We reserved a few years ago but then the COVID Pandemic landed. We had to cancel and Sail Croatia were so great to deal with. A full refund no hassle. We rebooked six months ago and just returned home. We were on the ESperanza Dubrovnik return. Boarding was easy. We met with Mia the cruise director. Such a lovely warm kind person. She was so organised . We got great information and recommendations where to go when ashore. The food was very good . Anna and Antonio were our servers and bar tenders. Nothing was too much trouble to them. The weather was not the best but the captain and the sailors had to rearrange the itinerary to avoid the rough seas at times. We felt safe at all times and managed swim stops in secluded bays every day. Overall we loved it. We made new friends who we will keep in contact with. Two small areas that could improve. The hairdryer in the room wasn't great so I'm told. Also the ladders for getting back onboard after swimming need to be longer. Excellent.
- Anonymous, 19/09/2024 18:40, Travelled in a Couple
Great staff. Made friends with other passengers. Meals on board were great. Beautiful scenery. The boat was expertly steered through storms. Not so good - tour of Vis, Verdan sold it to us as a scenic tour. I didn't expect most of it to be going through military bunkers. I wanted to see the island, not the inside of some old military thing. Dinner at Korcula was not good or tour of Korcula - that woman was painful in her terrible attempts to be humorous.
- Anonymous, 17/09/2024 18:06, Travelled in a Couple
Captain very good at choosing swim locations and avoiding some inclement weather. Food/drinks/service & guides all good and great choice of ports of call. Engines noisy with downstairs cabins at back of boat.
- ED, 17/09/2024 07:55, Travelled in a Couple
The mix of people (staff and passengers) was great.
- Anonymous, 16/09/2024 17:50, Travelled in a Couple
Cheap! Great value and really like close to shore docking. Excellent staff, very friendly, helpful with suggestions, and knowledgeable. Rough edges: Broken stuff, no food choice at lunch.
- Anonymous, 16/09/2024 05:56, Travelled in a Couple
We had a great time, all 28 people from all over the world, got on fantastically well. The bikes were of a good quality and everyone managed to get on really well with the e-bike I would have liked some longer rides, the longest ride was only about 50 kms, I would have liked to do this every day. The sail Croatia jersey, should be free to all and a day set aside when everyone wears it. I was the only person that bought a jersey and it certainly was not worth the £50 paid. We only swam off the boat twice and this was something we were looking forward to, This trip is not cheap and I realise we had one of the better boats, but with payment of food when off the boat and more expensive drinks when on the boat, our limit of spending was soon exceeded, to be then expected to pay for tips and what was an expensive payment was above what we could afford. The crew should not have to rely on tips and should be covered on the initial spend. I would be happy to talk more if requested.
- Anonymous, 09/09/2024 07:39, Travelled in a Couple
Overall we had a great experience and highly recommend! A few suggestions/tips: - We realize that it’s challenging to prepare food on a boat and to meet different preferences. We would suggest having at least some lunch buffets, where people could choose (e.g., salads, sandwiches) instead of 3-course meals. A buffet would be quicker and enable people to sit on the desk rather than the often very hot and stuffy dining room. - The food was often very heavy (fried meats, limited vegetables/salads). If guests were warned about this, they could request vegetarian or other accommodations. - We were not allowed to bring food on board so snacks should be available (free or not). There was fruit but nothing else and often we were unable to leave the boat. We were often quite hungry after the ride but had to wait to eat. - It would be helpful if the trip leader provided information about the towns further in advance than the afternoon that we arrived so there would be enough time to plan.
- Kathryn, 04/09/2024 07:34, Travelled in a Couple
Well it wasn’t Great, the crew were bored
- Anonymous, 03/09/2024 06:56, Travelled in a Couple
Though awesome, a few notes…. -the ac in our room never cooled properly -noting or discussing that though breakfast & lunch are included it’s not forced to participate when we had docked at port early. we loved the lunches, but felt like if we didn’t attend, we would miss out on information -the crew and ivanna were very kind hosts
- Anonymous, 26/08/2024 15:12, Travelled in a Couple
The people - other travellers and the crew - are the highlight of this trip. Recommend for those who want to experience Croatia with new friends 😎
- Anonymous, 23/08/2024 13:31, Travelled in a Couple
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Excellent exercise to work off the meals! Our guides were super, well organized, and very hospitable. Met people from all over the world. Comfortable ship, Well organized itinerary. Enjoyed the swimming, particularly on hot August days! One thing to note is that it was not clear on the website nor from the saleswoman with whom we corresponded if the "total ascent/descent" for a day is combined ascent & descent or the amount one ascends and additionally descends. It is the amount one ascends and then descends as well. For example if a day's total ascend/descend is 640 meters (as ours was listed on Day 3), that means you will climb a total of 640m and then descend a total of 640m.
