August 25, 2022 – Emerald Azzurra, a luxury superyacht of the Scenic Group sails the Adriatic. Spotted in Šibenik for the day, it sailed off to the Kornati islands. Its offer includes cruises with stops around several Croatian islands and coastal cities.

As reported by Tportal, after spending the day in Šibenik, the 110-meter luxury cruise ship Emerald Azzurra, with seven decks, two suites of 110 square meters and another 44 smaller suites with terraces and balconies and six luxurious cabins, set sail for Kornati.

TCN reported on the incredible story of Scenic Eclipse, the world's first polar discovery yacht cruiser, built in Croatia, christened by Dame Helen Mirren, and winner of the Cruise Critic Best New Luxury Ship 2019. A ship which is unique and setting the standards in high-end luxury cruise tourism. Read the full story here. 

(Dame Helen Mirren christening Scenic Eclipse in New York)

The Emerald Azzurra is a luxury superyacht built this year in the Vietnamese shipyard Ha Long and the first transoceanic yacht of the Emerald Cruises company. It is owned by Glen Moroney, the Australian founder and chairman of the Scenic Group, which includes Emerald Cruises.

Better known for its fleet of contemporary riverboats, Emerald Cruises has embarked on its first venture into ocean cruising using its own custom-designed superyachts. Emerald Azzurra for one hundred passengers is the first one, and in 2023 Emerald Sakara should set sail. Seventy-three crew members caring for one hundred passengers. You can see what it looks like from the inside and what it offers here.

If you decide to take an eight-day Adriatic cruise from Venice to Dubrovnik with visits to Krk, Zadar, Šibenik, Hvar, Split, Korčula and Dubrovnik at this time next year, you will have to shell out 6,900 pounds (HRK 61,000) per person.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Lifestyle section.

January 06, 2022 - Imagine this: The air is sharp and crisp. The sun is bright and brilliant. Looking out over the Adriatic Sea, it feels like you have the entire place to yourself. When the breeze whips up, it is exhilarating learning to harness the power of the wind to get the boat really moving. You can feel it on your face, and the adrenaline pumps through you as the yacht cuts through the waves. 

Way before we came to Croatia, we began sailing just north of Wellington, New Zealand, in a place called Mana. The main sailing that we did was in races that took place in the thick of winter when the rain and the wind would join forces to whip your face raw and do their very best to freeze your fingertips off. The exhilaration of trimming your sails to catch the 25-knot southerlies was unmatched. Sure, the weather was a challenge. A challenge that most local sailors rose to, as long as conditions were safe and allowed us to get out of the harbour! A little cold or rain certainly never stopped us.

 So coming to Croatia, we did find it rather odd that there’s not much sailing to be found in the winter months. Especially with the incredible weather that prevails on the coast! Sure, sailing in summer is relaxing and highly Instagrammable. But let me tell you from personal experience, there is nothing quite like sailing here in Croatia in the winter. 

Learn to Sail

Many hardy wannabe sailors tough out some pretty gnarly conditions in the UK and on the west coast of France to learn to sail. When those of us here on the Dalmatian Coast are cruising with sunny temps of 12 degrees Celsius during the day right now in December. We taught an American couple for a week at the end of November, and despite a couple of days of rain, the temperatures remained balmy. A little chilly out of the sun but nothing that good wet weather gear and a beanie couldn’t handle. And the comfortable charter boats that are aplenty out here on the coast mean that evenings spent down below in the salon with a warm meal and some local rakija are an ideal way to combat the cooler nights.

The swells in the Adriatic will also be a lot less serious than in more exposed seas, like the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Because the Adriatic is flanked by Italy and Croatia, with Slovenia right at the top, there isn’t as much distance (or fetch) for the wind to cover, meaning that the swells are smaller and less frequent. This makes tasks like learning to navigate from charts, making a three-point fix, and practicing how to tack and gybe a lot easier than doing these things in large, rolling swells! 

