We were a group of friends (8) who joined Sail Croatia for the Dubrovnik to Split 7 day cruise. The cabins were comfortable, the bathroom more spacious than the normal cruise ship. With only 40 people onboard I was concerned that we would be in each others pockets. There is more than enough space onboard to ensure you can read a book quietly if you want. The staff on our cruise (Salve de Mere) were supurb, from the maid throufg to the Captain, we were all in excellent hands. I loved the fact that we docked in small ports each night so we could enjoy local restaurants and bars. Each morning we stopped for a swim...as it was late season a few of us decamped to the jaquizzi where we had pre lunch cocktails...great fun! Each afternoon we were given options of excursions we could take, from walking and exploring, to bike rides and wine tasting. I would probably give the Buggies a miss as you travel in convoy at about 20kms per hour...very boring and a waste of money..
- Simon, 23/10/2024 11:31, Travelled with Friend/s
Our Tour Manager, and a professional crew The Group of wonderful people ( now friends) Croatia experience first time. Excellent planned Wine Cruise., very comfortable ship (Jelena) Reducing the rating from 5* to 4* only because the wine tastings fell short of my expectations.
- Catherine, 22/10/2024 10:02, Travelled with Family
Wonderful ship and crew were very accommodating.
- Anonymous, 22/10/2024 08:27, Travelled with Friend/s
The trip was great for my restricted mobility. The railings on all walkways and stairwells made walking around the ship possible. The crew were always available to offer a helping hand or arm. One of the sailors - Mario - was exceptionally thoughtful. He carried my mobility scooter on and off the boat, storing and charging it overnight. He was sensitive to my fears, crossing from boat to boat, offering encouragement and praise, as well as physical help. Wonderful intuitive personal skills!
- Alison, 21/10/2024 05:43, Travelled with Family
nice group 50 to 80 years old friendly people. Great bike rides on beautiful island boat ok, no sailing - there are no sails. friendly and helpfull staff
- Susanne, 20/10/2024 15:19, Travelled with Friend/s
Our guides Miranda and Tonia were the best! They were encouraging and helpful and knowledgeable! The boat was nice however I might mention a few things they could improve. Be more transparent about pricing of drinks. Choices of breakfast food could be better. Like more fruit and better toaster. Squeegee for showers to help with humidity in the rooms. Better WiFi in rooms. The ports were amazing and captain was great at parking the boat! I love Croatia and the people who live there are friendly and kind! We will be back!
- Demetria, 18/10/2024 10:01, Travelled with Friend/s
Ioana and the crew
- Georgette, 14/10/2024 19:24, Travelled with Family
The organization of the biking trip and the crew,
- Anonymous, 11/10/2024 08:33, Travelled with Friend/s
The crew was fantastic. Very friendly and accommodating. We were kept informed on a daily meeting about changes and weather situations concerning our travels. V our guide was great, suggesting restaurants and other things about the Croatia people. I would choose to do this trip again. It was a vacation of a lifetime! Most people were not happy that coffee couldn't be have after 9:00 am.
- Rick, 10/10/2024 17:24, Travelled with Friend/s
The "Tempera" cruise was interesting bc it stopped every day at a different island unlike other large cruise ships. The boat was small which allowed both the crew and the 36 passengers aboard to get to know each other. The food + its preparation were excellent. Above all, our guide, Ioana was so pleasant and knowledgeable, funny and accommodating. She got to know each one of her guests and always made sure we were happy with her options for us at each stop. Her briefings were engaging. Secondly, our meal server - M_____, was extremely kind and hard-working. Constructive criticism: In order to allow more sightseeing time, serve breakfast and DINNER instead of lunch. We felt a bit shortchanged by the current dining schedule. Overall, it was a lovely way to spend a vacation! Thank you to all for making us feel comfortable and safe!!