- Doug, 21/08/2024 00:23, Travelled in a Couple
The staff were all impressively friendly , helpful, knowledgeable , accommodating and extremely hard working.. The communication regarding daily rides, activities were impressive and able to be flexible when needed The other guests made the trip exceptional sharing the boat and bike rides but life experiences and stories. We are confident we made friends from around the world that we will maintain and see in the future
- Anonymous, 19/08/2024 09:16, Travelled in a Couple
Great people, amazing places and relaxed pace. Accommodating of dietary requirements. Need better beds and pillows. Noisy airconditioner and noise from boats alongside at night.
- Clare, 14/08/2024 09:57, Travelled in a Couple
The boat has everything from under 18 to 65 year Olds plus. Given we spend most of the time on the boat it's frustrating that you put people who have limited interest groups or different stages of life. We were told this was suited to 30 to 40 year Olds. The experiences and tours were all for old people and the boat has very limited toys or experiences so all you can do is eat bad food, sunbake and drink to put up with the small talk - give more information to people prior to joining as Croatia is lovely but this isn't a great way to do it
- Anonymous, 13/08/2024 02:58, Travelled in a Couple
Dear Jeremy, Thank you for your review. We are pleased to hear you found Croatia lovely and we hope you enjoyed visiting the various islands. We're sorry to hear the cruise didn't meet your expectations. We couldn't find any correspondence regarding the age range advised to you, however this cruise type is open to all ages over 18, but typically appeals to a more mature traveler. We aim to offer a variety of meals using fresh local produce, so we regret any disappointment in this area and water toys aren't included, but can be brought on board. We provide detailed pre-departure information via email and on your Online Account, which includes everything you need to prepare for the cruise. We appreciate your input and thank you for your review!
Tour guides and picturesque daily cycling,
- Anonymous, 12/08/2024 09:46, Travelled in a Couple
Marin was the best tour guide, he was so knowledgeable and very honest with his opinions. He would go out of his way to help you with anything you needed and made things run as smooth as possible. A great way to see the sights of Croatia!
- Anonymous, 10/08/2024 11:38, Travelled in a Couple
Wonderful crew and an amazing Sail Croatia representative ( Barbara 😊) The boat (Esperanza) was beautiful, and perfectly maintained. The food was delicious. The drinks were fairly priced. My husband and I celebrated our 40th anniversary . It was a trip of a lifetime. All and all the itinerary was good. I would skip Mijet. There was not enough to do on the island.
- Anonymous, 06/08/2024 16:11, Travelled in a Couple
Our tour/customer representative, Barbra, was great. The islands were good with a couple of things. We didn't get to explore Vis much since we stayed korcula.. Korcula was great. We stayed in Mijet which was not worth the stop. As for the food. Breakfast was good but could have had more options instead of eggs. Lunch was over the top each day. The food was good. The night before and the day of decorating, we felt rushed off the boat. We had to be off by 9am. Jacuzzi was emptied the night before and could not be used. Did not understand why decorating time could not have been around 11.. The staff was great and the swim stops we a pleasure.
- Anonymous, 06/08/2024 15:56, Travelled in a Couple
Sail: beautiful Islands. Cove swimming 5 of 7 days were spectacular. Last 2 days large open water. Perfect if you prefer that environment Food: breakfasts were substantial and full of choice. Well done. Lunches offered no choice so difficult to please everyone Room: plenty of wing room on above deck room. Clean sheets and towels were offered after 4 days.
- Beverley, 06/08/2024 06:12, Travelled in a Couple
Cabin larger than I expected. Food better than I expected. Really outstanding Staff were always friendly and helpful. Branko the barman is an asset to your company. I would secure him on a contract if I was you.
- Anonymous, 05/08/2024 09:30, Travelled in a Couple
We loved cruising the islands. Met all expectations. Each one with it's own uniqueness. However the highlight for us was the tour manager Marija. So organised, available, informative and went above and beyond to provide for any request. Thank you Marija, you are an asset to Sail Croatia.
