Private Yacht Charter FAQ's

 

Private sailing charter is the exclusive yachting experience in Croatia allowing you to discover idyllic Croatian islands, hiden bays and charming villages at your own pace. The itinerary for Croatia yacht charter holiday is 100% flexible and can be arranged with your skipper before and during your journey to best suit your holiday expectations and traveling style.

 

First you need to understand that a sailing boat holiday is not a regatta sailing but a slow-paced cruing trip with modern, spacious yachts or catamarans. All the charter sailboats available at the Croatian coast are fully equipped with everything you need for a indulging living-on-board experience. This unique vacation is recommended for adventurous families and various groups of friends trying to reunite in a one-of-a-kind natural ambiance and fashionable on-board accommodation.

 

Yacht charter prices vary and generally depend on the season, yacht size, age & equipment. We recommend that you first make your budget plan considering your expectations and travelling style.The cost for a 3-cabin sailing yacht in July and August is between 2.800 and 3.500€ per week.

What Are The Extras?
 
  • Skipper from 1.120€-1.540€ per week (payable at embarkation)
  • Tourist tax 1.35€/day/person
  • Marina and port fees on the route (if anchoring free of charge) from 60€-150€/berth/night
  • Food and beverages on route (for skipper also) Between 30 & 50€ per day per person
  • Fuel for boat on average 100€/week 

Private yacht trip is ideal choice for the people with a little bit of adventurous spirit that want to spend a special kind of a vacation. Yacht charter holiday is suitable for everyone - a group of fun-loving friends wanting to bond or party in natural surroundings, adventurous families with kids, couples searching for a romantic getaway and people that basically wish a unique and unforgettable vacation experience.

 

5 ultimate tips on how to plan a perfect sailing trip in Croatia

  • What is the date you wish go Sailing in Croatia?
  • What type of a yacht do I rent? What yacht suits your needs and budget (catamaran or a sailboat)?
  • How many people are coming?  hire a comfortable and big enough yacht to suit your group size
  • What is my estimated budget? budget is important fact for you before you start planing your sailing holiday in Croatia
  • What are my vacation expectations? share your itinerary wishes and route preferences so that we can tailor a trip to best suit your needs.

7-day living on board takes some adapting and consider that you are limited with space so we recommend to rent a comfortable vessel with enough space and cabins for all the people coming. Skipper/crew also needs a separate cabin. We will be more than happy to advice you on what type and size of the boat to choose.

 

You can start by sending the inquiry form and specify your holiday expectations and what boat you prefer. Your yacht charter booking is secured when 50% of the yacht fee is paid. Balance payment should be settled no later then 4 weeks before your embarkation. Our crew will guide you safely through the booking procedure. Feel free to ask us anything no question is too hard for us.

 

There are 3 basic private yacht charter types:

1. CREWED YACHT CHARTER

This is the most luxurious and relaxed way to spend your holiday on Adriatic. The skipper, hostess and chef are already in the yacht's inventory. They will take care of all the commodities aboard like shopping, cleaning and cooking. Full board meals are also included and multitude of items on crewed Croatia catamaran and luxury sailboat charters.


2. SKIPPERED YACHT CHARTER

A 7-day private cruise with Croatian skipper is probably the most affordable, relaxing and flexible option. Skipper is already included when you book your vessel. Our skippers are knowledgeable and know the sailing areas as the back of their pockets. They will take care of the check in procedure at the marina, help you embark and provide you with best internal tips. You can also upgrade your charter with hostess service to suppy the food, cater and clean the boat.                
3. BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER

Chartering bareboat yacht in Croatia is most affordable option. However, it demands a certain level of self-confidence, sailing experience, and knowledge about places where you are about to navigate. A valid ICC boat license and a VHF certificate are required to bareboat in Croatia.

 

You can imagine sailing yacht as a large mobile home with everything on board (cutlery, bedding, dishes, plates, gas for cooking,...). Yachts for charter come in all sizes and types, ranging from 2-8 cabins, measuring between 30-80 foot from economy to luxury line. Among +5.000 yachts available for renting in Croatia, you will certainly find one to suit your holiday expectations and budget.

