The beauty of the islands/locations we visited/hiked, the delicious Croatian dishes we enjoyed and the intimate nature of our ship Columbo all lived up to our high expectations. What we did not foresee was even more significant in making this a most memorable journey: the wonderful camaraderie that quickly developed amongst our fellow marauders, the warmth and capable leadership of our incredible guides (Mate and Karla), and the ,world class professionalism of Captain Antonio, Bruno and the rest of the crew,, We came in search of some adventure and left with new friends, an immense fondness for Croatia and its proud people. For this , we owe tremendous thanks to Mate and Karla who were the orchestra leaders who helped us all make music. Unforgettable!
- Terry, 09/10/2024 08:44, Travelled in a Couple
We sailed on the Colombo last week. It was glorious. Though the weather was changeable, the atmosphere on board remained fun loving. Credit must go to the superb captain and crew for safe sailing and adaptability. Swim stops, meals and wonderful evenings will remain in the memory. Special mention must be made, though, of our two wonderful guides: Mate and Karla, not just because they were instructive experts in their hiking field, but also unifying us as a group. They were special and charmed us all. We were all sad to say goodbye at the end of the tour. We are now looking forward to our next Sail Croatia trip in 2025
- Anonymous, 07/10/2024 17:18, Travelled in a Couple
The sail and hike experience was a great combination! The hikes were reasonably challenging but worth the views at the top and each one was unique. The hiking guides were so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The boat was in impeccable condition and the crew members went out of their way to make the sailing a memorable experience. My wife needed a gluten free menu which was no trouble whatsoever.
- Jeremy, 30/09/2024 05:55, Travelled in a Couple
We did a Sail Croatia hike trip. Sail Croatia knew ahead of time some of the people were unable to hike but were interested in the islands we were visiting to see the towns and the history. I would have expected that the coordinators would have given suggestions for things to do and historical information. If you weren't hiking you received limited attention.
- Greggory, 26/09/2024 03:02, Travelled with Friend/s
The boat and crew were fantastic as was the scenery of the islands and coastline of Croatia. The best part was being able to get off the boat and hike to peaks or points of interest every day. We saw so much more of Croatia than we would have had we not selected the Sail & Hike trip with Sail Croatia. Thoroughly recommended!!
- Mark, 03/09/2024 07:58, Travelled in a Couple
The team was amazing, nothing was to much trouble. Food and the hiking was top class! Glad we hiked as it was something to do at each stop. Best way to see Croatia is on a cruise and 7 nights is just perfect.
- Barbara, 08/07/2024 07:52, Travelled with Friend/s
We really enjoyed the hiking with sail Croatia. With only 30 passengers on board, there is ample opportunity to meet everyone. The staff and crew were excellent and our guides were so helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Would definitely recommend this holiday.
- Jenny, 01/07/2024 18:51, Travelled in a Couple
Both guides and all crew were great, the other guests were good fun to be with and the hikes, swimming, food and all the locations were all great. So good we are considering doing the Dubrovnik trip next year 👍😀
- Nigel, 17/06/2024 14:16, Travelled in a Couple
Just back from a Sail Croatia Hike/Sail week. Was a great time. The vessel was very comfortable, the meals were super, and the guides did all they could to ensure that everyone in the group had an excellent time. This was a super week and would easily do this holiday again.
- Andrew, 16/05/2024 17:05, Travelled in a Couple
First impression on boarding our allocated ship Eos, a three masted motor sailer, was we had drawn the short straw. It wasn’t as modern or sleek as most of the cruisers around us in Split harbour and our below deck cabin was tiny and cramped. However what followed was a week of brilliant fun and adventure that made the shortcomings of the accommodation seem a minor point. A new picture postcard location every day, beautiful ports, swim stops in secluded bays and a great group of fellow travellers from around the globe who we got to know on our daily hikes and evenings in the local bars cafes and restaurants. Our guides Mate and Lola were knowledgeable, responsible but also fun. The crew were great and the food on board was varied and tasty. The hikes were challenging but rewarding too, though I personally would have preferred more climbs with a bar at the top! We made some great friends and have fabulous memories of our week around the Islands of Croatia. Thanks to all.
