I was somewhat disappointed and felt the overall experience to be a little lacking. While the air conditioning failed in some cabins and the crew did what they could to fix it was understandable, one guest complained and the Captain felt it necessary to berate all guests on board at dining. The excursions were less than what was advertised. The swim time was extremely long and cut into time that could have been spent on shore. We scheduled a pick up through our ship from our hotel to the ship for departure and then were not allowed on the ship for 2 hours in an area with no shelter, shopping or bathrooms. The coordinator of excursions missed the mark on helping acquire e-bikes along with knowledge of restaurants and distances to attractions. There were not enough deck chairs for the number of guests. The jacuzzi was filled only twice. Coffee was only available during breakfast hour or had to pay for it. Overall, the experience was not what we had hoped for or planned.
- Denise, 22/06/2026 22:07, Travelled with Family
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. While mechanical issues can occasionally arise unexpectedly, we're pleased that our crew responded promptly and worked hard to restore the AC as quickly as possible. We're sorry to hear that other aspects of the trip did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate your comments. Feedback such as yours is valuable and helps us continue to review and improve the guest experience.
The Croatian itinerary was fantastic, and the crew were friendly and hardworking throughout the trip. Unfortunately, the condition of the Mali Ante did not meet our expectations. The ship felt older and less well-maintained than many others we saw in port. The jacuzzi was out of service for most of the trip, our shower leaked, & our lower-deck cabin was extremely noisy whenever the engines started. The cabin was also very damp, leaving clothing and towels moist and causing some clothes to develop a musty odor. We also found what appeared to be mold or mildew staining on our bedding. Breakfast was limited to one hour each morning, no snacks were provided between meals, and guests could not bring their own snacks or drinks onboard. Drinks were expensive, and the bar tab had to be paid in cash. Considering the ship’s condition and limited amenities, the suggested gratuities felt excessive. While Croatia was beautiful, the overall experience did not provide the value we expected.
- Tiffany, 15/06/2026 07:26, Travelled with Family
Hi Tiffany, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed review. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the itinerary and found the crew aboard your ship to be friendly and hardworking. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to them. Mali Ante is a highly rated ship within our fleet, so we are sorry to hear that certain aspects of your onboard experience did not meet your expectations on this occasion. We offer a variety of vessels within our Explorer Cruise range to cater to different travel styles and budgets, allowing guests to select the ship that best suits their preferences. We have a thorough process in place for communicating and resolving issues during the cruise. Having reviewed our internal records, I can see that the concerns outlined in your review were not raised with the onboard representative during your trip. Had we been made aware of these issues at the time, our team would have done their best to investigate and address them while you were onboard to ensure you were satisfied with the outcome. As outlined in our pre-departure documentation and guest App, tipping is entirely optional. The crew onboard our ships are paid fairly for their work; however, gratuities are a widely recognised way for guests to acknowledge exceptional service. Many guests choose to leave a tip as a gesture of appreciation, however this is always at each individual's discretion. We appreciate you bringing these matters to our attention and thank you again for sharing your experience with us.
First off I want to say that the cycling was fantastic. Having said that, our trip was rated a 2.5/5 which is true but that rating is the average of the intensity of the rides. So some days were 1/5 and some were 4/5. We had an issue in our bathroom that was not resolved until the 4th day. The food was mediocre at best. Very little fruit, everything was cold, croissants that weren't baked through, single ingredient salads, only instant coffee unless you were willing to pay extra, Drinks were expensive, you couldn't get single glasses of wine. Our guide was knowledgeable but he spoke so quickly it was difficult to follow what he was saying. Both he and the other guide were friendly and helpful. I found my bike to be comfortable but there were a number of issues with the bikes in general. Croatia is beautiful and I would recommend exploring it by bike but not with SailCroatia.
