My parents and I will be traveling from Venice to Croatia next month, and we are debating driving vs. taking the ferry. I would like to take the ferry overnight from Ancona (but I have ulterior motives...I want to see Ravenna which is on the way!), but my mom thinks it wouldn't save that much time and we should just drive. I was hoping someone who has actually taken the overnight Ancona-Split ferry could tell me how many hours in advance you have to be at the ferry if you are taking a car, and how long it takes to actually get off the ferry...I know the ferry schedule, but we are wondering how long the process as a whole is, how much time is spent parked in front of the dock. Thanks!!

We have taken the Ancona/Split ferry several times, its no problem. You have to be at the dock in Ancona 2 hrs before sailing, we were earlier than that but when loading starts its very quick and efficient. Re offloading in Split, took us about 10mins from getting back in our car on the ferry to be on the dock then maybe another 10 mins to get through passport control. The Jadrolinija ferries are not as big as some therefore the whole process does not take too long. We have also driven down the Croatian coast to south of Split and it is a really beautiful drive. However, if time is an issue you will find the drive from Venice to Ancona much easier and quicker, we drove from the Dolomites to Ancona by lunchtime whereas driving from Venice to Split you will definitely need an overnight stop. Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot Patricia, that's very helpful. Could you (or anyone else!) comment on the difference between the various ferry lines? In terms of comfort, service, etc. Is there one that's great, one that's horrible, or are they all pretty comparable?

Adriatica are Italian, Jadrolinija is the state-owned Croatian company, Blue Line is a Danish/Croatian company (www.bli-ferry.com). In December, I travelled on Blue Line's ANCONA, the biggest ship on the route. The accommodation is really more like a liner and both my cabin and the public rooms were panelled in wood. I had dinner in the restaurant which was a beautiful saloon with a pianist playing in the corner. I had pasta and a main course accompanied by a bottle of Chianti. I slept well afterwards. I thought it was a lovely ship, but your choice will depend partly on which ships are sailing the night you're travelling and what accommodation is available.

I can only comment on Jadrolinija, the ferries are well maintained but fairly basic compared to say some of the Greek lines or ferries between UK and France. We had a 2 berth outside cabin with private shower, it was small but adequate, from memory the ferry sailed at 9pm and docked at 7 am so we were asleep most of the time onboard so didn't bother much with the public areas. We also had early dinner in Ancona before boarding, breakfast was included in the overall cost but to be truthful is wasn't up to much. It was 2003 when we last used the ferry from Ancona to Split, don't remember that Blue Line were operating that route then, could be a very interesting alternative.

Thanks a lot GeoffHammer, I wasn't aware of the Blue Line and it sounds good. I leaves at 9, which is nice and late - the only problem is that it's hard to determine what services will be available on the ferry - but we'll probably just be sleeping anyway so that's not too important. They are advertising that with two passengers the car is free - has anyone tried to redeem that offer, and is it true? Or are there small-print restrictions? (I couldn't find any on the site.)

Thanks again!

Blue Line was SEM Maritime Co, which is a local company in Split. Danish investors came in and the name changed to Blue Line. International shipping is a complex business: another ferry operator from Ancona, running to Albania, has its registered office in Dublin.
Blue Line run two ships, the ANCONA and SPLIT 1700 (named from the anniversary of the founding of Split when the Roman emperor Diocletian started building his palace there in AD 495). The timetable on their web site indicates which ship sails on which days, and has pictures and descriptions. Both have bars and restaurants. The ANCONA has a self-service as well as the waiter-service restaurant.
I've sailed in both ships, but booked tickets in Split on the day of departure. Because there are three firms running on the route, they will be keen to attract passengers out of season, and Blue Line has various special offers.

I must apologise for getting both my history and arithmetic wrong. Diocletian started building his palace in Split in AD295 (not 495), hence Split celebrated its 1700th anniversary in 1995.