- Tony, 26/09/2023 06:21, Travelled in a Couple
Hi Tony! Thank you for your 4-star review! We loved reading about your adventures on our Hike cruise and we are really happy to hear you had a wonderful time onboard. We appreciate all your comments regarding the destinations, delicious meals served, daily hikes and swimming out at sea in lovely secluded bays, thank you. Your kind comments will be passed on to the crew to enjoy also. I see you booked a Premier ship, which are more traditional in style. We have a wide range of ships in our fleet and the ships you refer to in the harbour, were likely to be a higher category ship such as Premier Plus ships, as these are more modern in style. We are thrilled to know you enjoyed your cruise overall, and you had a week full of fun and adventure and also made some new friends on your cruise - we're sure memories to last a lifetime! We hope to welcome you back for another Active Adventure soon!
Friendly and helpful staff, clean and comfortable boat, good weather and challenging hiking with great views and countryside.
- Philipp, 25/09/2023 09:01, Travelled in a Couple
Hikes, sightseeing and fellowship. And food.
- Tom, 25/09/2023 05:18, Travelled in a Couple
We booked the seven night sail and hike trip, and it exceeded expectations. A wonderful way to visit new and interesting places, and get to see more than the main areas of each town. It also took us to places we wouldn’t have had time to visit on a regular trip. A special mention to the great crew of Eos, our ship for the stay. And to the Sail Croatia reps Ioana and Mate who were enthusiastic and energetic through the week and mate each day lots of fun. Looking forward to out next trip already.
- Stuart, 19/09/2023 20:23, Travelled in a Couple
We had a great week , enjoying well guided hikes and sensational swim stops .
- Anonymous, 19/09/2023 08:57, Travelled with Friend/s
The boat was wonderful. Crew terrific and the scenery spectacular.
- David, 12/06/2023 10:02, Travelled with Friend/s
The crew looked after us so well. A bad storm meant reconfiguring the route. Very grateful to our captain’s wisdom in keeping us safe and our hike leaders for making sure we got in a hike every day despite the itinerary change. The staff were professional, pleasant, and caring. Food was excellent and varied. I required gluten free accommodation and it was taken care of. I will say that for me, the hikes were too rigorous; all involved a 1+ hour of unremitting climbing on rocky terrain. But I was in the minority. Most found the hikes perfect.
- Mary Jane, 23/05/2023 19:42, Travelled in a Couple
Lovely boat, in great condition, beautiful islands and fantastic walks, but even better were the friendly and helpful crew and guides who couldn't do enough for us and genuinely cared about making guests have the best experience. We had a spacious above deck room which was larger than expected and the rest of the boat was just the right size - big enough to be comfortable without feeling we were on a massive ship. Good food and super service. We didn't get the chance to use the sundeck as much as we would have liked as the weather was patchy with some strong rain storms – however, I believe this is rare for Croatia. And the crew and guides adapted the itinerary so that we had hikes (and other activities) every day - they really did all they could to make us have a good time. The group bonded and when the sun came out we were all the happier for it. Thanks Sail Croatia - we'd love to return!
- Paul, 22/05/2023 18:20, Travelled in a Couple
We had an amazing week hiking through the Dalmatian Islands. Weather was not always on our side but the Sail Croatia team modified our itinerary to suit and we managed to get in a hike every day. The food on board was excellent. Our fellow passengers were also amazing. Huge thanks to Captain Vlado, and hike guides Mila and Mare.
- John, 22/05/2023 05:28, Travelled in a Couple
Hi John, this is wonderful - thank you so much for your review and for joining us this season.
