Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie

What is it like travelling with Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie? We have recently travelled with the ferry M/F Cracovia in both directions. From Ystad to Swinoujscie we chose night ferry with cabin and in the other direction we chose day ferry. Today we share our experiences. Have you also travelled this ferry route? Tell us about it!

Table of contents

If you want to take a ferry between Skåne and Poland, there are several different options. You can travel with Polferries, Unity Line or TT-Line and there are ferries both from Ystad and from Trelleborg. We chose Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie this time, as this ferry had times that suited us best.

Ferry M/f Cracovia

We travelled in both directions with the ferry M/F Cracovia. We have travelled with Polferries before, but never before with this ferry. Since we travelled down to Skåne by train we had no car, so we boarded on foot. We had to wait in a rather boring waiting hall and were then carefully guided on board by security guards.

The ferry was built in 2002 and has undergone minor modernisation at the shipyard in Szczecin. The ferry can carry 650 passengers, 64 cars and about 98 long lorries and about 26 short lorries.

On board the M/F Cracovia

M/F Cracovia is not an entertainment ferry like the Finnish ferries, and you should not expect activities or exciting food experiences. However, we found the ferry to be quite fresh and pleasant.

READ MORE: Travelling from Sweden to Poland in times of coronavirus
READ MORE: Polferrie's new ferry is here - meet m/f Nova Star

Restaurant

On deck 8 there is a large restaurant where you take a tray and pick up food from the canteens. The food is quite simple and dishes such as meatballs, schnitzel and golonka (Polish pork shoulder) are served. The portions are large and the flavours are ok, without being exciting in any way. In the restaurant you can pay by card, euro, Polish zloty, Swedish krona, Danish krone or Norwegian krone.

Breakfast is served in the same restaurant. You should not expect anything extraordinary, but there are a few different kinds of eggs to choose from, bread, cold cuts and more. If you book a fancier cabin, breakfast is included in the price.

Café

Right next to the restaurant on level 8 is a large café serving coffee, beer and other drinks, pastries and sandwiches. Here we also found both regular electrical sockets and USB sockets, so we sat and worked at our computers for several hours. You can pay for WiFi if you want, but we didn't try it and chose to be disconnected and work with photos.

Bar

A little further away on the same floor is a bar, which is quite nice. Here we sat on the trip with Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie, when we went on the night ferry. When we went home in the daytime, this bar was not open (at least not when we checked).

Peter i baren på färjan Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie

Vilrum

On deck 8 there is also a rest room with armchairs that can be tilted back a bit and lockable cabinets for valuables. We slept away a few hours here when we travelled home on the daytime ferry. Those who do not book a cabin on the night ferry can also choose to (try) to sleep here.

Tax free shop

On the same deck as the restaurants, there is a small tax-free shop, which is open for a few hours during the journey. The shop is not large, but you will find a small selection of alcohol and sweets.

Cabins on M/F Cracovia - Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie

If you are travelling on the night ferry, it is of course most convenient to book a cabin. We actually wanted to book a regular standard cabin, but since these were sold out, we had to go up a step in price range. We got a perfectly ok cabin with windows, on deck 7.

The fact that it was a slightly nicer cabin was especially noticeable in that there was fruit set out, and that we had a refrigerator filled with a few bottles of water, juice and beer. We also got breakfast vouchers, which could be exchanged for breakfast tickets at the reception.

READ MORE: Things to see and do in Swinoujscie, Poland
READ MORE: Polish food - specialities of Polish cuisine

What did we think of Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie?

Travelling with Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie worked out well, and we found M/F Cracovia to be a relatively nice ferry. Of course, you shouldn't expect too much entertainment - this is mainly a transport route! - and it might be wise to take a good book with you. Have you also travelled with Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie? What did you think?

Tips for things to see and do in Poland

Below you'll find lots of reports with tips on things to see and do around Poland.

Facts about Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie

Ferries: Besides M/F Cracovia, Polferries has the ferries M/F Nova Star, M/F Mazovia, M/F Wawel and M/F Baltivia. However, these ferries operate on several different routes, including the Nynäshamn-USA route.Gdansk.
The harbour in Ystad: The Polferrie ferry terminal in Ystad is located at Bornholmsgatan 8D. It is a short walk from the city centre or the train station.
The harbour in Swinoujscie: The harbour of Swinoujscie is located on the eastern side of the river Swina. To get to the centre you have to take a short (free) car ferry that runs regularly. It is close enough to the ferry that it is easy to walk.
Departure times: Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie departs both daytime and evening, and the same applies in the opposite direction. For exact times see the company's website.
Travelling time: The journey time is about 6.5 hours when travelling during the day. The journey time on night ferries is slightly longer.
Read more: You can find more info on Polferries website

7 Comments

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Helena from Finland says:

Looks nice but seems quite empty. Do you know if there is a good alternative for motorhomes?

18 August 2019 - 8:58

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It was definitely not crowded on the ferry, but then it may look more empty than it was. I avoided taking photos directly of those sitting in the café, the recliners etc 😉 Yes, it works great to bring the motorhome!
  
  18 August 2019 - 9:12
  
Marzena Kramek says:

The Crakovia ferry is perfectly ok. Very nice staff in the bar Darek Tabor?
Quite high prices in the shop. Cigarettes can only be bought at the bar 1 packet. Boring.
To travel with a dog you have to buy 1 whole cabin for 4 people with the window T/R with the dog cost about 2400kr. Expensive !!!

18 August 2019 - 11:37

Ama de casa says:

Looked like a nice transport I think. The breakfast didn't look too bad either, although your coffee looked a bit flabby 😉.

Have never travelled that route. Usually it was Gothenburg - Kiel with Stena for our part. At least after DSDF Tor Line (I think they were called?) closed Gothenburg - Amsterdam. That line was good, then you avoided all of Germany because it was usually France we aimed for 😀.

18 August 2019 - 14:00

Ditte says:

I have not travelled from Ystad but from Nynäshamn and I will not do it again. But this ferry from Ystad seemed better. I don't care about the entertainment but a good cabin with a large window high up and an à la carte dining room are wishes. The cabin did not feel so attractive either. And 15 years ago I would not have cared so much. But as a mode of transport, it's probably just fine. And you write that too.

18 August 2019 - 16:28

BP says:

I agree with Ditte about the ferry from Nynäshamn, well almost anyway. Polferries ferries are pure transport ferries for Poles working in Sweden. With that in mind, the ferry you travelled on is really nice. I also like Cracovia's decorations on the outside.

18 August 2019 - 18:55

Susjos says:

The ferry looks very nice and pleasant, but understands that it is mostly a transport ferry. The food seems to be like that. Have only been to Poland once, and then we flew - the destination was Krakow.
Thanks for the nice words in my blog, it's been a tough week! ♥

19 August 2019 - 0:00

Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie - our experience