Cruise Croatia by Private Yacht

AFS Croatia Sailing 2023 Trip Tips

 Prepare to be thrilled by enchanting islands, charming hill towns, sparkling waterfalls and culinary delights. Croatia is trending at the top of the traveler’s lists. This trip by land and sea has it all with diversity at every port. I wonder which will be your favorite? Our past groups here loved them all. What makes your visit special is our small yacht, the MV Bellissima.  This sold out quickly and you are the fortunate ones to grab space early. We have a wonderful group of 34 travel lovers to fill our boat. This cruise adventure was so loved, we had dozens of thank you letters from our last group. Our 10 crewmembers on board are so excited to receive another AFS group. They know every inch of the fabulous Dalmatian Coast. No entry restrictions now. Just let us know if you are not vaccinated. 3 weeks out, will send you final cruise docs with details of everything you’ll need to know.  After final payments are in, we will send you the contact and room lists. Please print these out (copy & paste them). Updates will be added here as departure nears.

Trip Tips are designed to answer trip-related questions. It’s your responsibility to read this information.  All updates will be posted here, so check back from time to time.

Jan 8 – Update:  United Airlines codeshares with Aer Lingus and has a good price from Newark July 26-Aug 5.  Jeff on the trip reports that he bought direct air on Delta into Split and out of DUB for $1629

Important Payment Dates-

• INITIAL DEPOSIT: $700
• DATE: Mar 10.   2^nd deposit and April 10 – Final Payment due.

Wetravel is our data management company, it allows you to pay by check electronically without a fee. Simply follow the instructions. Credit cards will be assessed a processing fee at time of purchase.  As a small business, this helps mitigate costs and allows us to give you the very best price.   If you prefer to use the mail, make your payment to AFS or Adventures For Solo Travelers, 1907 Daniel Green Ct., Smyrna GA 30080 If you are in a high-risk group, you should not choose to travel

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Your Fearless GTL (Gracious Trip Leader, not a guide but liaison between our guides and group to ensure things run smoothly)

Your GTL Carol Huntington

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Trip Prep –

• Read the revised Heading Abroad with AFS, especially if you are new to AFS.  Carefully read Covid rules and RT-PCR below.
• Ensure your passport is valid 6 months after your return date and has two blank pages. We recommend renewing your passport well ahead of any planned international travel. Take a photo of your passport to store in the cloud or bring a copy.
• To speed through US Customs, download Mobile Passport. Look in your App Store for details.
• Notify bank and cc companies of travel dates so they don’t block charges.
• Visas – No visas are needed for US citizens for this trip.

Fitness level – 2   (No trouble walking.)

Air – Land dates are July 28 – Aug 5.  For cruises, it’s wise to fly in a day early to relax and not miss the boat! Air dates then are departing USA, July 26 or 27 to August 5. Fly into Split and out of Dubrovnik.  Dozens of airlines fly USA round-trip to Dubrovnik and are affordable. You can do this and get an internal leg or boat up to Split. Best routes are on United, American, Swiss, Lufthansa, Air Canada, BA and Brussels Air. Consider, adding to stop over in Brussels, Germany, Switzerland, London, and more in route.

How do I get from Dubrovnik to Split?  The shortest way to get from Dubrovnik to Split, or from Split to Dubrovnik is by the coastal road, crossing the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina in Neum. Peljesac Bridge, connecting mainland Croatia in the village of Komarna with the Peljesac peninsula in the village of Brijesta is scheduled to open in July 2022.  Journey is 3 ½ hours. There are mini buses, trains, and catamarans to get you there.

Group Air – it is fun and easy to fly together. No group air at this time but will advise you if we find a good price and route. Problem is a minimum of 14 seats are required and we know by experience it’s hard to reach as most now prefer to do their own air for flexibility.

