1) Omit overnight on day 7 of trip. End the trip after lunch on day 6. This eliminates unreasonably early check out on day 7 and also makes it easier for a guest to check in to their hotel in DBV without having to wait until 12:00 or 13:00 check in time. 2) Onshore excursion options need clear explanation in pretrip communication. Example: I was not told that a scenic bus tour and a walking tour of DBV was available, so I booked them in advance with Viator. If I had known I would have gone on the onshore excursion instead. 3) Include the use of one pannier on the bike. 4) Include written instructions for charging the bike battery and operating the ebike. 5) There were three outlets in the cabin. That is insufficient to charge two bike batteries plus two phones plus hearing aids, etc. A simple multi-plug adapter can fix this issue. 6) Guide must not make promises he doesn't keep. Example: A military tour was promised on one island (Vis?) but was never delivered.
- Tom, 11/06/2025 07:21, Travelled in a Couple
Hi Tom, thank you for your 3-star review. We also appreciate your detailed positive feedback and we’re so pleased you enjoyed the cruise and would recommend us. Guests are always welcome to disembark once the boat docks at the final destination, should they prefer to end their trip earlier. Your comments about the pannier, charging instructions, and multi-plug adapters are appreciated and have been passed to our Operations Team for review. While our guides provide information at the daily briefing based on the cycle schedule, some activities, such as onshore excursions or optional tours, may be subject to change or availability. We regret that the expectations around the military tour and Dubrovnik excursion options were not met - we appreciate your comments. Thank you again for your review.
The staff made it a really great trip especially Max. Ivana’s knowledge of the area and her help was exceptional.
- Anonymous, 10/06/2025 13:17, Travelled in a Couple
While this was somewhat of a good experience, there was too much down time, internet reception was extremely poor and whilst the crew were friendly enough they did not seem to want to go above and beyond, then at the end of the cruise, we were nearly shamed in to giving a tip, it was most uncomfortable.
- Anonymous, 10/06/2025 00:24, Travelled in a Couple
Hi there, thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your recent experience with us. I’m glad to hear that you found some aspects of the cruise enjoyable - this is wonderful to hear. Our Explorer cruises are designed to blend socialising, sightseeing and relaxation on board. You will find in your Pre-Departure Information, more details on Tipping In Croatia. Tipping is not compulsory in Croatia, however, it is customary, and if you are happy with the service onboard, tips are very much appreciated. Your comments will be passed onto our team in Croatia and we appreciate your insights as they help us improve our services. We want to thank you for joining us this season in Croatia!
Food quality - Near prison food. Fish was dry, food unseasoned at all. Your best dishes were soup and 1 pasta meal. Drink prices - total rip off your drink prices rivalled Hvar.. Communication * This involves calling hvar the party island even though it is no longer as such, also being told 2 days before the end of the trip we could order eggs for breakfast..* Pay your workers decent wages. Being told that they are paid less because tips are expected is a joke. Your not America. Tips are standard in a terrible country like America to get around the fact they have shitty minimum wage laws. If you offered me this trip again for free I would refuse. I also will be letting anyone who ever asks me about sailing through Croatia not to bother. They would be better off organising a private car / ferry transportation to a select few islands that would still end up cheaper than the price you charge.
