Cruising Croatia
Avantura Yacht
Experienced during the 1st week of August 2024
I would repeat this vacation and experience. Something I rarely say! Primarily because there are just so many places to explore, and I rarely repeat. Well, this was one of those journeys and experiences where I’m hooked, and also highly recommend cruising through Croatia on a yacht to anyone.
One of our daily swim stops in the Adriatic Sea
Background:
Visiting Croatia was a bucket list trip for my Mum and I. We were beginning to plan our trip in 2020 and obviously that didn’t happen. Due to some curve balls and me changing plans, we found ourselves talking about it in mid May and next thing you know we’re off to Europe for 2 weeks, less than 2 1/2 months later. When kicking around ideas, friends of Mum’s had taken a yacht cruise through Croatia and highly recommended…so we followed their advice.
Perhaps because I did little research in advance, I had little/no expectations. So is that the key to having experiences that will standout forever? I hope not as researching and planning are my jam;) But there is something to be said for going in very open minded to travels and experiences, also without having a list of things to check off.
The experience, the vibe, the quality of the yacht, food, staff all were fabulous. I truly felt like I was on vacation. There was a healthy blend of sight-seeing and exploring the towns and ports with relaxing, swimming in the Adriatic Sea and lounging on the yacht. It truly was an incredible combination of relaxation, culture and exploration.
YACHT
Our home for the week was the Avantura. The yacht could hold 38 passengers and had 8 crew; we only had 25 passengers so it never felt crowded and you could find pockets of space for yourself as well. Because we booked late we only had the option of a cabin below deck; which wasn’t a big deal since we were barely in the room. With sailing in August and along the coast of Croatia, the waters were calm overall. And we were docked at ports overnight so there was barely any rocking while asleep; if we were sailing overnight perhaps it would have been different.
The crew knew your name and details of dietary needs for all passengers. We enjoyed getting to know some of them and their unique stories. (and for any inquiring minds, we didn’t get ‘Below Deck’ vibes).
As someone who loves to plan, it was refreshing like the cool Adriatic Sea, to have a guide who delivered a schedule every day which had built in free time for swimming at our daily private water stops or napping and relaxing while we sailed between islands and then free time at the ports.
It was a great mix that also let us sit back and relax. The daily swim stops were a highlight. Every day we sailed between islands and stopped at a near private spot along the way; all but one day were we the only yacht docked! Which truly provided for a unique and calm experience.
This ‘private’ aspect where there were times were I was literally the only one in the stunning sea (I maximized my mermaid time) soothed the soul and stimulated the senses. Gratitude for experiencing this gorgeous part of the world is an understatement. And having these experiences where you could easily enjoy the sea in all its magic - the turquoise and midnight blue waters were transparent and relatively calm making it easy to spot fishes swimming below your toes. Oh and if you’re an extroverted introvert like me and hesitant to be ‘stuck’ on a ship without any space or time to yourself, fear not, I found a beautiful balance of solo time to restore, reconnect with myself and more combined with social time with an amazing group of new friends.
And… I truly found the experience to be amazing for us on a mother/daughter trip - as my Mum who loves (and prefers) to be around people, could be a social butterfly all day (minus a few naps on the upper deck while sailing), and I could have my moments to myself to swim (mostly:), read, write and rest. Honestly, that Mum had her ‘own’ experience where she felt comfortable and loved connecting with others independent of me truly tied into some of the magic of this experience. Because we both could have our own experiences both together and separate is why I support and highly recommend a yacht holiday as an excellent vacation option for a mother and daughter. (It’s also awesome for family and friends trips too!)
Another bonus of sailing on a yacht is that you only have to unpack once! Truly, there is something wonderful about not needing to unpack and repack - so much time saved to enjoy!