We had a great time joining a hike cruise with Sail Croatia! We booked last minute, near the end of the season in October, and had a fantastic time! The crew and guides be were experienced, friendly, and knowledgeable. The other guests were a good mix of ages and nationalities. Everyone on the Hike cruise wanted to explore but also socialize, some good nights but no crazy partying. Matched exactly what we were looking for! The islands were exceptionally beautiful and all the stops were enjoyable. The hikes were good but sightly shorter than we would have liked, but that left lots of time to explore, and eat! The food was amazing, on the ship and on shore. It would be impossible to do this on your own at a similar price point, in a similar amount of time. We visited so many spots, with food, lodging, transport, and guides all rolled into one great week! Would highly recommend!
- Leif, 11/10/2022 13:36, Travelled in a Couple
Excellent staff and guides, all very friendly. However I would like to make some recommendations. Much better if all walks started after breakfast. The first two days starting at 5pm meant the evenings were very rushed. A lot of the walks were up and back down the same track, would be better if they were of a circular route. Pace of walks was very slow but I realise this was to accommodate everyone. Could the group be divided into two one being faster paced and one slower? Would have been nice to spend the afternoon in Omis rather than sail back to Split at lunchtime. Omis was a beautiful resort with a nice beach, would have been nice to relax there for a few hours before the short trip back to split. Finally perhaps a bedding change midweek. Other than that a brilliant week and thanks to all the staff and crew who helped to make it such a great week.
- mark, 10/09/2022 16:06, Travelled with Friend/s
We experienced great hospitality among staff and tour guides. They were willing to give everything for our enjoyment. The staff on the ship was amazing and the tour guides truly devoted to their job. Mate and Mila went the extra mile for us, each and every day. This trip had everything and more. Our boat Emanuel will be missed and everyone on board. "Get it down'ya"
- Beggi, 05/09/2022 12:34, Travelled in a Couple
Great people Great boat Great walks and scenery
- Stephen, 05/09/2022 07:42, Travelled in a Couple
The lovely staff aboard the Meliante especially Mario ( waiter), Antonio (chef) and Marte (our hiking guide). The food and catering for special diets and the availability of fruit and water all day. The weather was stunning in June and the beautiful islands. The hikes are very challenging, not for the faint hearted, but well worth the achievement of completing them. The swimming off the boat was great and it meant we saw other beautiful areas of the islands not readily accessable to others by land. We could have sometimes stayed a bit longer in those areas. The boat is maintained to a high standard and was clean. Compliments to all the staff for making this one of the best holiday experiences me and my wife have had.
- Glyn, 18/07/2022 08:37, Travelled with Friend/s
Fantastic crew on the boat. Very attentive, excellent food and drink..Hiking guides Mate and Marin were very knowledgeable about the areas where we hiked and made sure all levels of walkers were looked after. Plenty of swim stops in beautiful bays and sea. This was our second trip will Sail Croatia and it didn't disappoint.
- Owen, 11/07/2022 07:50, Travelled in a Couple
-1st view of boat was filthy cabins and carpets -no welcome on-board - left to wonder around -1st 2nights no air conditioning -3rd night no hot water -couldn't lock cabin door -no key for internal locker -hostess very rude & didn't know how to work equipment to provide hot water or couldn't be bothered. -Staff underwear hanging outside out cabin door. -bedding not changed until after 5th night even though we were sweating like mad with no air con. -would have been good to have sea toys/paddleboard/laylo type etc. to enjoy. -couldn't buy single glass of wine, had to buy whole bottle. Also fridge was broken so couldn't be kept for next day. -on return from hikes, no staff available to serve drinks. Thankfully our tour guide Mate dealt with these issues as without him it could have been a whole lot worse. Mate deserves full credit for making this an enjoyable trip regardless of the issues we continually faced.
