Our sail/hike trip will be remembered as a favourite because of the people. Our two guides, Karla and Mate, shared their knowledge and passion for Croatia helping passengers appreciate the living history all around us. We sailed on the ship Columbo which was extremely well run by captain and crew. Thank you all!
- Cynthia, 07/10/2024 07:40, Travelled with Friend/s
Had the best week ever. Perfect in all ways. Guides were so friendly and passionate and knowledgeable about their country. The crew of “Emmanuel “ were amazing as well, with a clean well equipped boat and friendly and helpful at all times. Food was fabulous. Amazing trip and can’t recommend highly enough.
- Hazel, 06/10/2024 11:54, Travelled with Friend/s
We had a fantastic time, met great new people and felt good getting in a bit of walking and swimming whilst still having some time to explore the towns we stopped in. Many thanks to the staff who were all so friendly, helpful, great guides and of course fabulous cooks. We highly recommend sailing on the Emanuel with Sail Croatia.
- Kirsten, 01/10/2024 19:55, Travelled with Friend/s
Thus was one of the best holidays that I have ever had and I have traveled expensively in my life to all continents. The organizing of the hikes was especially impressive. Dealing with various levels of fitness and skill would have made this a challenging task but Mate chose hikes that could appeal to all levels and mixed the intensity each day giving those who needed a rest. There was plenty of opportunity to swim creating the perfect fitness balance. I especially loved the carefree and historical stories told by Andro that displayed his passion for country. The boat was beautiful and very clean, the service top notch and attentive. The food was tasty, plentiful and creative. We had one bad day of weather and I truly appreciated the choice made by the captain to come in a day early, I felt safe in his hands. Because of this experience we are planning to book another Sail Croatia from Split for next year. We started searching for a similar trip when we returned but Sail Croatia wins
- Sharon , 30/09/2024 15:50, Travelled with Friend/s
What a great way to see the islands and learn so much about the history and geography of the area. The Emmanuel is a great ship to travel on with great , friendly and helpful staff. Food was excellent and plentiful and the twin bedded cabin we had was more roomy that I expected Our guides Mila and Anita are so knowledgeable and shared many facts along the hikes . The hikes were a all manageable length and the ascents worth it , for the amazing views. I loved being able.to swimming the ship daily, what a great holiday. Mila's enthusiasm and passion for her country , traditions and history and love of walking in nature is contagious. Thank you
- Ruth, 30/09/2024 05:31, Travelled with Friend/s
We did the sailing/hiking tour around the south islands of Split and every day got better and better! The scenery is spectacular, the water is amazing to look at and even better to swim in! The hikes were such a wonderful way to see the country. Mila and Lola were our fantastic guides and they made every hike incredible. We learned so much and got a great workout in each day. The crew is superb! We had some weather but the Captain did everything he could to avoid it and get us to our next destination. Every other crew member made sure our accommodations, food and drinks were great! ! I would definitely go back and sail/hike with this group of people any day!
- Tracey, 18/09/2024 20:23, Travelled with Friend/s
Excellent staff and very clean boat. Itinerary was great despite changes due to weather. (The only thing I would change is to have more salads and fish at lunch - too much heavy meat). Wonderful week!
- Joanne, 16/09/2024 00:37, Travelled with Friend/s
Really well organised from start to finish. Maria our Sail Croatia rep was friendly and helpful nothing too much trouble. Mate our hiking guide was also fab sharing his passion for his homeland on our hikes. The boat was comfortable, food excellent and our swim stops one of the highlights. We met some amazing people from around the globe we had plenty of laughs and each day we discovered another gem of an island. Croatia is truly beautiful I would recommend this holiday to all my hiking loving friends.
- Sharon , 24/06/2024 16:14, Travelled with Friend/s
The staff made our trip a dream come true. They were very attentive to the guests, helping to solve challenge when luggage was delayed. Enjoyed the food, activities, swimming and company of other guests. It was a great way to see lovely Croatia. Highly recommend.