Doing Own Air– We find few people book group air now and may find better rates on own direct from hometown.  This provides you better flexibility to go early or extend at trip end.   We recommend you now book flexible air tickets that can be refunded or changed.  We like Google Flights, Kayak or Momondo.  3rd-party booking engines like Expedia, make it near impossible to handle air problems.  Buy direct from airline or pay a travel agent to ticket you.  Buy travel insurance and have a flight backup plan. If you can afford to splurge on business class, contact our guy: ali@business-class.com   Phone is 305-676-2314.   For business class of tickets, email flights@diversedestination.com your exact air dates, destination, passport name and details with birthdate.

Airport Transfers-  With travelers arriving and departing on different days and times, it is insurmountable to manage. Group air airport transfers are based on set time. Without group air, there can no longer be any pick-up or drop-offs without group air.  Unfortunately, now like other tour companies, transfers are your responsibility. (We’ve spent weeks each trip making spreadsheets of each person’s air to send to the supplier and then flights change. We then hire a guide, driver and pay parking fees. 2022 groups, only half showed up as guides waited hours looking for others. Sometimes no AFSers showed up without informing us.)

Transfers are not expensive. First google your arrival airport website to see transfer tab. Suggestions to appear like airport bus, taxi details, Uber and more. Then connect on group Facebook page to set up sharing transfer cost if you like.  We can always book you a private meet and greet transfer, but cheaper just to grab a cab.  If you go early and check-in AFS hotel before group arrives, it’s your responsibility to change rooms with your roommate if necessary, day one when trip begins.

Meet Up With Group- On July 28 (day one), a time will be set to meet the group at the Hotel Amphora in Split for a briefing.

Click here for More Tips like transfers, packing, money, shopping and more

 Baggage –  No Godzilla bags! This is a small boat with limited space. Think light to ease your burden – not like you’re fleeing your homeland. 1 carry-on bag & 1 medium suitcase not to exceed 40 lbs are standard. Weigh on a bathroom scale. This weight limit is set for our porterage and luggage vans that have limited space.

Think light to ease your burden, not like you’re fleeing your homeland.  You change hotel properties several times. 1 carry-on bag& 1 medium suitcase not to exceed 45lb checked bag – weigh on a bathroom scale.  If you overpack by adding pre-or post-trip luggage, make prior plans as to where to stow the excess luggage. You may be responsible for any overage charges. Apple AirTags works great to track checked bags when the airline cannot, also good for carry-on.    The new hard cases are difficult to fit in safari vehicles. Leave space for great souvenirs. Be sure to attach ID to carry-on and bag to assure your bag never gets left behind.

Packing – Check Google Weather a week prior to departure. Read Packing 101 in Heading Abroad with AFS

Pack your hygiene kit and munchies in clear plastic bags.  This trip is so easy. Simply pack summer clothing with a light jacket for nights and long flights. Think umbrella, daypack, wide-brim hat, sunscreen, comfy sneakers, swimsuit and swim gear.

Electric – European plugs are onboard. Don’t forget a portable backup charger, cords, gadgets, etc. Cell phones and tablets don’t need a voltage converter, but you will need an adapter plug. AFSers often leave charger cords in their rooms, so be sure to double-check your room before check out.  Croatia has the two rounded European outlets and operates with types C and F associated plugs. Type C is the plug that has two round pins, and type F has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Most electrical devices support both.  See https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com

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Money Matters – You will need some cash for personal tipping, meals, and shopping – $300 should suffice. I convert half of it upon entry. Be cautious when withdrawing local currency from an ATM. The safest ATMs to withdraw from are at airports, banks, or hotels. Independent ones are risky. Always shield your pin number when entering info.  Credit cards are far safer than using your debit card. I use my credit card for most purchases. Many cards now offer no foreign transaction fees.  Most things in Euros.

Currency – Current Exchange Rate (approximate)

•  $1USD = 7.00 Croatian Kuna

Follow the link https://www.oanda.com/currency/travel-exchange-rates to create a conversion cheat sheet.