- Anthony, 27/06/2022 12:27, Travelled in a Couple
Hi there Anthony, thank you for your review. We are really pleased to hear that your rep Mate was helpful and professional and made your trip enjoyable. We have a rigorous process in place for handling any issues that may arise whilst you are on the sail, which is included in the Pre-departure information emailed to you before the tour. Following this process gives us the opportunity to try to resolve an issue during the trip, and work with you in finding a suitable solution to ensure all parties are happy, if given this opportunity. Guests are encouraged to report incidents themselves to their Onboard Representative, and if they feel no action is taken by their Onboard Representative, you are then welcome to escalate this to our Operations Manager and/or Managing Director. This ensures that no incident is left unreported, especially if we are made aware of the issue, and gives us the best chance to resolve this during the cruise for you. Upon checking our internal records, I could not find any reports raised to your representative regarding the air-conditioning, cabin door lock, broken fridge and key for internal locker. I understand that on the 2nd day the Captain was made aware there was no hot water, and this was rectified within 20 minutes. We operate a mid-week cabin service which includes changing of bedding. I'm afraid paddle boards are not included on our cruises however, at times past guest may leave their water toys onboard for others to enjoy. Upon checking the feedback for the week, guests have provided 4-5 star ratings from the meals onboard to the cabins and Tour Guide. We really do hope that your time in Croatia was enjoyable and that the issues experienced didn't detract from your overall enjoyment.
The companionship of our fellow travellers made the week a really enjoyable experience. The crew were excellent from the captain to the deck hands. The food was exceptional. Our guide Mate was excellent in the way he oaced the walks and he was excellent with his communication skills. Things I would consider changing are: 1) for better walkers give them an option of extending the walk, so provide a map/gps route for them. Ask that they sign a disclaimer so Sail Croatia is protected should they have a mishap. 2) provide more buffet lunches. This was my first experience of sailing and trekking and I was really impressed with the quality of our vessel and hopping from island to island was enjoyable. I would certainly recommend to anyone that if they enjoy sea travel and hiking this experience would be very enjoyable
- Trevor, 20/06/2022 14:44, Travelled with Friend/s
GUIDE AND CREW!
- James , 13/09/2021 15:56, Travelled in a Couple
We sailed on Milena on hike and sail cruise. Kate and Mate, our cruise and hike representatives were awesome. They were so helpful, friendly and when weather affected plans, between the captain and them they always had an alternate plan. The rest of the crew were great and it was one of the best things I have done on a holiday.
- Wendy, 07/10/2019 05:16, Travelled in a Couple
Thanks for a great review of your Hike cruise Wendy! We are pleased to read you had a wonderful time on board Milena, one of our Premier ships. Thanks for an amazing week :)
Food - consistently good - thanks to Rosa and Marco ehi did a great job Hikes & Information - excellent - (Matè and Kristijan are brilliant and worked well together) Boat - could have been better. Bathrooms need upgrading and/or more frequent cleaning.. Also better deck chairs and sun beds/cushions for sun bathing on the boat. The dining area was lovely and well maintained. The crew were helpful and friendIy.
- Russell, 30/09/2019 12:40, Travelled in a Couple
Hey Russell, Thank you for your review! We're pleased to hear you enjoyed your time on our cruise and found the food to be good quality - what our chefs do within a small space is just amazing! We are pleased that the crew made you feel welcomed and were helpful and friendly. Your comments on the boat itself will be taken onboard for future improvements, we appreciate this. Thank you again and we hope to see you back on another cruise soon!
Limit the group to hikers from one boat. Have hike leaders ensure group stays together and not just hike for their own enjoyment. Provide radio communication between the hike leader and the sweep so when someone is hurt it does not take fifteen minutes for the hike leader to return to the group and provide help. Stick to the itinerary other than weather related issues not just change to suit the next cruise or make it easier for the crew and hike leaders. Try and schedule the hikes in the morning versus mid afternoon in the heat of the day.
- Alan, 25/09/2019 06:40, Travelled in a Couple
Hi there and thank you for your review. We appreciate all your comments and suggestions, and we think that some of these can be implemented. I have passed your comments on to our Operations Team for suggested improvements, thank you. Generally speaking we have a guide and representative, one at the front, the other at the back of the group who are in constant communication and are able to assist wherever possible. We are also trialling new radio equipment, so all going well, we should see these implemented next season. I understand that on your cruise, there was a deviation from the original itinerary due to adverse weather conditions and due to this, you remained in Vis where our crew had organised a visit to the museum and wine tasting excursion, we hope you enjoyed this! Thank you for choosing to travel with Sail Croatia and we hope you enjoyed your time in Croatia overall.