And lastly, all of the logistics are taken care of for you - from which ports to visit, to ship schedules and where to stay and transfers on the islands, no energy was needed towards these things, that truly can take up so much time unless you have a travel advisor (shameless plug for myself;) who takes care of everything…but really, there was something so easeful about showing up and docking every day at a new port, getting off and exploring for a few hours. We just needed to be sure we knew which row of yachts we were in:)
The only downside is that if we really enjoyed a specific town, we were limited on time there (which is true for any cruise…). As I like to think, we had a delicious taste and can easily go back and spend more time. Or cruise again and explore other parts of the port towns.
We were fortunate to have a fun and friendly group of people to spend the week with, who we’ve kept in touch with. They truly helped make the trip extra special.
PORTS/ ISLANDS VISITED
Dubrovnik
Overnight on the yacht/half day in the Old town - guided tour, then free time for lunch and exploring for a few hours. It was very very busy with tons of tourists. We went first thing in the morning - returning to the yacht around 1pm to sail. Probably the most remarkable aspects of this brief experience were how the city (still) stands in tact post several earthquakes and the recent (1992) war with Yugoslavia. The pride that those from Dubrovnik have and passion were very evident in our our guide.
Below are some scenes from our time in Dubrovnik!
Šipan
Visited and wandered on our own in the evening after dinner. Very quaint, quiet and charming old town that many take a day trip from Dubrovnik to visit. All of the sites were already closed so we were only able to admire from the outside.
Fishing nets lining the shore in Sipan
There were tons of cute kitties in Sipan along the water, likely awaiting dinner from the caught fresh fish
Mljet
Visited the National Park, that has 2 large salt water lakes, long trails for walking or biking. We were primarily on our own, and enjoyed a boat ride and swimming in a crystal clear lake.
Korčula
Guided tour followed by time to explore and dine on our own. The most spirited and unique tour and glimpse into an island and its history, our guide played the part by dressing as (one of) Marco Polo’s mistresses during the 13th century.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner, al fresco, and live music at Servantes - Food & Wine Bar. With a diverse menu, there’s something for everyone. With a diverse crowd, the restaurant was packed. We didn’t have a reservation, but got there very early; definitely recommend if looking to dine later.
Vis
Free time to explore and dine on our own. It was much easier to get a glimpse into local life here as many locals were mixed in with the handful of visitors. The walk along the water was a highlight, where many (likely locals) enjoyed the temperate waters.
I enjoyed gelato from Slatki kut, tucked away on a back street parallel to the water and port. With unique offerings and several vegan, it was difficult to choose. I did something away from my typical chocolate - I went with a goat’s milk caramel and black cherry - both were richer than I usually prefer but I had no problem slowly savoring the sweetness.
Bisevo - Blue Cave
We were fortunate that both our captain strategically timed our visit for super early in the morning and that the weather cooperated. We didn’t have to wait, sailings were smooth and the entire experience lasted less than 30 minutes. Very cool and unique indeed, especially to see the schools of fish swimming next to us in the cave. Also - you are in a very small boat; you do not go in the water.
Hvar
One of the more well-known and lively islands with fortresses, beaches, cobblestones, narrow streets and plenty of dining, clubs /nightlife and shopping. The stone buildings and streets stole our hearts.
We stumbled upon Giaxa. With an eclectic menu, options and unique space, our group of 8 decided to dine here. We enjoyed local fish and vegetables and of course great company. (For some reason on this trip, I was very much in the moment and missed capturing food fotos!)
Mum & Meg in Hvar town
Trogir
Our 2nd to last night, we enjoyed the Captain’s dinner on the yacht before having the evening to enjoy at port. There was an outdoor ‘bar/lounge’ with live music that we went to as a large group right near the port.
The Split airport is actually located in Trogir and because we had a 6am flight, we stayed closer to Trogir on our last night, so we were able to come back and explore more.
There are an abundance of restaurants, shops and also a large market selling everything from ripe fresh fruit (I scored some delicious figs), dresses and other clothing and other souvenirs. This section, along with a row of restaurants, are near Trogirski most, which is on the inside of the ‘island’, opposite the port.