- Liz, 09/10/2024 21:13, Travelled with Friend/s
1. The wifi should work better. 2. For the price of the trip, I expected that we would have access to a good coffee machine 24/7. The urns provided were not satisfactory. 3. The excursions were overpriced. 4. The “included” tour of Dubrovnik should have included a bus to take passengers to the old town. 5. There should be enough treats during the coffee and tea hour (11-12) so everyone has a chance to get a snack. 6. The staff were friendly. 7. The boat was well kept. 8. Our rooms were kept clean. 9. The price of wine (bottles and glasses) were overpriced. 10. The captain’s dinner was very nice. It would have been better if wine was included.
- Anonymous, 09/10/2024 18:36, Travelled with Family
Hi there, thank you for your review! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the friendly staff, cleanliness of the ship, and the Captain’s Dinner. However, we are sorry to hear of your disappointment with some aspects. In regards to the Wi-Fi, it is subject to download limits and coverage can be inconsistent while out at sea. We aim to provide as much informaiton for the excursions offered and details are transparently outlined on our website. We appreciate your comments on the coffee machine. Coffee and tea is available during saloon hours, with additional snacks upon request. We strive for competitive drink prices and appreciate your suggestion of including wine with the Captain’s Dinner. Your feedback is valuable, and we appreciate all your comments, thank you.
Our tour hosts Ivan and Lucija were wonderful hard working guides. Thanks. Lucy and the rest of the kitchen staff were amazing. Thanks. The ship, crew and captain were amazing. Thanks. To be at a beautiful Croatian port, on the Adriatic sea in the morning and not allowed to have any type of coffee on the ship till 7:30 is a sad fact.
- Rob, 09/10/2024 16:36, Travelled with Friend/s
Staff was great. Especially Klara and Pamela. We enjoyed the swim stops and island stops. The meals were so so too much fish for my liking. They’ve in our room didn’t work for 1/2 the week. The tours were great, Capains dinner/dance and wine tours as well I would include gratuity in the price and/or arrange for credit card payments for on board liquor purchases for some people I spoke to were surprised they needed so much euros at the end of the trip which may have an effect on gratuity’s We would highly recommend Sail Croatia to anyone that asks us
- Rick, 08/10/2024 13:54, Travelled with Friend/s
Hi Rick, thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the swim stops, island visits, excursions and Captain's Dinner, and we appreciate your compliments about Klara and Pamela. Our chefs always aim to provide a variety of exciting dishes, however we understand that tastes can differ. Your comments will be passed on to our culinary team. Regarding gratuities, we want to clarify that tipping is entirely optional and at our guests' discretion. While we provide guidance for those who inquire, there’s no pressure, and any amount is appreciated by our crew. Thank you for your recommendations, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
The staff were great on this trip, especially Ioana our guide! Food. On the ship was very good and plentiful. The captain adjusted our itinerary for the weather. We had options to join group activities and dinners. Only wish we had more time off the boat. This cruise would be difficult for someone with mobility issues-especially in lower cabins and needing to cross between boats at ports. We had daily swim stops in am.
- Lynne, 07/10/2024 14:26, Travelled with Friend/s
The other cyclists on board made this holiday so much fun. They were all so friendly and easy going. All with a sense of adventure and fun. Having never visited Croatia before I was blown away by its beauty. A truly amazing holiday. I will definitely be back.
- Anonymous, 07/10/2024 08:33, Travelled with Friend/s
We spent a fantastic week with Sail Croatia exploring nearby islands. Night Sky was very clean and comfortable for our stay. Despite stormy weather, our Sail Croatia skipper ensured that we got the chance to visit as many destinations as possible and always provided information about where we were, as well as sailing advice. Hopefully we will be back!!
- Victoria, 07/10/2024 07:17, Travelled with Friend/s
Small boat, great staff
- Helen , 07/10/2024 07:01, Travelled with Friend/s
Swim stops were cancelled due to weather without consulting passengers. Some activities were cancelled either because of equipment malfunction. A better hostess would be good.