Well organized by friendly staffs and suited to us.
- Nancy , 17/09/2019 02:31, Travelled with Friend/s
Thank you for your review and for joining us on board Milena!
Visit to 5 Islands - with a variety of Hikes including walking part-way down from Sv.Jure Mountain (1762m) in Makarska. Swimming in the warm Adriatic sea every day. Good mix fellow passengers, from different countries and ages (ranging from 30 to 80yrs). Overall, a most enjoyable social experience and relaxing holiday. The 'Sail Croatia crew' provided good food and service throughout the voyage.
- Robin, 16/09/2019 16:10, Travelled with Friend/s
Thanks so much for a great 5 star review and of course for joining us this season on board Milena for your Hike cruise!
Visiting different places each day with good mix of group and self-guided activities with excellent staff support
- Lindon, 24/06/2019 19:22, Travelled in a Couple
Thanks for the 5-star review :-)
All around amazing trip The people are very friendly and the food was amazing and the hikes were wonderful I really enjoyed every minute of the trip and would highly recommend to anyone who was thinking of going
- Sam, 28/05/2019 00:56, Travelled in a Couple
Thanks for your review on our Active - Hike cruise. We are so pleased to hear you had an amazing trip and found all aspects of the cruise enjoyable. Thank you for recommending us to others!
Wonderful staff and boat. Hikes with Ljubo and Gordana were particularly exceptional. Great choice and mix of port locations. All in all, just a wonderful time.
- Eric, 15/10/2018 14:02, Travelled with Friend/s
The cruise with Sail Croatia far exceeded our expectations. It was truly wonderful. An experience we would recommend. From the booking to the conclusion was seem less with the staff knowing a doing what was expected of them.
- John, 12/10/2018 08:31, Travelled in a Couple
The crew and captain were excellent and spoke English very well. The food was fresh, homemade and delicious. The hikes were fun and rewarding with fantastic views of the Dalmatian coast. We enjoyed both the small villages and bigger towns like Split. Our fellow passengers were friendly and warm (from UK, Canada, Australia - we were only Americans and that was fine.) We highly recommend also visiting Dubrovnik! Wish we would have also gone to Zagreb.
- Tom, 09/10/2018 23:15, Travelled in a Couple
The smaller cruise boat, the crew, the guides, the hiking and smaller ports we were able to visit.
- Ian, 08/10/2018 11:49, Travelled in a Couple
The boat was comfortable, the crew was very friendly and helpful, the food was tasty, the scenery was great and island towns were delightful. Swimming off the back of the boat in sheltered bays with crystal clear water was fantastic - and the water was so buoyant, that you couldn't sink. Thank you to the crew of Magellan.
- Karen, 24/09/2018 07:15, Travelled with Friend/s
Thank you for your review. We are really pleased to hear you have enjoyed yourself on board our Hike cruise. Thank you for your kind comments in regards to the crew and food on board. Thank you again and do visit with us again!
Good food, company and exercise. Well trained staff, beautiful weather.
- Rodney, 18/09/2018 13:24, Travelled in a Couple
- mike, 18/09/2018 09:00, Travelled in a Couple
Revamp the itinerary to exclude Korcula to enable walks to take place in the mornings not in the heat of the day after a hearty 3 course lunch (delicious as it was with such a variety prepared by Renata in her tiny kitchen!) Some of the walks very challenging. Miranda and Tea were excellent hosts, friendly, smiley, informative - a credit to Sail Croatia. They work so hard on a punishing schedule. The captain and "sailors" looked after us well, as did Angie supplying copious glasses of cold beer and chilled wine! Cabins were adequate with the bonus of air conditioning - something we hadn't expected. The towels had seen better days but were replaced on request, but surprised they were not changed during the course of the week.. The boat itself was kept exceptionally clean (Marija Magdalena), spacious, just 19 of us on board. Upper deck with deck chairs and large table and chairs with sun shaded areas. Lower deck where breakfast (again excellent) and lunch taken provided shade.