Gratuities –   It is protocol to tip our private guides, airport assistance and drivers on land portion in Split, Dubrovnik.  $30 will be added to your invoice for ease of distribution by Carol pre-and post-cruise.  The ship will add gratuities to your final bill to cover your crew

Tipping on own – If service is stellar, feel free to give more directly. All we tourists leave behind is our reputation. I personally carry a stash of $US ones in an envelope to draw from as needed. AFSers will roll bags to their own rooms. If you choose to use bell staff or a porter, please tip $2 USD. Restaurants – 10% unless you note that tip is already included.

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Communication– Internet is available. With smartphones, be sure to check with your provider for rates and coverage for international phone plans before departure. Data Roaming rates can be expensive. To reach home – Texting, iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook messaging when using WIFI. Be cautious using public Wi-Fi without using VPN. Without VPN never open attachments or view financial or personal accounts on the Internet while abroad.  Phone calls, text messages, and data usage of all kinds, it is crucial to understand that, unless you are connected to Wi-Fi, every use of your phone incurs a data toll. That means that viewing and downloading email, browsing the web, viewing social media, and mapping all incur data charges, as do applications that we sometimes assume to be “free,” such as Skype and WhatsApp. Unless you are connected to Wi-Fi, however, WhatsApp is using cellular data, so you are getting charged at your provider’s international roaming data rate.  Facebook Messenger Phone is an easy free way to make calls.

Get Smart: Avoiding Hackers on Vacation.  Thieves not only want your money but also your data.    Change passwords often. Check device security settings before you leave for your trip. Back up, update, and encrypt your devices and data using a virtual VPN.

• In hotel rooms, hide iPods or laptops to avoid “evil maids” that want to clone your tech.
• Bottled water is always best abroad, as our gut isn’t accustomed to local tap water.
• Pickpockets are everywhere now, especially at night.  Never carry your passport outside of the room.
• It’s wise to grab a business card from the desk before heading out on own.  To get back just show the card to a taxi driver- no memory or English needed.
• Travel health – Drink bottled water. Avoid street foods. Bring Imodium. Need meds or shots? Book a Tele-chat with a travel doctor for shots and meds at runwayhealth.com.  Load up on antioxidants like vitamin C to zinc.

Be Smart –

• “Avoid Hackers on Vacation,” experts say! Thieves not only want your money, but also your hard-earned Frequent Flyer Points. Change passwords often. Check device security settings before you leave for your trip. Back up, update, and encrypt your devices and data using a virtual VPN. It’s worth the cost. In hotel and ship rooms, hide iPads or laptops to avoid “evil maids” that want to clone your tech.
• Grab a hotel business card before heading out in case you get lost.
• Pickpockets are everywhere – especially at night. Never carry your passport outside of the room.
• Bottled water is always best abroad, as our gut isn’t accustomed to local tap water. That being said, Croatian water is one of the cleanest in the world. Eat clean food and avoid street vendors.

 Retail Therapy –  There is wonderful shopping in Croatia. Even non-shoppers will find themselves tempted by local goodies. Our past groups have come back with the coolest stuff. Sought out treasures in Croatia include traditional Croatian cravats (ties), Sestine umbrellas, beautiful local jewelry or crafts, Samobor crystals, traditional woven lace, licitar hearts (gingerbread), artisan olive oils, cheeses, lavender products, coffee, salt, sweets, and rakija (a popular regional liqueur).

 Photography – Before taking pictures of locals, please know it is always polite to first ask for permission.

Websites of Interest – Google each port:  Split, Kotor, Hvar, Krka Nat. Park, etc.  Best site whatsinport.com !

• www.croatiatourism.hr
• www.visitsplit.com
• www.visitcroatia.com
• www.visitdubrovnik.com

Cuisines – Traditional Croatian dishes typically consist of meats and charcuterie, skewers, seafood, black risotto, octopus salad, pastas, cheeses (try pag cheese), and variety of deserts, sweets, and pastries. Chicken and veal with gnocchi and hearty sauces are often on the menu. You will delight in eating oysters in Dubrovnik and relish trying the popular dish soparnik (a savory pie filled with Swiss chard) in Split. Zagorski Štrukli, an authentic Croatian dish, is a cheese based thin pastry layered with a local cheese and is worth the calories!  Croatia is a country of coffee drinkers, and there are coffee houses located throughout the country. Sample the many locally made or home-brewed beers as well as local wines (sip on Croatian Prošek, a red fortified wine). Common liqueurs and spirits include maraschino (derived from cherries) and rakija.