There are several sailing schools here on the Croatian Coast. And keep in mind that the courses are designed to assess your skills. This is why we also recommend that, if you already have a sailing qualification or you are starting from scratch with sailing and want to work up to a qualification, spending a week on the water with an experienced instructor is recommended. This can either help you consolidate the skills you have already learned OR help you put together the building blocks to gain the qualifications you are working towards. With 45 Degrees Sailing, you can do this in a safe, supportive, constructive, and practical environment. And fun!

What about a winter sailing holiday?

Most charter boats are booked for their annual haul-out and maintenance during the winter months. This is a pretty intensive process that includes removing the bimini, dodger, sails, and even the floorboards to get into those hard-to-reach places that the maintenance crew needs to access the most! Therefore, it is not easy to find a boat to charter in winter. You need to have a contact within the sailing industry in Croatia to find you a charter company willing to amend their maintenance schedule. 

And, if you can find a charter company willing to charter a boat for you, then it is definitely possible to have a winter sailing holiday! Of course, with most of the restaurants and shops closed on the islands, it will look a little different from its summer equivalent. Provisioning before departure from the home marina is a must, as many supermarkets and markets on the islands, usually open in summer, are closed in winter. You need to ensure that you have enough for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. There are still a select few restaurants open, and it is good to have a local liaison to find out where these restaurants are if you want to eat on-shore a few nights in the week. 

Because the weather systems in winter do bring more challenging conditions, it is vital to have an experienced instructor/skipper who has local knowledge of the area and its many complexities that can often lead to winds that do not show up on the forecast apps! 

We highly recommend hiring a local skipper if you consider chartering a sailing yacht here in the Adriatic during the winter months. Local knowledge of weather systems, sheltered bays, and ports, as well as having contacts on the islands, is invaluable. And being in contact with your local skipper before your trip will enable you to ask questions, communicate your needs and expectations, as well as being able to get to know your skipper beforehand so that you feel more comfortable when you arrive and board your boat.

If you would like more information about sailing in Croatia during the winter months, whether as a learning exercise, a sailing holiday, or maybe a bit of both, feel free to contact 45 Degrees Sailing for more information.

If you want to travel in Croatia, check out our dedicated travel articles here: Travel.

 If you have questions on anything sailing in Croatia, feel free to ask below in the comments or check out Total Croatia, Sailing in Croatia: Your One-Stop-Shop for everything sailing.

1 August 2021 - It’s a sailing holiday in Croatia with the family. The sailing, sea air, and sun will be great for the kids, and there are some special considerations to make when sailing with children on board - especially toddlers. It also means a little extra planning and forethought, so here are SIX things to think about when planning and preparing to go on a sailing holiday with the kids:

Life jackets (PFD or personal flotation device)

While most charter companies will offer children's PFD, most do not have the correct sized PFD for children under 5 years old. Some may and it is always a good idea to check with your charter company to see what sizes they have in stock. If you have a toddler, it is highly recommended to buy a PFD that you know fits from a local supplier. When looking for a PFD for a baby or toddler, there are a few things to consider.

- A crotch strap is a NECESSITY in any personal flotation device for a child, as it prevents the PFD from riding up over the child's head. 

- Think about comfort. Kids love to wiggle out of anything that they are restrained by that is digging into them or scratchy and uncomfortable. If their PFD fits them snugly and comfortably, then they are far less likely to fight you about wearing it.

- A wide V-shaped neoprene crotch strap won’t ride up as easily, and contoured panels, adjustable drapes and neck support will all contribute to a much better fit.

- Fit is important in keeping a child's head above water, so do not get a too-big PFD thinking he or she will grow into it.

- CE approved: All European life jackets must carry the CE mark.

- Make sure that this is all checked and fitted before you leave home, so that you and your baby are well prepared.

A good tip is to actually introduce the PFD to your child as a plaything well before you step on-board the boat. This will help your child create a positive association with the PFD before the sailing holiday even begins!

Safety Netting

Another safety feature that you can choose to have installed is safety netting. This is an add-on that most charter companies offer for an extra charge. What this means is that netting is installed down each side of the boat on deck, tied to the lifelines and stanchions. This means that small animals and children are far less likely to slip on the deck and fall overboard. And yes, “far less likely” and not “impossible” because nothing is 100% effective. It is strongly recommended that children are always under adult supervision when moving around the boat, whether safety netting is installed or not!

