We have recently received an enquiry from two Australian families wanting to charter a gulet in the Adriatic for the first time. This was their first gulet charter in Croatia and they wanted us to provide an insight into what to expect on board. Here we share what a gulet cruise looks like and what you can expect from a gulet holiday in Croatia with the local expert.
1) We look after your from the moment you approach us to the moment you leave Croatia. This includes an airport pick up upon your arrival to Croatia. If you arrive earlier than 5pm (which is the boat check in), we will suggest a restaurant for lunch, a beach bar or arrange a private tour guide of the Old Town of Dubrovnik or the Diocletian Palace in Split. We take care of your luggage as well; our drivers will take your luggage on the boat (all our drivers speak English) so you can explore the places freely. We use a luxury fleet of Mercedes Viano for transfers.
2) Once you arrived on the boat, the Captain will introduce you to the crew and provide you with a safety briefing. The crew will take your luggage to your cabins (we can discuss the cabin allocation during the booking process or you can select your cabin on your arrival). After a welcome drink and refreshment, you will set your sails to your first port of call. The Captain will have a copy of your route that we previously discussed with you. Once you arrived to your overnight port you will have a light dinner on the boat. This is normally around 7pm or later if you prefer. After dinner, you can either retire to your cabin or have a bit of walk in the port. The next morning, the Captain will normally move the boat to a bay where you can have a morning swim followed by a breakfast and coffee. The breakfast is normally served between 9am to 10am, or later if you prefer. After a healthy breakfast and a morning swim (the morning is also a good time for some of the water sport activities such as SUP, snorkelling, kayaking, running or cycling, wherever your interests might be) you will set your sails for your next destination. There is a profound sense of freedom in sailing. Each day is a new adventure and the possibilities on open water are endless. You are free to do what you like: visit hidden bays and beaches, explore mainland, set sails to a new harbour, bay or cove each day. You can also explore historical island towns, their history, and enjoy the best cuisine each island has to offer. A wonderful experience!
3) In general, gulets use engine to keep up with the itinerary. On average, this is around 3 to 4 hours per day, 1-2 hours in the morning 1 hour in the evening. Some gulets have fully operational sails (these are called schooners and ketches), and the crew will be able to put the sails up when the weather allows it. This is an incredible experience especially for children and teenagers. For example, our 33m gulet Fortuna is a Schooner with amazing sailing capabilities and can reach 12knots!
4) The gulets offer a combination of double and twin cabins - your teenage children can have a single berth each. Some of the gulets have cabins split between the aft and the bow (this is the front and the back of the boat) which is ideal if you have teenagers or young adults who can have their on part of the boat. The crew are at your disposal and if your teenage children need to be picked up from a beach bar on Hvar Island the crew will be happy to collect them.
5) Water sports - each gulet is equipped with an array of water sports to keep your young (or old ones) amused. This ranges from SUP (they are super popular at the moment), canoes, kayaks, water skiing, Jet skiing, snorkelling gear, fishing hooks, wave runners, and more. Extra activities such as dinghy sailing, kite surfing, windsurfing, hiking, cycling, rock climbing and more can be arranged locally.
- 6) Food and drinks - all gulets are fully catered and you can opt between a half board (breakfast and lunch) or a full board (all meals). All dietary requirements are catered for and the chefs can prepare from vegetarian, vegan to gluten free menus. The bars are stocked up with local wines, beers, and soft drinks that can be either settled at the end of the cruise or we can pre-arrange a drinks package for you. We can also source imported drinks, high quality French wines or any drinks you might prefer. This is normally discussed when you book the gulet and we start with the preparations for your arrival.
7) The crew - a small gulet will have 2 crew - Captain and cook, a large gulet with 5 and more cabins will have a minimum of 4 crew (captain, cook, deckhand and hostess). We work only with the gulet owners and the crew who meet our high standards and all the crew are highly trained and professional. - 8) Cost - a week on board a gulet is equivalent to staying in a hotel or a villa for a week, however with a gulet charter you have your own 'floating villa' for a week and the opportunities are endless.