Frequently asked questions about yacht charter in Croatia

Before making a decision on the boat size, consider the following factors:

• Do you have pairs in your group who can share a cabin, or do some members need separate cabins?
• What level of comfort do you require – a sailboat or a catamaran?
• Are you comfortable with someone sleeping in the common living space (saloon area)?
• Will you need a skipper? Keep in mind that if you opt for a skipper, they’ll also require sleeping accommodations.

For bareboat charters, ensure you have the necessary licenses. Check our website for a list of required licenses here.

While our standard charter period is from Saturday afternoon to the following Saturday morning, we do offer shorter trips during the off-season (October – April). These shorter trips are also available as last-minute options, depending on boat availability. However, during peak season (June, July, August, September, May), we adhere to our weekly charter system due to high demand.

For a bareboat charter, you need a certificate of competence and at least one person onboard should be qualified for VHF station operation. Ensure your license is valid for bareboat charters in Croatia by checking the list here.

If you lack formal qualifications but have experience, you can book a boat in advance with the agreement that you’ll obtain the necessary certificates before check-in. If you don’t fulfill this agreement, the deposit won’t be refunded.

The skipper costs 1.540 € + meals per week and you are responsible to provide his meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. When planning your provisions on board you need to include the skipper in all meal plans, while when going out in a restaurant, you can either take the skipper with you or he can go by himself and you can cover the bill afterwards; or you can simply give him an upfront stipend in the amount of 40€/day.

When choosing a boat you need to ensure that your party plus the skipper fits in the max number of berths onboard (and max number of the persons allowed onboard). Please bear in mind that you cannot expect the skipper to share a cabin with someone from your party. It is highly recommended that you charter a larger boat and provide the skipper with his own cabin, but in case your budget doesn’t allow it you can have the skipper sleeping in the saloon provided that it can be transformed into the sleeping area. In this case, consider the saloon his private area and ensure that he has enough time to sleep and to rest.

The hostess’s daily fee is 1.400€ + meals. Her responsibilities include cleaning, preparing breakfast and light lunch, and grocery shopping.

In addition to direct fees (boat rent, charter pack, extras), budget for the following:

• Fuel: Estimated based on motor usage.
• Moorings: Cost varies based on boat size and location.
• Security Deposit: Required for possible damages.
• Food: Plan your own meals; provisions are available on the islands.

Payments in Croatia are made in Euros, either in cash or by credit card, depending on the location. Plan accordingly based on your route.

Consider the season:

• Year-round essentials: Sunblock, hat, sunglasses, medications, windproof jacket, soft shoes.
• Summer additions: Swimsuits, light clothing, sandals.
• Winter additions: Fleece jacket, warm clothing.
• Traveling with children: Entertainment and essentials.

Children are welcome onboard, but close supervision is crucial. Life jackets are provided for them. Plan shorter routes for safety and comfort.

The best route depends on your preferences and charter length. Whether you prioritize sightseeing or relaxation, our suggested routes cater to both. Share your preferences with us for personalized recommendations.

Charters start Saturday afternoon and end Friday evening, with the yacht becoming available around 17.00 p.m. However, we always do our best to deliver the yacht to our customers before the above mentioned time. In case you have a couple of hours left after the check-in and before your boarding time, a short visit to the town (the old town is 15minutes of walking from our marina, and in our blog post about Split you can find some ideas about what to see, what to do and where to eat; check here) or a drink at a bar around the marina is our recommendation. Your luggage will stay safe with us.

Return the boat to the base marina by 18:00 p.m. on Friday and spend the last night onboard. Redelivery is around 08:00 a.m. the next morning, clean and with a full fuel tank.

We’ll send you a link to fill out the crew list before your charter. Make sure the crew list matches the number of persons onboard. Notify us in advance of any crew changes, and we’ll provide you with the verified crew list during check-in.

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on our boats due to cleaning constraints within short turnover periods.

The Dalmatian coast experiences Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 34°C to 38°C in peak months. Spring and fall offer more temperate conditions, making May, June, September, and October ideal for sailing.

In case of damage, defect or any other need there is an organized sea rescue service that helps you.

The Republic of Croatia is a signatory of the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, and as such is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System- GMDSS.

