Varna Travel Forum

I tried to make a booking last month and the agency said that it was unclear whether the Varna-Odessa ferry would be operating this summer. I was planning on taking the ferry July 3. If anyone has an update, I would appreciate it.

It is operating in summer, definitely.
Here is the timetable:

http://mainstream.com.ua/index.php?dir=leto&text=parom_grafik

Thank you. That is great news.

If I may ask two follow up questions:
My ability to read Bulgarian is not strong. From the table, it seems to me that the date given in the left column is the date the ferry leaves Odessa for Varna. So, the ferry listed as 02/07 would arrive in Varna that evening and depart for Odessa in the early morning of 03/07. Is that correct?

Also, am wondering if advance bookings are necessary. I see from the fare chart that the agency I was trying to use was charging a large fee. Is it possible to just walk up and buy a ticket on the date of travel?

Kind regards,

It's actually in Russian but those languages are quite similar.
Well, the 1st column is the date of departure from Odesa. And all 3 other columns indicate the possible date of return to Odesa. They indicate the duration of stay in Bulgaria - 7,10,11 and 14 nights.

You can also look here, it is the timetable of Kyiv-Sozopol. that means Kyiv-Odesa by bus and from Odesa to Sozopol by ferry, this ferry goes via Varna. The lower table indicates the timetable with all the stops on the way.

Column 1- destination (the final stop is Sozopol)
Column 2- time of arrival to every destination (on the way to Sozopol)
Column 3- Stop
Column 4- time of arrival to every destination on the way back (the final stop is Kyiv)
http://www.tatur.com.ua/travel/245.html

It has just started its 2007 season on June 11. The travel time is 8-9 hours. The price of a return ticket is 140 Euro (there are rebates for groups).

Thanks to everyone for the response. I'm still confused. The site below suggests that the ferry is not operating for 2007 (though I appreciate a schedule has been published).

Any first-hand accounts as to whether the ferry is, or is not operating this week?

http://www.travel-2-ukraine.com/transportation/odessa-varna.htm

I'll be in Bulgaria in two weeks, and I'm trying to figure out whether I can get to Odessa via the sea.