- Daniel, 09/06/2025 14:20, Travelled in a Couple
Hi Dan, Thank you for your review. We're sorry to hear your cruise didn’t meet your expectations. We have a thorough process in place for handling complaints onboard, which includes raising any concerns with your Tour Manager and, if needed, escalating them to our customer service team so we can address them promptly. This process is outlined in your pre-departure documents and on the Sail Croatia app. We’ve reviewed our internal records and found no report of your concerns during the trip, and it appears the complaints process was not followed. Unfortunately, we’re unable to resolve issues that aren’t brought to our attention at the time. While food preferences can vary, we’ve reviewed feedback from your specific departure and found the average food rating was 4.3/5 from fellow travellers. Your comments have been noted and are appreciated. Hvar is one of the most vibrant destinations in Croatia, known for its beaches, restaurants, and nightlife. Guests looking for a party atmosphere typically head to popular venues such as Hula Hula Bar or Nautica Bar, famous for their flaming Jäger trains. While noise restrictions apply to ships docked in many Croatian ports to respect local communities, these don’t affect the nightlife onshore - guests simply head off the ship to enjoy their evening. Information on tipping - including guidelines on etiquette and suggested amounts - is available on our website, in pre-departure documents, and on the Sail Croatia App. Given the information provided in advance of your cruise, we were surprised to hear that the tipping process was unexpected. Tipping, while not customary in countries like Australia and New Zealand, is widely practised and appreciated in Croatia and across Europe. Many locals rely on the summer tourism season to earn the majority of their annual income, and while we pay all our staff a fair and competitive wage, tipping is a customary and appreciated way to acknowledge good service. It’s always optional but very much valued. Sail Croatia offers a relaxed, hassle-free way to explore Croatia by small ship. With accommodation, transport, and some meals included, guests can enjoy a unique travel experience while visiting beautiful destinations along the coast at their own pace. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. Thanks,
- Steven, 09/06/2025 14:09, Travelled in a Couple
Everyone on the Afrodita works so hard, the ship was very well maintained and the food was great. The hike guides very good and well informed. The trails were not maintained by any standards basically goat paths. I slipped and fell on first hike injured my leg, cuts and bruised on the loose sharp rock. The guides Martin and ILona were great. Martin applied bandages to my leg to stop the bleeding then helped me finish the last kilometer back to the boat. I had to skip the hike the next day and only did 5 of the 7 hikes opting to do the easiest. Looking back I wish I knew the trail conditions, the length and elevations were all that I remember and the hikes were moderate. Next time we will do the elegant cruse. I wish I could give 5 stars.
- Brandon Weder, 08/06/2025 14:35, Travelled in a Couple
The locations and crew were outstanding. Our guides Mario and Marin were full of knowledge and stressed safe riding. The crew on the boat were also very good. The booking process was less than stellar. My son and I were assigned a room with one double bed, not two singles. Since are large people, it did not work. He slept under the bed. Booking knew the assignment but would not/could not change it. Serious screw up by the office staff.
- Larry, 30/05/2025 15:08, Travelled with Family
Hi Larry, thank you for your review and for your kind words about our guides and crew – we’re delighted you enjoyed the overall experience. We regret to read about your booking experience. As outlined in our FAQs, cabin types vary by ship and are based on 2 people sharing – with configurations including twin beds, bunk beds, or one double bed. Whilst preferences can be requested at booking, we cannot guarantee specific layouts due to each ship’s unique cabin setup and limited availability. Final cabin allocations are confirmed a week before departure. We appreciate your understanding and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again.
The boat was immaculate. A credit to the skipper and crew. The guides Mika and Lola were fantastic.
- Warwick , 28/05/2025 10:50, Travelled with Family
Great service
- Anonymous, 28/05/2025 10:32, Travelled in a Couple
Numerous swimming stops and excursions and daily briefs on Croatia history and culture. Nightly stops at interesting ports with historical and cultural heritage relevance. Captain and crew members professional service ensured a worry free rememberable experience.
- Scott, 27/05/2025 14:24, Travelled in a Couple
1) Smaller group! With that many riders (32) the faster riders, some of whom would have ridden even faster if allowed, spent way too much time waiting for the slower riders. This was the case on the uphills, the downhills, and the level rides. People ride at different speeds, regardless of terrain or type of bike. 2) Longer, full-day rides. One day was only 10 km, which is ridiculous.