Roommates –  Single supplements have significantly increased in price– if available at all.  Save money and buy yourself an awesome local gift. We all live alone, but save money when traveling by rooming together. Suzy spends a lot of time on roommate matching.  99% of our clients are wonderful and you’re only in your room to sleep at night.   (The best option is to invite a friend.  We be able to give you a $100 discount.). Note, kindness begets kindness.  How many of our season travelers bring headsets to drown out any excess noise.  We share rooms only to sleep at night.  If AFS room list ends up with unbalance gender, and forces a single room we will offer it to all in group or share in the added cost. If none want it, if you were the last to book we may have to remove you from the trip.

Amending tour pre-or post-trip. We honor your independent spirit, but encourage you to extend more days at the trip’s end when you’re acclimated well to the destination.   Arranging private tours during free time.  We often see many AFSers on Facebook urging others to join them to countries before/after our trip. Stopovers are great to add, but understand AFS has no responsibility for the quality of your trip.

Leisure Time – Our expert crew will advise on options like hiking, biking, sea kayaking, rafting and more  AFS travelers revel in the element of surprise in new destinations and allow the wind to blow them where it will. It’s best to ask our local expert guides for suggestions upon arrival. Our trip is filled with awesome daily tours, but there will also be some free time.

Split: Exhilarate with a city view from the bell tower, check out the blue caves, or rent a paddleboat for some sporting activity. Have dinner cooked from produce you choose at local morning markets – Pazar (farmer’s market) and Pescarija (fish market).

Sibenik: Take a dip into the Skradinski Buk cascade.

Vis: Think about renting an all-terrain bike or hiring a scooter to cruise the coastal roads for stunning panoramas.

Hvar: Feel free to roam to the backstreets of Hvar around St. Stephen’s Square. Here, you will find beautiful architecture featuring typical Venetian windows, and these streets are terrific for random urban exploration and shopping.

Korcula: Windsurf or catch an independent film at the local open-air theater. Take in a traditional sword dance and theatrical drama (Moreska) at an open-air stage. Book a donkey ride to see fantastic vistas of the city, or watch the city’s glorious sunsets from Maksimilijan Garden.  Rent a bicycle to explore the island and be sure to enjoy the area’s fresh local seafood and wine (Posp and Grk). Seek out a restaurant that serves scrumptious Zrunovksa Makuruni (homemade pasta shaped tubes with sauce), and make sure to try homemade limoncello!

Mljet: Comprised of a large forest surrounded by crystal-clear sea allows one to soak in the serenity and peacefulness of unadulterated nature.

 Slano:  Indulge in relaxing at a Hammams/Turkish bath and spa or engage in local water sports.

Dubrovnik:  Beyond historic discovery and cable car climbing, gaze upon the city from Park Orsula, visit Buza Bar (hole-in-the-wall gem), catch a show at an open-air cinema, kayak to Lokrum Island, or escape the crowds & cool off at Sveti Jakov Beach.

Private Facebook Group Page  –  The benefit of the Private FB Group Page is that you have an opportunity to introduce yourself to your fellow travelers before departure and share trip photos during and after the tour.  The link can be found in your Wetravel welcome letter after your initial deposit.  (We found that some never read the Trip Tips jumping right to the Private FB Group Page assuming they will get all trip info needed. Often, they only receive rumors or misinformation. All important information is ALWAYS emailed to each participant and posted in Trip Tips under UPDATES. Nobody misses a thing.)

Emergency Contact – Please call the AFS phone at: 770-432-8225, or email us at: info@afstravelers.com. Your guide can handle a call home for a true emergency. Do not expect to use your trip leader’s cell phone; you’ll need to use your own cell phone.

