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.
Our cruise with Sail Croatia was lovely. The biking was a bit more challenging & athletic than anticipated, so we were happy to have e-bikes. But our tour guides Marin & Natasha were knowledgeable & skilled so we always felt safe. Daily rides lasted 3-6 hours, the latter with added excursions. Some on quiet remote roads, but a few on rather busy thruways. I'd suggest offering a more leisurely bike option with site-seeing stops (we did coffee & beach stops but they were very brief) The boat itself was basic but comfortable (premier class). Our room was adequate & clean, with a large bathroom, plenty of hot water & AC. However there were some lacking amenities such as a comfortable lounge area away from the wind when at sail, with seating enough for everyone on board. We were also expecting sun loungers on the top deck, but there were just a few plastic chairs. Lastly the buffet breakfasts were wonderful, but not the plated lunches. I'd suggest offering buffet instead.
- Anonymous, 10/06/2026 14:55, Travelled with Family
I enjoyed the other people on the tour and the guides (Marin and Martin). I did feel that the boat used was not a proper one for this kind of cruise. Once the bikes were loaded there was little room left. I noted other boats when at dock that were roomier on the stern on the middle. Also, the breakfast buffet was poorly organized. Again, there was a lack of space forcing people into a small table area where only one person could get in and had to come back out into the same line. There should be access in the round and not at one of the eating tables. When parked alongside other boats there was no airflow. This became an issue when the air conditioning was not working. The crew was not very friendly, were smoking near the eating area and on their phones. There were no smokers on the tour so it was somewhat disgusting to have to inhale the crews cigarette smoke. They should go off the boat or to the upper deck if they want to smoke. The food was not of good quality. Needs improvement.
- Anonymous, 01/06/2026 11:09, Travelled with Family
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback with us. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed travelling with your fellow guests and that Marin and Martin helped make your experience a positive one. We will be sure to pass on your kind comments to them. We are sorry to learn that several aspects of the onboard experience did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your comments regarding the vessel layout, dining area configuration, air conditioning, food quality, and crew service. Guest comfort is extremely important to us, and we understand how these issues could have impacted your enjoyment of the cruise. Regarding your comments about the vessel size and onboard space, I can see that you travelled on one of our Premier ships. While these ships offer a comfortable cruising experience, we also offer a Premier Plus category for guests seeking additional space, larger cabins, and enhanced onboard amenities. Many of the larger vessels you may have seen during your cruise would likely have fallen within this category. Thank you again for your constructive feedback and recommendation. We truly value guest insights as they help us continue to improve our experiences.
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.
Great time away, food was not to my liking and very bland especially the soups. Mash potato was like slop on plate meat stew very tough. Coffee not nice all agreed bought my own and it went missing. Toilet paper should be filled properly at all times as only little was put in and we kept running out along with others. No ware to sit when weather was so bad as only 4 seats by bar all tables were played straight after breakfast. Breakfast: nothing left one morning at 7.45 when breakfast should have been until 8.30. Plates taken when we were still eating at breakfast meats and cheese removed so fast not time to eat, most days they had breakfast cleared down before 8.15 making many of us feeling rushed and not able to eat what we wanted for our breakfast. The crew were very nice . Would have liked the bikes we paid for to have been available when we were not on ride so we could explore. Felt the whole week centred around them not us.
- karen, 11/05/2026 08:01, Travelled with Family
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.
Great staff. Bike routes well laid out and planned with interesting stops for swimming and cafes to get a delicious cup of coffee. Bikes were well maintained and very easy to ride. Any problems that did arise were handled quickly. Breakfast was great with a nice variety of food to choose from. Coffee not so good, needs improvement. Could purchase cappuccino on board which was good. Lunch definitely needs improvement. Most times it was cold. Soup was watery. Desserts were delicious. No on board safety protocols. We didn’t realize until third day into trip that life vests were under our bed. I would definitely recommend this trip.
- Henny, 26/09/2025 09:24, Travelled with Family
Good itinery... Good equipment.. Knowlegable, competent, friendly Guides Great boat (Accomdation, Crew and meals) Altogether a great 7 days. Thank you
- clive, 22/09/2025 14:27, Travelled with Family
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.
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.
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
Friendly staff. Well organized guides. Clean ship
- Anonymous, 02/10/2024 08:07, Travelled with Family
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.
Our guides were so kind,helpful and great knowledge of the islands.
- Dorothy , 27/05/2024 05:13, Travelled with Family
seeing all the beautiful sights of Croatia was amazing and the ebike made it all possible. I would have loved a little book/hand out of our bike paths and information about the culture in each area-It's not easy to remember everything the guides tell us. The room did smell a bit which was unpleasant and I wish we could've opened the windows. I wish we had more leisure time to explore the little towns. I loved the free coffee drinks on board and the staff was great. Loved having this experience staying on a beautiful boat- thank you!