- Debra, 18/06/2024 13:40, Travelled with Friend/s
The accommodations were better than I expected. Helpful and knowledgeable staff Wonderful guides Would have liked better directions to where the boat was docked, we had to pay a €50 taxi ride to get to the other side of the harbor. We never received the “live feed”, Fortunately they held the boat for the 4 of us.
- Anita, 17/06/2024 18:37, Travelled with Friend/s
Friendly and helpful staff! The chef made the best begie meals for me!!!
- Sandi , 17/06/2024 03:43, Travelled with Friend/s
This is a terrific cruise. Our hiking guide, Mate, was friendly, knowledgeable and willing to work with each person's skill level ensuring everyone had a great time. Our cruise manager was Lucija. She was well-organized, always smiling and very willing to go the extra mile to help passengers arrange tours, transportation, etc. The ship was extremely clean and the crew were outstanding. Highly recommend!
- Anonymous, 06/06/2024 23:36, Travelled with Friend/s
The guides were knowledgeable and fun! Lucy went above and beyond in making arrangements for our group after the trip was completed.
- Kim, 03/06/2024 19:32, Travelled with Friend/s
The team onboard Afrodita made my experience onboard the best I could ask for. Truly an amazing crew which gave the highest of care to everyone on board. Andre the waiter was amazing at making sure I didn't lift a finger to get anything. He reminded me I was on holiday saying I will do it for you. He was truly amazing. They all were to be honest such lovely kind people. Our hike guides Mila and Andro were also amazing, with their amazing guidance they brought the fun factor also which is important when you are on holidays. This has been my best holiday to date and I will forever remember my time and crew onboard Afrodita. Thank you everyone and hope to meet again one day x.
- Mary Hackett, 23/05/2024 10:16, Travelled with Friend/s
The crew on the Emanuel was terrific. They were attentive and very professional. The ship is kept in tip top shape; everything is very clean. Everything was well-organized and there was a good balance between programmed activities and free time. The maximum capacity for passengers was 30 and we had 27 aboard. It was a very good number. The views were spectacular and all of the places we visited were beautiful and interesting.
- Pam, 13/05/2024 07:36, Travelled with Friend/s
Thankyou everyone I had an amazing time!! The hikes were hard but wonderful. Our guides were so friendly (Ilona and Mila) and helpful and were so happy sharing information about each island and where to visit and eat. Thankyou lovely ladies!! I was happy with the service from all of the guys on the boat too. There was always enough food which I enjoyed. The boat was very clean and you could see the captain really looks after it and has pride in this, thank you boys!!
- Kim, 13/05/2024 04:07, Travelled with Friend/s
Fantastic daily treks with amazing knowledgeable guides Mila and Ilona. Clean boat with plenty of relaxing areas. Nice room. Fabulous attentive staff.
- Susan, 13/05/2024 04:05, Travelled with Friend/s
My trip with Sail Croatia was a wonderful adventure. The staff's exceptional hospitality made the journey truly unforgettable. They were not only knowledgeable but also genuinely cared about our well-being, ensuring we had a fantastic experience. The ship itself was clean and comfortable. It was well-maintained and the food was plentiful and delicious. The hikes in Croatia were nothing short of spectacular, with breathtaking views and diverse terrain. The camaraderie among fellow travelers added an extra layer of enjoyment to the trip, and I made lasting friendships along the way. This sailing and hiking adventure exceeded my expectations. It's a perfect escape for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and anyone looking to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life. I can't recommend it highly enough, and I'm already dreaming of my next journey with this outstanding team.
- Alison, 23/10/2023 01:58, Travelled with Friend/s
I travelled with a friend on the Hike & Swim trip onboard The Emmanuel. All the other guests were a fabulous bunch & very diverse. The hikes were challenging for me - some more than others - however no one is hurrying you & you can choose to sit some out if you need to. I felt a tremendous sense of achievement for managing to complete the majority & of course enjoy the beautiful countryside. Our guides Mila & Maria were just brilliant - knowledgeable, humorous, kind & the crew of the Emmanuel were also the same - it felt like a family. The food was excellent & we particularly appreciated the special efforts made for us as a Vegan & Vegetarian. One thing to note - if you are checking a bag in, bring walking poles - the ascents & descents are steep & rocky. Cabins are very basic & very small but all we did was sleep in them so it was no problem & tbh there is all we need. Definitely would return to some of the islands & would consider a different Sail Croatia trip (different islands).
