Yacht Charter Pre-departure Information
Below you will find everything you may need to know prior to your Sail Croatia holiday. This handy guide will provide you with answers to frequently asked questions, arrival and departure information, boat rules and in-case of an emergency contact details.
Contact:
- Yacht Operations Team: 00385 95 611 2015
- UK Sales Office: +44 20 4525 7534
Crew List
For each tour, we are required by law to ensure we have each crew member registered onboard the yacht. Please ensure you fill in the Crew List Form so we have all details required from each member of the crew.
Arriving in Split
Your Yacht Charter will depart from ACI Marina, Split (ACI Marina Split Uvala Baluni 8 HR-21000 Split).
View Sail Croatia Yacht Office
For Saturday departures, check-in is at 5pm, however, your yacht may be ready earlier. For Monday and Sunday departures, check-in commences at 3pm at ACI Marina Split, where our check-in team will be waiting to welcome you. Please call our check-in team to see what time your yacht will be ready before you arrive at ACI Marina on 00385 95 611 2015 and meet at the dedicated meeting point inside the Marina (please see map for detailed location).
If you arrive at the bus or train station, you’ll be able to look across the main harbour to see hundreds of sailing yachts – walk around the harbour to reach the marina. To reach the marina from the airport, take the shuttle bus for approximately €8 or a taxi for between €50-€60 from Split airport. The bus will drop you off at Split's main bus station, and the marina is a 30-minute walk away. A taxi will take you straight to ACI Marina, Split.
Check-in locations:
Luggage Storage
Luggage storage facilities are available at ACI Marina for Saturday, Sunday and Monday departures. Storage costs are €6 per item per day or €35 per item per week. To arrange storage for your luggage, please speak with a member of our check-in team.
Check-in Procedure
- Call Us: Please call our check-in team on the morning of your departure on 00385 95 611 2015. Our team will advise what time your yacht will be ready by and sometimes we can provide an earlier check-in!
- While You Wait: If you arrive early, please organise to do a grocery shop while you wait.
- Meet The Team: Once a time has been confirmed, head to check-in point A or B at ACI Marina (as advised by the Sales Team). If you’re allocated to check-in A, look out for the Sail Croatia Check-in station. If you’re allocated to check-in B, we will meet you there!
- Sail Away: You’re good to go!
Deposit
Upon check-in, you will need to pay a security deposit for the yacht/s, which will be returned to you at the end of the week, provided there is no damage to the yacht and/or equipment. Please ensure you have sufficient funds available to cover your security deposit amount. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept American Express for security deposit payments. Please note, the security deposit is placed as a hold on your account and is usually released within 7-10 working days. If the amount still hasn't been released, we recommend contacting your bank who will be able to assist further.
If you have booked one of our Skippers, they have their own insurance and will be responsible for damage to the hull (under the waterline) and any damage caused as a result of his/her actions. You will still be responsible for damage to any other part of the yacht and its equipment. If you are skippering your own yacht, please ensure you take out adequate Skipper insurance so you are covered.
Check-out Procedure
We ask guests to make their way to our base marina by 6pm at the latest. Check out is at 8:30am on the last day of your Yacht Charter. Our crew needs to work fast to prepare the yacht for the next tour, so please adhere to this timeline. If there is any delay in returning the yacht, you will be subject to a late return fee of an additional day.
Please remove all waste/rubbish and dispose of this at the Marina, and ensure the yacht is returned with full fuel tanks.
What to Bring
Every traveller’s needs are different, but the primary thing we advise is to pack as light as possible for a warm, Mediterranean climate. Most travellers live in t-shirts, shorts and swimmers onboard, but we’d also advise a lightweight jacket or jumper as a windbreaker for when the yacht is sailing. Don’t forget any phone or camera chargers. and if needed. an adaptor - the power points onboard are standard European rounded 2 pin sockets (220 volts, AC, 50 hertz).
Soft bags such as backpacks, duffel bags or gym bags are preferable to hard-cased suitcases, as these tend to be a bit more cumbersome and take up a lot more space in your accommodation.
Please note: bedding and towels for showering are included in your Yacht Charter. Beach towels are available to rent, upon request, at 10 Euros per towel (this additional extra must be organised during the booking process and cannot be organised during check-in).
If you are skippering the yacht yourself, it is a legal requirement to hold a valid Skippers & VHF license. Please note: original documents must be presented at check-in as copies are not accepted. You can check if your license is accepted in Croatia here. Please also provide a copy of your licenses to us via email ahead of your departure so we can ensure these are valid before you arrive.
Itinerary
We recommend using our sample itineraries as a guide to give you an idea of where you would like to visit. If you have booked a Sail Croatia Skipper, at check-in, you and your skipper will create a personalised itinerary that factors in the forecasted weather and your must-see destinations.
Please note, sample itineraries may not always be possible due to weather conditions and marina availability.
For recommended itineraries, marina details, and expert tips on skippering in Croatia, view our Yacht Guide.
Our Yacht Operations Team will be able to complete check-in within an hour of your arrival, after which you will be able to depart Split ACI Marina and visit your first destination.
Budget Planning
As our Yacht Charters offer the utmost flexibility, there are some additional costs that you should budget for.
Mooring
Mooring costs (apart from 1 night of mooring at Split ACI Marina, which is included) are not included in the tour, as these depend on where you’re looking to go. Our Yacht Operations Team can recommend where to moor up based on your budget, so please check with them if you need guidance. Whilst the itinerary is completely up to you, it will depend on weather and traffic at some ports.
We recommend a mixture of anchoring, use of mooring buoys, and use of marinas to have a full sailing experience.
