frequently asked questions

1. When and how should I book my Sail Croatia cruise? Sail Croatia is a popular summer holiday choice. It’s the perfect tonic for a relaxing week a way under the Mediterranean sun. Popular departures dates coincide with Bank holidays and the traditional ‘high summer’ months of July and August when many people like to book time off to appreciate the Northern hemisphere summer, so book early to guarantee your place. That way, you’ll snag a good airfare deal and most importantly your place on one of these very popular departures!.

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2. I'm travelling alone.  Can I share a cabin with someone else? If you’re travelling alone and would like to share a cabin with up to two or sometimes even three other same-sex single travellers, on the go may be able to arrange this on some departures. If this cannot be arranged, you will be required to pay the single cabin supplement applied to 2-berth cabins. You would be advised at time of booking.

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3. Do I need any visas for my visit to Croatia? It depends on what passport you are travelling on. Click here for our visas section.

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4. What vaccinations do I need for a visit to Croatia? All destinations have different health requirements. Please check with a travel clinic or your GP/MD for contemporary advice and recommendations. Click here for more information on health and which will assist you in determining possible vaccinations you may require. However, remember, always consult a healthcare professional.

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5. What should I consider packing? As this is a summer holiday, it is suggested you pack a range of lightweight cotton garments such as shorts, tee-shirts, sarongs, swimming costume, sandals, flipflops/Havainas, perhaps something dressier for night time (when you might be independently choosing to sample a local restaurant or bar), a long-sleeved jacket or top plus pants/jeans for when the temperature lowers at night time and plenty of sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. If you happen to forget to pack a certain item, you’re likely to be able to find it in a shop in Croatia. All points visited are maritime ports, so if you did something like fail to pack a swimming costume, you’d be able to pick one up somewhere in Split, Dubrovnik or elsewhere. If you’re a snorkeller, bring along a mask, flippers and snorkel! Otherwise, buy locally! Do pack a toiletries bag, and if taking any prescription medication, do ensure you have sufficient for your journey. If needing to carry syringes (for example if Diabetic), please be sure to carry a note from your GP/MD pertaining to such.

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6. Will I need to pack any linen – i.e. towels? If travelling on a CLASSIC boat, two towels are provided for your use for the week onboard. However, you'll need to bring your own beach towel for swimming and sunbaking. If travelling on a COSTSAVER boat, YOU WILL NEED TO PACK YOUR OWN TOWEL(S) FOR USE ABOARD. All bed linen is provided. You will need to make your own bed each day. If you would like your linen changed during the week you are onboard,  this can be arranged at a nominal additional cost. Please enquire with a member of the crew onboard.

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7. What luggage should I bring? THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! BRING NO MORE THAN A MEDIUM SIZED RUCKSACK! A rigid suitcase will not fit in the storage facility offered in your cabin! Try and keep the size of your luggage down. If you are travelling from or onto somewhere else afterwards, provision can be made to store luggage in a facility at the port (at additional cost).

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8. Is this holiday suitable for children? Our Sail Croatia holidays are suitable for adults of 18 years plus, owing to the adult theme such as adult conversation, onboard bar with serving of alcohol etc. Having said this, if you are keen to travel as a family, do contact us, and we will make a special enquiry on your behalf to determine whether there are any boats already perhaps containing children or family groups. We would then seek to reserve you and your family aboard a boat with a like-minded group of people – i.e. – families.

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9. What are the boats like? Up anchors and away! Designed to comfortably accommodate passengers with plenty of deck space, public areas and of course cabins, Croatian wooden sailing boats (similar in design to a Turkish gulet) are a classic design. Sometimes masted and rigged (with onboard motor power), they offer plenty of deck space for relaxation under the sun and a chance to taker in the sea breeze, public areas and cabin accommodation. Individual boat design varies slightly from craft to craft, but all sailing boats offer a range of cabin types (some above, some below deck), capable of accommodating from 2 to 4 passengers and with private en suite bathroom or facilities shared between a couple of cabins. See the price structure for further details based on your requirements. We take advantage of a number of boats to operate on our prescribed routes. Classic boats offer mostly twin bunk cabin accommodation with private en suite bathrooms. Dependant upon the craft, triples and more occasionally - double-bedded cabins are sometimes available. Classic boats operate on all our cruises. Costsaver boats offer twin bunk cabins, all with shared bathroom facilities. Costsaver boats operate on our Croatia Cruise & Sun ex Split and also our Croatia Sail & Sea ex Opatija. All boats offer plenty of deck space and room to lounge about! You’ll be in the company of like-minded travellers. Relax as the captain and his support crew look after your needs. An onboard cook prepares breakfast and lunch each day, whilst in the evening; we offer you the chance to explore dining options at our numerous ports of call. Dalmatian food is very good. As the cruise offers emphatically relaxation, it is entirely up to you how you enjoy each port of call. Relax or explore? The choice is yours!

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10. Should I book an ‘on deck’ or ‘below deck’ cabin? There will be no real discernable difference in the cabin on offer, except that ‘above deck’ cabins are arranged on the main or top deck of the boat, whilst ‘below deck’ cabins are arranged within the hull of the boat below the main deck. Certainly, there are benefits with either choice. ‘Above deck’ one will sometimes have a window and perhaps better views, but ‘on deck’ cabins will receive plenty of sun. ‘Below deck’ one may not always have a window, but cabins will tend to be cool in temperature, particularly during the day.