- Rebecca, 10/10/2023 11:11, Travelled with Friend/s
Our ship’s friendly crew and staff on board the Mail Ante were all wonderful., especially our waiter Mario. He was very welcoming, and helpful.. I had some dietary requirements and he looked after meat every meal. All the food we had on board was delicious. There was so much variety. Our hiking guides Mate and Andro were friendly and very informative. We learned lots about the places we hiked to. The hikes were challenging but doable with amazing views. The swim stops were glorious. We met lovely fellow passengers and we all got along really well. Thank you for a fabulous holiday. We would highly recommend this trip and would love to return to Sail Croatia in the near future.
- Anonymous, 09/10/2023 20:49, Travelled with Friend/s
- travelling with old friends - meeting new people - seeing new beautiful places - discovering that I enjoy cruising - nice staff
- Karen, 25/09/2023 20:12, Travelled with Friend/s
Great value for money and perfectly planned and executed hikes and activities. I will recommend this to anyone. Hiking guide is a gem. Coffee on the boat - perhaps open coffee station 24/7? Even if guests must bring their own ingredients
- Carien Lambert, 18/09/2023 13:50, Travelled with Friend/s
We all had a fantastic week with sail croatia. Food was really good all the staff were lovely and helpful. Hikes were challenging and great. Loved every minute. Thank you. Hope to come again next year.
- Susan, 23/06/2023 08:25, Travelled with Friend/s
Robert our guide. Perfect gentleman, didn't see our age - saw us. Went over and above on every hike helping supporting and encouraging all the way. On board crew felt like family exceptional service night and day.
- Catherine , 19/06/2023 05:01, Travelled with Friend/s
From getting on boat to getting off I had a fantastic time with wonderful people and crew. The guides crew were fantastic food amazing 👏 I challenged myself with the hikes and everyone supported each other I had the time of my life.
- Christine , 19/06/2023 04:45, Travelled with Friend/s
Good accommodations, friendly people. Expert crew and captain.
- Mary, 18/06/2023 17:09, Travelled with Friend/s
Ahoy there! I went on the hiking week with eight girlfriends, but by the end of the holiday I felt that I was friends with all 32 shipmates, all of the amazing crew and our guides Mali and Marija. From the Captain, to every single member of the crew, they made this week truly awesome. The food onboard was plentiful and delicious. The boat was kept scrupulously clean and tidy. Unfortunately, the weather for the first four days was very wet and windy, causing the Captain to reschedule the original route. Mali had to improvise and make alternative plans for some of our hikes by tweaking the itinerary. Both guides worked very hard at making the holiday a huge success and motivational, enabling me to complete some of the slightly challenging parts of our treks. Thank you! The landscape and views are breathtaking, the people of Croatia are wonderful and I will be returning, In the meantime, I’ll remember with affection the week spent with such wonderful company. Book now!!!
- Fiona, 22/05/2023 06:26, Travelled with Friend/s
Ahoy Fiona! This is fantastic to read - thank you so much for taking the time to leave us with such a brilliant review, we really do appreciate it. It's wonderful reading what a great time you had on board and you were really pleased with all aspects of the cruise, thank you so much for an incredible week on board. We hope we will see you on board again in the future.
All the towns we visited in Croatia were beautiful! The hikes were great fun! The crew were ALL amazing, friendly and knowledgeable! The boat (Milena) was clean, spacious and very comfortable! And we had a wonderful group of people and all became fast friends!
- Diane, 18/05/2023 14:22, Travelled with Friend/s
Hi Diane, We are glad to hear you had such an amazing week! Thank you for your review and we hope to see you again in the future!