- Malcolm , 07/10/2024 06:54, Travelled with Family
Hi Malcolm - thank you for your review. We're glad to hear you found us to be a good company to travel with. For everyone's safety, we were sorry to see that a swim stop wasn't possible due to the unusually poor weather conditions, and we understand this affected your experience. We’re pleased to see that the hostess received all 5-star reviews for your departure. Once again thank you for your feedback.
Beautiful scenery and history of Croatia!
- Cathy, 04/10/2024 15:35, Travelled with Friend/s
I enjoyed the sail/cycle cruise immensely and would do it again in a heartbeat if I had the opportunity. Our tour guides, Lola and Dora, were the very best we could have hoped for. They went above and beyond to make our time enjoyable, especially as we had to change the planned itinerary due to the weather. I can't speak highly enough of them, and the crew on our boat 'Columbia' from 14 to 21 September. Thank you!
- Caroline, 04/10/2024 11:26, Travelled with Friend/s
Lots of great people on this trip including two great guides and the ships crew. The biking was challenging and fun though 32 people are rather a lot to organize. The boat was not as good as we hoped, but probably our fault as we thought we had gone premium plus rather than premium. Cabins were very small and the food was OK but not great.
- Peter, 02/10/2024 23:12, Travelled with Friend/s
Friendly staff. Well organized guides. Clean ship
- Anonymous, 02/10/2024 08:07, Travelled with Family
We enjoyed each town we visited. The ship was beautiful and clean and the staff was friendly and accommodating.
- Denise, 01/10/2024 10:39, Travelled with Friend/s
Good communication before trip. Attentive staff during our trip. Nice hand off after our trip.
- Paul, 30/09/2024 14:35, Travelled with Friend/s
Firstly I would like to point out I have absolutely no issues with the staff whatsoever - they each deserve 5 stars as they were all so welcoming and helpful throughout the trip. Special mention for Marin, the best host we could have asked for arranged some great nights and made sure everyone was included. My main issue was that the week was poor value for money, the food was ok but I have to mention the BBQ night, 25 euro for what can only be described as a car crash. When I was offered it I was expecting a real bbq on the port but no - the meats (poor quality I’ll add) were grilled in the usual kitchen not on any sort of bbq - genuinely left me feeling ripped off. Drinks on the boat are extremely expensive for what they are, poor quality sprits other than real JD, and still charging full price. Excursions are overpriced we did the canyoning and it was not worth 75 euros at all. Any transfers to ports clubs or bars are always charged and EVERYTHING is cash only - disappointing.
- Anonymous, 30/09/2024 10:45, Travelled with Friend/s
Klara’s energy and enthusiasm was contagious. Every morning she had a spring in her step which set the tone for the entire cruise. She was very approachable and answered all questions and queries with a happy smile. The boat was clean and in good condition. Would have liked a little more time in port and less ‘swim’ time as the towns had a lot to experience. Would recommend Sail Croatia to my friends.
- Amanda, 30/09/2024 08:37, Travelled with Friend/s
Travelled with a group of 12. Overall a great experience,. Although, we all felt rushed when riding , I can appreciate that when on a boat there are things we don’t know that may cause the riding time to be rushed, like having to deal with weather and docking times. These things should be taken in to consideration when choosing routes and times of riding. More time for sightseeing and swimming would have made my experience a lot better. The crew and guides did an amazing job. Would definitely refer friends to Sail Croatia.
- Debbie, 30/09/2024 07:30, Travelled with Friend/s
The cabins were cold and the first nigt on board the boat we could hardly sleep due to the chill in the cabin. We could not control the tempreture in the cabin. The cabin had lower standard than we expected. The food served on board was not good.Breakfast was good but lunch and grill could have been better.. I had the feeling during the trip that we were alwayes in a hurry. and the cykling tours not relaxed.Not much time for fotos or to observe the scenery etc. Nevertheless we enjoyed the trip.The staff was friendly and helpful at all times.
