Cruising Croatia
One thing about sailing – nature has the upper hand. In the Adriatic, especially when cruising Croatia, you get to know the Jugo wind. The Croatia news calls it a “Strong southeastern wind that blows along the Adriatic shores from the Sahara desert of Africa.” It can cause white-capped waves and humidity, often filling the skies with gray clouds and rain.
If the Jugo is mild, cruising Croatia goes as planned, but when white caps peak wise captains know to take shelter in port. Luckily, there are many fascinating ports tucked in around the Croatian islands and sailing crews stay flexible.
On a short cruise with Katarina Line, I had planned to spend the night in Split but our Katarina Captain, Tom, knew our departure window to the islands was short and the team quickly changed plans. Over three days instead of seeing three villages, we visited five! I was happy for that Jugo wind.
Southern Islands
You might think that flying solo internationally to a land where you don’t speak the language or know anyone would be risky. But I didn’t worry a bit about cruising Croatia as the Katarina Line tour guides kept me up to date with emails and texts from the moment the trip was confirmed. Once I landed in Croatia, they guided me easily to the ship in Split.
The airport shuttle dropped me at an open station a few blocks south of the historical core. I grabbed my roller bag and strolled along the waterfront towards Diocletian’s Palace. It was easy to spot the Seagull and the crew helped me on board.
After welcoming drinks and a short presentation we were soon underway to our first port on the island of Brac.
In the small port of Pučišće, we had a delicious seafood dinner and then strolled along the waterfront. Our host, Sanja, led us into a small bar and introduced us to the joys of traditional aperitifs and digestif made from honey, walnuts, herbs and cherries.
In the morning, and just steps from our mooring, we visited a traditional stone cutting workshop where young stone cutters train for years before entering university. The stone from Brac was chosen for the Split Palace of Diocletian and we soon recognized it everywhere.
On we sailed in style to Milna, Supetar, Stari Grad, and Hvar. In each port we explored on our own, followed trails, ate ice cream or enjoyed the local brews. The company was delightful from crew to fellow travelers – we few Americans mingling with Germans, Brits, and Dutch guests. Each meal was beautifully presented and every effort was made to accommodate dietary restrictions.
In several ports we met historian guides who expertly excited us about the local history and sights, always leaving time for us to poke around on our own.
Of course, there was a Captain’s dinner with live music, singing, and a wonderful meal. On the last cruise night in Split and we explored the UNESCO site of Diocletian’s Palace. If it reminds you of scenes from Game of Thrones, you’re not imagining things. Several segments and fights were filmed within the stone gates.
After sad goodbyes, I felt grounded and excited about exploring more of Croatia. While Katarina Lines offers land tours as well as other cruises from bicycling to yoga, adventure to luxury, I was ready to head up to Zagreb – but that’s another story.
Special thanks to the hard-working and fun team at Katarina Lines for making my cruising Croatia dreams come true. I will always admire how you were so flexible and accommodating, even when the Jugo wind kept changing all your carefully crafted plans!
I’ve always wanted to try to travel on my own but every time I feel like going I just don’t feel that confident enough to be by myself. I always think about the matters of safety and if I would be able to make it. But when I saw your post travelling alone and specially in Croatia is quite safe so I am now supercharged to go. I would also love to visit those GOT locations. I know I will enjoy this very beautiful medieval city.
I just know you’d be thrilled to step through some of Croatia’s medieval sites, Enola. I found that taking the short cruise built up my confidence and made it easy to venture into other parts of the country as well as Eastern Europe.
Thx for this great post, Elaine. I’ve thought about visiting Croatia and your post about cruising Croatia makes it sound very enticing!
I hope you do visit. Much more to come!
It sounds like a lovely way to see a bit more of Croatia. Personally, I prefer 3-4 day cruises mixed with land travel. Would you recommend a combined land and cruise travel approach to Croatia?
Katarina Line offers both land and sea tours. I left the cruise to explore Croatia on my own for the next two weeks and loved every moment.
Wow…what a fantastic cruise!! I have only been in Croatia along the Danube; I would love to return and experience this beauty!
I hope you get a chance to cruise the Croatian islands. All are small ports except for a few big cities like Split, Dubrovnik, and Rovinj in Istria.
What a great trip! I’m more of a sailing girl, but this looks like a beautiful small ship – maybe even better than sailing. I love seeing Split again – it was one of my favorite places in Croatia. Thanks for taking me back there.
Split was a highlight, of course, with all those ruins. I loved the culture that’s sprung up inside the palace keeping it so vibrant.
Katarina Lines sounds like a luxurious way to experience Croatia! I love the smaller ships as its usually possible to visit the smaller ports
Other than taking the inexpensive ferry, small cruises are the best way to see the different ports of Croatia. Each one was a wonder.
That’s it! I am going to Croatia.
I so hope you get the chance, Amanda. What a lovely country.
What a great way to see part of Croatia. I love the photographs of Split.
I was so lucky to do the cruise and Split is amazingly beautiful.
What a beautiful trip. Those pictures make me want to go! Thanks for all the information!
Thanks, Lisa, it was truly a wonderful time and this was just the beginning of a two week adventure.
