Ferry Trabzon > Sochi - Info?? (Turkey>Russia)
 

I plan to take the ferry from Trabzon to Sochi next week, has anyone taken this ferry anytime recently, and is there anything I should know before I head South to Trabzon?

I can't find any decent, recent info on the HUBB.

Do you know what the cost is for a passenger and motorcycle, how often the ferries leave, if you need to book in advance etc?

Many thanks
Gabe

Gabe
You might be better off if you put your question directly to a member of one of the local communities here as they are more likely to have local knowledge and will have the language to find the information for you.

Hi Gabe, i have also been seeking information on this ferry and would greatly appreciate an update from yourself once you have used the ferry. this report from ADVRIDER is quite helpful Around the Black Sea - Summer '07 - ADVrider

Cheers Andy

Bits and Bobs
 

Thanks again Bertrand, where would I be without you dear friend!?
I did actually give the HU community in Trabzon a try, but have not heard anything back yet. But firing something over to the Sochi group would be a plan, I'll give it a go..

There are a few tit-bits of info on this forum:

Sochi-Trabzon Ferry ... - Thorn Tree travel forum - Lonely Planet

But nothing concrete.

Andysr6, I'll keep you posted on whatever I find. I'll be taking the ferry within a week, so I should be able to post first hand experiences soon. When do you hope to use this crossing?

Have you tried contacting Der Tobe? I don't have an ADV long-in, but will get one to contact this guy if you haven't already. Die hard HU fan, me.

will be travelling on the ferry around 1st July, dependent on which days the ferry sails.

No worries then...
 

Leave it a week, I'll take the ferry and absorb all the info I can, and relay it back onto here when I reach Russia.
You'll have fresh, up-to-date info straight from the horses mouth.

Does anyone know about this business of needing a 'Tourist Voucher'?
Maybe I will not need one, as I have a business Visa?

I found this which may be useful Gabe-

Sochi ferry schedules, you can find them here They also have a helpful information desk:
Phone: +7 8622 609-603 Fax: +7 8622 609-609 E-mail: info {AATT} morport-sochi {DDOOTT} ru"

Re:The Tourist Voucher is part of the application for a visa- if you already have a business visa then you do not it- source Russian Consulate

Trabzon - Dochi ferry
 

Unfortunately not much info about. Below you can find what I've found :

Asya Gemi Turizm: Trabzon+Soçi+Trabzon: Twice a week
Sarı Denizcilik: Trabzon+Soçi+Trabzon: Twice a week

Asya Shipping: Tel: +90 (0 462) 321 60 35 Fax: +90 (0 462) 321 14 16
asyagemi {AATT} superonline {DDOTTT} com

Sarı Denizcilik (MArine): Tel: +90 (0 462) 326 26 67 – 68 Fax: +90 (0 462) 326 26 69 saridenizcilik {AATTT} hotmail {DDOOTT} com
You can get more info form them.
* * *
Found another ferry agent: ABDULLAH ÇAKIR VAPUR ACENTELİĞİ Tel: +90(462) 3212410, (266) 2962436 Fax: +90 (0 462) 326 72 42 - 322 31 93
acakirvap {{AATT}} superonline {DDOOTT} com This last one has fast ferries, goes in 5 hours and the cost 120 TL (about 55 €). Other slow ones goes in 12 hours and sosts 80 TL/passenger only (about 35 €).

This is all I can find at the moment. If it is very important and want a spesific info, let me know and I can call/ask them....

Sami

Thanks folks
 

Cheers for your help people.

Bertrand, I tried that link, but with bad timing I think. I just got the message saying "Our site in data populating mode. Please be patient!"
I tried being patient for almost a whole minute, and got nowhere.

Sami, that's great, thanks. I emailed the addresses you gave, and will wait to hear back. The acakirvap address failed, so maybe they changed it?

I'll see what happens, and have a good poke round in Trabzon when I get there. Thanks again for the help

I'm keeping my eyes on this aswell. Should be there in August.

Very quick note...
 

Only a few minutes, must be brief..