- Anonymous, 27/05/2025 05:58, Travelled with Friend/s
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your review and share your feedback following your recent Cycle Cruise with us. We're always grateful to hear from our guests, as it helps us continuously improve the experience we offer. We're sorry to hear that the group size and varying riding speeds impacted your enjoyment. Our Cycle Cruises are designed as guided group experiences, and as such, we aim to accommodate a wide range of cycling abilities. To manage this, each ride is led by two experienced guides—one at the front and one at the back—ensuring no one is left behind and that the group remains safe and supported throughout the journey. We appreciate your comments regarding the distance of some rides. Please note that all daily itineraries, including ride durations and distances, are made available in advance of booking. This allows guests to choose the trip that best matches their expectations and ability. Some days do feature shorter rides for safety, logistical, or scenic reasons, and all routes are carefully risk assessed to suit the group setting. While we understand that some guests may prefer longer or more individually tailored rides, our Cycle Cruises are intentionally designed as shared adventures—focused on group camaraderie, support, and exploration at a pace suitable for a diverse range of participants. That said, we do value your input and will take your feedback into consideration as we continue to refine our itineraries and offerings. We thank you again and we hope to welcome you again in the future on another journey!
Lovely and relaxing adventure. I wish all my vacations were this fun! Thomas
- Thomas, 26/05/2025 13:11,
Overall, my wife and I had a wonderful trip on our bike-boat trip in May 2025. The guides were very good and kept us well informed. The bikes were very good quality and easy to ride. My only criticism is that my wife and I slept in separate small beds in our cabin. We would’ve clearly preferred to be in a single bed together at night as we have been for 40 years. All in all, this was a very successful vacation for my wife and myself.
- David, 26/05/2025 12:42, Travelled in a Couple
Great sail and hike conditions. Our hike guides Lola and Mila were great. Fantastic knowledge and humour to boot
- Grant, 26/05/2025 10:47,
Beautiful islands Quiet roads Amazing scenery Great food Great hospitality
- Greg, 26/05/2025 08:42,
The ship was in great shape and the Captain very skilled. the crew worked hard to make our week a fun/safe time and they succeeded. However, meals are a big part of our annual boat and bike trips. Here they failed. The meals were far too heave generally and the BBQ night was substandard with much meat and few veggies...and they were buried under all that meat. The meal was awful. Equally as bad was the captains dinner of steak that was unchewable...oh, the coffee was worse than any I had in the Navy and I didnt thimk that woukd ever be possible...undrinkable sludge..this boat & bike towr tour 7th as a group. It was the also the first to not put out a nice happy hour food spread...only pretzels and biscuits. All in all, I won't recommend this trip .
- Dennis, 21/05/2025 13:13, Travelled with Friend/s
Thank you for taking the time to review us! We’re delighted to hear that you found our Captain very skilled, our crew hardworking, and the ship in a great condition. It’s always rewarding to know our team contributed to a safe and enjoyable experience. We're truly sorry to learn that the food during the Captain's dinner and BBQ did not meet your expectations. We understand how important meals are in shaping the overall travel experience. Your comments regarding the menu containing too much meat and poor quality of coffee are especially valuable, and we’ll be sharing them with our team as we work to refine and expand our offerings to better cater to a wider range of dietary preferences and expectations. While we regret that your experience didn't leave you feeling confident to recommend us based on the meals provided, we appreciate your honesty. Feedback like yours plays a crucial role in helping us to improve, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future with enhancements that reflect your input.
Service
- Jacob, 19/05/2025 15:48, Travelled with Friend/s
Good organization. Bikes in good shape. Clean cabin.
- Anonymous, 19/05/2025 06:03, Travelled in a Couple
The knowledge of the crew was amazing and was a lot fun to be around.
- Yash, 19/05/2025 05:49, Travelled in a Couple
Karolina and the Crew Only down side was the Hot Breakfast was always cold and disappointed the Captain only sat on one table and did not move to each table after each course.
- Greg, 13/05/2025 07:42, Travelled in a Couple
Hi Greg, thank you for 4-star review. We're pleased to hear you enjoyed your time with Karolina and the crew. We’ve taken note of your comments regarding the breakfast and the Captain’s presence, and will be sharing them with the team to ensure we continue to deliver the high standards of service and quality we strive for. Thank you.