Sun Protection

If you are thinking of a sailing holiday during the peak months of summer, protecting your child from the sun should be a priority.  Ensure that the boat that you are on has plenty of shade to sit/sleep/play in. Shade is always a much better sun safety strategy than simply relying on sunscreen. And with the sun also reflecting off the water, be mindful that your baby will likely soak up more than their usual amount of Vitamin D, and all that goes along with that. Don’t forget to pack plenty of your preferred brand of child-friendly sunscreen. Make sure that you have a good full-coverage sun hat!

Water Water Water

Children dehydrate FAST. Much faster than adults. So it’s important to keep a strict eye on how much your wee one drinks. Having a bottle that bub can constantly drink from is going to keep the little one hydrated, and water can easily be flavoured naturally with local fruits. Good advice for adults and children alike, staying hydrated can actually help you avoid seasickness too. Which is always a good thing!

Play and Toys

An amused baby is much easy to sail with than a bored, cranky baby. Bringing a couple of favourite toys from home (make sure that they are waterproof and not too precious, just in case they end up in the Adriatic!) is a great way to help keep your child appeased and amused. Having a foldable or inflatable paddling pool that you can fill up and have in the shade of the cockpit is also a fantastic and safe way to keep your child occupied during long passages or hot days. Making sure that there is at least one safe play space for your child on the boat that you are chartering will make everyone’s sailing holiday much more enjoyable!

And don't forget water toys! An inflatable water float is great to help your child feel safe in the water. Stand-up paddleboards are also great water toys that kids and adults alike can use as giant floats. NOTE: If you do buy an inflatable toy, please make sure that it is firmly secured when not in use so that it does not escape and end up floating in the Adriatic Sea.

Trust Your Skipper

Your Skipper is in charge of the boat and thus, in charge of the safety of your family on-board. If you have additional crew on-board, ensuring that they are child-friendly can make or break your holiday. Extra eyes to watch out for bub, extra hands to make sure that any dangerous lockers are locked up or to catch bub if he/she is old enough to start climbing. There is a myriad of situations where the more baby minders on board, the better for everyone’s sanity.

If you can arrange to talk with your skipper prior to your trip. You should feel comfortable asking your Skipper and crew questions if you are unsure of anything. The more comfortable you are, the more at ease your child is going to be, so having a good crew is a must!

Of course, there are many more aspects to consider when traveling with a child. Booking with a crew who specializes in families with small children can help to alleviate a lot of stress and worry. 45 Degrees Sailing are one such company that love to have small children on-board!  Small details can often make a huge difference in the success of a sailing holiday with small children, which Nick and Mahina from 45 Degrees Sailing know well!

Check out their Youtube channel for testimonials, like this one from David and Katherine Liola and their three kids.

If you have questions on anything sailing in Croatia, feel free to ask below in the comments or check out Total Croatia, Sailing in Croatia: Your One-Stop-Shop for everything sailing.

If you’re looking to experience an amazing family sailing holiday that keeps you wanting more, find more details here about 45 Degrees Sailing

For more about Travel in Croatia follow TCN's dedicated pages on Travel.

November 5, 2020 - Made in Split, the incredibly luxurious Golden Horizon is the largest traditional sail ship in the world. Take a look at her before her maiden voyage in spring 2021

Croatia is no stranger to the biggest and most luxurious yachts in the world. But, none of them look like the Golden Horizon. Built in Split to the template of a square-rigged sailing vessel called France II from the year 1913, she is the largest traditional sail ship in the world.

British cruise company Tradewind Voyages is offering places on the first voyage of the ship. The first cruise the world's largest traditional sail ship will undertake will see her sail around the coast and islands of Scotland and England. For the moment, the Golden Horizon is still moored in Split, where she was built.

The ship has 140 cabins and all face outwards, offering views of the sea. The refined but casual interior of the ship's shared spaces are intended to offer all the luxury of a modern cruise ship, but with the romantic ambiance of a traditional sailing vessel.