Exploring Trogir
Fabulous fresh Figs (& peaches)
Split
We concluded our week away in another popular destination. Definitely could have enjoyed more time as it is a larger port (good reason to return!)
We dined outside at Bajamonti, set in a 19th century square. The surrounding facades are gorgeous and evoke a flashback in time; the inside is well appointed and ornately designed. We enjoyed pizza, octopus and fries, a perfect meal shared with new friends.
I satisfied my gelato craving by visiting aMare Gelateria post dinner. They had a few vegan options; I opted for mango and chocolate that were refreshing and would have fooled the vegan skeptics.
I enjoyed all ports and towns - all had their own unique charm - so it would be hard to pick a favorite!
MUST DO:
~ Walk! Wander and explore.
~ Swim in the Adriatic Sea (obviously:)
~ Relax!
EAT:
We had most meals on the yacht. They provided breakfast and lunch every day, and dinners 2 nights. The other nights we were in port, so were able to explore and dine on our own. The meals on the yacht were delicious and high quality
Mentionings of enjoyable dinners at ports are shared under the island/port section.
Gelato
Of course! Not every day lol but had a few scoops along the way. Also mentioned under the port section.
Coming from the U.S., connecting through a European hub is typically necessary. We connected through Amsterdam both ways; friends connected through Madrid, Frankfurt and London. Flight frequency depends on the time of the year.
STAY:
The benefit of being on a yacht is that you don’t need to plan hotels/stays along the way and unpack/repack repeatedly. There was something really fabulous about feeling settled for a week (and the time saved to just relax was a bonus!)
We stayed a night before and at the end; as we left from Dubrovnik, we stayed one night at the Hotel Lapad. Over a century old, the facade and property are gorgeous. The rooms a bit mixed; the room was dated, yet bathroom somewhat updated (despite a high tub - suddenly I pay attention to these things when traveling with aging parents!). It was conveniently located on the water with a number of restaurants within a few feet. There was also a beach not far (though we didn’t venture). For a ‘base for a night’ this definitely worked. Breakfast was included and it was a vast spread with plenty of options for all.
View from our balcony at Hotel Lapad in Dubrovnik
CURRENCY / PAYMENT:
Euro
Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere except for some of the smaller shops and vendors.
We tipped our yacht crew in USD/ bar bill was either Euro or credit card
A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS:
~ Water is drinkable - bring your refillable bottle!
~ Bring goggles or a snorkel set! The water is crystal clear everywhere and we saw quite a few fish.
~ Summer/August is hot (it was in the 90s). The ‘schedule’ for most days though was structured that we were able to be in the water and on the yacht during the day where it was significantly cooler than in the towns, where we usually were exploring late afternoon and evening. Water was easily available on the yacht (and they gave a water bottle for use on the yacht); I loved having a backup for when off the yacht. Also, adding electrolytes either something like LMNT OR some fresh lemon and lime juice is a great way to be sure that you keep hydrated.
MINDFUL MOMENTS & HOW I STAYED GROUNDED (while floating in the sea)
It was easy to find time to myself each day to clear my mind, reconnect and tap into gratitude for the incredible experiences. From grabbing a few moments at the front of the yacht most mornings to breathe and meditate, to having a few solo swims, I also journaled throughout the week (per usual - I have a near daily journal practice that I’ve had for the past 4+ years), I found it easy to keep up with my mindful moments and grounding.
Intention: Experience Croatia and travel in a unique and different way (via yacht) with my Mum.
WHAT SPARKED JOY ON THIS JOURNEY?
~ So. Much! The balance and blend of sea and sights as I love being in the sea AND I adore walking through old towns. And being able to do both in the same day filled me with so much JOY, lightness and more. This trip was extra special for so many reasons - a personal blog coming soon to share all:)
I hope this was both helpful and inspiring. Thinking about or already planning an upcoming trip? I can help! As a certified travel advisor and experienced traveler, it would give me joy to support you in having an amazing journey through Croatia (or anywhere!). Email me through the link below - I’d love to help.
xoxo,
Megan Joy