- Anonymous, 02/08/2024 08:18, Travelled in a Couple
We had a fantastic time cruising from Dubrovnik to Split. The boat was ideal, meals fantastic, very attentive and helpful staff and best of all were the swimming stops each day. Being a swimmer, I've never swum is such magnificent blue water, that was the highlight for me!
- Lesley, 29/07/2024 05:58, Travelled in a Couple
On arrival we were greeted by Ioana who welcomed us in a very professional and courteous manner. The ship Olimp was amazing. Very modern and clean. The crew were equally professional and a special mention must go to our housekeeper. She was the BEST. Our cabin was always cleaned with fresh towels which made our experience even more enjoyable knowing that everything was clean. Ioana who was in charge of cruise went over and above to ensure everything was perfect for all the guests on board. She was a true professional and I cannot thank her enough for making our cruise so very special and memorable. Thank you!
- Anonymous, 23/07/2024 11:01, Travelled in a Couple
The places we visit the people we met and the crew were exceptional.
- Anonymous, 23/07/2024 10:58, Travelled in a Couple
The crew, host, food and stunning locations we visited made our holiday absolutely fantastic! Klara was so accommodating and helpful that she really took all the thinking and organising out of each day for us. Thanks so much!
- Anonymous, 22/07/2024 16:37, Travelled in a Couple
Lola our host & the crew were awesome and made us feel very welcome. Lola was very informative and helpful in a range of situations. The rooms were clean and tidy and the daily breakfast and lunch meals were delicious and kept us filled up for big days. The swim stops were beautiful. We had a great time on board the Mali Ante!
- Claire, 15/07/2024 12:13, Travelled in a Couple
The crew on board couldn’t have been any better they were honestly the nicest hardest workers you will meet always smiling and helping out in any way they could. The food was 5/5 amazing as well at the itinerary of the week with stops and swim spots. Only feedback would be the variety of drinks at the bar were not as advertised on the website and didn’t have the variety to suit some people we were with.
- Anonymous, 12/07/2024 06:35, Travelled in a Couple
Great cruise, great places and islands visited. More customer service focus required with drinks service available on deck (not just order at bar) and free tea and coffee all day. Some water sport equipment ie paddle boards masks & snorkels would have been great.
- Anonymous, 11/07/2024 04:31, Travelled in a Couple
Location location
- Anonymous, 09/07/2024 11:55, Travelled in a Couple
My wife and I had a wonderful experience sailing on Olimp. Beautiful vessel with everything being first class. Couple of minor things they could improve the experience with but overall wonderful. Excellent food, beautiful clean cabins, excellent staff/crew and stopped in fantastic swimming locations.
- Anonymous, 09/07/2024 05:03, Travelled in a Couple
The cycle crew (Miranda and Andro) were friendly and knowledgeable giving us history and insight into all the islands we visited. We started off as strangers and left as friends - each person on board cheering on others in the group To ride through the villages was a real treat. The crew onboard the ship Emanuel were also friendly and accommodating
- Anonymous, 04/07/2024 12:32, Travelled in a Couple
Sail Croatia was good. To make it better I would suggest more effort is put into the socialising of everyone on board e.g group drinking games, getting to know people etc. guided by the host. Also more time at each destination would be good! Not sooo long at swimming spots. Our host Clara did a good job for her first ever Sail!
- Anonymous, 03/07/2024 10:10, Travelled in a Couple
We had a wonderful week on the Katarina from Dubrovnik to Split. The crew were amazing, nothing was too much trouble, the boat was immaculate and Visko our tour manager was very approachable and helpful. Our only negative would be the inability to pay using card for some of the excursions and in particular the bar tab. It would have been nice to know in advance. We would definitely recommend travelling with Sail Croatia, you won’t regret it!!!
- Anonymous, 27/06/2024 19:05, Travelled in a Couple
The stunning coastline and scenery provided the backdrop for a very pleasant and relaxing cruise amongst the islands between Split and Dubrovnik. The crew were excellent and looked after us very well. Food quality was excellent. Fellow passengers became friends and added to the convivial atmosphere. The only negative we experienced was excessive noise at the berths in two of the ports where we were unfortunately berthed beside boats with raucous Americans who stayed up way beyond the general curfew. Some noise is always a risk and indeed, this was flagged. However when it comes from another boat it’s profoundly irritating and detracts from the cruising experience. We would recommend Sail Croatia products, with the advisory about noise.