- Anonymous, 10/06/2026 16:26, Travelled with Family
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you found the cycling fantastic and that you enjoyed exploring Croatia by bike. It's also wonderful to know that you found both guides friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, and that you were comfortable on your bike throughout the trip. Croatia truly is a beautiful destination for cycling, and we're pleased that these aspects of your holiday left a positive impression. We appreciate your comments regarding the route grading. Our ratings are intended to reflect the overall average difficulty of the tour, and as you noted, daily rides can vary depending on the terrain and itinerary, with some days being more challenging than others. Regarding the cabin issue, our understanding was that the concern related to the shower hook in your bathroom. This was addressed during the scheduled cabin service and we apologise for any inconvenience caused in the meantime. We're sorry to hear that the food did not meet your expectations and clearly there is room for improvement based on your feedback. It has already been passed on to the relevant parties for review. Thank you again for travelling with us and for sharing your thoughts.
The cycling itself was great! The island cycling routes are challenging (in a good way) with so many epic views. The ship and (some) crew, however, fell short of expectations. The Dionis boat was old and a bad experience from the start, especially compared to the other boats for the same price (which you walk through & see what you are missing out on). I feel ripped off. Even sail Croatia staff commented on Dionis being the worst! A leaking roof in my cabin, leaking shower, significant slant in my room so my head was lower than my feet in bed, uncomfortable common areas compared to other boats. Very basic, not like in the pictures on the website. Some crew members were not very engaging…seemed like they didn’t want to be there. No help offered with carrying luggage across multiple ships on arrival. Had to ask multiple times for things like a room key for example, or to have the chirping smoked detector fixed. The single supplement fee is outrageous. the food is plentiful but just ok.
- Anonymous, 23/05/2026 10:42, Travelled with Family
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re really pleased to hear that you enjoyed the cycling routes and the incredible scenery - this is such a key part of the experience, so it’s great to know this aspect delivered. We’re sad to hear that elements of your onboard experience did not meet expectations. Having reviewed feedback from all travellers on your departure, the ship received an average score of 4.58 out of 5, so it’s disappointing to hear that your personal experience fell short of this, and of what you were expecting from your trip. Dionis is part of our Premier ship category, which offers a comfortable and sociable cruising experience, and we’re sorry to hear that aspects such as your cabin and onboard service did not reflect this for you. Your comments regarding maintenance, comfort, and crew engagement have been shared with our operations team so they can be reviewed directly. I can see at the time of enquiry you requested a Single Supplement to ensure you had a private cabin to yourself, rather than sharing with another guest. With regards to the Single Supplement, this is set at 50% of the per person price across the industry, as cabins are designed to accommodate two guests, and the supplement reflects sole occupancy of that space. For guests seeking a more spacious onboard environment, larger cabins, and additional onboard features, we do offer our Premier Plus ship range on our Cycle Croatia cruises, which may be a better fit depending on preferences and of course budget. Thank you again for your feedback, and we’re glad you were still able to enjoy the cycling and the stunning Croatian islands.
Provide daily written out itinerary for people to actually read what times and where things were going on. Have an intercom (overhead speaker) so people can be alerted of pertinent info for all passengers. Verbal daily communication from guide was poor on daily activities. Cycle times need to be longer with less “coffee” breaks (30 min ride, 45 min stop) Our guide, was rude. Our other guide, Mario, was great. Overall, first impression of accommodations found that a bed overhead light was broken with wires exposed, safe didn’t work, tight quarters and air conditioning was poor, Reported broken light immediately and it was repaired.. Safe reported not working, told how to use by crew, but those instructions didn’t work….finally found written safe instructions on top shelf (which we couldn’t see beforehand) and was able to get the safe working on our own.. Food was ok. Bikes were outstanding quality….so good, I’m considering purchasing that brand. Swim stops were great.
- Charlene, 29/09/2025 12:51, Travelled with Family
Hi Charlene, Thank you for your detailed feedback and for highlighting the many positives – we’re pleased to know you enjoyed the swim stops, food, guidance from Mario, and the quality of the bikes, which we’re glad to hear impressed you enough to consider purchasing for yourself. We also appreciate your suggestions regarding a written itinerary, intercom, and cycle breaks, which have been passed on to our Operations Team. We are disheartened to read your comments about one of the Guides, as he has consistently received high praise throughout the season. We’re glad the issues with the light and safe were addressed during your stay, and we will share your note about clearer instructions with our team. Your comments are valuable as we continue striving to enhance our guests’ experience.