Catamaran is much wider and stable and also brings larger cost for the marina fees and final rental price. Sailboat is perhaps a better choice for beginners looking for affordable yacht vacation and prefer to sail rather to use the engine. Multi-hull with its impressive and spacious layout is ideal for sailing families with kids or people that desire extra commodity, privacy and exclusivity during their holiday. 

Active Sailing crew will use the maximum effort to help and recommend the sailing yacht to best suit your holiday expectations. 

We only have modern/latest sailing yachts in our fleet. And sometimes larger and affordable sailboat models provide almost as much space as the catamaran

 

Sailing trips in Croatia run is 7 day itinerary, starting and ending on Saturday with standard check in time after 16:00 and check out by 09:00 next Saturday. It is mandatory to return the vessel back to base on Friday evening for diver's inspection. It is also possible to book a short sailing trip upon your request. Short options are only possible in the off season in April May and October.

 

No. Your skipper navigates the yacht for you, so just relax and enjoy in your trip. If you wish your skipper will be happy to show you the basics of sailing and navigation.

 

Croatia is one of the sunniest European destination with dry and hot summer months. If you plan your charter holiday in summer, bring bathing suite, extra swimming towels, and your personal wardrobe. It is highly recommended to use a handbag or a duffel bag instead of a suitcase and remember to pack light

Basic things you need to pack for a sailing trip

  • boarding pass and reservation documents
  • sun protection (sun lotion, sunglasses for UV protection, hat)
  • bathing suit or a swimsuit (3-5 pairs)
  • your passport, or personal ID, enough cash
  • swimming towels
  • your personal items (prescription pills, medicine for allergy...)
  • one wind stopper and a long-sleeved cardigan would do
  • positive vibes (leave your worries at home)

 

You will receive your boarding pass with all the booking details within a few days after you've completed the full payment for your yacht charter. You can contact your skipper for itinerary details and route arrangement in advance, however, we kindky ask our clinets to be patient. Your skipper is probably working in the weeks before your charter starts, so don't worry if they don't respond right away.

 

Provisioning on skippered yacht charters is excluded from the charter price. Mostly because food requests and wishes vary from one guest to another. It is recommended that you BYO alcohol and food before embarkation or contact a yacht supply service to do it for you. You can always upgrade your charter with a hostess and she will purchase the provisions in advance.

 

  • communicates with skipper regarding the guest's wishes on itinerary and organizes meals in restaurants
  • keeps all areas on yacht clean and tidy
  • handles the provisioning throughout the trip (shopping for supplies, stocking boat's lockers before and during the sailing trip)
  • prepares and serves two light meals daily (breakfast and one simple lunch). Extra meals are option with an additional fee.
  • washes the dishes, cleans the galley and salon

 

There are many inclusions in a private yacht trip that you pay before the departure, so that you don't encounter any hidden cost during your trip. Some costs like food, fuel consumption, transfers and island tours vary and are impossible to include in charter price since they basically depend on your expectations and level of on board service. A budget between 30-40€ per day per person is recommended for extra fees and restaurants.

THE USUAL YACHT CHARTER INCLUSIONS:

  • 7-day yacht rental
  • end cleaning, handling fee and charter base costs
  •  bed linen, cooking gas
  •  towels (only for bathroom use)
  •  Wi-Fi connection up to 5GB
  •  outboard engine and dinghy

THE EXTRAS: 

  • skipper from 150€-200€/day (Payable at embarkation)
  • sojourn/tourist tax 1.35€/person/day
  • fuel for the boat app.100€/week for a 45-foot sailboat
  • mooring fees, national parks and buoys (from 60-130€ for a 45-foot sailboat) - a balance of these options works best for most charters
  • various water toys (per inquiry)

 

It all depends upon where your chosen destination is. We will inform you 3-4 weeks before the departure where the yacht is moored specified in your boarding pass so that you can make your travel arrangements. For embarkation is best that you contact your skipper, and he will guide you to the boat. If you are flying to Croatia, there is always enough transfers and taxis at the airport to take you to marina on time. If you travel by car, you can always find free space in marina. Embarkation is on Saturday from 16:00, check out, same spot the next Saturday before 09:00.