- Kevin, 27/06/2024 18:31, Travelled in a Couple
Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us on the Explorer Cruise aboard Tempera. We are thrilled to hear that you loved the coastline and scenery – our destinations are carefully selected to showcase the most beautiful and unique views, and it's wonderful to know they left a lasting impression on you. We are also delighted that our crew made you feel well looked after. Their dedication to providing exceptional service is something we take great pride in, and your kind words will surely motivate them even further. It's fantastic to hear that you enjoyed the quality of our food and made good friends with your fellow passengers. I'm sorry to hear about the noise disturbance from guests on nearby ships. We understand how this could affect your overall experience, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. Port Authorities manage curfews in each port, and unfortunately we are unable to control the behaviour on-bard other ships. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. We hope to welcome you back on board the Tempera for another memorable journey soon. Warm regards,
Love the exploration of islands and cycling off a boat . The crew and tour guides Marija and Mila were wonderful as was Andre, the server. They need a battery microphone so guests can hear as the engine was constantly running and it was so difficult to hear. Suggestion : 3 dinner meals and 3 lunch meals , alternate so we would not always be dependent on getting back for lunch instead eat at swim areas on beach without the rush and very early morning breakfasts . Suggest lighter lunches , salads fruit fish …and fresh bread in the mornings with Greek yogurt . Food was very good but too filling . Less food, higher standard . Soups in the heat ? Big salads more appreciated . Suggest eggs be cooked while people sit instead of cold overcooked eggs Also a better way to connect with guests we need name tags… very awkward trying to remember people’s names .
- Diana, 24/06/2024 10:04, Travelled in a Couple
Hi there, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience on our Cycle Croatia Cruise. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the exploring and cycling, and that our guides made a positive impression on your trip. Your kind words mean a lot to us and our team. We appreciate your thoughtful suggestions regarding the meals and the addition of name tags. Offering a mix of lunch and dinner options, as well as lighter meals, is a welcomed idea and we will certainly consider this for future cruises to better cater to our guests' preferences. Implementing name tags is another excellent suggestion that can enhance the social experience and help guests get to know each other more easily. Thank you again for your valuable feedback. We look forward to welcoming you on another cruise soon!
The people on board, Klara our on board tour director & the Island stops. Croatia is a fantastic destination & the islands are the icing on the cake. Easiest way to see them is an island hoping small boat cruise. Different destination each day with a swim stop in the beautiful Adriatic along the way.
- Leanne, 21/06/2024 00:57, Travelled in a Couple
But the cabin was too close to the engine
- Anonymous, 20/06/2024 16:04, Travelled in a Couple
The ship is lovely and the meals were great. It would have been better if we could have spent more time in port. We could have done without the stop in Vela Luka since there was nothing there. We thought the tour manager could have provided more timely updates on what to do in each port and spent more time with the group rather than just dropping us off and leaving. We are used to tour manager being more involved that what he was.
- Rick, 14/06/2024 19:04, Travelled in a Couple
- Anonymous, 11/06/2024 21:31, Travelled in a Couple
Good boat, nice crew, good food.
- Anonymous, 11/06/2024 09:23, Travelled in a Couple
We fully enjoyed our experience with Sail Croatia. The Princeza Diana is a beautiful, spacious ship and the staff were fantastic. Our tour guides Ivica and Tonka kept us very well informed. They were fully engaged with the guests ensuring everyone had a fabulous experience. We were glad we opted for e-bikes. It allowed us to ride easy and soak up the incredible scenery. The guests were a very special group of people. We made many new friends we hope to see again. We highly recommend Sail Croatia for your next vacation adventure.
- Anonymous, 05/06/2024 22:20, Travelled in a Couple
The boat was comfortable, the daily ride excursions were well organized, taking us to some of the most beautiful view points in Croatia.
- Rachel, 29/05/2024 07:48, Travelled in a Couple
Enjoyed the trip and the other passengers with similar interests. We were all generally the same age group with extensive travel experience. It was a great group of people I rated it 3-1/2 out of 5 because having to keep 34 cyclists together was VERY time consuming. We ended up stopping and waiting often on busy roads or uphills.. which made it difficult for some to start again. . I feel you should break the groups to 16 per. One group slower and one faster. We had traditional cyclist in the group (kudos to them, as there were some steep sections) but it had us waiting often. one time more than 45 minutes.. I feel we could have seen more and done a lot more cycling if it was split out. I think most of the participants felt that way.. I would do another trip based on my experience. If all the cyclists were on e-bikes. The food was delicious and plentiful and the cooks, waiters, seaman and staff were amazing.