We specifically picked this boat for the hot tub which never worked for the entire trip. Very disappointed by this. We expected more regional dishes for lunch ie more seafood. Most meals were red meat based. The cabin bathrooms were far from clean. The floor under the sink was filthy and shower grout was in need of a cleaning. Really can’t say enough about the staff, super friendly and helpful and the itinerary was fantastic. All the stops were beautiful.
- Robin, 25/08/2025 00:40, Travelled with Family
Hi Robin, thank you for taking the time to review your cruise with us this season. I am pleased to see your kind words regarding the staff and carefully planned itinerary, it is great to read you enjoyed all of the beauty Croatia has to offer. We appreciate your more constructive feedback on the food. Red meat is very popular in Croatian cuisine, but I will pass your feedback regarding meals on board onto the relevant team. I'm sorry that the hot tub was not working during your cruise with us, Robin. Thank you for joining us this summer!
More comfortable seating and a shaded area on the top deck More time in port - the water is cold in early May so swimming isn’t a good activity. If the ship can’t dock earlier, the option of getting a water taxi or tender to port should be an option. Excursions were over-priced
- Anonymous, 06/06/2025 03:42, Travelled with Family
I felt that while the guides did an exemplary job. The large number of cyclists (29) in the group was dangerous. The group should have been split into two. Complimentary tea and coffee while on board would have been appreciated. Other cycling tours we’ve been on gave out water bottles which are fun to have and a source of advertising for the company.
- Marion, 12/05/2025 10:51, Travelled with Family
Hi Marion, thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re really pleased to hear that you found our guides exemplary - their passion and professionalism are something we’re proud of. Regarding your concern about the group size, we understand that safety is a top priority, and it is for us also. That’s why we always ensure there are two experienced guides on each ride – one leading at the front and one supporting at the back – to manage the group effectively and maintain safety throughout the journey. We appreciate your suggestions about complimentary refreshments and branded water bottles. These are great ideas, and we’re always looking for ways to enhance our guests’ experience, so your input has been noted for future planning. Thank you again for riding with us – we value your insights and hope to welcome you back on another tour soon.
1. The wifi should work better. 2. For the price of the trip, I expected that we would have access to a good coffee machine 24/7. The urns provided were not satisfactory. 3. The excursions were overpriced. 4. The “included” tour of Dubrovnik should have included a bus to take passengers to the old town. 5. There should be enough treats during the coffee and tea hour (11-12) so everyone has a chance to get a snack. 6. The staff were friendly. 7. The boat was well kept. 8. Our rooms were kept clean. 9. The price of wine (bottles and glasses) were overpriced. 10. The captain’s dinner was very nice. It would have been better if wine was included.
- Anonymous, 09/10/2024 18:36, Travelled with Family
Hi there, thank you for your review! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the friendly staff, cleanliness of the ship, and the Captain’s Dinner. However, we are sorry to hear of your disappointment with some aspects. In regards to the Wi-Fi, it is subject to download limits and coverage can be inconsistent while out at sea. We aim to provide as much informaiton for the excursions offered and details are transparently outlined on our website. We appreciate your comments on the coffee machine. Coffee and tea is available during saloon hours, with additional snacks upon request. We strive for competitive drink prices and appreciate your suggestion of including wine with the Captain’s Dinner. Your feedback is valuable, and we appreciate all your comments, thank you.
When you travel and are doing rigorous exercise everyday in the heat more than a two towel per week seems necessary. Also the towels were all very old. The bedding needs more frequent changing. The bike ride difficulty needs more specific disclosure. Three hours in the saddle is a long time. Provide beach towels, more fresh vegetables. Also snacks for long hard rides, the riders without e bikes could have used it.
- Jayne, 25/09/2023 01:15, Travelled with Family
Hi Jayne, Thank you for taking the time to review your cruise with us this summer. We are so pleased to hear you found our guides to be wonderful! Thank you for your further feedback which has been passed on to the relevant departments. All information regarding the itinerary and level of difficulty each day can be found on our website and is available before making the selection and booking. Our experienced sales consultants are also available for any questions that may arise during the booking process and assist with making informed decisions. Thank you so much for joining us!
being able to get new clean towels for showering would of been good as the rooms and bathrooms get so disgusting especially since there are no curtains on the showers so water gets everywhere. i didn’t expect the drinks to be as expensive as they were. the crew was great regardless of these factors.