- Pall, 26/09/2024 17:53, Travelled with Family
Hi Pall, thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed your trip and found our staff friendly and helpful, though we're sorry to learn that some aspects didn't meet your expectations. Regarding the temperature in your cabin, we’d like to mention that the AC units onboard also have a heating function. Our Onboard Rep would have been more than happy to assist with this, had they been made aware of your discomfort. We appreciate your feedback on the meals. While breakfast met expectations, we'll pass your comments on to our team regarding the lunches served. In terms of the cycling pace, our Cycle cruises are designed for the more active traveler who enjoys a faster-paced itinerary. However, for those seeking a more relaxed experience with plenty of time to take in the scenery and capture photos, we offer other options such as our Explorer or Elegance cruises. These might be more suited to a leisurely travel experience in the future. Thank you again for your feedback. We hope to welcome you back onboard soon for another adventure.
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
Had a great trip. Anthony and Matea were wonderful Captain and host.
- Anonymous, 25/09/2024 10:11, Travelled with Friend/s
As the weather was inclement to keep to the original itinerary, the crew and tour guides were awesome in adapting our itinerary and cycle routes. The places they ported were just as amazing and beautiful.
- Kylie , 23/09/2024 16:37, Travelled with Friend/s
I really enjoyed my week sailing with sail Croatia. I went mid-september so unfortunately we were hit with some rainy weather but we had some sunny days and made the most of it. I got along well with the other travelers and our group leader was nice and answered our questions when we had them. The cabins were small but this was to be expected on a sailing boat, we all got pretty close sharing the same space for a week. The included breakfast was good and the supplies on board were just enough to make basic food. I would recommend this company to friends looking to have a good time, make new friends and go on adventures.
- Gabrielle, 23/09/2024 16:30, Travelled with Friend/s
Best way to see Croatia by Boat and Bike. Biking tge islands on ebikes is the only way to go!!! Fantastic. Staff and Crew were awesome. Food was Great. Chef was awesome and full of exuberance. I only downgraded to 4 stars due to Cabin comfort. Need better air circulation and climate control for sleeping.
- John, 23/09/2024 10:06, Travelled with Friend/s
I was very happy with the tour. The crew was happy going and all operations were smooth, The guides were well qualified, engaged and expressed kindness towards the the guests every day of the tour. Indeed a very good experienced, the second time I go with Sail Croatia in the beautiful area. My suggestions are: 1) Slow down the bike tours, make more brief stops to enjoy the splendor of nature. 2) Make the diet more in accordance with environmental and dietary recommendation (less meat, more vegetables and fruits). Furthermore, take measures to reduce food wast. As a first step, measure the food waste on board and calculate how much it costs. 3) Express your concern for nature in the selections of all materials and operation; including detergents, sorting of waste, motor efficiency; even the use of sails when possible. 4) Improve considerably the quality of the coffee you serve. For many people a good cup of coffee makes even a rainy day bright and sunny.
- Tryggvi Felixson, 23/09/2024 08:47, Travelled with Friend/s
Boat was pretty good, weather was rubbish, staff were very good but organisation needs some work! Lots of defects on the boat. Rain, thunder and lightning almost every day. The check in, shopping and hand over was utterly chaotic. Sail Croatia need to do a deal with the supermarket to take an order and deliver. There were hundreds of people, traffic chaos and no trolleys to be had.
- Nick Wilmshurst, 23/09/2024 06:45, Travelled with Friend/s
Dora was great, however, the recommended dinner - the one not included- was just *fair* and they over charged us and we were left to deal with paying. I feel like payment is something the cruise director should handle. It was chaotic and a bad way to end our evening. Also, I would have done more yoga, but it was usually just a little bit too early- I was on holiday, so I didn’t want to set an alarm. The only other suggestion: have more drinks for non-drinkers. Don’t run out of Coke Zero. I’m sure non-drinkers are not your normal clientele, but it would have been nice to be offered something else to drink when wine tastings were offered. The last dinner (the one that was included did a fantastic job of that. We felt seen, rather than ignored. Thanks so much. Overall I would recommend this yoga cruise.