The cruise had a nice relaxing pace but there was still lots to enjoy The food was great. Vicko was very helpful and entertaining.
- Glenn, 13/05/2025 05:59, Travelled in a Couple
Beautiful islands, clear water, great crew & comfortable accommodations.
- Greg, 13/05/2025 01:47, Travelled with Friend/s
Great experience meeting a number of people from around the world. Crew did a fantastic job ensuring we were kept safe and answered all of our needs. Well done. Klara our cruise director did an outstanding job keeping us informed and did everything she could to ensure we were taken care of regardless of the time. Highly recommended
- James, 12/05/2025 17:08, Travelled with Family
Everyone was so friendly both guests and staff. All staff worked hard to ensure we had a pleasant experience. I felt we should have had complementary tea/coffee available at all times. Also the cycle part of our trip could have given water bottles .
- Andrew , 12/05/2025 15:21,
The staff could not have been more helpful, the guides were knowledgeable and were quick to make changes when the weather demanded it. However charging €40 for a bottle of sparkling wine that retails at £6 is outrageous.
- Colin, 12/05/2025 10:14, Travelled with Family
More time at destinations rather than hanging out at sea. Get a real coffee machine. That powdered machine was terrible.
- Dennis, 11/05/2025 09:06, Travelled in a Couple
Hi Dennis, Thank you for your recent review. We understand that everyone's travel preferences are different, and we’re always working to strike the right balance between time at sea and time at each destination. For guests who want to see what to expect day by day, our full itinerary and daily activity breakdown are available on our website. We also appreciate your feedback about the coffee. We're always looking at ways to better our onboard experience, this will be passed on for further improvements. Thanks again for traveling with us, and we hope to welcome you aboard again in the future!
The cruise was great. This survey is a pia. I had written a glowing review but the program erased it because I didn't want to include my name. So there you go.
- Morpheous, 09/05/2025 13:34, Travelled with Friend/s
Tour guide Mia was wonderful. Very attentive to the group and great communication. Wine tour sail trip was incredible. Great side trips on each oof the islands.
- Clifford, 29/04/2025 17:57, Travelled in a Couple
- Anonymous, 02/11/2024 23:01, Travelled in a Couple
The guide, Anita, was excellent. Charming, efficient and most helpful. It was a joy to have such service. I cannot recommend her too much. The crew were very helpful. Food not so good- too much overcooked meat, just one fish dish in 7 days.. Good bar service. Most enjoyable party after the captain',s dinner- lots of dancing ! I did not engage in excursions, as too strenuous for my age.. Others enjoyed them.. Cabin fine and very efficient and pleasant cleaner.
- Michael, 24/10/2024 13:59, Travelled Solo
We were a group of friends (8) who joined Sail Croatia for the Dubrovnik to Split 7 day cruise. The cabins were comfortable, the bathroom more spacious than the normal cruise ship. With only 40 people onboard I was concerned that we would be in each others pockets. There is more than enough space onboard to ensure you can read a book quietly if you want. The staff on our cruise (Salve de Mere) were supurb, from the maid throufg to the Captain, we were all in excellent hands. I loved the fact that we docked in small ports each night so we could enjoy local restaurants and bars. Each morning we stopped for a swim...as it was late season a few of us decamped to the jaquizzi where we had pre lunch cocktails...great fun! Each afternoon we were given options of excursions we could take, from walking and exploring, to bike rides and wine tasting. I would probably give the Buggies a miss as you travel in convoy at about 20kms per hour...very boring and a waste of money..
- Simon, 23/10/2024 11:31, Travelled with Friend/s
Wonderful ship and crew were very accommodating.
- Anonymous, 22/10/2024 08:27, Travelled with Friend/s
The crew was fantastic. Very friendly and accommodating. We were kept informed on a daily meeting about changes and weather situations concerning our travels. V our guide was great, suggesting restaurants and other things about the Croatia people. I would choose to do this trip again. It was a vacation of a lifetime! Most people were not happy that coffee couldn't be have after 9:00 am.