- Anonymous, 07/08/2023 12:55, Travelled with Family
Hi there and thank you for taking the time to review our cruise. We are really pleased to hear you had a great time onboard, thank you. We understand that towels can get dirty during the cruise, upon request the crew will be able to provide an additional towel. We understand budgeting is important for guests, so we have a few readily available blogs available on our website which details approximate drink prices onboard our ships. Great to hear that these issues didn't detract from your overall enjoyment on the cruise. Thank you for choosing to travel with us this season and we hope to have you join us again in the future.
Improve your product??? Surely you mean “offering”. The food offering was repetitive, unexciting, the puddings , (with one exception) were inedible, the use of fake cream from a can was particularly unpleasant. Some Croatian specialities would have been welcome on the menus. Also no other options were available apart from a vegetarian option. All in all, completely underwhelming. Sleep was difficult due to the cheap pillows. However the tour rep Stephan was excellent as was the restaurant/bar manager.
- Christine , 13/06/2023 07:58, Travelled with Family
Hi Christine, thank you for your 3 star review. We will ensure that your kind words on Stjepan and the Bar Manager are passed on. It is a shame to hear that we did not meet your expectations when it comes to the food. Guest feedback is very important to us and your remarks will be passed onto the relevant team so that improvements can be made. Thank you for providing us with this feedback and for joining us in Croatia this season.
Sail Croatia has some fine tuning to work on. Food was mediocre and cold at times. Repetitive breakfast and no options for customers. Rooms were amazing. Sime and Dino were amazing. Overall, I will not be a repeat customer which is unfortunate as I was hoping to be.
- Daniela, 01/05/2023 00:51, Travelled with Family
Hi Daniela, thank you for your review. We appreciate your comments regarding Dino and Sime and we will be sure to pass your lovely comments on to them. It's great to know you enjoyed your room onboard the boat, we agree, they are spacious and light. In regards to the food, we have passed your comments on to the Chef via our Operations Manager and we appreciate you highlighting this to us so we can look to improve this aspect of our cruise. Thank you.
The best part of the trip was the company of others who attended the same week, but everything else about the trip that was handled by Sail Croatia was pitiful. Horrible food, poor planning, disgusting cabins, and more than evident cost-cutting. The wifi was nonexistent and no soap, shampoo, or conditioner was provided. The bath towels provided were dirty and disgusting. I signed for a triple occupancy cabin and it ended up being a mattress on the floor. That is unacceptable. The other participants bonded on the boat over Sail Croatia's failings as a cruise liner. If I knew the lack of amenities provided and the poor organizing, I would not attend.
- Kalee, 01/10/2022 18:52, Travelled with Family
Thank you for your review Kalee. We are sorry to hear you were unhappy with your cabin arrangements and boat in general. I have gone through all the feedback ratings and we were given 4 stars for the 'boat overall'. Our chefs prepare all meals in their small gulleys located onboard the boat, aiming to provide a variety of meals however we understand that this is not always to everyone's taste. Soap, shampoo and conditioning is not included and we advise guests to bring their own onboard to avoid disappointment. Triple cabin consists of a small double bed and single bunk, as advised prior to booking this room type. As they are the same size as a twin share (2 people per cabin) we provide a 10% discount. I understand that you were moved to another cabin free of charge. We hope this was more than suitable. After reviewing the organisation of the cruise by the Onboard Representative, they were rated all 5 stars which includes; destination, organisation and friendliness. We thank you for your review.
We had two cabins above deck. One was very nice and quiet, 14 but the twin cabin 19 for our adult children was horrible. It sat right over the engine and was so loud, it was unbearable. It also didn’t have a safe. Overall the week was
- Magi, 04/07/2022 22:10, Travelled with Family
Hi Magi - thank you for taking the time to review our cruise. We are pleased that you enjoyed your quieter cabin and hope that you enjoyed your time overall. However we are disappointed to read that your children's cabin experienced noise issues. We have a rigorous process in place for any issues that arise, and the first step is to discuss with your Onboard Representative, if no action is taken then you are welcome to escalate to the Operations Manager and/or Managing Director. Having checked our internal reports, I cannot see that the noise issues were raised with our Onboard Representative. If they were raised, we would have found an immediate solution to ensure that everyone is happy onboard. We are disappointed we were not given the opportunity to rectify this issue whilst you were onboard. Thank you again for your review and we hope to have you join us in the future.
