Island-hopping from Split to Dubrovnik is a high-summer manoeuvre. State line 9807 runs its full Ubli–Korčula–Polače–Sobra–Dubrovnik route only between 3 July and 30 August. Outside that window it serves Sobra, Šipanska Luka and Dubrovnik alone, and the southern half of the chain simply closes.
The chain, leg by leg
The standard advice is to break the journey at Hvar and Korčula and carry on south. It is good advice for six weeks of the year and misleading for the rest, because the state boat that closes the southern gap changes shape with the calendar. Here is what the register actually offers on each leg.
Sixteen registered services touch Hvar island and 13 reach Hvar town itself. Fast, frequent, foot passengers only. Set out in full on the Split to Hvar page.
State catamaran 9608 runs Korčula–Prigradica–Hvar–Split, and the commercial through-boats call at both. Car ferry 604 and catamaran 9604 instead reach the island at Vela Luka, at the far western end.
State catamarans 9807 and 9808 cover this leg, plus one commercial service. Line 9808 runs Lastovo–Korčula–Sobra–Dubrovnik; line 9807 only reaches Korčula between 3 July and 30 August.
Polače is served by line 9807 alone. Sobra is served by 9807, 9808 and car ferry 832 from Prapratno on Pelješac, which is the only way a vehicle reaches the island at all.
The consequence is specific rather than vague. Between 3 July and 30 August you can leave Split, sleep on Hvar, sleep on Korčula, spend a day in Mljet’s national park at Polače and arrive in Dubrovnik on state lines throughout. Move the same itinerary to mid-June or mid-September and two of those calls disappear from the timetable.
Notice how the difficulty concentrates in the last third. Split to Hvar and Hvar to Korčula are dense, state-backed corridors with alternatives on most days. South of Korčula the network narrows to two state catamarans and one commercial service, and one of those two only reaches Korčula between 3 July and 30 August. A chain is as strong as its thinnest leg, and here the thin leg is at the end, when the accommodation is already paid for.
Planning the southern chain outside 3 July to 30 August
Line 9807 is published as Ubli–Korčula–Polače–Sobra–Šipanska Luka–Dubrovnik. That full route operates only between 3 July and 30 August. Outside 29 May to 30 August the line serves Sobra–Šipanska Luka–Dubrovnik only: Ubli, Korčula and Polače are not served at all.
The tariff proves it. There is no off-season fare published for Dubrovnik–Korčula or Dubrovnik–Polače, because outside the summer window the sailing does not exist. An itinerary that assumes a boat from Korčula to Dubrovnik in May is relying on the commercial catamarans, which carry no obligation to sail.
What the published tariff shows
Fares on this line are a better guide to what runs than any timetable summary, because a relation with no off-season price is a relation with no off-season sailing. Try Korčula and Polače against the two tariff periods, then try bringing a car.
Crossing
Travelling as
Tariff period
Two workable plans come out of this. In high summer, hop. Outside it, treat Korčula as an out-and-back from either end and make the Split–Dubrovnik move separately, either on a direct commercial catamaran or by road.
What do you need to work out next?
The chain is mapped. These are the next calls.
Where to stay
Where should the first night be?
Hvar town, Stari Grad and Jelsa are three separate ports.
Getting around
Is Mljet worth a night on the way?
Polače, at the park, is served by one registered line only.
When to go
Why does July change the answer?
Line 9807 runs its full route from 3 July to 30 August.
Planning
What if I want a cabin overnight?
TP Line's 9604 runs a single rotation a day and takes foot passengers only.
Ferry data: Agencija za obalni linijski pomorski promet (ZOLPP), 2026 state coastal line register and per-line timetables.