The National Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Rijeka (MRCC RIJEKA) provides a 24 hour watch service, and in terms of jurisdiction of the Center, this includes the region of internal marine waters, territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia (marine belt wide 12 nautical miles from the shoreline towards the open sea) and the region of international waters as confirmed in treaties with neighbouring states and as reported to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Internal maritime waters and territorial marine waters are divided into sub-regions, for which are responsible the sub-centers, alongside the MRCC RIJEKA. Besides the Maritime Centre, another eight harbour headquarters are availableon a 24-hour duty: their branch offices, coastal radio-stations, lighthouses and a rescue unit.

The24-hour duty is established on VHF canals 10 and 16, while, at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, the phone number 9115 is available for all theneeds at thesea(calls from abroad +385 51 9115). A phone operator also answers the GMDSS calls.

In Croatia there is also a single emergency number 112.

In case you need help on yours or somebody other’s boat, it is necessary to inform one of these services as soon as possible. 

TThe Adriatic Sea’s temperature varies throughout the year, from 7°C in winter to 22-27°C in summer. Check the current sea temperature clicking here, while below you can find monthly means of the sea temperature in Split area from April till October (the months of the charter season in Croatia):

APRIL – 15°C
MAY – 18°C
JUNE – 21°C
JULY – 24°C
AUGUST – 25°C
SEPTEMBER – 23°C
OCTOBER – 20°C

Croatia experiences various winds:

• Bura (Bora) and Jugo (Scirocco) prevail from September to May.
• Maestral is common during summer.
• Other winds include Tramontana, Burin, Levant, Lebić, Pulenat.

A deposit insurance/deposit waiver cost for each boat is specified in our price list here. There is a refundable and non-refundable part of the deposit waiver. They both need to be paid in cash. Refundable part is refunded by check-out if no damage. 

The cost of cancellation is actually the amount you have paid to us till the cancellation. By booking confirmation, you pay 30% of the boat charter price, while the other 70% you need to pay 4 weeks before the start of your charter. That is to say, if you cancel before having paid 70%, the cost equals 30% already paid by booking confirmation. However, if you cancel after you have done the second payment: 70%, the cost of cancellation equals the entire boat charter price. We, therefore, suggest you to buy a cancellation insurance policy in your country to cover your cancellation costs, in case of justified cancellation reasons. The reason for the strict cancellation policy is dictated by the high cost involved in charter industry (boat price, maintenance costs, marina fees…), where each booked week is important to us. In case of cancellation, it is not easy for us to find the substitute in the last minute and we lose many potential clients while having the boat reserved for you.

Diving is subject to set rules and regulations and the Statute of the Croatian  Nowadays, laws prescribe that diving in Croatia may be done independently or organized through registered diving centres (irrespective of the base). Appropriate permits [annual diving passes (100 HRK) and annual individual permits for independent diving activities (2400 HRK)] need to be obtained. You also need to be in possession of avalid diver`s card issued by Croatian Diving Federation. This license can be obtained if you have valid diver`s brevet that was issued by an international diving association (IDD, UDI, CMAS, MDEA, PADI…). For recreational diving purposes at registered diving centres, it is sufficient to obtain a pass and avalid brevet. Diving in Adriatic is forbidden without a valid license.
Dives at certain zones are prohibited unless organised through registered diving centres with diving guides as they are sites protected by the Ministry of Culture.

For legal recreational fishing, a valid fishing license is required. The license can be obtained online at the following link https://ribarstvo.mps.hr/default.aspx?id=5010 . Please note that fishing is forbidden in National Parks – when obtaining the license, you will receive the list of the no-fishing zones as well as the list of allowed fishing tools.

Croatia uses standard European 2-point plugs with 220 V electricity. Use mobile chargers with 220 V plugs or use an inverter for 12 V devices while sailing. Marinas offer shore power connections.

On all boats there are:
– Italian Moka pot – click here to see the photo
– French press – click here to see the photo
– Turkish coffee pot – click here to see the photo
– Pot, plastic and paper filters for filtered coffee – click here, here and here to see the photos

For the above coffee makers, you need to buy corresponding ground coffee.

On the catamaran, there is also
–Dolce Gusto coffee machine – click here to see the photo
For the Dolce Gusto machine, you need to buy the corresponding capsules.

To avoid seasickness, take precautions such as taking medication before sailing, staying outside, looking at the horizon, avoiding reading, and consuming non-irritating foods. The Adriatic Sea is generally calm, but it’s best to stay informed about weather conditions and adjust your route accordingly.