- Anonymous, 04/05/2024 13:27, Travelled with Family
Hi there, thank you for your 4-star review. We appreciate your feedback and are pleased to hear that you had an amazing time seeing Croatia's beautiful sights, the E-Bikes are certainly a great addition to a Cycle Cruise! Thank you for the feedback. At times if there is bad weather, smell can occur in the bathroom emitting from the shower drains. This is due to the movement of the ships on the water whereby this movement opens up airflow at the back of the pipe and into the bathroom. This is addressed in the Welcome Speech by the Sail Croatia Representative on board. Thank you for the kind words for the staff on-board, we will be sure to pass this on, and we hope to welcome you on-board again in the future.
We loved the boat and the travel guides on our trip to Croatia. Our itinerary was well planned, and our cycling guides were experienced and have been doing this for many years. The kitchen catered to our dietary requirements, vegetarian and vegan. Thankyou Sam Croatia team
- Shane, 01/05/2024 05:14, Travelled with Family
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!
I should have ridden on an e-bike instead, even though I ride a bike regularly I was not prepared for the challenge of riding the climbs. The guides were extremely supportive and patient with me on this trip. The islands were great to explore on a bike ride, as the scenery was amazing and varied from day to day.
- Anonymous, 04/09/2023 05:51, Travelled with Family
We had a great time cycling the Dalmatian Islands with the Mali Ante crew. Our guides Mila and Miranda provided great historical information about the towns and were very fun to ride with. The onboard crew was wonderful as well, taking care of our rooms and providing great food. We even got them to dance with us on the night of Captain's dinner. The only recommendation I have is to consider an eBike. I'm a cyclist at home, but was happy to have an eBike to get over those beautiful (but steep!) hills.
- Julie, 07/07/2023 18:36, Travelled with Family
The guides and staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The bikes were comfortable and ran smoothly.The only complaint was the lunch which at times the protein was over cooked.
- Barbara, 25/05/2023 09:26, Travelled with Family
This was my 3rd trip with sail Croatia. Split-Dubrovnik. It did not disappoint Travelled with family & friend. After some minor issue at booking with cabin allocation. Swiftly sorted. Despite the bad weather for early part of the week we had a great time. The itinary was changed slightly due to weather conditions & guest safety. Marin & Ivan did their very best to ensure alternative sight seeing trips were available to accommodate this. The cycling was challenging enough for those on hybrid bikes. Captain & crew really friendly. Boat was clean. Food plentiful. If there was anything I would change.. please maybe longer circular cycling routes rather than there & back.. we were a larger group of 30 but safety was second to none. A massive thank you to Marin & Ivan for their friendliness, and showing us some stunning places. And providing us with great laughs. WE made some lovely friends and great memories. Would highly recommend sail Croatia 🙂
- Anonymous, 22/05/2023 20:38, Travelled with Family
26 friends and family sailed on the Emanuel from Split to Dubrovnik. Nina from Sail Croatia was a great guide the food on the Emanuel was delicious and each port was somehow nicer than the last. I only wish was spending more time on the bikes exploring the islands. The schedule keep us fairly tied to the A To B trip with little time for side trips. Also, much of the biking day was spent waiting for slower riders which would have made my trip even better…..
- John, 19/09/2022 08:57, Travelled with Family
Great trek leaders - great boat (Afrodita) - great crew - great guests! We were hoping there would be other families with older teens to be with, but there were no age barriers here: the other guests welcomed our kids and they responded with maturity! The cycling was challenging without e-bikes in the extreme heat but everyone was accommodating and encouraging. We swam off the boat a couple of times and found beaches every day which was brilliant. The ship was great- but shade on the sun deck would have made it more useful, as it was too hot to go up there at all. I was surprised that there was no cleaning of bathrooms all week, and no change of towels offered, but the food was abundant and amazing. A drink with main meals (even water!) would have been appreciated. Overall, a wonderful week.
- Rebecca, 19/07/2022 09:18, Travelled with Family
Staff hangs around community areas and smokes cigarettes. Extremely offensive to passengers. All cruises should be smoke free. This is ridiculous in this day and age. Also, more time should be dedicated to biking and less on “boat time”.
- I, 09/09/2019 01:44, Travelled with Family
Hi there, Thank you for your review. Our cruises are open to all travellers, smokers and non-smokers. On each of our ships there is a designated smoking area generally towards the back of the boat. We appreciate your comments and we hope that you enjoyed the wonderful locations, meals onboard and your informative and friendly representative. Thank you!
