Overall it was wonderful. The full group of passengers were amazing and Croatia is stunning. Our hikes were beautiful. Our cabin was quite small and very damp. Our clothes and towels never felt dry. We were thankful that it was cool and quieter during the night when parked next to party boats, though it was a bit noisy when the engines started in the morning. We thought the food was quite good. In sum, great experience and would choose a bit nicer ship next time.

- Anonymous, 17/06/2026 09:59, Travelled in a Couple

The ship Emanuel is a well renovated 1955 small passenger ship with maximizing passenger carrying at expense of cabin space. The ship is rated standard when the brochure said Premier grade for the hiking cruise. Food was unimaginative but acceptable and drinks overpriced. Tea and coffee should be freely available during the day. The cabin was clean with a hard and lumpy bed, noise from outside was a problem at times as we were on the corridor connecting other ships alongside and music was often loud but finished at 11pm. Crew and guides were friendly and helpful but more info on the history and other information about the places visited would be good. The cruise itself visited some wonderful places and i wouldn't have missed it but things could have been done better.

- Graham, 15/06/2026 16:24, Travelled in a Couple

We loved seeing the Dalmation Islands, the beautiful walks and we enjoyed the public areas of the boat, Emanuel. However in the small cabin the bed was hard and lumpy. The addition of decent mattress toppers would be an easy fix and a big improvement. While I appreciate limited galley space, the food could be easily improved with forethought. For example for vegetarians a homemade lentil and spinach soup would be a simple and massive improvement on powdered mushroom soup. The salads were very basic; lettuce in a bowl and likewise could be upgraded with a few extras and with the addition of, for example, cooked potatoes chick peas with decent bread would have been a nicer main course than fried vege fritters from a packet. One day we had lunch of potato crocquettes with potato and vege fritters and chips, all from a packet, all fried! Breakfasts were good with nice vege choice. Bar a bit pricey. Tea and coffee all day should be included for the price of the holiday.

- Anonymous, 15/06/2026 16:02, Travelled in a Couple

I wouldn’t ever sail on the standard of boat used on this trip because the cabins were pretty much all of a low standard in one way or another. Additionally noise at night was a significant issue, due to tie ups in harbour. Sleep quality on the boat was poor and the cabin air conditioning caused throat problems. The tipping expectations for staff on this boat of about 20% of the cost of the trip were ridiculous. No one tipped that much, Other people on the boat great fun. Ilona was a very good hike leader. Food on board ok to good, but why no menu for the week or choices? Would go to Croatia again but on a land based tour. The hikes were worth doing. None of our friends would tolerate the standard of boat so wouldn’t recommend to anyone.

- Anonymous, 15/06/2026 04:16, Travelled in a Couple

We really enjoyed our week on Aphradita. Sasha and Natasha were great hosts and guides. The hiking was perfect - the week was a perfect balance of activity and down time. Would recommend.

- Sandra, 05/06/2026 20:39, Travelled in a Couple

Fun holiday. Maybe 1/2 days too long. Alcohol on board very expensive. Breakfasts were very much the same each day. Felt leaders could have done more - like dinners out on town - to build comraderey. Hikes seemed like last minute thoughts. Leader took few breaks, not a lot of stopping to explain interesting facts. But maybe there weren’t many. 😬 all in all fun , beautiful Boat and great crew

- Anonymous, 04/06/2026 22:20, Travelled with Friend/s

Crew and guides extremely friendly and caring.

- Ann, 06/10/2025 14:42, Travelled with Friend/s

The staff were amazing. Mario, the Sail Croatia rep on the boat, was friendly, very knowledgeable and spoke several languages fluently. Matte the walk guide was clearly experienced but also patient and able to adjust to the needs of the group. The crew of the Mali Ante were delightful and went out of their way to make sure we had a great holiday. The cabins were small but had plenty of storage and the shower was great. The food was homely, crowd pleasing and generous. We got to know everyone on the trip and enjoyed the multinational vibe..

- Angela, 06/10/2025 04:50, Travelled in a Couple

Fantastic cruise - ship staff and tour leaders were amazing and knowledgeable. Very accommodating to all abilities. Food excellent well above expectations. Our only slight criticism was our cabin which was on the lower deck and felt quite small. In retrospect we would have chosen an upper deck cabin. That said it was a fantastic, memorable holiday made all the more special by the brilliant staff - heads up to Lola and Natasha

- Sue, 29/09/2025 16:16, Travelled in a Couple

Captain, tour guides and front line staff were great. Room was not great with a bed that you could feel the metal springs, lumpy pillows, lights that didn’t work, safe that wasn’t opened, Generator noise was intrusive into the room during the night. In port the boats were often racked together so that you had to pass through multiple boats to get onto shore. This also trapped diesel exhaust fumes on still nights, making staying outside at the back of the boat uncomfortable.