- Rick, 10/10/2024 17:24, Travelled with Friend/s
Our tour hosts Ivan and Lucija were wonderful hard working guides. Thanks. Lucy and the rest of the kitchen staff were amazing. Thanks. The ship, crew and captain were amazing. Thanks. To be at a beautiful Croatian port, on the Adriatic sea in the morning and not allowed to have any type of coffee on the ship till 7:30 is a sad fact.
- Rob, 09/10/2024 16:36, Travelled with Friend/s
Loved the week on the ship. Met some great people. Mostly from Australia, UK and USA. Particularly enjoyed the swim stops. Great food too. Be aware though that the ship docks late afternoon in each location so some of the advertised shore excursions will not happen. We found this disappointing and would recommend Sail Croatia only promote those excursions that have a realistic chance of going ahead.
- Rhys, 09/10/2024 09:12, Travelled in a Couple
Staff was great. Especially Klara and Pamela. We enjoyed the swim stops and island stops. The meals were so so too much fish for my liking. They’ve in our room didn’t work for 1/2 the week. The tours were great, Capains dinner/dance and wine tours as well I would include gratuity in the price and/or arrange for credit card payments for on board liquor purchases for some people I spoke to were surprised they needed so much euros at the end of the trip which may have an effect on gratuity’s We would highly recommend Sail Croatia to anyone that asks us
- Rick, 08/10/2024 13:54, Travelled with Friend/s
Hi Rick, thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the swim stops, island visits, excursions and Captain's Dinner, and we appreciate your compliments about Klara and Pamela. Our chefs always aim to provide a variety of exciting dishes, however we understand that tastes can differ. Your comments will be passed on to our culinary team. Regarding gratuities, we want to clarify that tipping is entirely optional and at our guests' discretion. While we provide guidance for those who inquire, there’s no pressure, and any amount is appreciated by our crew. Thank you for your recommendations, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
Great crew all round. Extremely professional and courteous. Very high standards of comfort and cleanliness. Very professional Tour guide , perfect touch and interaction with all passengers. Only complaint is breakfast is too early to close at 9.00am, also it was a direct shut down at that time. Even at 9.o5 am the coffee and tea was closed, leaving the only option was to purchase. Tea and coffee. That station should be available all day subject to cruising condition.
- Graham, 08/10/2024 09:07, Travelled in a Couple
Beautiful Croatian coast and a good crew
- Tony, 07/10/2024 12:52, Travelled in a Couple
The food. No need for a 3 course meal at lunchtime. How about a salad type buffet. Anyway, the quality of the food left much to be desired(too stodgy. Breakfast hot food wasn’t kept warm Cabin was good, especially the shower No swimming spots as advertised Sail Croatia staff excellent, crew not so Bicycling very good. Excellent concept
- Anonymous, 07/10/2024 08:25, Travelled in a Couple
Hi there - Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the cabin, especially the shower, and that you found our bicycling concept to be excellent. It's also great to know that our staff made a positive impression on you. We appreciate your thoughts on the meal structure and quality and regret your disappointment. Our chefs aim to provide a variety of meals using fresh, local produce, and we have found with the small kitchen space onboard, the 3 courses work best and produce less food waste than lunch bufftets. We are sorry that due to the unusually poor weather conditions, some swim stops were not possible.Your insights are invaluable to us, and we hope to enhance your experience in the future. Thank you once again for your review!
Swim stops were cancelled due to weather without consulting passengers. Some activities were cancelled either because of equipment malfunction. A better hostess would be good.
- Malcolm , 07/10/2024 06:54, Travelled with Family
Hi Malcolm - thank you for your review. We're glad to hear you found us to be a good company to travel with. For everyone's safety, we were sorry to see that a swim stop wasn't possible due to the unusually poor weather conditions, and we understand this affected your experience. We’re pleased to see that the hostess received all 5-star reviews for your departure. Once again thank you for your feedback.
