au guichet de la compagnie sur le port de Burgas (PB Management) cout 200€ environ, puis attendre patiemment l'embarquement. J'ai eu la chance d'avoir une cabine solo à la proue du bateau..! effectivement, il s'agit majoritairement de véhicules, camions , voitures... il n'y a pas de wifi à bord, pas d'internet, pas de TV, juste de vieux films géorgiens ! On y mange correctement, à heure fixe, et on peut acheter de la biere. A l'arrivée, les douaniers montent à bord et contrôlent chaque passagers, le débarquement se fait le lundi matin , il n'y a qu'un seul bateau par semaine, du moins à cette époque....
J'ai pris ce bateau en 2022, au tout début de la guerre en Ukraine, je devais embarquer à Odessa, mais on connais la suite, il n'y a pas de probleme pour voyager seul sans véhicule, il faut se présenter le vendredi matin au guichet de la compagnie sur le port de Burgas (PB Management) cout 200€ environ, puis attendre patiemment l'embarquement. J'ai eu la chance d'avoir une cabine solo à la proue du bateau..! effectivement, il s'agit majoritairement de véhicules, camions , voitures... il n'y a pas de wifi à bord, pas d'internet, pas de TV, juste de vieux films géorgiens ! On y mange correctement, à heure fixe, et on peut acheter de la biere. A l'arrivée, les douaniers montent à bord et contrôlent chaque passagers, le débarquement se fait le lundi matin , il n'y a qu'un seul bateau par semaine, du moins à cette époque....
1 x
Re: Black Sea Ferries Q&A
All clear, thank you @JeanClaude!JeanClaude wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 12:22 pmBonjour,
J'ai pris ce bateau en 2022, au tout début de la guerre en Ukraine, je devais embarquer à Odessa, mais on connais la suite, il n'y a pas de probleme pour voyager seul sans véhicule, il faut se présenter le vendredi matin au guichet de la compagnie sur le port de Burgas (PB Management) cout 200€ environ, puis attendre patiemment l'embarquement. J'ai eu la chance d'avoir une cabine solo à la proue du bateau..! effectivement, il s'agit majoritairement de véhicules, camions , voitures... il n'y a pas de wifi à bord, pas d'internet, pas de TV, juste de vieux films géorgiens ! On y mange correctement, à heure fixe, et on peut acheter de la biere. A l'arrivée, les douaniers montent à bord et contrôlent chaque passagers, le débarquement se fait le lundi matin , il n'y a qu'un seul bateau par semaine, du moins à cette époque....
I think in the end I will opt to go through Turkey along its Black Sea coast, but I’ll keep this in mind for the return trip.
0 x
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Atkudabrat
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2022 6:21 am
- x 1
- x 4
Re: Black Sea Ferries Q&A
Salut JCJeanClaude wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 12:22 pmBonjour,
J'ai pris ce bateau en 2022, au tout début de la guerre en Ukraine, je devais embarquer à Odessa, mais on connais la suite, il n'y a pas de probleme pour voyager seul sans véhicule, il faut se présenter le vendredi matin au guichet de la compagnie sur le port de Burgas (PB Management) cout 200€ environ, puis attendre patiemment l'embarquement. J'ai eu la chance d'avoir une cabine solo à la proue du bateau..! effectivement, il s'agit majoritairement de véhicules, camions , voitures... il n'y a pas de wifi à bord, pas d'internet, pas de TV, juste de vieux films géorgiens ! On y mange correctement, à heure fixe, et on peut acheter de la biere. A l'arrivée, les douaniers montent à bord et contrôlent chaque passagers, le débarquement se fait le lundi matin , il n'y a qu'un seul bateau par semaine, du moins à cette époque....
J envisages de prendre ce ferry. Est ce que tu te rapelles du lieu exact de depart du port(batumi ou poti). Sinon pour le billet ou et comment se le procurer..obligatoire d aller a Batumi dans les bureaux?..j ai essaye contact par mail mais paaas de reponse pour le moment
Cheers
0 x
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JeanClaude
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2019 8:30 pm
- x 1
Re: Black Sea Ferries Q&A
Bonjour, je l'ai pris dans l'autre sens, donc je ne connais pas la procedure en Georgie, je pense qu'il faut contacter PB Management ou voir sur Ferrygogo... bonne recherche !
Jean-Claude
Jean-Claude
0 x
Re: Black Sea Ferries Q&A
Black Sea Ferry - September 2024 report
I thought it was worth posting my experience of taking the Black Sea Ferry from Batumi to Burgas. I took this journey as a foot passenger having taking the Caspian Sea Ferry from Baku to Aktau last year. I did it purely for the experience and thought it was worth sharing some information on it.
The schedule online says it runs every Monday. I sent some emails asking how I get tickets. I got no response so a few days prior, I went to the office of the ferry company in Batumi to ask how to get tickets. The office has a wooden front with some desks in it. Their comment was come back on Monday at 2pm and we will let you know if there is space.
On the Monday I went at 2pm and was told to come back at 7pm to see if there is space. This person spoke English and he gave me his WhatsApp number to contact him and would let me know at 8pm whether there was space. He confirmed there was so I went back to the office and paid 220 euros and a copy of my passport was taken. Make sure you have the exact amount as they did not have change.
I was told to wait and would be called for boarding so we waited at the office. There is wifi available. At about 11:15pm, we were called for boarding having been told it would be in one hour originally.