- Nellie, 19/09/2024 13:02, Travelled with Friend/s
This is a well organised & experienced company who deliver what they claim. We visited scenic port villages, ate well, did some cycling (not as much as we wanted due to inclement weather) and made new friends from around the world. The crew & guides worked really hard to meet the varied needs of the guests.
- Frank, 19/09/2024 05:23, Travelled with Friend/s
No snacks and coffee service only a few hours a day? Also couldn’t get a beverage while band was playing? Boat lost revenue during entertainment because couldn’t access the bar
- John, 17/09/2024 05:00, Travelled with Family
We loved the bicycle part of the trip and the beautiful stops at night. Some of our itinerary changed due to bad weather and port issues, but the crew and guides worked to make it a good experience, and it was.. However guests got seasick. My only problem was caused by jumping into the water from the top of the boat, and that was due to my poor judgment. Swimming in the sea was fun!
- Kay, 16/09/2024 04:38, Travelled with Friend/s
We really enjoyed our trip on Almissa. Our cruise director did a good job informing us of the daily schedule and working with excursion providers to give us the best experience. We enjoyed the yoga sessions. There was a good variety of excursions for all activity levels. We enjoyed exploring the towns. A lot of history, shopping, food options and gelato! The ship was the perfect size. We had a fun group of passengers. The crew did a great job of keeping things clean and organized and the food was good too. We don’t have any complaints!
- Danae, 16/09/2024 00:42, Travelled with Friend/s
Fabulous trip great meeting people worldwide the islands we stopped at were amazing tour was well a organised food was ok drinks were very expensive on the boat I think a lot more drinks would be served if this was not so excessive also hidden costs should be told up front paying for national parks and also the city tax was a lot more expensive than hotels city tax ?why ? we paid 3 times more than normal city tax when i questioned this I was told this was for staff for lifting bikes on and off ? is that not part of the holiday fees? need to be up front to people with all these charges shame only thing that put dampner on an exciting holiday
- mario, 15/09/2024 18:42, Travelled with Friend/s
Dear Mario, Thank you for your recent 4 star review. I'm pleased to see you had a fabulous time on-board your recent Cycle Cruise, and you appreciated the organisation of the tour. We do advise on our FAQS, and also your Online Account that there is a "A local payment of 40 Euros per person is payable onboard your Sail Croatia Cruise. This payment incorporates port fees and tourist taxes throughout the week and is subject to change." so that is not a surprise to guests when on-board the cruise. Thank you for your feedback on the food and drinks, this is appreciated and will be passed onto our Operations Team. We do appreciate you as a valued customer of ours and are glad the feedback raised in your review did not deter you from having a great time on board. We hope to welcome you again in the future!
More info ahead of time about boarding place and process. Better communication about the agenda, activities etc. Maybe a "white board" with cycling distances, times, degree of difficulty, planned stops etc. Also, more info ahead for non cyclists and which stops we were having dinner on our own. Announcements were not made ahead of time and were difficult to hear with engines running. More time to explore port towns. Especially Brac....no time after the ride to see the port. Food and crew were fantastic. Trip was fantastic and the rides were great
- merci, 13/09/2024 10:25, Travelled with Friend/s
- Justin , 11/09/2024 08:40, Travelled with Family
The land, the people and many others things, and most importantly the tour guides, Míla and Maren 👌👌
- Anonymous, 11/09/2024 08:30, Travelled with Friend/s
Landscape and surroundings were wonderful. Bicycle trips were very nice - I only regret having more time to take photos on the way. Staff on board were helpful and charming. And the best part:: getting to know and make friends with other international guests were fantastic!