- Anonymous, 29/09/2025 08:36, Travelled in a Couple

Excellent guides and beautiful destinations. Hiking trails fitted the group and if not alternatives were on offer.

- Bjarni , 22/09/2025 05:50, Travelled with Friend/s

Beautiful hike choices and Island locations. The Captain and his team were amazing and accommodated bad weather so that we still hiked and enjoyed the fair weather sailing. The food on Board was fantastic and Bruno was efficient and helpful. Our group would have preferred more swim time. Perhaps also, more time in Vis-maybe a second day there for more swim time, even worth losing one hike elsewhere. The hike to the Blaca Heritage monastery on Brac and the adventure was a lot of fun as well as a history lesson. We learned a lot!!! Blaca Heritage

- An, 20/09/2025 16:23, Travelled with Friend/s

The staff on the ship

- Susane, 20/09/2025 15:04, Travelled with Friend/s

It was my first time on a cruise and also my first time in Croatia. I was a bit nervous at first, but it turned out to be a lovely experience. I was surprised, however, that the age demographic was much older, and there wasn’t really anyone my age. I also expected the hiking to be more challenging, but it was quite slow and leisurely—which did suit some of the group. That said, the crew and tour guides were incredibly welcoming, and I really enjoyed meeting everyone on board. They did their best to make sure we had a great week in Croatia, and I’m thankful I took the risk and tried something new. Overall, it was a fun and memorable adventure!

- Anonymous, 02/09/2025 14:44, Travelled Solo

Nicest people. Gorgeous country.

- Janetta, 01/09/2025 05:18,

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 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

We had a blast, and weren't disappointed

- Katie, 26/05/2025 12:20, Travelled with Friend/s

Enjoyed the scenery and hikes. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides.

- Julie, 26/05/2025 12:15, Travelled with Friend/s

Salve di mare is a beautiful ship with an amazing and professional crew. They looked after us with attention and care. The food on board was delicious, a big thank you for the chef and his team! Our hiking guide Matte was very knowledgeable and provided full description not only about the hikes but also about the villages visited. Ioana, leading the guests was very approachable and friendly.. Despite the extra charge for the upper cabin booked, we found out that it was on top of the engine making it very noisy and other cabins at a cheaper rate, were way more spacious than ours. Tea and coffee was free of charge only until 1pm, which we did not understand the reason, as it was an average coffee maker, not a barista style at all for the extra charge. We definitely recommend our hiking tour and we will be happy to come back and choose Sail Croatia again!

- Anonymous, 26/05/2025 11:24, Travelled in a Couple

Great guides. Good hikes.

- Anonymous, 26/05/2025 10:57, Travelled with Friend/s

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,

Well organised. Great crew and amazing tour leaders ❤️

- Rosette, 20/05/2025 11:53, Travelled with Friend/s

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

Great hikes, challenging uphills at times in the heat, but manageable. Terrific food! Wonderful swims off the boat. Made new friends Helpful crew and super friendly!and knowledgeable guides. False advertising in some info pre-cruise. There was no “pasta making workshop” for example.

- Anonymous, 01/07/2024 10:17,

The crew on the Emanuel was terrific. They were attentive and very professional. The ship is kept in tip top shape; everything is very clean. Everything was well-organized and there was a good balance between programmed activities and free time. The maximum capacity for passengers was 30 and we had 27 aboard. It was a very good number. The views were spectacular and all of the places we visited were beautiful and interesting.

- Pam, 13/05/2024 07:36, Travelled with Friend/s

The crew on the Emanuel were fantastic. The cabin was comfortable and the meals were good. The walks ( which require a good level of fitness) were outstanding. On our trip unfortunately the Sail Croatia guides were poor communicators and held too many poorly prepared briefings. Sail Croatia mis pricing it’s marchandise was a minor but sour note. In summary the islands of Croatia are magical and there are some magnificent hikes

- Sam, 13/05/2024 06:25,

First impression on boarding our allocated ship Eos, a three masted motor sailer, was we had drawn the short straw. It wasn’t as modern or sleek as most of the cruisers around us in Split harbour and our below deck cabin was tiny and cramped. However what followed was a week of brilliant fun and adventure that made the shortcomings of the accommodation seem a minor point. A new picture postcard location every day, beautiful ports, swim stops in secluded bays and a great group of fellow travellers from around the globe who we got to know on our daily hikes and evenings in the local bars cafes and restaurants. Our guides Mate and Lola were knowledgeable, responsible but also fun. The crew were great and the food on board was varied and tasty. The hikes were challenging but rewarding too, though I personally would have preferred more climbs with a bar at the top! We made some great friends and have fabulous memories of our week around the Islands of Croatia. Thanks to all.