The largest traditional sail ship in the world is 162 meters long and 18.5 meters wide. It has five steel masts, 35 sails and can accommodate 300 passengers and 150 crew members. It holds a two-floored restaurant that can seat all passengers simultaneously and a glass-bottomed swimming pool.

The design of the ship might be regarded as retro, but its considered construction was specifically undertaken in order to facilitate sustainable holidaymaking. The ship will use its sails and sea currents for around 70% of its propulsion throughout any season.

Accommodation on board varies in size, standard and cost. The premium offer is four apartments of 45 square metres, each with two bathrooms, two showers and a jacuzzi. 34 smaller rooms have balconies and jacuzzis, while the other passenger rooms with windows are located on the lower decks.

The first passengers are expected to board for the debut two-week cruise on 1 May 2021. After its maiden voyage, it will spend the rest of the season touring Iceland, England and Ireland, the Arctic, the Baltic Sea, Norway, Denmark, Spain and Portugal, with each cruise usually lasting seven or fourteen days.

All images © Tradewind Voyages

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

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A truly stunning vessel visits Croatia's southernmost city of Dubrovnik.

Just recently we reported on Croatia having been placed on Bloomberg's prestigious list of five European countries which attract luxury mega-yachts, and it seems that Croatia is even managing to surpass the likes of Monaco. 

Dubrovnik is no stranger to the rich and the famous and their enormous yachts. Roman Abramovich seems to love anchoring just off the coast of Croatia's southernmost town - Cavtat. While other destinations in Croatia are turning more and more successfully to nautical tourism, Croatia's top destination has been the destination for mega-yachts for years, and it seems that isn't about to change anytime soon.

Yet another luxury visitor has arrived in the Pearl of the Adriatic, and on one of the most luxurious yachts in the entire world.

As Morski writes on the 23rd of July, 2019, the super yacht ''Al Lusail'' owned by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, sailed into Dubrovnik on Tuesday. It is a luxurious boat, 123 metres in length, with a total of 46 cabins, whose value is estimated at a staggering 300 million US dollars.

The length of the boat is very specific because it is only one metre shorter than that of the vessel belonging to his rich father who visited the southern Dalmatian city in 2016, according to a report from the local portal Dulist.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If it's just Dubrovnik and the extreme south of Dalmatia you're interested in, give Total Dubrovnik a follow or check out Dubrovnik in a Page.

The biggest Lions club regatta ever to be organized in the entire world will be taking place in Croatia in the days to come, April 24th until 27th around the island of Murter and Kornati.

28 foreign teams (over 50 teams total!), consisting of more than 500 participants in the regatta will set sail from the Hramina Marina on Murter and sail around Kornati archipelago, sending into the world the image of sportsmanship, companionship, empathy and helping one another. In addition to the excitement of the sporting competition, many other fun activities will be organized for the participants - such as the presentations of the dishes from the participants' home countries, costumed parties, presentations by the local restaurateurs, winemakers and family farms. Those are organized by the local communities and Murter Tourist Board.

This regatta will be a part of the tradition of the humanitarian "Sailing Against Drugs" action by the Lions Club, and in the past 21 years it has become a symbol of prevention of drug abuse and helping those in need. And with its over 500 participants, it will be the biggest sports event organized by the Lions Club International in 2019. The teams participating are arriving from Japan, Germany, Estonia, Albania, Sweden and many other European countries.

Lions Club International is one of the world's largest humanitarian organisations, with over a million and a half members, working under the slogan "We Serve", helping the blind, preventing youth violence, feeding the hungry and fight global epidemics such as diabetes. They are also very active in Croatia, and the local chapter has helped organise this year's Lions Club regatta in Croatia.

As Morski writes on the 12th of April, 2019, the Republic of Croatia has achieved growth in terms of nautical tourism, but the problem of the lack of berths has to be resolved - these were some of the conclusions drawn from the meeting of the nautical associations of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) with the relevant nautical institutions, which took place within the framework of the two-day Nautical Tourism Days conference organised by HGK for the preparation of a peaceful, successful and safe season at sea.

The conference covered the need for communication on all of the important issues which concern and involve Croatia's blossoming nautical tourism sector.