- Kathy, 17/09/2018 09:35, Travelled with Friend/s
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your review! Feedback is extremely important to us, as it helps us to improve our products and services. I have passed your comments to our Operations Manager, who will address the points raised with the appropriate parties directly to see where improvements can be made. It is great to hear you have enjoyed the food, the accommodation provided and that you were well looked after by our whole team. We hope to see you with us again soon!
The people, the scenery and our guides, superb !!!
- Brian, 17/09/2018 07:41, Travelled in a Couple
The Sail Croatia hiking cruise went beyond my expectations, which were high to begin with. The staff worked hard and were professional, but they were also just nice, friendly people and great ambassadors for Croatia. The hikes, meals, and other activities created an atmosphere of conviviality. We made new friends with our group. The hikes were challenging, but doable. (I'm out of shape, but the guides were helpful and patient as I was often the last one to finish the hike). What can I say about the beauty of Croatia that hasn't been said before? The islands and water are stunningly beautiful. The people of Croatia are friendly and rightfully proud of this amazing country. Of course, we had extra fun being there in June and getting to watch the first few games of the World Cup. (But don't wait for the next World Cup to roll around--if you're looking for the perfect way to experience one of the most beautiful places on Earth, Sail Croatia is the way to go).
- David, 17/07/2018 21:36, Travelled in a Couple
Our hiking guides Lyubo and Ana were wonderful and knowledgeable, and the accommodations on our ship were very comfortable.
- Anonymous, 03/07/2018 12:45, Travelled with Friend/s
Pleasant fellow travellers, enjoyable and sometimes challenging hikes, great weather and wonderful Croatian scenery, tasty breakfasts and lunches, knowledgable and friendly tour and hiking guides made this a memorable week. Ship (The Magellan) was just the right size, not too big and not too small. Dinners ashore generally very good - lots of lovely fresh fish! - in variety of quiet, and sometimes loud (Football World Cup was on!) ports. Would definitely recommend.
- Jonathan, 02/07/2018 06:47, Travelled in a Couple
- Intermediate level hiking, nice scenery - Free time to explore the towns - Fantastic food on board boat - Helpful and friendly guides
- Linus, 25/06/2018 01:12, Travelled in a Couple
We had a wonderful time on “The Magellan “. Our Sail Croatia rep, Ljubo was excellent and worked very hard to keep a diverse group of hikers happy. The ship was clean and comfortable. The food on board was very good. We went on some fantastic hikes on beautiful islands. Swimming off the boat was definitely a great memory. The group on board ranged from people in their 20’s to people in their 60’s from all around the world. Everyone got on really well which made for a great atmosphere all week. I would highly recommend this holiday to anyone with an interest in hiking.
- Brendan , 22/06/2018 16:23, Travelled with Friend/s
My wife and i had a great time sailing from island to island and hiking at each stop. The crew on-board were fantastic which made our time on the boat most enjoyable, the food was great, and the guides very knowledgeable and helpful. I would recommend to anyone.
- Anonymous, 11/06/2018 19:26, Travelled in a Couple
We can honestly say that this one holiday that is at the top of our list. The walking itinerary was just right, a mixture of easy and more testing walks. The ship is well maintained and the cabins were clean, comfortable and had everything you required, air -conditioning, hairdryer, multiple electric sockets and a safe. The meals were delicious and very welcomed after a day’s hiking. There’s also a well-stocked bar and a water cooler out on the deck. The staff were lovely, always smiling and having a laugh. We’d definitely, do this hiking / cruise holiday again in the future.
- Dianne Venables , 05/06/2018 08:06, Travelled in a Couple