- Darlene, 15/05/2023 19:03, Travelled with Friend/s
Thank you Darlene!
Staff, boat, walks, venue
- Chris, 03/10/2022 08:24, Travelled with Friend/s
Lovely small boat able to drop into little bays and harbours. Good food for hungry hikers. Plenty of room on deck to relax while travelling.
- Anonymous, 03/10/2022 06:19, Travelled with Friend/s
Congratulations I am a vegan and I can honestly say I had the most delicious variety of dishes on board the ship. The ingredients were fresh and extremely well cooked and presented. So even though the choice of food on land was very limited it didn’t matter because you were so well looked after on board.
- Amanda , 03/10/2022 03:47, Travelled with Friend/s
The trip was great in every way. The food was exceptional and the service very good. The trip was very well organized, the hikes were fun and the tour guides were very nice. Enough time to walk around the small towns we visited and an unforgettable opportunity to swim in the sea.
- Þórunn, 24/09/2022 09:49, Travelled with Friend/s
First time with sail Croatia the crew were lovely friendly but were not invasive and gave you your privacy. The boat particularly the cabins were above my expectations we were in the bottom deck at the back and yes when the engines started up it was your early alarm clock but did not upset us as we needed to be organised for the day ahead. we had Mate and Marin as our guides and they were marvellous and knowledgable and even though they had a few difficult characters to manage they were always professional and polite. Over all had a great holiday the only reason for 4 stars was it would have been good to have the cabin floor sweeper daily as we were bringing in a lot of stones from our trips. The food was fantastic and never a day when we did not enjoy it the chef went above and beyond and mario the host at the meals could not go enough for us. The facilities on the sip were great from the sun lounging deck to the bar.
- Margaret, 19/09/2022 16:49, Travelled with Friend/s
What a fantastic holiday! Just loved it! Would totally recommend. Lovely crew, great hike guide, such a different holiday from my normal holiday! Lots of food, challenging hikes and beautiful weather. Gorgeous islands, swimming in the sea off the boat, thank you for a great experience 👍🏻
- Janet, 15/09/2022 05:23, Travelled with Friend/s
The amazing crew, view and group
- petronella, 07/09/2022 12:07, Travelled with Friend/s
Great team on Emanuel boat made everything run seamlessly. Mila and Mate were an awesome team for the hikes and suggesting places to visit and a wealth of knowledge on the area. Not just leading hikes but going over and above to make sure we had a great time! The boat crew were also great ensuring we docked in great places, got time to swim, and ate lovely food.
- Hoanne, 05/09/2022 11:27, Travelled with Friend/s
My friend and I went on the Emanuel for a hiking and sailing vacation in August and there is nothing that could have made this vacation better. Very quickly after we began sailing we stopped for our first swim break in the amazing blue waters. Getting into the chilly sea people yelped and laughed and opened up to each other. By the time we got back on the boat we were all friends rather than fellow travelers. The first hike solidified us even more. Every day we hiked to a beauty spot; a monastery, a fortress, a mountain hut etc. Each hike was challenging but you were not worn out afterwards. Our guide did a wonderful job of keeping us together and resting without making the faster people feel like the hike was slow. Every day we swam in the most beautiful coves (bring a snorkle and mask!) The food was abundant, varied and delicious. We moved seats each meal so we ate with all our friends. In towns restaurants and entertainments were recommended and they were quite good as well.
- Dana, 05/09/2022 08:01, Travelled with Friend/s
The balance of everything involved with the week was amazing-sailing, walking, swimming & sunbathing. The guides were great-friendly & excellent at going out of their way to help you, both with the walking & knowledge of the islands. The boat had all we needed & the food was good.
- Alison , 05/09/2022 06:20, Travelled with Friend/s
The crew and our guide were really friendly and couldn't do enough for us. Anything we needed, they were there. The food was excellent, an amazing chef who cooked 5 star food and catered really well for our gluten free diet. The boat Mali Ante is a lovely vessel and was kept spotlessly clean by the crew. The hikes were amazing and certainly gave us challenges but we're so worth it! If you're thinking of a hiking holiday coupled with sailing then this is the holiday to go for! Plus we saw some of Croatia and its beautiful islands - there's so much more to see and we will definitely be back!
