What are Cycle Cruises?
Cycle Cruises combine the best of cycling, exploring and socialising on a 7 day cruise! These cruises allow you to experience the best of Croatia on two wheels, tackling varied and interesting terrain with like-minded travellers! Alongside our Hike Croatia Cruises, Cycle Croatia Cruises provide an active and exciting way to explore the Croatian archipelago.
What time does the cruise start/finish?
Ships depart the harbour at 13:00 on Saturdays and will return on Friday night. You will disembark after an early breakfast on the Saturday morning between 8am and 9am. If you’re unable to make it to check-in on time, you can easily catch up with your ship at your first destination. Please see FAQ: What if I can’t make the check-in time?
What if I can’t make the check-in time?
If you’re unable to arrive at your departure point for check-in, it’s easy to catch up with your ship at your first destination. See information on how to get to your first destination below:
- Split Return South: your first night will be spent in Milna, which is easily accessible via ferry from Split (30 minutes or 1 hour & 10 minutes depending on the ferry). There are two ferries servicing Milna and you can find the ferry timetables online here and here.
- Split Return North: your first night will be spent in the mainland destination of Rogoznica, which is easily accessible by public bus from Split (45 minutes). You can find the bus timetable online here.
- Split - Dubrovnik: your first night will be spent on the island of Solta, which is accessible via ferry from Split (1 hour & 15 minutes). There are two ferries servicing Solta and you can find the ferry timetables online here and here.
- Dubrovnik - Split: your first night will be spent on the island of Mljet, which is easily accessible via ferry from Dubrovnik (1 hour & 20 minutes). You can find ferry timetables online here and here
If you need assistance planning your arrival, a member of our Sales Team will be happy to help you connect the dots! We are able to provide land based transfers if required, or our Operations Team are also able to assist you on the ground with logistics.
What is the minimum age onboard a Cycle Cruise?
The minimum age we accept onboard our Cycle Cruise is 14. We recommend young riders are keen cyclists with experience riding on roads as there are some challenging climbs and narrow road conditions.
What is the best route?
All itineraries operating on our Cycle Croatia cruises are designed to challenge and inspire clients with
varied terrain. Both the Split Return (Southern) Route and Split Return (Northern) Route start and finish in
Split, ensuring easy access in and out of this fascinating city. The Split Return (Southern) route island hops
through Dalmatia and takes in highlights such as Hvar, Brac and Korcula, whereas the Split Return (Northern)
Route heads north from Split toward Zadar and takes in the incredible Krka National Park. Our new One Way
routes (Split to Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik to Split) have the added benefit of starting and finishing in a new
location, and take clients off the beaten track to explore new and exciting destinations throughout the
Dalmatian islands.
How challenging are the rides?
We recommend you have a reasonable level of fitness to participate in our Cycle Croatia Cruises. Each day’s ride brings a different challenge, and your guide will cater the route to your group’s interests and abilities. If you don't feel up to riding, or feel a particular day may be too strenuous for you, you’re welcome to spend the day swimming or relaxing onboard. The average cycling distance is around 20-30 kilometres per day across varied terrain including light off-road trails, gravel roads and asphalted routes. Hiring an E-bike is a great option if you’re looking to cycle more leisurely and relax on your Cycle Cruise. If you’re looking for a different cruise experience, view our Croatia small ship cruises.
Should I hire an E-bike or a Hybrid Bike?
If you’re a keen cyclist, a Hybrid Bike is the perfect combination of a road bike, touring bike and mountain bike, making it a good choice for those who cycle regularly. E-bikes are made to help you tackle some of the steeper inclines, so they’re ideal for guests who wish to cycle more leisurely. If you’re travelling during the high season, we’d recommend hiring an E-bike to give you a boost on warm summer days!
What is the cost of the weekly bike hire?
We offer two different bike hire options, Hybrid Bikes and E-bikes. The cost to hire a Hybrid Bikes is £130 / €150 / $180 per person, and the cost to hire an Electric Bike is £210 / €240 / $290. Bike Hire includes includes the use of the bike for the week, insurance and a helmet.
What does the bike hire insurance cover?
Insurance is included in the bike hire fee, and covers theft whilst onboard the ships and accidental damages up to €500 for E-bikes and €200 for Hybrid Bikes. Please note: insurance does not cover damages due to negligence.