- Kris, 28/05/2024 18:08, Travelled in a Couple
Thank you for your valuable feedback about your recent trip with us. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the company of fellow travelers, the delicious food, and the exceptional service from our staff. We understand your concerns regarding the group size and the challenges of keeping 34 cyclists together, especially on busy roads and uphill sections. While splitting the group into smaller ones sounds like a practical solution, unfortunately, we cannot implement this due to health and safety regulations that require us to maintain a certain group size for optimal supervision and support. However, we are committed to improving the experience for all our guests. We will explore alternative ways to manage group dynamics more efficiently, such as scheduling more frequent breaks or providing additional support for those on traditional bikes. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we appreciate your understanding and patience. We're glad to hear that despite these challenges, you are considering another trip with us. Thank you once again for choosing to travel with us and for your constructive feedback. We look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon.
We like the bike ride although they to short. The food was excellent. The guides and crew staff were nice. One deception: the stop for swimming were respected even during the beautiful days.
- Kathleen, 22/05/2024 07:01, Travelled in a Couple
We decided to enjoy the bike/sail option from Split to Dubrovnik. Every portion of the trip found beautiful scenery. Our guides and the boat crew were excellent, and were quick to make adjustments as rough sea weather rolled in one day. Even though we do a lot of biking at home, we were very thankful to have gone with the e-bike bike option for this trip. We were disappointed the hot tub on our boat was not available. Having that as an option after biking or swimming would have been nice. The crew did a great job of accommodating individual food requirements. Thanks for a very nice week!
- Anonymous, 21/05/2024 07:00, Travelled in a Couple
Hi Paul, thank you for your recent 4 star review. It's great to hear you enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Croatia on your rides, and that the guides and crew were an excellent addition to the ship. We understand your view regarding the Jacuzzis however they are not an added inclusion on our Active Cruise Product as per our website. Thank you again for your feedback on this, and we hope to welcome you on-board in the future Paul.
Our guides were amazing especially Ana who worked tirelessly to answer our question, went over and above to help us with additional activities including restaurant suggestions and booking activities. She was available the whole trip, working long hours, always polite and, patient even though she must have been tired.
- Rachel , 20/05/2024 16:29, Travelled in a Couple
Nice bike ride, good food and enjoyable guides and staff.
- Anonymous, 20/05/2024 15:18, Travelled in a Couple
The cruise is well planned with suitable amount of sight, cycling and sailing. It was of course a pity that due to the weather conditions we couldn’t go to all planned destinations, but all in all the islands and the coastline are incredibly beautiful and we can’t be sorry about the changes made. Food is very good and there is plenty of it! Fresh drinking water is served all the time and the drinks were reasonably priced as well. The cabins are small, but adequate for a week. The best part was the people we traveled with <3. We had the great time and experience and could recommend this to anyone willing to cycle and see more quiet places of Adriatic islands.
- Anonymous, 20/05/2024 11:03, Travelled in a Couple
The crew on the Afrodita were brilliant very helpful and obliging. They were 5 star the only reason l submitted a 4 star was because of the poor ventilation In the below deck cabins. There was quite a bit of moisture in the air. However the crew and cycle guides were the shining light for us. Highly recommending this trip to friends.
- Anonymous, 13/05/2024 14:36, Travelled in a Couple
The trip was good! The food was average! Would have liked to gone on longer bike rides on all seven islands. The boat did not provide blankets for bedding. The Itinerary changed sometimes, just needed to be informed sooner. The two guides were excellent, provided a safe and enjoyable experience. I would like the tip to be included in the price of the trip, it becomes awkward to find a medium price. The bikes were good but longer rides would have been great! I would recommend this trip to my colleagues. Thank you!
- Anonymous, 13/05/2024 06:51, Travelled in a Couple
Hi Randy, thank you for your review and taking the time to share this feedback with us. We are happy to see you enjoyed your trip, thank you for the feedback you have provided. I'm sorry to hear you did not have blankets provided along with the bed linen, the team on-board would have been happy to provide these. As tipping is not a compulsory process, and is based on the individual experience we are unable to add these into the cruise price. We are pleased to see you would recommend us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future!