- Kay, 20/06/2022 05:11, Travelled with Friend/s
From the moment we set foot on board we were made to feel so welcome by the entire team. Nothing could have been improved on. We had an exclusive, luxury cruise. Island hopping and hiking. Swimming off the boat into emerald seas. Soaking up the sun and enjoying amazing spreads of delicious food. Mate shared his knowledge of the mountains and guided us expertly along the trails like a calm shepherd. He took us to a variety of restaurants and we enjoyed every meal. Mate made our adventure one of the most memorable ever. But without the crew none of this would have been possible, professional and cheerful at all times, we felt completely safe in their hands. And we all laughed and smiled like old friends, thank you Mali Ante, Mate and Sail Croatia
- Heather, 20/09/2021 09:39, Travelled with Friend/s
Everyone on the crew was very personal. Our hiking guide Matè knew his trails - a local guide whom we all appreciated as he had restaurant recommendations and things for us to see & do. Everyone from the boat manager to the chef to the young skippers were great. The only thing I would recommend is to change your marketing from 'see Croatia by foot' to 'explore Croatia by hiking trails'. This way people can be more prepare w proper gear such as hiking boots. It was a great challenge and I know everyone had a wonderful time.
- Judy, 14/09/2021 02:30, Travelled with Friend/s
Visited a range of interesting destinations on in the Croatian Adriatic with suggestions from the guides to suit all tastes & abilities. Food was good & staff not only helpful & friendly but fun as well. Memorable trip !
- Molly, 22/10/2019 22:53, Travelled with Friend/s
Hey Molly, thanks for such a lovely review! It's great that the representative was so helpful and friendly and that the crew ensured you had such a fun time on board :) We would love to have you on board again Molly, thanks so much again for your kind words.
Katarina and Marta do this company proud, they were excellent as were the rest of the crew! The boat was great, comfortable and very clean. Food was great and trip and islands were also special. Swimming and walks fabulous but night for the light hearted.
- Cheryl , 07/10/2019 08:50, Travelled with Friend/s
Amazing to hear you had such a great time on board Milena and that you were so happy with the level of service received by the staff on board, I will be sure to pass your thanks and kind words onto them. Thank you Cheryl!
I could not be more happy with the experience i had with Sail Croatia on board the Marija Magdalena! The crew was so helpful, fun, hospitable, and organized! I think there is nothing that I could complain about through the entire week...maybe just that it wasn’t long enough! I would definitely want to do this again with the same crew!
- Natalie , 02/10/2019 17:26, Travelled with Friend/s
Thanks for your review Natalie. We're so happy to read you had a lovely experience and enjoyed your time on our cruise and in Croatia. We hope to see you back again soon!
Great crew, well-organized, interesting places visited
- Faye, 02/10/2019 08:52, Travelled with Friend/s
Thanks for your comments Faye!
Definately worth sailing with Sail Croatia very well organised, crew were friendly and food on board was great. The hikes are not for the faint hearted. The islands we visited were fantastic . Sail Croatia representitives were very knowlegable and friendly. Will recomend this trip. September good month to travel not too hot and not too busy.
- JUNE, 17/09/2019 07:05, Travelled with Friend/s
Amazing to hear you had such a wonderful time on your Hike cruise on board Mlini! We are pleased to hear that you found the trip well organised and that you were happy with the staff on board as well as your Representative. Thank you so much for the recommendation and for joining us this summer.
- boat cabins were very damp/musty and particularly the bathrooms smelled very moldy. It made it very unpleasant to be in there, and contributed to a number of us getting sick - the hikes and timelines felt very disorganized with locations changing and guides seeming to not know the route at multiple locations. There was often confusion with timelines where it would be stated different to what was posted or it would change last minute resulting in the need to scramble on or off the boat. - there was no contingency plan or second hike in the case that we were stuck somewhere multiple days or if there was an interest in a different level of hike intensity.