- Tony, 26/09/2023 06:21, Travelled in a Couple

Beautiful coves where anchor was dropped to allow us to swim off the swimming deck in crystal clear sea. Towns and villages were fantastic, each had a unique charm and some had summer music concerts to entertain. Hikes were enjoyable if challenging in the humidity. Whilst short in distance they all involved walking up steep and rugged terrain, do pack hiking poles! Mate was our experienced and very knowledgeable guide, we had complete trust in him. Decks were kept clean and tidy, there was always space to sunbathe. Meals onboard were tasty and well presented, a captain’s dinner was provided free one evening. Not rated 5 stars as our ship EOS (21 cabins) was tired and a little “crusty” in places, we were expecting a higher standard and more spacious accommodation. A good mix of English speaking passengers onboard, all respectful to each other and we made new friends for life.

- Carol, 25/09/2023 06:02, Travelled in a Couple

We had a great week , enjoying well guided hikes and sensational swim stops .

- Anonymous, 19/09/2023 08:57, Travelled with Friend/s

Loved the friendliness and openness of the crew and guides - showed us the best of Croatian people. There were a few "buts" - there were tv-s in cabins, but they didn't work, the lock of our cabin broke, took a while to get it sorted. The drinks on board cost twice that on shore - I only had 2 classes of wine during the trip and loads on shore - maybe the price policy needs to be worked on... I did also have a question about the wages of the crew and guides - maybe Sail Croatia should pay them more, add it to the overall cost and not do the whole "usually our guests leave tip that much". If people want to add extra tip, they could but this passive agressive - leaving the envelope and instructions how much people need to tip, is leaving a bit of unpleasant shadow to the trip.

- Anonymous, 22/05/2023 05:17, Travelled in a Couple

We had a great holiday and enjoyed the hikes and the great company onboard. The breakfast was good with a mediocre lunch onboard. The guides were very helpful and the scenery spectacular we would recommend this holiday if you like the outdoors and want to meet new friends. Croatia is a beautiful country to explore.

- David, 15/05/2023 13:16,

First time with sail Croatia the crew were lovely friendly but were not invasive and gave you your privacy. The boat particularly the cabins were above my expectations we were in the bottom deck at the back and yes when the engines started up it was your early alarm clock but did not upset us as we needed to be organised for the day ahead. we had Mate and Marin as our guides and they were marvellous and knowledgable and even though they had a few difficult characters to manage they were always professional and polite. Over all had a great holiday the only reason for 4 stars was it would have been good to have the cabin floor sweeper daily as we were bringing in a lot of stones from our trips. The food was fantastic and never a day when we did not enjoy it the chef went above and beyond and mario the host at the meals could not go enough for us. The facilities on the sip were great from the sun lounging deck to the bar.

- Margaret, 19/09/2022 16:49, Travelled with Friend/s

I m vegetarian and I had a constant monotonous and unhealthy diet of eggs and cheese at each meal of the day. No vegetables, all cheap and badly cooked. To be fair. The ship crew were fine. The guides adequate. The hikes were not interesting bar one trip to a national part. Just uphill to a viewpoint. Every viewpoint and trail looked the same. The other guests were a good and lively bunch. Many felt the same but there was group pressure to say how great everything was.

- Eve, 05/09/2022 06:00, Travelled Solo

The boat was comfortable

- Anonymous, 04/10/2019 15:59, Travelled in a Couple

Food - consistently good - thanks to Rosa and Marco ehi did a great job Hikes & Information - excellent - (Matè and Kristijan are brilliant and worked well together) Boat - could have been better. Bathrooms need upgrading and/or more frequent cleaning.. Also better deck chairs and sun beds/cushions for sun bathing on the boat. The dining area was lovely and well maintained. The crew were helpful and friendIy.

- Russell, 30/09/2019 12:40, Travelled in a Couple

Limit the group to hikers from one boat. Have hike leaders ensure group stays together and not just hike for their own enjoyment. Provide radio communication between the hike leader and the sweep so when someone is hurt it does not take fifteen minutes for the hike leader to return to the group and provide help. Stick to the itinerary other than weather related issues not just change to suit the next cruise or make it easier for the crew and hike leaders. Try and schedule the hikes in the morning versus mid afternoon in the heat of the day.

- Alan, 25/09/2019 06:40, Travelled in a Couple

We were well taken care of by the staff of Sail Croatia. Food was great. Scenery was lovely. Suggestions for island restaurants were great. One suggestion: Make sure each level of hikers has an accompanying guide. In several situations the advanced group had two guides and the moderate group had none.

- Jana, 23/09/2019 16:48, Travelled in a Couple

Staff was very friendly and supportive! Variety of activities were available.

- Anonymous, 19/09/2019 20:01, Travelled with Family

Well organized by friendly staffs and suited to us.