Are the rental bikes good quality & what if i have mechanical issues en route?
Absolutely. We use 24 speed, modern mountain bikes that are all around a year old. Our standard bike type is:
Cross and Felt 28”, E-bikes: Flyer 28”. Helmets are also provided and each bike includes a water bottle holder
and small pouch for carrying money/sunglasses. Your guide will carry a repair kit to take care of any minor
fixes such as a flat tyre or broken chain. We also bring a couple of spare bikes along on every cruise so you
always have the option of swapping bikes.
Can I bring my own bike?
Yes you can. In some areas (e.g. Mljet National Park), parts of the trail are off-road, so some road cycles
may not be appropriate, however your guide can either give you an alternate route or arrange for a day's cycle
hire with a thicker-tyre bike.
What are the cabins like?
Cabins are based on 2 sharing, and consist of twin beds, bunk beds or one double bed. If you’d prefer a certain cabin type, it is important you let us know this upon booking, so we are aware and will note your request. Our ship allocation is finalised a week before departure, so we are unable to 100% guarantee a twin bed or double bed cabin. This is due to the fact that each of our ships have completely unique cabin configurations (and therefore always consist of a different number of twin and double cabins available onboard). We will do our best to accommodate requests on a first requested, first served basis.
On some ships, we also have triple cabins available for guests that are travelling as a group of three and would like to share a cabin. Triple cabins consist of a double bed and a single bunk, and we provide a 10% discount per person for these cabin types. Onboard Ensuite ships, double beds may be slightly smaller to accommodate the additional single bed, meaning these cabins may not be suitable for travellers that require more space. If you would like to book a triple cabin please let us know and we can check availability when you enquire.
I am travelling by myself. Is there a single supplement?
If you prefer to have your own cabin, you can pay a single supplement which is 50% of the per person website price. Please note single supplements are limited in their availability and are not applicable on special offers or discounted cruises. Alternatively, we can match you with another solo
traveller of the same sex onboard the ship.
What is the difference between Above Deck and Lower Deck cabins?
Above Deck cabins are located on the main deck of the ship, with most opening out onto the deck itself, as this runs along the
outside. Depending on the ship, our Above Deck cabins may also open out onto an internal corridor or area instead. The Lower Deck
cabins are below the Above Deck cabins, and are accessed by a set of stairs and corridor from the main deck. They are located in
the hull of the ship and are subsequently cooler and often quieter than the Above Deck cabins, as you don’t have people walking
past your cabin on the deck late at night and early in the morning. Please note: On some of the ships the Above Deck cabins are
located on 2 levels, i.e. on the main deck and on a top deck. Each ship is unique and therefore the layout does vary from ship to
ship.
Is food included?
Breakfast and a traditional lunch or dinner is included every day. We don't include all meals, as we encourage
you to try the local cuisine whilst you are out cycling during the day/in port for the evening. Our guide can
offer some suggestions on the best places to eat. On some days, lunch may be provided instead of dinner if
this fits in better with the day’s itinerary – the guide will advise you of this during the week. The
breakfasts are simple continental style, with breads and spreads. You can pay onboard for a cooked breakfast
each morning at a supplement of 40 Euros for the week. Lunch/dinner usually consists of 3 courses, with a
soup/salad starter, meat or fish-based main course and fruit/cake for dessert, prepared by your onboard cook.
Can I bring food and drink onboard?
You cannot bring food and drink onboard, except for items that fill specific dietary requirements. Each ship
has its own bar and drinks consumed onboard (including bottled water) must be purchased from here. You have
unlimited access to the onboard water cooler during the salon opening times. We recommend bringing a reusable
water bottle with you onboard, and filling this up before the salon closes for the evening.
What type of luggage should I bring?
If you’re joining us from within Europe, we highly recommend limiting your luggage to one suitcase; however,
we understand that this might not be possible for international travellers who are flying in just for the
cruise, or on extended trips. In most cabins, you will be able to store bags under the bed; however, in the
case of excess luggage, please ask check-in staff to give you additional information about possible storage.
How does Sail Croatia contribute to sustainable tourism?
Sail Croatia is committed to sustainable tourism and eco-friendly practices. To find out more on what we’ve
achieved so far and our goals for a sustainable future, check out our sustainability report here.