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11. What if I can’t swim? If you are unable to swim, it is your responsibility to advise us in advance, and also advise the captain on day one. Whilst boat contains appropriate life preserving equipment and a safety demonstration will be given on day one, it is important that non-swimmers can be readily identified in the event of a maritime emergency. Numerous stops are made during the course of each day at selected areas for swimming and water frolics. Sometimes, the boat will drop anchor in deep water, so if you were a non-swimmer it wouldn’t be possible to head ashore whilst others were swimming. Of course, in port, the boat will dock at a jetty, pontoon, wharf area, drop anchor and it will be possible to leave the boat most easily.

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12. What can I expect day-by-day? Your sail Croatia cruise will depart from Split, Dubrovnik or Opatija dependent upon cruise booked. Our Croatia Cruise & Sun ex Split and also our Croatia Sail & Sea ex Opatija start on Saturday. Our Island Cruise Croatia ex Dubrovnik starts on Sunday. Once the anchor is raised, the boat will cruise beyond the port limits and execute the itinerary given (subject to local conditions – the decision for which will be made by the captain). Generally, the boat will cruise for no more around 4 hours per day, and will make numerous stops at pre-determined and random points for swimming, relaxation and sometimes exploration. Our Sail Croatia cruises are emphatically not TOURS, so there will be no tour leader aboard punctuating and chopping up idyllic days at sea and in port with a sightseeing agenda. The cruise offers emphatically a week of relaxation, swimming and pursuits that you decide whether or not you wish to partake in. At port, you are welcome, indeed we encourage you to head away and explore independently. Dependent upon the day, we’ll arrive at various points allowing you the chance to head away and explore. Not by accident do we not include dinner. This way, in port, you’ll have the chance to sample some of the wonderful local Croatian restaurants, bistros and cafes and enjoy an evening undertaking what you want. Onboard, there is plenty of deck space to enjoy the fresh sea breeze and Croatian sunshine. Your cabin, whilst compact, will afford adequate comfort and a chance for you to enjoy some private time. Perhaps you just want to leave the main deck and head away for a lie down and a chance to read more of that bestselling novel.

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13. Is there any equipment for hire aboard the boat? No. However, you can hire canoes, small craft, windsurfers, snorkeling equipment from local businesses in port. If wishing to snorkel, it would probably be prudent to pack your own mask, snorkel and flippers.

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14. What will I eat? Aboard the cruise, Continental breakfast and lunch are provided. Continental breakfast will comprise tea or coffee, fruit juice, bread, butter and preserves, plus cold cuts and cheeses. Lunch will comprise a starter of home made soup or paste (during hot periods), a main course (where at least 2-3 times per week fish will be served) comprising either fish, meat or chicken with a minimum of two sides (potatoes, cabbage, other vegetables) and side salad and desert. Desert will also be offered and will comprise something like seasonal fruits, ice cream or perhaps pancakes. All menus are designed and cooked by the onboard cook. If fancying a full-cooked English-style breakfast, this can be arranged by ordering and paying for it on the boat, at nominal cost. Consult a member of the crew to arrange this. In addition, provided there is enough interest (i.e more than 10 participants), the cook can arrange a special onboard Captain’s Dinner, at a charge locally. Check out what your fellow travellers are doing and if you feel like partaking, go ahead and pay for what is usually a very enjoyable evening! For further information on the local cuisine, please click here.

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15. Is there a bar onboard? A bar operates on board all boats. Prices are in line with those one will pay in port at bars/cafes for beers, wines, basic spirits, mixers, soft drinks and bottled mineral water. Since there is a bar aboard, it is not possible to consume personal supplies of alcohol or beverages not purchased aboard. If you were found to be flouting this rule, you would be asked to consume such personal supplies when ashore. The same would happen if you were drinking BYO drinks in a hotel lobby! You’d be asked to consume the drink(s) beyond the confines of the hotel!

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16. Can I smoke onboard? Smoking is restricted to OUTSIDE ONLY – ONDECK.

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17. What sort of money should I take to Croatia? Bring GBP or USD for exchange, and an internationally recognized debit/credit card for teller machine withdrawals of the local Croatian currency - Kuna (available in all bigger towns). EURO or Kuna can be spent onboard the boat.

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18. Are there any local payments? No, there is no local payment, as such. However, there is a local Visitors Tax and Port Fees charge. The charge for this (payable on day 1 to a designated individual who will be made known to you on the boat) is EURO15.  There are also a couple of optional charges mentioned in our Croatia section including the ability to pay onboard for a full-cooked breakfast if so desired, join other travelers aboard for a Captains Dinner (subject to 10 participants – the cook wants to make cooking a big meal worthwhile!) and/or have one’s bed linen changed during the cruise. These are available at reasonable cost.

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19. How much spending money will I need? You will need to budget for dinner each day, any independent activity such as aquatic pursuits (be it petrol, wind or paddle-powered), entrance fees to any attractions, National Park fees, onboard bar expenses, souvenirs, shopping and other ancillary expenses. It is suggested you budget for a minimum of GBP30-40/USD60-80 per day. Take more if you like to drink, shop and engage in sightseeing and aquatic pursuits. To offer you some idea as to the cost of living in Croatia, as compared to say the United Kingdom or other EU countries, take a look at our go guides, which offer an in-depth look at your cruise itinerary and other useful information including local costs for items often purchased by visitors. EURO or Kuna can be spent onboard the boat.

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20. Tipping/gratuities – Should I tip the crew? Tipping is a way of showing one’s appreciation to someone or a group of individuals for a ‘job well done’. If you feel your crew have performed a good job, as is common on a lot of boat cruises, travelers will often ‘pitch’ together, pass around an open envelope and present a group gratuity on behalf of the entire group, to the crew group. You are not obliged to partake if you don’t wish to.

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