Ferry to Northern Cyprus

Cyprus Bound · Post by **Cyprus Bound** » Thu 06 Jun 2013 6:55 am

I am just about to set off across Europe to take the ferry from Turkey to Cyprus. Finding verifiable information on this and other services to North Cyprus is an interesting challenge since the various ferry offices do not respond to emails in English. To make life even more interesting the practice of using images instead of text in websites is making translation difficult, to say the least.

There are a number of sites which provide limited information:

http://www.fergun.net/Seferlerimiz.aspx
Fergun Shipping seem to be the main ferry company operating from Girne to Taşucu and I have independent confirmation that this service exists and the schedule on the web site is good - I have yet to discover whether it is possible to book in advance as I understand the ferry is usually full. Cabins are not mentioned which is a pity since the sailing is overnight and if they are available it would be useful to book one in advance. The prices are said to be net of tax but nothing indicates what the tax rate is.

http://www.kuzeymanlar.com/tarifeler_araclar.html
Appears to advertise a service between Mersin and Girne but Google Maps shows the Mersin service as terminating in Famagusta.

There is an online booking site:

http://www.akgunlerdenizcilik.com/
At first glance it appears to offer a booking service for the Tasucu - Girne service but closer inspection suggests it is a separate service to Fergun owned by Akgunler Shipping and offers only very occasional car ferry service.

Just to make things even more complex the Mersin tourist organisation give apparently comprehensive information at
http://www.mersinkulturturizm.gov.tr/be ... dilir.html
however, it simply repeats the information on the various websites for which it provides links.

It would be of immense help if anyone could clarify the available services and how one might book. Just as valuable would be the kind of background information completely missed by the tourist authority:

Is Tasucu the port for Mersin or are they two separate ports?
Does one book on the day or if in advance, how?
Are there cabins on overnight sailings and if there are must one disembark at 4.30 am or may one sleep longer and disembark at a civilized hour?
A tip on an all night café near Girne port for early arrivals who cannot access accommodation at 0500 would be a life saver.

The sixty four thousand dollar question: One requires local car insurance before driving in TRNC - is there a place to buy it at 4.30 in the morning?

Although not directly relevant to the ferry service I understand one month of car insurance costs 10tl and one year 40tl. It wold be very useful to know whether the annual insurance can be purchased at the port or if not, can it be purchased in advance?

andrew4232 · Post by **andrew4232** » Thu 06 Jun 2013 7:15 am

ive done the ferry trip and tasucu is the port for girne, there are no cabins on board and you do not disembark until about 8:30/9:00 or until the time customs office and insurance opens here, in the season they run 2 boats one is full of cars and lorries and the people travel on the other, dont expect a great restaurant or bar on the journey its a 'dry ship' and its just a coffee shop when its open

karmels · Post by **karmels** » Thu 06 Jun 2013 8:08 am

Just adding to what Andrew has said, when you arrive in Tasacu the ferry offices are on the main street by the old harbour, you will need to buy a ticket from them before you can enter the Docks. there are two ports, one is the old harbour opposite the ferry offices that a ferry called Filo leaves from and the industrial harbour about 2 miles down the coast that the other ferry companies leave from. I will be crossing tomorrow night from Girne to Tasacu on Filo, I will let you know what it was like when I find a internet cafe.

The ferries normally leave Tasacu for Girne at midnight.

dippersgirl · Post by **dippersgirl** » Thu 06 Jun 2013 8:22 am

There is a fast ferry that leaves in the morning, but more expensive and I'm not sure about cars. My friend went on the night one and she said, when it's hot it's better to bring a blanket and sleep on top. She said inside was not very nice.
We booked our tickets with a travel agent in Girne.

Denizkizi Travel

Hande Kocaeli speaks good English

Tel. 00905338262026
the office tel no. is 00903928151200/fax 00903928153492

The office email is info@denizkizitravel.com

dippersgirl · Post by **dippersgirl** » Thu 06 Jun 2013 8:25 am

My friend also said, be prepared, that your car may end up on a different ferry from you!!
it happened to them.
There is also a guy on here called 'Yorgozlu' (forum name) he's done it quite a few times, both ways. I could pass you tel no to him, if you like.

dippersgirl · Post by **dippersgirl** » Thu 06 Jun 2013 8:31 am

http://www.kibkomnorthcyprusforum.com/v ... t=yorgozlu

Here is a link to his tel no.. He's a TC married to an Irish woman