 Cancellation Penalty – At booking, we sent you our terms and conditions. Open the following link to review our terms again:

Travel Insurance– While travel insurance is optional, in today’s world we highly encourage you to get standard coverage to cover trip interruption and cancellation.  Best source for all is www.insuremytrip.com.   CFAR or cancel for any reason covers Covid but is expensive.  Note that no company covers for fear.

Preexisting conditions – If you would like the security of travel insurance and have a pre-existing condition (elderly parent, medical, etc.), you must purchase insurance within 15 days from your initial trip deposit in order to assure full coverage.  The trip cost can be amended or adjusted as needed after your initial purchase (eg. like adding an air ticket cost later). You can buy travel insurance at any time, just know that there may be some possible limitations if purchased outside the 15 day period.  We like TravelSafe, Allianz or Seven Corners.

• Click here to Purchase Travel Insurance online

AFS “How to have a perfect time in port or Suzy’s secret port tips revealed.”

Cruises are a great value as an inclusive vacation but optional shore tours can cost a fortune if you’re not careful.  I do recommend doing a few ship tours, particularly to sites far from port or when the only way to gain access to a place is via the ship.

Here are some tips to make the best of your time and money.  (All your tours are included).

1. Decide in advance how you want to spend your hours in port. Do online research before departure on what you most want to see.  Google each city.  Find local events or public holidays when sites may be closed.  For private tours go to shoretrips.com
2. At most ports, everybody is heading to the same famous sites. Hire a taxi outside the port fence,  Get several friends to join you.  Negotiate in advance a half day rate.  Use same taxi driver for drop off and pick up time by meter.
3. Hire a private car and driver at local tour agency or hotel concierge. I do not recommend renting a car due to strict and different driving laws.  I do rent scooters often.
4. Onboard, read the daily descriptions of the ship tours to get ideas of significant places you can visit independently.  Calculate the travel time from ship to site.  Ask the crew.  They know estimated times needed for transfers in and out at every port.  When the ship anchors, you either walk into town or ride small tenders.  Passengers who booked the ship tours are allowed off first to board the tenders.  Be patient.  You’ll have plenty of time to explore.
5. Onshore, walk into city center. Use public transit options.  They are cheap, fast and authentic with locals.  Lonely Planet guidebooks have the best logistical information on bus, train and ferry schedules for each city.
6. Sometimes a ship tour is greater value than doing it alone. For example, precision timing for visiting Egypt’s pyramids.  Port docks can be far away.  In Italy, it’s a 2 hour drive to Rome.  If a site is too challenging to get to or expensive to enter, book with the ship.
7. Private AFS tours. Sometimes we can offer our own private group tours that are the same or more creative than the ship’s tour.  They are always less expensive, more fun and leads to group unity.  Cruiselines hate this.  Some will even penalize us with fines to prevent it.  If we offer one, please be discreet and follow disembarkation details form your trip leader.
8. Don’t believe everything you’re told by the port lecturers on cruise ships. Sometimes they are being paid by stores or get kickbacks from entrance fees at ports.  Go listen, then determine if you can do sites on own.
9. If you can afford it, feel free to book all shore excursions with the ship but beware. The guide may speak poor English or present store shopping may be included in your tour.  Whatever you choose, be smart, be bold and use every minute onshore to the fullest.

Tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly       Gene Sloan  Jan 6, 2021

Cruising is easy. Or so cruisers will tell you.

For starters, you only have to unpack once, even as you travel from place to place. You also don’t have to go hunting for a restaurant every night. There usually are a bunch just steps away from your cabin, and they have tables waiting for you. You’ll also have no trouble finding entertainment.

But even in its simplicity, cruising still can be daunting for a first-timer. What should you bring? What should you plan on doing in ports? What is the best way to book?

This brings me to the tips below. If you’ve read this far, you are likely a first-time cruiser looking for advice for an upcoming trip, and that’s exactly what this story is meant to offer. It contains my list of 21 ways to make your first sailing go more smoothly.