''With a fleet of more than 4000 charter boats, with over 140 nautical tourism ports, 17,000 berths, and then more than a million passengers having arrived on cruise ships back in 2018, Croatia is a nautical superpower and one of the most important nautical destinations not only in the Mediterranean, but in the world,'' said HGK's Dragan Kovačević on the first day of the conference.

The revenue achieved by Croatia's nautical tourism ports amounted to 857 million kuna, while the average guest spends a handsome 183 euros per day on a charter vessel, which is more than twice the daily consumption of the average Croatian tourist.

''Money is not only spent on boats, but on all other forms of tourism, and more than 30 percent at that; from culture, sport, entertainment to gourmet and gastronomic offerings, Kovačević pointed out, adding that all these are parameters that speak volumes about nautical tourism in the Republic of Croatia as the country's most dynamic tourist offer and has enormous potential. However, Croatia also needs to make sure to take wise steps to direct the further development of this branch of tourism.

HGK's Paško Klisović pointed out a number of problems facing members of this association, as well as the Croatian nautical tourism sector itself.

''Part of the problem can be solved by better promotion on some markets, especially in the United States. We need to motivate Americans to come in larger numbers, at least as far as Croatia's nautical tourism is concerned. Existing markets are stagnating because we've reached the limit. Last year, our fleet grew by seven percent, and the number of guests grew by less than two percent. The fleet will grow this year, and we will be happy to repeat the past. We're somewhat concerned about the fact that, as far as bookings are concerned, Greece has become the most sought after charter destination. These are the trends and we need to make the right moves,'' stated Klisović.

The conference also discussed new regulations for nautical tourism, the prevention of unregistered activities, as well as the overall sustainability and safety of nautical tourism.

Make sure to stay up to date by following our dedicated lifestyle and travel pages for much more. If it's just nautical tourism and sailing in Croatia you're interested in, give Total Croatia Sailing a follow.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 10th of April, 2019, Croatia's ACI has published its revised annual financial statements for 2018. The company's revenue growth trend thankfully continued in 2018, its total revenue grew by seven percent when compared to 2017, amounting to 216 million kuna, while the company's operating income increased by eleven percent to 211 million kuna.

Revenues have been growing in almost all of ACI's marinas, and the company's profit also grew by 54 percent to a massive 38.4 million kuna, while its EBITDA increased by 22 percent to 93.9 million kuna.

The largest single investment project in ACI's history was also completed. In March, a new license was issued for the new ACI marina in Rovinj. This is a project that in which over 150 million kuna has been invested and can be briefly described in just four words: beauty, luxury, innovative solutions and security. The new marina's categorisation is now underway.

The new ACI marina has 1,400 m2 of commercial space available, and special attention has been paid to providing high level services on the premises, including catering facilities, restaurants and café-lounge bars, grocery stores, wellness centres, world-renowned brands, reputable sales offices for luxury yachts, charter agencies, a service centre for boats, etc.

The Rovinj ACI marina is equipped with the latest generation of WiFi systems, and luxury boats are provided with the most advanced video surveillance and access control system available. Particular care was taken to protect the surrounding environment and maintain the purity of the marine environment, construction materials and energy systems that provide maximum energy efficiency were used during construction, and all the benefits of LED lighting technology and lighting management were properly and readily applied. The official opening of the marina will be at the end of April this year.

The modernisation of the business that ACI has been intensively pursuing over the last few years is primarily focused on raising the quality of its services, attracting new clients and exploring the market potential of the Adriatic region as a whole.

Back in 2018, the company first published its own ACI No1 magazine, both in print and in digital format. It is a magazine which combines an ACI marina catalog, information for boaters, exclusive reportages and lifestyle themes, and a 2019 issue is just been made available.

ACI also achieves excellent results in the area of ​​digital business with its own reservation system. From last season, boaters have also had ACI's mobile application that provides easy and quick access to information and booking links available to them. For the third year in a row, ACI has also been using a digital sailing system with the help of special applications and devices used by sailors.

Given ACI's steady growth, 2018 was also marked by market research and a look into the development potential of the company, following which, a decision was made to embark on the development of new products and services, which will contribute to the diversification of the company's business.