I walked for about 10 minutes under a bridge to the security gate and was allowed in. I was then told to board the ship. I was a little concerned about this as I thought passport checks would be done before boarding but an officer looked at my passport and we were told to head off to reception to get a key. My roommates in a four bed dormitory were a Swiss cyclist and two German motorbikers. There is an en-suite bathroom.
I went to bed and at about 5am and was woken up for passport checks on board the ship to exit Georgia. At some point around 7am we left the port.
The ship operates on Bulgarian time and food is provided on board. 7-8am, 12-1pm and 6-7pm. Breakfast is continental and all the meals were good in my view (better than the Caspian Sea Ferry). There is a bar where you can buy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and a vending machine for snacks and coffee.
There is a dining room and a lounge that you can sit in along with an outside area. Despite smoking inside being subject to a 100 euro fine according to the ship rules, the truck drivers were smoking in the lounge area. The ferry did not seem full on board.
We docked on the Thursday at about 9am and were off the boat in a an hour. There is a border check after you walk off the boat.
In comparison to the Caspian Sea Ferry, I think the food on this ship is better, there is more space to relax and the staff were friendlier. However, I felt the room was better on the Caspian Sea Ferry.
Hope that helps people.
I thought it was worth posting my experience of taking the Black Sea Ferry from Batumi to Burgas. I took this journey as a foot passenger having taking the Caspian Sea Ferry from Baku to Aktau last year. I did it purely for the experience and thought it was worth sharing some information on it.
The schedule online says it runs every Monday. I sent some emails asking how I get tickets. I got no response so a few days prior, I went to the office of the ferry company in Batumi to ask how to get tickets. The office has a wooden front with some desks in it. Their comment was come back on Monday at 2pm and we will let you know if there is space.
On the Monday I went at 2pm and was told to come back at 7pm to see if there is space. This person spoke English and he gave me his WhatsApp number to contact him and would let me know at 8pm whether there was space. He confirmed there was so I went back to the office and paid 220 euros and a copy of my passport was taken. Make sure you have the exact amount as they did not have change.
I was told to wait and would be called for boarding so we waited at the office. There is wifi available. At about 11:15pm, we were called for boarding having been told it would be in one hour originally.
I walked for about 10 minutes under a bridge to the security gate and was allowed in. I was then told to board the ship. I was a little concerned about this as I thought passport checks would be done before boarding but an officer looked at my passport and we were told to head off to reception to get a key. My roommates in a four bed dormitory were a Swiss cyclist and two German motorbikers. There is an en-suite bathroom.
I went to bed and at about 5am and was woken up for passport checks on board the ship to exit Georgia. At some point around 7am we left the port.
The ship operates on Bulgarian time and food is provided on board. 7-8am, 12-1pm and 6-7pm. Breakfast is continental and all the meals were good in my view (better than the Caspian Sea Ferry). There is a bar where you can buy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and a vending machine for snacks and coffee.
There is a dining room and a lounge that you can sit in along with an outside area. Despite smoking inside being subject to a 100 euro fine according to the ship rules, the truck drivers were smoking in the lounge area. The ferry did not seem full on board.
We docked on the Thursday at about 9am and were off the boat in a an hour. There is a border check after you walk off the boat.
In comparison to the Caspian Sea Ferry, I think the food on this ship is better, there is more space to relax and the staff were friendlier. However, I felt the room was better on the Caspian Sea Ferry.
Hope that helps people.
3 x
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Atkudabrat
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2022 6:21 am
- x 1
- x 4
Re: Black Sea Ferries Q&A
Good summary!
Here are additional information
Vessel operating the line is : DRUJBA
You can track its live location plus ETA on marine traffic site
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/de ... sel:DRUJBA
Whatsapp contact in Georgia : +995 fivefiveone 00 thirteen eleven
Online schedule from PBM(operator in Bulgaria) plus price
http://www.pbm.bg/schedule
Nice sailing overall..spotted a glimpse of dolphins
Overall need patience..offloading and custom clearance can be very chaotic on the Georgian side (witnessed about 8hours between the arrival docking and start of loading again) plus another 12hours before departure
No need to wait at port or office. Once you paid,you have a spot.wait for the whatsapp call to tell you to board and should be good. Foot passenger 200€, cyclist 220€, biker 450€ .paid in cash,no change (easy to get euros cash in Batumi)
Truck drivers are prioritized..there is no need to go to the office before the vessel has docked..they wont sale foot passenger .only last minute of room available..unless you have booked and prepaid with Bulgaria may be...
Here are additional information
Vessel operating the line is : DRUJBA
You can track its live location plus ETA on marine traffic site
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/de ... sel:DRUJBA
Whatsapp contact in Georgia : +995 fivefiveone 00 thirteen eleven
Online schedule from PBM(operator in Bulgaria) plus price
http://www.pbm.bg/schedule
Nice sailing overall..spotted a glimpse of dolphins
Overall need patience..offloading and custom clearance can be very chaotic on the Georgian side (witnessed about 8hours between the arrival docking and start of loading again) plus another 12hours before departure
No need to wait at port or office. Once you paid,you have a spot.wait for the whatsapp call to tell you to board and should be good. Foot passenger 200€, cyclist 220€, biker 450€ .paid in cash,no change (easy to get euros cash in Batumi)
Truck drivers are prioritized..there is no need to go to the office before the vessel has docked..they wont sale foot passenger .only last minute of room available..unless you have booked and prepaid with Bulgaria may be...
0 x
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