Cruising is a great way to see Croatia, so glad you had a fabulous time! Katarina Lines sounds like a great company – I visited Croatia on a bus tour when I was 18 and we did a lot of day sailing trips from Dubrovnik, but I would love to get abroad an actual cruise. Thanks for the inspiration to get back again!
Thanks, Megan, So glad to hear you’ve visited Croatia. Day trips work but being able to stay in port overnight and quickly get from village to village was easy, relaxing and left us more time to visit each place. Perhaps you’ll return!
This was a great experience indeed. You were indeed lucky to get to visit 5 islands instead of 3. A cruise is a great way to see new places. It is a multi pronged experience as you get the sailing experience and also the experience of life on a ship.
You’re so right, Sandy, we had a taste of sailing the seas and then visiting small ports. I’d love to return and spend a long week doing more.
When I think of Croatia sail makes total sense as part of the beauty of Croatia is on the Adriatic Coast. From Rijeka down to Dobrovnik. I took a boat from Split to the BraÄŤ island for swimming. Beautiful. Great post! Fantastic country.
So glad you visited. We were supposed to visit Bol and spend more time in Hvar but that wind!
I loved my time in Croatia. I would love to go back and do a cruise like this. It looks amazing!
It was great fun and those ports!
Sounds like a wonderful cruise in Croatia, looks like the Captain used the Jugo wind to your advantage. Would love to visit someday
I hope you get a chance to see the Croatian coast and islands one day.
Wow what an amazing experience! I love Croatia, last time I did a road trip along the Adriatic and it was amazing. I also would like to visit more of the islands and the cruise seems like perfect way to see the most places possible!
So cool that you did a road trip along the coast. The cruise does indeed give you a chance to see so much.
I have yet to be on a small cruise such as the one you took. It looks very personal and I love the small group size. The captain must be very familiar with all the ports as it sounds like he was able to easily change the itinerary.
I loved the small group and how flexible the crew and captain were.
What a great way to visit the Croatian coastline! The food and drink looks delicious too. I’d love to sail away on Katarina Lines one day as part of our future visit to this gorgeous country.
So hope you get a chance to cruise with Katarina Lines.
Sounds like an awesome adventure. I went kayaking out of Split and we had to stop mid trip due to this type of storm you described. It sounds like your tour hosts were amazing and the Captains dinner looks awesome! This made me want to go back to Croatia!
I can imagine how terrifying it could be to kayak when those conditions come up. Yes, Katarina Line is so experienced with the weather and knows the ports so well that they can shift itineraries quickly.
Sounds like a great way to explore the islands. I’d love to do something similar one day That food looks amazing!
That looks like an adorable local cruise. I love the ports, the small number of guests, and the food looks amazing. Nice- I haven’t visited Croatia yet but hopefully next year. I will be sure to file this info away as I love cruising!
I hope you get to visit, Melody.
Looks like a good trip!! I’m dying to go to Croatia… its stunning!
Croatia, coastline and interior, is gorgeous.
I always heard that Croatia was a beautiful place to visit. What a great idea to explore it via a cruise! Do you know if there is a minimum age for guests? I would love to take my kids on one.
I imagine that kids would be welcome. Katarina Line has several different cruise and tour types.
Croatia is always my dream destination! I have people sharing about their awesome experience there on my website. Wish I can board on this luxury cruise trip soon!
I hope you get a chance to visit yourself, Chloe, and soon.
What a fun way to travel! I would love to visit Croatia, and the photo of the palace gate looks like it would be such a neat place to explore.
Each port on the cruise had so many wonderful surprises to see and visit.
Croatia is a spectacular place and one of my bucket list destinations, Elaine! Such a motivational and informative post!
Thank you so much, Agness. I’m so glad you found this interesting and helpful.
Croatia has been on my list for so long. Thanks for offering a look at what its like to be there with Katarina Lines. Sounds like something to consider, for sure — particularly since the line is named after me. 🙂 Love you photos. History, food, fun — what’s not to love?
So true there’s much to love in Croatia. You must visit!
That looks like a wonderful trip. I’d love to visit Croatia one day and a cruise on the Katarina Line looks like a comfortable way to see it.
It was truly a wonderful trip and yes, very comfortable.
That boat looks like the classiest way to see Croatia! What a great experience.
Classy but not stuffy, yes! I loved every minute.
I’ve long heard of Croatia being one of those European countries where you can still get the European experiences but without necessarily the mob of tourists. This certainly fuels my desire to get there ASAP!
Do visit soon and shoulder season is perfect to avoid crowds.
This article makes me want to fly to Croatia and board the ship now. This will be one of my future trips. Thanks for the information. How did you find out about this particular cruise?
Carol
I met reps from the Katarina Lines at the Los Angeles Travel Show. There are so many trips they offer.
Sounds like it was a lovely trip. Great pictures of your adventure. I’ll add this to my wish list.
Lovely, yes and I’m so glad you liked the pictures. Here’s to making your wish list come true.
What a beautiful and historic place. I have started to hear more and more about Croatia, and I now think that I would like to see the coast by sailing (and I hope I get the favorable winds you did.) The boat is absolutely amazing and I think you bunk was larger than the one we had on a full size cruise ship.
I was truly surprised at the bunk size! Most of the guests were traveling together and had twin beds. I heard no complaints.