- Anonymous, 10/09/2024 07:26, Travelled with Friend/s
Friendly crew and clean boat. Itinerary had more swim stops than expected which was frustrating at 2 places. We should have asked and paid for tender rides to explore the towns longer. Felt like a waste of time. Not enough time in Hvar or Kumiža - definitely could have spent a full day exploring those towns. Bath towels are very thin and there is NO space in your cabin for large suitcases. Our carry-ons just fit under the bed - no idea where larger bags would go. Plenty of fresh water for showers but you need bottled water for cleaning your teeth. No frills but great way to see the Dalmatian Coast and explore the islands.
- KimR , 09/09/2024 02:53, Travelled with Friend/s
Thoroughly enjoyed cruising the Croatian islands on our Dubrovnik to Split and return to Dubrovnik tour. Each port we stopped at represented a lesson in history. Thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour in Split and Dubrovnik with the local guides as well as the fabulous dinner with wine in Stari Grad at a local farm restaurant. Our morning swimming stops were a pleasure and the food served on the boat was divine. But there were negatives: 1. Our lower level cabins were adjacent to the engine room therefore when the boat left port early in the morning, no further sleep or talking could be had. These cabins were priced the same as the forward lower level cabins which seems unfair. 2. No itemised bar bills were provided so you had to assume that what you were billed for, you actually drank. 3. The boats internet was rubbish. 4. When rafted up at port with other boats, crossing over was difficult at times due to the height of each boat I.e. need individual ramps and not step up or down.
- Rosalie, 05/09/2024 14:17, Travelled with Family
Dear Rosalie, Thank you for your detailed review and for sharing both the highlights and suggestions on both of your tours. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the historical walking tours, the fabulous dinner in Stari Grad, and the divine food onboard, as well as the beautiful morning swim stops in lovely secluded bays. We regret to hear that there were some aspects that had an impact on your overall cruise experience. Regarding the noise from the engines, as our ships are small motor cruisers, the engines do make some unavoidable noise when in operation, similar to a running car. We understand this may affect travelers differently, but it is part of the small ship experience. We are pleased to advise that we received a total customer score rating of 4.4/5 for your week onboard. Regarding the bar bill, guests are welcome to request an itemised bill each day to track their consumption. The Wi-Fi can be temperamental as it is subject to download limits and can experience reduced coverage while out at sea. The ramps between boats are designed for ease of movement, but due to the unique designs of each vessel, some variations in height are expected - we appreciate your suggestion of individual ramps. We thank you again for all your feedback and hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip.
Our crew was fantastic and the places we stopped were stunning! We started in Split and the boat captain "Mickey" rolled out the map so we could weigh in on what stops we wanted to make/important things on our list (Blue Cave, Mljet National Park, etc.) and made some great recommendations as well. Each place we visited offered a new experience, great food, beautiful scenery, architecture, people and on and on! What's preventing a 5 star review management could easily fix! FIRST and foremost: towels and sheets. When one is experiencing a luxury yacht adventure, don't expect them to use the SAME towels and sheets for 7 days in a row without replenishing them! Gross! We don't need fresh sheets and towels daily but please turn them over mid way through the trip. When we had a cut (blood) and our towels become soiled, the crew said there were no spare towels and sheets on board. Small thing that would make a big difference! Otherwise it was a lovely experience! I'd go back!
- Rebecca , 04/09/2024 13:25, Travelled with Friend/s
Vedran Ovčar was fantastic. Our crew and itinerary. The ship and our weather were lovely. Can't say enough. We all had such a memorable, great time!
- Anonymous, 03/09/2024 14:55, Travelled with Friend/s
Loved the islands and the sea was amazing. Our trip, in August, made for really hot biking but great swimming. The tour ran like a clockwork schedule. The right mix of hard work and down time. Our bike guide could have been a bit more personable. Food was great bur so much was a bit overwhelming. Because boats were anchored together with other boats overnight loud passengers crossing in and out often disturbed our sleep late into the night. A sign for "Quiet hours after 10pm" would have been great. Our room was very comfortable but more hooks on the walls are needed. Our stewardesses, Paula and Olga and our tour coordinator Mila were great as were the whole crew.
- stacey, 03/09/2024 09:11, Travelled with Friend/s