- Nancy , 17/09/2019 02:31, Travelled with Friend/s

Booking and pre-holiday information easy and accessible. Boat easy to locate at Split. Cruise director friendly and welcoming. Cabin and en-suite (lower deck, single occupancy) clean and tidy. Would have been cramped for two. Bedding a little damp each night, probably due to air-con and lack of ventilation. Plenty of public spaces on board for enjoying the weather. Breakfast: continental and cooked. Daily 3 course meal: simple, reasonably good, quite varied. Served as lunch, sometimes as late as 4pm. Packed lunch would have been preferable. Hiking: great walks, steep climbs and descents, a lot of rocky ground and loose stone. Fantastic views and countryside. Hike leadership: lack of awareness of individual capabilities of the group. Leader usually well ahead and, at times, out of sight. Resulted in group being too strung out. Even worse when combined with another group. When an accident occurred, he was completely unaware and eventually returned about 10 minutes later.

- Anonymous, 16/09/2019 10:59, Travelled with Friend/s

We loved the hiking but our chaotic guide let us down at times, A bit rushed and not enough consideration for the slower walkers and no time allowed for them to rest once they caught up. I was amazed we didn’t actually lose anyone and at times felt it was a bit dangerous, especially when on one walk a small group were allowed to hike a section on their own without a guide. The timing of the walks needs reviewing. The trip was advertised to inc lunch or dinner, sometimes lunch was served at 4pm due to timing of walks, this should have been an evening meal instead with a packed lunch provided, also not keen on a 3 course lunch just before a walk. The boat was very nice with a great crew and couldn’t fault it other than the bedding feeling damp for most of the trip. The real positive is that we had a really nice time with our friends and fellow guests and thoroughly enjoyed Beautiful Croatia. Dislike being advised / told how much to tip by hostess. £130/150 not impressed!

- Nigel, 16/09/2019 07:45, Travelled with Friend/s

Visiting different places each day with good mix of group and self-guided activities with excellent staff support

- Lindon, 24/06/2019 19:22, Travelled in a Couple

The overall experience was just a lot of fun and unique to anything I’ve tried before. Beyond my expectations Very friendly and accommodating staff, food was good and the cook very much catered to my GF ͏Di͏e͏t. The rooms were basic but perfect & comfortable for the size of ship. I appreciated being able to go to smaller ports/cities on the islands that larger ships wouldn’t be able to. I felt seeing the wildflowers in bloom was a real plus and should be included in advertising for future May trips. The hikes provided amazing views and our guide was a lot of fun and passionate about sharing about Croatians and the history. He was great! I do think a better description of hikes could be provided in advertising as we were a bit surprised at the level of hikes, but we were troupers and only missed the 1 steepest hike. Perhaps it was the pics of past trips, just walking thru the villages as opposed to understanding the steep elevations. Only reason for not being 5 star.

- Denise , 30/05/2019 14:57, Travelled with Friend/s

Our crew was incredible! The food plentiful and delicious. The cabins were roomy and comfortable. Due to weather our itinerary was changed. The captain and crew did an amazing job rerouting. There was plenty to see and do at every port. I feel the hikes could have been better. We hiked mostly up hill at a fast pace with not much flora and fauna along the way. The cabins need hooks on the wall for hanging. There are no amenities in the cabin - soap, shampoo, hair dryer. I would recommend this trip without hesitation.

- Sherri, 27/05/2019 05:42, Travelled with Friend/s

I really enjoyed the Hiking cruise. The hikes are beautiful (but weather dependent). Most hikes were only 2.5-3 hours and be prepared to spend quite a lot of time sailing between islands. I would recommend the trip for solo travelers, whatever age. Our group had a spread of ages from early 20s to 60s.

- Anonymous, 20/05/2019 16:28, Travelled Solo

The captain was skilled and a good man. Gordana, our passenger representative, organizer, and secondary guide was truly amazing. She had everything covered for anybody, and so on task. Ljubo, the guide, was exceptional, a man passionate about his work. He had relevant briefings before each hike, and led us to a different experience on each hike. His hikes were well thought out and his knowledge of the country was added value. The crew all aimed to make the experience positive.

- simonne, 15/10/2018 14:33, Travelled with Friend/s

Good food, company and exercise. Well trained staff, beautiful weather.

- Rodney, 18/09/2018 13:24, Travelled in a Couple

Fantastic experience from booking (with no single person suppliment), to the staff involved in the boat and guides. Super affordable when taking into the fact you have accommodation for 7 nights and 2 meals a day, let alone the hikes. Sail Croatia provided me with the holiday of a lifetime and breathtakingly mountain and island port views. Thank you all.

- Stefan, 17/09/2018 08:59, Travelled Solo

Being able to have a hot shower once a day. Washing machine and dryer availability. Reported maintenance problems resolved.

- Anonymous, 14/05/2018 17:35, Travelled in a Couple