See below average costs:
- Anchor - it is free of charge to anchor in a bay or cove. Your Skipper is able to recommend some great spots with safety in mind.
- Mooring buoys - approximately €30-40 for monohulls and €40-50 for catamarans. These are located near marina’s and your Skipper is able to motor you to land and back via the dinghy.
- Marinas - these range from €60-300 Euros for yacht vessels depending on location and size.
Please note: estimated prices are based on a 40ft yacht. Catamarans may be up to 1.5 x more than these prices. Most Marinas only accept cash, however, some may accept credit cards.
For a full guide to mooring in Croatia, including mooring options and estimated mooring fees, view our Mooring Fees in Croatia blog.
Fuel
Similar to a car rental, yachts and catamarans need to be refuelled at the end of the week so that they are ready for the next guest. As a charter guest, you are responsible for refuelling the vessel prior to check-out. This also includes refuelling of the Outboard Engine, if the vessel was supplied with one. There is a fuel station located next to ACI Marina Split, however, it is often quite busy, so we recommend allowing plenty of time to refuel. If a vessel is returned without a full tank of fuel, fees will apply.
Food & Drinks
Food and drinks are not included in a Yacht Charter. Each yacht is equipped with a kitchenette including a gas stove, oven and kettle. There is a small grocery store at ACI Marina in Split as well as the many stops during the week. This way, you can pick out exactly the food you'll prefer for breakfast and lunch at sea. In the evenings you'll have a wide variety of restaurant options. Croatia has delicious, locally-grown food, and your skipper will be happy to recommend the perfect restaurant for your group.
If a Sail Croatia Skipper and/or Host/Hostess is booked, please budget to include their food and drinks throughout the week. They will rarely turn down an invitation to dine out as a member of your party, but they also won’t mind dining separately. We recommend budgeting 30 Euros per person, per day for food.
Food Provisioning
To make your arrival stress-free and save you precious holiday time, you have the option to pre-provision your yacht with our trusted partner, Artisans of Food. Skip the hassle of supermarket visits on the day of departure - simply place your order using the link found in your Online Account, and your selected items will be onboard your yacht when you arrive. Step onboard, relax, and start your journey right away.
Local Taxes
By law, all guests must pay a tourist tax when visiting Croatia. The tourist tax is 1.50 Euros per person per day, and this is to be paid locally at check-in.
Money & Insurance
As of January 2023, the official currency of Croatia is the Euro. You can get a cash advance on your credit card at banks throughout the country, though Visa credit cards are not accepted by all banks.
Most towns and islands in Croatia have ATMs that are linked to international networks. Credit cards (Visa/MasterCard is most recognised) are accepted in most tourist areas, but if you are travelling off the beaten path, be prepared to use cash.
We recommend that all passengers travelling on Sail Croatia trips have personal insurance to cover medical and repatriation costs.
Tipping in Croatia
Tipping is not compulsory; however in Croatia it is customary, and if you are happy with the service we recommend doing it! If you are pleased with the service provided, we highly recommend showing your appreciation through a tip.
Passenger Yacht Rules
We share our responsibility to protect Croatia's environment and culture with our guests and require that our travellers have respect for the yacht. Yacht rules are to protect our customers onboard, and we would like all clients to have consideration for other people.
If, in our opinion, any passenger behaves in a way to cause, or likely to cause, danger or distress to any third party, we reserve the right to terminate the booking without any refund.
Passengers onboard are obliged to abide by the following yacht rules:
- Security- please be safe and lock your yacht, especially when in port.
- Drugs policy: We have a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs. Anyone in possession of drugs will be asked to leave the ship immediately and will be reported to the police
- Noise - please respect the Port Authority noise restrictions in each port
- It is forbidden to throw rubbish into the sea
- Blockages- do not throw anything in the toilet apart from toilet paper
- Portholes- ensure they are closed while sailing to avoid water entering your cabin
- Smoking in the salon and cabins is not allowed. Cigarette butts must not be thrown in the sea
- Bed linen must not be taken out of the cabins
Our Split-based Operations Team will be available for any questions or queries and will do their best to make your stay onboard a most pleasurable one!
Resolving Problems Onboard
We want to provide you with an incredible holiday, and if there’s anything you’re not happy about, we want to know about it so we can fix it right away. If you’re unhappy about any aspect of your trip, please follow the below procedure right away:
Step 1: Communicate problems to our Operations Team on 00385 95 611 2015 immediately so they are able to address any problems you may have.
Step 2: If you feel the problem has not been resolved and wish to make a formal complaint, then you must contact our Head Office on [email protected] with information on the problem you encountered and the steps you took to resolve the problem whilst on your tour.
By following the process above, we will have a clear record of events from all parties involved, and we will have been given every opportunity to resolve problems for you.
If you still wish to make a formal complaint, this can be emailed to [email protected] with information on the issue and the steps you took to resolve it onboard.
In any critical situations, please contact our Crew Manager on 00385 95 611 2015 or Grant Seuren, Managing Director, Sail Croatia on +44(0)7 8151 44 618.
Pre and Post Trip Accommodation
Split is a very popular tourist city that books out throughout the summer season. Here are some accommodation providers past clients have recommended.
4 and 5 Star Hotels:
- Marmont Hotel – Located in the heart of the old town, near the Diocletian Palace and a 20-minute walk from Split harbour.
- Hotel Peristil – Located within the Diocletian Palace and a 25-minute walk from the harbour.
- Radisson Blu Split – One of the most luxurious hotels Split has to offer, about 2.5km from Split harbour.
