Croatia Cruises

Small-ship cruises offer a more personal, flexible experience than big liners. On most of our cruises, vessels carry no more than 40 guests, so the crew quickly gets to know you, provides attentive service, and adapts to your preferences. These smaller ships can dock in narrow coves and medieval harbors, letting you explore charming towns without crowds or waiting in long lines.  We also offer a selection of larger, luxury ships—like Emerald Azzurra, L’Austral, and Star Clipper—with between 50 and 150 cabins. These vessels combine upscale amenities with a boutique atmosphere, allowing you to enjoy more space and enhanced service while still benefiting from the flexibility and intimacy of smaller ships. In short, small-ship cruising gives you genuine hospitality, easy access to hidden ports, and meaningful cultural experiences. Our luxury yachts offer that same warmth, plus extra comfort and style.

Small Ship Cruising is all about the destinations, which means on a typical day, the vessel sets sail after breakfast. It includes a stop in the morning for a swim. Lunch is typically served in the ship's restaurant from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Additional swim stops often occur in the afternoon before the ship arrives back in port. Once ashore, the guests will typically depart for a guided tour. The guided tours usually last 90-120 minutes before guests return to the ship. As the small ships dock directly in the Old ports, they can get on and off at any time they want

The best time for Croatia cruises is from spring to autumn. If you're planning a Croatia cruise, consider May or October for fewer crowds and better rates.

On our smaller ships that carry up to 40 guests, the crew typically consists of around 5 to 7 members, including the captain, chef, a few waitstaff, a cabin attendant, and two sailors. These crew sizes ensure attentive, personalized service. On our larger luxury yachts, the crew-to-guest ratio is much higher, about one crew member for every two guests, which creates a truly attentive and elevated onboard experience. 

The majority of cruises include half-board accommodation. That means two meals daily are usually provided, mostly breakfast and lunch on cruises. On a cruise, meals are usually listed on the daily itinerary so that you will know exactly which meals are included. The cruise manager may change some lunches or dinners so that you can enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience, such as a Welcome Dinner or Captain's Dinner. Lunches are served three-course, often including soup, pasta, seafood or meat, and a salad. Dinners included on your trip will be similar to lunches. For the rest of your meals, you will dine anywhere you choose on shore and are responsible for the cost of those meals. Your cruise manager will happily recommend a good-value restaurant nearby at every location; you can explore on your own! Please note that different cruise categories include various levels of catering services so that inclusions can vary from those listed here. Please check your specific cruise info carefully.

Guests are kindly asked to inform us as soon as possible (at least 60 days in advance) of any dietary preferences, such as diabetic, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc. The cruise team will make reasonable efforts to accommodate special dietary requests. However, it is important that you inform the cruise manager at the time of booking and throughout your journey.

The number of other passengers on board with you will depend on the size of the ship you're cruising on and can vary from 30 to 250.

There is usually an international mix of guests from all over the world on board – Scandinavia, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Spain, and Italy… It will be a great way to meet people worldwide and make new and long-lasting friendships! Most Deluxe cruises will cater to mature couples, solo travelers, and small groups of friends/family. Most passengers on these higher-standard cruises are typically between 35 and 70 years old. Some Deluxe cruises don't allow children at all. Some do, but there is no guarantee that other families with children around the same age will be onboard. It is a possibility that you will end up as the only family.

Croatia is part of the Schengen area, so visitors from many countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, do not require a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days. However, checking current visa requirements before planning your trip is best.

Most cruises start from Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, or Opatija. Split, Dubrovnik, and Zadar have their international airports. If you're starting from Opatija, the nearest airport is in Pula. Still, you can also fly to Zagreb, Ljubljana, or Venice.