- Anonymous, 16/09/2019 11:36, Travelled with Friend/s
Hi there and thank you for your review. Upon checking the onboard feedback submitted, we are pleased to see you rated the crew 5 stars, the onboard meals 4 stars and the boat in general 4 stars, thank you. We are sorry to hear of your cabin issues. I have checked our internal records and cannot see that these issues were reported to our onboard rep. Had these issues been raised, we would have resolved them with urgency. We understand that due to strong winds the ship was unable to depart Vis, so for the safety and wellbeing of all guests, the captain decided to remain in Vis where you rep organised a museum visit and wine tasting excursion. We hope that the issues onboard didn't detract from your overall experience onboard and in Croatia as a whole. Thank you again for all your comments.
Booking and pre-holiday information easy and accessible. Boat easy to locate at Split. Cruise director friendly and welcoming. Cabin and en-suite (lower deck, single occupancy) clean and tidy. Would have been cramped for two. Bedding a little damp each night, probably due to air-con and lack of ventilation. Plenty of public spaces on board for enjoying the weather. Breakfast: continental and cooked. Daily 3 course meal: simple, reasonably good, quite varied. Served as lunch, sometimes as late as 4pm. Packed lunch would have been preferable. Hiking: great walks, steep climbs and descents, a lot of rocky ground and loose stone. Fantastic views and countryside. Hike leadership: lack of awareness of individual capabilities of the group. Leader usually well ahead and, at times, out of sight. Resulted in group being too strung out. Even worse when combined with another group. When an accident occurred, he was completely unaware and eventually returned about 10 minutes later.
- Anonymous, 16/09/2019 10:59, Travelled with Friend/s
Thank you for your review. We are really pleased to hear your experience with our Sales team was easy and seamless, and that you found the boat easy to locate in Split. We're glad your Cruise Director was warm and welcoming. It's great to know that you enjoyed most aspects of your cruise and we appreciate your suggestion of a packed lunch, which we will take into consideration for future trips. It's great to know you enjoyed the hikes overall and found them to be a varied with amazing views. We appreciate your comments on the Hike Leader, and we have taken these onboard and will be providing further training and assistance wherever required. Thank you for raising your concerns with us and we appreciate all your comments here. Thank you for choosing to travel with Sail Croatia!
There are areas that need to be improved before I can recommend sailing with Sail Croatia. The cabins weren't very clean. When we checked in, there was hair on the bathroom floor. I also dropped my book under the bed and upon retrieving it found an old condom wrapper on the floor. The lack of proper ventilation in the cabins has led to mold starting to grow. By the end of the week, our entire group was sick from sleeping in the cabins. The entire week was poorly organized. Each day it seemed like the crew was making up the schedule as they went. We understood that weather can be a factor, however there were no contingency plans if the weather was poor. The hikes were also poorly organized. The guide had no idea how to manage the varying abilities of passengers. A couple of times he got lost because he had only done the hike one time before. He kept saying well now I'll know for next time.
- Anonymous, 16/09/2019 08:06, Travelled with Friend/s
Hi there and thank you for your review. We really appreciate all your comments and suggestions for improvements. All our ships are thoroughly cleaned prior to the arrival of new guests, so we are sorry to read of your disappointment with the cleanliness. I have checked our internal records, and cannot see any reports of this to our crew. This would have been rectified immediately upon notifying our onboard rep. However, I have highlighted this to the Operations Manager, thank you. We understand that there was a schedule change due to strong winds, and the alternative option was to go back to Vis where museum visit and wine tasting was organised for you. We appreciate your comments on the guide, he has received 4-5 star ratings for this departure so we are disappointed to read your comments and these will be passed on to our Operations Manager for training and quality purposes. Upon checking the onboard feedback you submitted, we are happy to know you enjoyed the lunches and found the crew to be a welcomed inclusion. Thank you again for all your comments, this is appreciated.