About to catch the ferry. I had some help from very kind local bikers (I seem to have been very lucky with this!), asked at numerous ferry agents, and all were quoting 50 dollars for me and 200 for bike.
Seems high, but no options really.

The boats leave daily at 6pm, and possibly 2pm. Not sure.

Everyone said price was fixed, but we`re about to try and last minute negotiate. I can give details at a later date, but not the time now. All agents seem to be on same street.

Ferry takes about 12 hours.

Further info to follow..

250 dollars! Holy smokes!

250 dollars for that and around £120 for a russian visa. What a ****ing piss take. :censored:

Prices
 

I can't get photos on here at the moment, but if anyone's interested I can put one up sometime, of the business card of the agent I used.

I paid 240 in the end, and I'm sure you could get 230, if you walk straight in with the cash and be firm with bargaining.
But be sure to ask about a cabin, all were quoting 250, but some said this was cabin, and some said that would be extra.

All the agents in Trabzon are on a steep road leading down to the dock where the ferry leaves.

Ferry was about 14 hours, left about 6 or 7pm. Cabin was fine, shared with a Russian businessman.
There's a little cafe bar place. Breakfast is included but expectedly average.

Hope this helps

Thanks for updating this thread, i did not realise that you booked through an agent. This has been a great help. good luck with the rest of your trip. Andy

hi, sorry but i forgot to ask if they accept payment in Euros / GBP. Andy

Currency
 

I paid in dollars, which is what they quoted price in.
Money changing is straight forward in Trabzon, and I think the agent would help you if it's needed.

Side note, I wish I'd brought more dollars, they're really useful, often getting you much more cash, when exchanged through black market.

hey Gabe, you got ripped off ,

I paid (drum roll) $200 , and got 2 free meals out of it and a cabin

I was however detained by customs and told not to leave the ship for nigh on 30 hours .

Note the food prices are in USD bring plenty coke is $1.5 a can meals are $7 , the ships are roasting about 42C hot except on deck , and thus maybe you dont need a cabin.

Can you tell us what you were detained by customs for?

Too much Turkish Delight?

Sorry I'm late in reply ..... but you clearly found the 'Agents' just down the street from the Brothel.

I think I had to pay around $240 in summer 2008. If I remember, they only accepted Euro's ... but I could be wrong.

Ferry was the 'Princess Victoria', registered in Cambodia, overnight sailing and a cargo of two bikes and a load of tomatoes.

Entering Sochi .. be careful that the 'Customs Document' for the bike matches the duration of your personal Visa. It's all written in Russian. Customs officials only speak English when they want to .... so check your 'Customs Document' with the Agent who sells you the bike insurance inside the port. My Customs Document was only for 14 days .. but I didn't discover this minor fact until leaving Russia 60 days later .. Denied exit, missed my Ferry, Kangaroo Court and a Fine that I didn't want to pay .... Oops

Sorry this info is late. ... but maybe it'll help others

Geoff :thumbup1:

I know about this Geoff I read about it on Alan Kelly's blog which is why I got an extension in Rostov to match the end of my visa everybody lately has been getting 2 weeks bar the Mongolian entry exit points and the customs guys are unbribable, you just have to go to a russian DVLA place and or a customs place either or and get an extention , customs is free , russian DVLA is 350 roubles.

Hı took the ferry last week. a lot of sıttıng about and cost about $250 each. customs ın Turkey took about 2 hours but no problems. Thanks for the advıce ı got from thıs lınk. ıf you are takıng thıs crossıng ı hıghly recommend route D915 from OF to Bayburt. Andy

thats some good info, we were quated in euros 400 for the landrover and 65 per passager.

will tell you how we got on in 3 weeks.

cheers adam

kennichi you seem to be getting yourself in all sorts of trouble at the moment! Your account of Azerbaijan sounded horrible! Do you have a trouble magnet!!??!:funmeterno:

we have got a ferry ticket that costs per passanger 1750 rubels and the car is 17500 rubles, about $650 dollars for 2 of us and the landy. we wont be sailing until tomorrow as its blowing a face 8 gale at the moment.