 

That is mostly up to our guests, and their general satisfaction at the end of the cruise. On our Crewed Croatia charters gratuities are discretionary, but it's customary to acknowledge the crew effort. We also believe, that the outstanding performances should be rewarded.

The usual tip for services aboard skippered yacht charters in the Mediterranean is 15-20% of weekly skipper fee and 5% of the full amount for the crewed luxury charters. The gratuity should be paid in cash to your captain.

 

Every vessel is equipped with 220V household plugs, but they only work when connected ashore with a power cable. Most boats have 12-volt DC power on board. While sailing, you can use the 12V plug-in as your phone charrger. There is at least 1 USB charging socket installed on every yacht that works also offshore, without being plugged in the marina.

 

Fuel consumption on a 45-foot sailing yacht is approx. 4L/hour. On a 40-foot catamaran is double, Motor yacht consumes app. 70L/hour. The engine runs approx.1-2 hours/day and the rest we leave it to the gods of the wind if the favour us.

The final sum also depends on the wind conditions, your itineraries and also the fuel prices during the season. Sailing yacht's fuel cost can be negligible. Anywhere between 70 and 120€ per week. Catamaran around 250€.

 

Local port fees start at 40€/night for a 40 foot sailing boat (6 persons) and it can go up to 100€. For catamaran is extra 50%. It depends on the boat length and marina quality service. Price usually includes fresh-water refill, shore power, toilet and bathroom facilities. Buoy charge ranges from 30-50€. Anchoring is free of charge. A mixture of above options gives the best balance through the week for most groups.

 

The charm of a private sailing trip is in flexibility. The route itinerary can always be tailored with your skipper before embarking. The itinerary demands vary form one clinet to another, that is why is difficult to speculate the exact port and marina costs during your week.

That is why the mooring fees are usually excluded from our package price. The same thing is with the national parks and transfers. You can decide on spot what itinerary suits you best and what to visit or not. Skipper can give you some tips where to dock or moor to save some money.

 

Sailboat is »apartment on water« with a million dollar view. Each sailing boat has from 2-6 spacious cabins suitable for max. 2 persons, with double (160x200). Cabins are comfortable with lots of lockers and absorb plenty of light through large portholes. Even the largest sailing yacht has the capacity of maximum 12 persons. But 10 is recommended not to overcrowd the boat.

There is also one salon bed which we don't recommend especially if you want more privacy. One cabin belongs to your skipper. We tend to accommodate our guests aboard accordingly to their wishes. Don't bring your bed linen, pillows and blankets, because they are already included. This is how a sailboat cabin looks like:

 

Absolutely! Nothing is better than a delicious home-made meal prepared on board. A double gas cooker with oven is installed on every sailboat.

 

There is at least 1 bathroom with a shower on a sailboat and one shower outside with cold and hot water. It is important to have in mind that the water tanks have limited storage, so be careful how much you consume. You really don't want to search marinas for refill all the time.

 

It is recommended to supply the boat (for at least 2 days) in advance. Your skipper can provide some tips on where and what to buy. Every marina in Croatia has shops and supermarkets, where you can buy as much as you need for one week. Sailing itinerary is flexible and you can always stop somewhere to supply the yacht. It is also expected to take care of skipper's food and meals.

Breakfast and a quick afternoon snack can be easily prepared on board and have dinners on the islands. Skipper can advice you on where to eat fresh, tasty and local delicacies. You can invite your skipper to join you at the table or eat separately if you prefer more privacy. He won't mind. It is mandatory to assure a budget for at least 1 warm meal per day for your skipper.

 

APA is the money that client pays in advance with charter price, so that we can take this money from our account and give it to the skipper. With that money skipper and hostess buy provisioning & food before and during your charter). Skipper also pays mooring fees, fuel and park entrances with that money. APA is very practical for the skippered charters and for the clients who don't want to bring much money with during charter and like their groceries to be purchased in advance. Skipper and hostess collect bills for everything they paid from APA, than at the end of charter, skipper returns the remaining money to the client.