It’s a list drawn not just from my own experience over 20-plus years of cruising but the observations of more than 100 cruising fans who shared their tips with TPG in a lively conversation on the topic at the TPG Lounge on Facebook. If you’re not a member yet, we highly encourage you to join!

Arrive at your departure port a day ahead of schedule

If you only follow one piece of advice in this story, it should be this one. It is the only way to ensure you won’t miss your ship — something that happens to cruisers more often than you would think.

Many cruises depart in the afternoon, so it might seem just fine to fly or drive to a port on the morning of departure. But all it takes is a moderate flight delay, or a pile-up on the highway, to upset such plans. If you’re delayed in your arrival at the port, the ship will not wait for you.

If you’re traveling overseas for a cruise, we recommend traveling to the port two or even three days in advance. This isn’t just so you don’t miss the ship. It’s also so you have some time to recover from jet lag. European cruises, in particular, can be port-intensive, with lots of touring, so you want to be ready to hit the ground running right after the cruise begins.

Pack your bathing suit in your carry-on

When you first arrive at a ship, in most cases, a porter working with the line will whisk away your luggage. It’ll be delivered to your room later in the day. This is a great convenience — there’s no need to haul your bags through the entire check-in progress. But it also means that you might not have access to your luggage for many hours on your first day on board. Be sure to pack anything you think you might need for these first hours of your cruise in your carry-on bag. This means things like medication, for sure, and a phone charger, but also a bathing suit, hat, sunscreen and other items that’ll let you head straight to the pool deck to start the fun.

Don’t overpack

Throw all the clothes you think you’ll need on a cruise in a pile, and then take out half of it. You won’t need it. Trust us. Most cruising these days is casual, and you really only need a few outfits to rotate through a voyage. If things get dirty, no problem. Many ships have launderettes on cabin decks where you can run a load or two of laundry every few days. If not, you can send laundry out to be cleaned on board. It’ll usually come back in a day or two.

The extra cost of doing a few loads of laundry on a ship is a small price to pay for the freedom of not having to lug a giant suitcase around as you travel to and from your ship. Plus, you’ll want to save room in your suitcase for all the little treasures you’re going to find along the way.

Sign up for activities in advance or soon after boarding

Some lines will let you sign up for shows, tours and other activities (including meals at specialty restaurants) in advance of sailing using online portals. If you want to be sure that you get a seat for a specific show on a specific night, or a specific tour or restaurant reservation time, it’s a good idea to do this. It’s not uncommon with some ships to find that some shows, tours and restaurant reservation times book up in advance.

If you don’t sign up for activities in advance, a back-up strategy is to do so just after you board a vessel. That said, whether or not you need to race to sign up for activities at the start of a voyage depends a lot on which ship you are on. I am more careful about signing up for a lot of things in advance when I am sailing on a giant ship such as Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas where there are thousands of other passengers.

Don’t feel like you have to do it all

While we’re on the topic of signing up for activities, note that … it’s okay if you miss a few things. You don’t have to do it all. In fact, you should force yourself to try to not do it all. Remember, you’re on vacation. Relax. Take some downtime. Sit on your balcony, if you have one, and just stare out at the ocean for a couple of hours. You won’t regret it.

Always carry the ship’s contact information with you

When going ashore, always bring the ship’s contact information with you. Those details are usually printed in the newsletter that’s delivered to your cabin each night. If something goes wrong when you’re away from the ship, you’ll want to get in contact with the cruise line right away.

Don’t tip twice for drinks and spa treatments

Most cruise ships now automatically add a gratuity to bar bills — often in the amount of 18% to 20% of the total. Such automatic gratuities also are becoming more common in ship spas. But many first-time cruisers don’t know this and write in a hefty tip at the “additional tip” line on bills at cruise ship bars and spas. Be sure to ask if a gratuity already has been included before adding another 15% or 20% to the total. Otherwise, you may end up tipping twice.