Boat is not owned by sail Croatia. Its sub contracted. We asked for our 2 rooms with our daughter s to be next to each Other . The boat never got the request. The grey water tank overflowed into our bathroom. It was really gross The roof leaked from the ice machine above and soaked our mattresses The shower floor leaked and the bathroom floor was entirely flooded. The beds had broken springs and uncomfortable No ventilation in the lower cabins . Dank musty and moldy. No portholes to open. Sealed shut. After 3 days crew finally turned in air conditioning. Captain did this not sail Croatia. The crew were awesome and apologetic. Lead guide /Sail Croatia did not offer to compensate for these issues at all. Gordana the 2nd guide was very nice. Food was excellent. Great views and cycling for the most part very good. We would like to see a partial refund for the accommodations. The 20" wheel ebikes are wrong for the terrain. The newer 26" mobiles we saw for next cruise were correct.
- Mark, 05/07/2019 02:41, Travelled with Family
Hi there and thank you for your review. It's great to hear you enjoyed the inclusion of our knowledgeable guides and found the food excellent. We agree - the views are just stunning so we're really happy to hear you enjoyed the cycling aspect and the amazing scenery. We are family owned and each of the ships we work with are also family-owned and operated. Together we make up Sail Croatia. I have had a look into this for you and can see that the cabins that were allocated to you were directly opposite each other. There are a couple of points in your review that I just need to clarify for other travellers considering booking with us. We have a rigorous process in place for any issues that may arise on our cruises and this process is emailed to guests prior to departure, is available via your Online Account and pre-departure information, and is also reiterated onboard the ship by your Representative. Thank you for following this process and making your Representative aware of the leak in your cabin which had wet the end of the beds, we can see via our reports that this was resolved immediately. Upon checking our records, I cannot see that the flooded floors or the broken spring issues were reported to the Representative. As you booked an Ensuite ship, unfortunately Air-conditioning is not included in the cabin price. However, some ships are have the functionality of turning the air-conditioning on for the entire ship and this is charged at a per person rate. I can see that from the first day the Captain decided to turn this on for all guests to enjoy at no additional cost. The 20" wheels that are advertised on our website for our Cycle cruises have been trialed and tested, in saying this we are currently trialing a larger 26" wheel bicycle and may release these for future seasons. Thank you again for your review and we are glad you enjoyed parts of your cruise, and Croatia as a whole.
Our trip was amazing! Touring by sea & bike was an incredible way to see Croatia. The views were incredible, the rides great, and the taste of towns small & large great! The crew was great and the captain did an amazing job navigating the ports (for smooth loading/unloading of bikes) and optimal porting position,. I do have suggestions for improvement. Our cabin was below deck. While we didn’t pay for air conditioning we did not realize the portholes would be sealed shut and the airflow VERY limited. As the upper deck didn’t experience this it took some time, but we are grateful the crew resolved this after a few days. It was necessary to breathe & sleep. Also, there were several changes to the advertised rides. While we appreciate the difficulty tailoring rides to a mixed group, Discussion with the group about changes would have been much appreciated. Perhaps have an extra e-bike or 2 on board for those who find the rides are too difficult & want to upgrade would allow all to ride
- Stacie, 24/06/2019 13:22, Travelled with Family
Thank you for taking the time to review our cruise. We are glad you enjoyed the trip overall and found it to be amazing, thank you! We agree, our Cycle cruises give the perfect balance of touring by sea and discovering by bike - we're so happy you enjoyed the views, the rides and the taste of all the towns. All our Ensuite cabins exclude air-conditioning, however do include a small fan for added ventilation. We will pass your thanks on the amazing captain and crew! We appreciate all your suggestions and ideas, and will certainly pass these on to the appropriate team - thank you and again, we are pleased you enjoyed your great adventure!
- John, 02/10/2018 06:17, Travelled with Family
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.
Enjoyed the beautiful Islands and environment. Stunning part of the world and it was so special to have this opportunity. Great crew and a wonderful bunch of friendly people. The bikes were fabulous and well cared for. We were well fed 2 meals per day. Beds were comfortable and it was nice to have an en suite.
- Margaret , 21/09/2017 15:53, Travelled with Family
The bikes were a good quality and well maintained and the e-bikes were perfect for the kids. The guides were very experienced, cheerful and always helpful. Cabins were hot in the middle of the heat wave and the ports noisy, but regardless we had a great family adventure!
- Mark, 21/08/2017 02:53, Travelled with Family
The cruise was great . The guides, ana,Miranda and Hugo really looked after us . The food was really good and the crew were really helpful. The only thing that let it down was the company themselves, sail Croatia. We had an issue on the boat and they could have handled it better and supported their guides. Especially for a company with so much experience. Shame really. Otherwise a fantastic cruise.
- Lynn, 03/07/2017 04:50, Travelled with Family