 

Yes. On all private charters It's customary to provide food for skipper during yacht charter week. If you prefer to eat outside, it is customary to invite your skipper to join you at the table. They will rarely turn down an invitation, but they also won’t mind dining separately if you prefer more space. Please note that skipper will need 1 warm meal per day so kindly assure some pocket money for his meals (30-40€ per daily meal should be enough). 

 

Your sailing itinerary generally depends on current weather conditions. That is why it is impossible to set the exact route in advance. Your skipper is there to monitor the wather forecast and will recommend best itinerary considering the situation at sea. He will do his best to consider your sailing holiday expections and itinerary wishes. In case of a bad weather, your skipper will adjust the sailing dynamics following the maritime regulations and local forecast warnings.

Safety at sea is always first!

Most important is, that the full safety aboard is assured for our guests. This is only possible to follow the directions from your skipper and respect the sea. In this case, we kindly ask our guest to be patient and understanding to make skipper's work easier.

And remember: "You can't change the direction of wind, but you can always adjust the sails"

 

Guests on board are responsible for any direct damages caused by negligence (clogging the toilet, vandalism, damaging the yacht or its parts deliberately,..). That is why it is mandatory for lesser to give a security damage deposit for the possible damages and assure to return the vessel back in its previous condition. 

The deposit is charged at the embarkation and it is refundable, if the boat is returned undamaged. The deposit amount is set by the charter policy (depends on the boat length, age and insurance rate) payable by VISA, AMEX, EUROCARD, DINERS or cash). If you wish a deposit insurance with non-refundable fee can be charged instead of the security deposit.

The damages caused regarding the skipper's navigation (sail damages, hull,...) are covered by the skipper's insurance policy. In case of damages, the charter owners establishes the damage amount and will be charged by the valid charter's price list.

 

Deposit insurance is the sum to cover the possible damages caused by the guests on board an can be charged if the client wishes. The part is non-refundable. The final insurance fee generally depends on the age and length of the yacht. Usually the amount is from (200-400€).

 Not covered - fee for unblocking the toilet, lost dinghy and/or outboard engine, gross negligence damage and missing fuel.

 

Yes. One-Way options (Split - Dubrovnik & Zadar - Split) or vice versa, are available. Since this is a non-regular charter itinerary a one way fee cost is extra charged in the amount between 300-700 Euros.

 

Yes. Although the official check in and check out charter days in Croatia are Saturdays, we've launched a special Wednesday - Wednesday charter program. You get plenty more by coming on Wednesday such as:

  • less crowds at the airports, streets and marinas
  • more space to park your car in the marina
  • a full weekend at sea
  • no queues on gas stations
  • faster check in and check out

 

Think casual and sporty

What to wear, generally depends on the sort of trip, the trip length, and the season. Sailing trip in Croatia or in any other country usually takes 7 days. That is why I suggest that you pack everything that you need for one-week. Bear in mind, that wind, sun and water are the 3 factors that you should count on. If your sailing trip is in summer season (middle June, July, August) pack accordingly to the weather. The air temperature peaks 30 (86F) and the sea temperature at constant 25 (77F). Beginning of June and late September just deduct 5 degrees in average.

Wherever you take, please don't overpack, don't complicate and please don't take hard suitcases, take a soft or a duffel bag. Here are some tips on what to pack:

- Swimwear take at least 3 pcs.

- Shorts 2-3 pieces of board shorts and 2 pieces of casual shorts

- Shirts for a week you'll need 5-7 t-shirts, one with long sleeve, a cardigan or a light pullover 

- Dress Clothes a pair of decent button-down shirts or casual sundresses are excellent choice for a nice dinner on island Hvar or Vis. 

- Shoes It's a fact that you will be barefoot all the time, but 1 pair of shoes with a rubber sole is a must have on a sailboat. Mostly to avoid scuff marks and ensure that you don't slip. A pair of flip flops and a pair of tennis shoes in case you go hiking the islands

- Hats Take a hat with strings if possible. You don't want your hat to be ending in the blue Adriatic

- Waterproof jacket or waterproof windbreaker - you might need one in case of strong wind combined with rain (especially in off-season)

- Other (but also essential items) underwear, 3-4 pairs of socks, sailing gloves (bike or fitness gloves)