The crew did a great job making us as comfortable as possible. Our cycle guides were exceptional. The trip could only have been made better with better/newer boat.
- Darrell, 07/10/2024 06:47,
Lots of great people on this trip including two great guides and the ships crew. The biking was challenging and fun though 32 people are rather a lot to organize. The boat was not as good as we hoped, but probably our fault as we thought we had gone premium plus rather than premium. Cabins were very small and the food was OK but not great.
- Peter, 02/10/2024 23:12, Travelled with Friend/s
Good communication before trip. Attentive staff during our trip. Nice hand off after our trip.
- Paul, 30/09/2024 14:35, Travelled with Friend/s
Places we visited, people we met, local culture.
- Craig, 30/09/2024 11:29, Travelled in a Couple
Firstly I would like to point out I have absolutely no issues with the staff whatsoever - they each deserve 5 stars as they were all so welcoming and helpful throughout the trip. Special mention for Marin, the best host we could have asked for arranged some great nights and made sure everyone was included. My main issue was that the week was poor value for money, the food was ok but I have to mention the BBQ night, 25 euro for what can only be described as a car crash. When I was offered it I was expecting a real bbq on the port but no - the meats (poor quality I’ll add) were grilled in the usual kitchen not on any sort of bbq - genuinely left me feeling ripped off. Drinks on the boat are extremely expensive for what they are, poor quality sprits other than real JD, and still charging full price. Excursions are overpriced we did the canyoning and it was not worth 75 euros at all. Any transfers to ports clubs or bars are always charged and EVERYTHING is cash only - disappointing.
- Anonymous, 30/09/2024 10:45, Travelled with Friend/s
What a beautiful country to explore. The boat and the crew was excellent. Massive thank you to our wonderful tour guide Klara, her knowledge and laughter all week was amazing…..she needs a pay raise 😂👍.
- Adrian, 30/09/2024 08:36, Travelled in a Couple
It's ok
- Navi, 30/09/2024 05:10, Travelled Solo
The Croatian islands are so beautiful to see when biking. The EOS ship was not as nice as other pictures on the website. The staff were all pleasant. Vegetarian options were limited. Despite rain, the staff worked very hard to reroute us and gave us a wonderful experience.
- Anonymous, 27/09/2024 19:47, Travelled in a Couple
The cabins were cold and the first nigt on board the boat we could hardly sleep due to the chill in the cabin. We could not control the tempreture in the cabin. The cabin had lower standard than we expected. The food served on board was not good.Breakfast was good but lunch and grill could have been better.. I had the feeling during the trip that we were alwayes in a hurry. and the cykling tours not relaxed.Not much time for fotos or to observe the scenery etc. Nevertheless we enjoyed the trip.The staff was friendly and helpful at all times.
- Pall, 26/09/2024 17:53, Travelled with Family
Hi Pall, thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed your trip and found our staff friendly and helpful, though we're sorry to learn that some aspects didn't meet your expectations. Regarding the temperature in your cabin, we’d like to mention that the AC units onboard also have a heating function. Our Onboard Rep would have been more than happy to assist with this, had they been made aware of your discomfort. We appreciate your feedback on the meals. While breakfast met expectations, we'll pass your comments on to our team regarding the lunches served. In terms of the cycling pace, our Cycle cruises are designed for the more active traveler who enjoys a faster-paced itinerary. However, for those seeking a more relaxed experience with plenty of time to take in the scenery and capture photos, we offer other options such as our Explorer or Elegance cruises. These might be more suited to a leisurely travel experience in the future. Thank you again for your feedback. We hope to welcome you back onboard soon for another adventure.
We did a Sail Croatia hike trip. Sail Croatia knew ahead of time some of the people were unable to hike but were interested in the islands we were visiting to see the towns and the history. I would have expected that the coordinators would have given suggestions for things to do and historical information. If you weren't hiking you received limited attention.
- Greggory, 26/09/2024 03:02, Travelled with Friend/s