Business cooperation includes the purchase of six ClubSwan36 sailing boats, and a range of marketing activities aimed at creating a recognisable image, regatta organisation, promotion and the creation of a tourism product aimed at raising the quality of ACI's services and the overall image of the Republic of Croatia as the world's leading nautical destination.

Make sure to follow our business, lifestyle and travel pages for much more.

Nautical tourism is yet another tourism sector that Croatia would do very well to get stuck into, much like the country's already blossoming medical tourism industry. As more and more people arrive by sea to explore the beauty of the Croatian coast and more than 1000 islands, it seems revenues are gradually on their way up, too.

As Morski writes on the 6th of April, 2019, in a total of 142 Croatian ports designed for nautical tourism in six different Adriatic counties last year, a total of 857 million kuna in revenue, which is nearly three percent more than in 2017, was recorded, and the highest of this revenue, 618.1 million kuna (seven percent more), came from the renting of berths, as has been deemed from the data taken from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

In Croatia's numerous nautical tourism ports, on the 31st of December 2018 there were 13,617 vessels moored on a permanent basis, which is 1.4 percent more than the number recorded one year earlier on the 31st of December 2017, according to a report from SEEbiz.

According to the type of vessel permanently moored in the sea, the most numerous of all were yachts (50.1 percent), followed by motor yachts (46.1 percent) followed then by various other types of vessels (3.8 percent).

The largest number of vessels permanently moored were operating under the flag of the Republic of Croatia, equalling 44.0 percent in total. Following came vessels all sailing under various European flags - Austria (15.8 percent), Germany (15.2 percent), Slovenia (5.1 percent), Italy (4.2 percent) and the United Kingdom (2.2 percent).

In 2018 there were 194,164 vessels in transit, which is 3.8 less than there were back in 2017.

According to the type of vessel in transit for which a berth was used, the highest number once again were sailing yachts (67.3 percent), followed by motor yachts (28.3 percent), and then came other vessels (4.4 percent).

In the year 2018, the highest number of vessels in transit were from the Republic of Croatia (47.7 percent), Italy (13.9 percent), Germany (12.8 percent), Austria (6.6 percent) and Slovenia (3.8 percent) which makes up 84.8 percent of the total number of vessels in transit.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If it's just sailing in Croatia you're interested in, give Total Croatia Sailing a follow.

Click here for the original article by SEEbiz

As Morski writes on the 27th of March, 2019, as the beginning of 2019's tourist season draws ever closer, Croatian nautical tourism is in great demand. When it comes to chartering however, the Republic of Croatia appears to have lost its grip on its former leading position.

Most of the interest, after a great many years, has been attracted by one of Europe long-standing tourism kings - Greece, which has made it to the top in terms of nautical tourism owing to various state incentives. Croatian marinas, on the other hand, are expecting this summer season to remain more or less at last year's level.

Just about a month separates us from now and the traditionally accepted ''start of the season'', which is typically around Easter, but the first signs of nautical tourism have already started to blossom. 17,000 berths in Croatian marinas have so far been highly sought after commodities, and there is no subsiding in the search for free spaces in Betina, according to a report from HRT. However, alongside a healthy dose of optimism, there are also warnings to be listened to.

The announcement of the tourist season says: the most desirable destination is no longer Croatia but Greece. The secret of turning that back around lies in... you guessed it... state incentives. They might not be so easy to come by, however. With the knowledge that Greece managed to take first place thanks to incentives from the Greek state, a long list of wishes addressed to the Croatian Government should now begin.

Legislative acrobatics tend to cause great damage, and Croatia certainly has a knack for that, but in spite of that, Croatia's numerous comparative advantages continue to compensate for its usually bad politics.

Croatian marina's expect results at the level of last year's, which were indeed record-breaking. In order to restore the leading position when it comes to charters, the experts say - it is necessary to activate the so far totally unused markets - North and South America, as well as up north in Scandinavia.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle and travel pages for much more. If it's just nautical tourism and sailing in Croatia you're interested in, give Total Croatia Sailing a follow.

Click here for the original article by Hrvoje Gunjaca/HRT