We traveled on Crystal for our honeymoon on 7/27.Our host Mia was very hospitable and attentive through out our stay.During our stay on Crystal we enjoyed the swim spots and the spacious layout of the boat.It was a great way to travel about the country.The cruise was advertised as being for "young professionals" however we found ourselves on a boat with the majority of the guests being in their 60's and a family with teenagers, not what we expected nor what we wanted.Bar tending was the most disappointing part of the experience.Both of our servers could pour beer/wine, but that was it.The bar menu listed cocktails, but the 2 employees could only make 4 different drinks (all of which tasted awful).Tatiana would only make an Aperol Spritz, and had a less than welcoming disposition. They both sat on the couch on their phones and made us feel like we were inconveniencing them when we ordered a drink.The trip was lovely but for a honeymoon& price we expected the crew to be more hospitable.
- Rebekah, 15/08/2019 01:58, Travelled with Family
Thank you so much for your review. Thank you for choosing to spend part of your honeymoon with us. We are pleased to hear that your host Mia was very hospitable and attentive during the cruise. It's also nice to know that you enjoyed your accommodation onboard Crystal and found the cabins nice and spacious. The amazing swim stops are just lovely aren't they! We are sorry to read of your disappointment with some aspects which I wish to expand on; our Explorer cruises generally appeal to travellers who feel they fit within our 'young professionals and young at heart' description, however are open to all ages over 15 years as mentioned under our FAQ page. We appreciate you sharing your experience with us and we will be looking into further training for the bar staff and will pass your comments on to the Operations Manager to investigate further, thank you. We hope that these issues didn't detract from gorgeous Croatia as a whole. Thank you.
It was not made clear in the description of the cruise that you are stuck on the boat cruising until 2pm EVERY day. The food portions were inadequate. The protein couldn't have been more than 4 oz per meal There was nothing available in between. We are not large cruisers - so we are not comparing the food to the gluttonous option aboard 4,000 passenger cruise ships. The ship was fine as were the cabins and staff.
- Anonymous, 22/05/2018 18:17, Travelled with Family
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review! We are really pleased to hear that you were happy with the ship, your cabin and that staff looked after you. Thank you for your valuable feedback in regards to food portions and protein in your meals. We cater for special dietary requirements and any feedback provided on board is passed on to the chef. The scheduling of each day is well-paced to ensure there is a good balance of relaxation and exploration in each island. The Captain will stop for a swim stop each day in the course of the morning to provide an opportunity for a refreshing swim before you reach your destination in the afternoon. Thank you again for your feedback and we hope to see you again with us sometime soon.
Free tea and coffee available on the boat outside meal times. More hanging space for wet clothing and more pegs.
- susan, 13/10/2017 15:37, Travelled with Family
Thank you for your review. Tea & Coffee availability is something we are currently looking into for future seasons. Thank you for your suggestion of more hanging space and pegs, this will be passed on to the Operations Team for potential future improvements. Thank you.
Good espresso coffee would make a wonderful start to the day and should be on offer when passengers are on board. Refrigerated water or a means of cooling water in hot summer weather would add to customer comfort. A change of cabin linen half way through would be great. Meals were good apart from overcooked vegetables. Stan Law was the best part of our trip - Stan put 119% effort.into his passengers comfort. He was knowledgeable (though sometimes too talkative) and willing to assist in whatever way he could. We were not expecting him to give us a tour of the towns we overnighted in - very helpful as a quick orientation; so please keep it up. All staff were courteous and willing, but I do wonder whether they risk burn out having to work 24/7 for 6 months. Perhaps some time off may between 7 day cruises may circumvent this in the longer term - something management should consider. Valuing your staff goes a long way!
- Anonymous, 07/08/2017 07:28, Travelled with Family