May 24, 2020 - At the launch of the polar cruiser Ultramarine, the owner of the DIV group Tomislav Debeljak announced a new project. Brodosplit will construct the largest luxury yacht in the world, named "Njord". It is a 281.8-meter long residential yacht built for Ocean Residences Development from Malta. It will be made in Brodosplit and in the Norwegian shipyard Kleven Verft, which is also part of the DIV group.

Morskli.hr reports that the ship's metal construction will be made at Brodosplit, as well as a large part of the installations. The hull of the ship made in Split will be towed to Kleven Verft where the yacht will be equipped. It is planned that everything will be finished by 2024.

The yacht is 33.5 meters wide and will have 12 decks. Apartment accommodation on board will be divided into 118 residences that can be purchased, as well as 16 apartments for guests and butlers. Available in 20 different configurations, these residences will range from two to six bedrooms spanning 116 to 800 square meters, the reputable magazine Boat International writes in more detail about the equipment and purpose of the ship.

Designed to maximize privacy, comfort and security, each apartment features a living room with sea views and access to open terraces. Owners will be able to customize their apartments to their own taste, choosing furniture and decorations to their liking.

DIV/Brodosplit

Njord will boast an impressive list of luxury facilities that include several outdoor terraces, a sun deck, two outdoor pools, an indoor hydro pool, rich wellness facilities, and a nightclub and jazz lounge. The lounges of the telescope observatory will sit on the upper deck.

The vessel will be equipped to conduct scientific and oceanographic research during its annual world tour. Every year, it will travel to some of the most remote and "culturally unique" places on earth.

Njord will collect environmental and marine data from around the world, which will be available to international science laboratories.

The ship will be a fully equipped oceanographic research laboratory with an expert staff. Otherwise, the vessel will have a gyroscopic telescope, which will scan the sky at night, while drones will monitor the atmosphere.

DIV/Brodosplit

Meanwhile, submarine drones, along with Njord’s submarines, will map the ocean floor using multi-beam sonar to identify shipwrecks and seabed features. Njord will also have two eight-seater Airbus ACH 160 helicopters with a range of 400 nautical miles. They will be used exclusively by owners and guests.

Each of the 311 crew members will have their own private cabin, resulting in a 1:2 guest-crew ratio.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 23, 2020 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for flights to Croatia with updates from Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.

Croatian Aviation reports that German leisure company, Condor, announced they'd be resuming regular international lines from several German cities to well-known tourist destinations across Europe, including Split.

Before the outbreak of the pandemic, this German airline regularly flew on seasonal routes from German airports to Rijeka, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, but in the current summer flight schedule, the lines have not yet started operating.

In its last announcement, the company announced the resumption of operations, and the first line to Croatia will be introduced from the end of June.

From June 26, Condor will fly on two routes to Split:

Frankfurt - Split, from June 26, twice a week (Fridays and Sundays),

Dusseldorf - Split, from June 26, twice a week (Fridays and Sundays).

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

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In addition to these two direct routes, the company, in cooperation with Lufthansa, also offers flights to Hamburg and Munich with short transfers. The mentioned lines will be operated by A320 aircraft, with a capacity of 180 seats.

Tickets are already on sale on the airline's official website. Split will thus be connected to Dusseldorf 3 times a week, considering that Eurowings, as we announced earlier, will fly between these two cities from June 20.

The airline has not yet confirmed the start of traffic from German cities to Zadar, Rijeka and Dubrovnik.

Furthermore, Croatian Aviation reported that Aegean Airlines announced new start dates for operations to destinations in Croatia.

The Greek airline plans to fly to 3 destinations in Croatia: Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb in the current summer flight schedule. The line to Zadar was canceled in 2019.

Athens-Dubrovnik will be in operation twice a week from June 25, wit A320 aircraft. Aircraft of this type at Aegean has a capacity of 174 seats. The increase to five-week flights is planned for July 3.

The Athens-Split line has been announced four times a week from July 6, with the A319 aircraft, with a capacity of 144 seats.

The Athens-Zagreb route will again operate from July 1, three times a week, on A319 and A320 aircraft (capacity 144 and 174 seats, respectively).

Finally, Croatian Aviation reports that Emirates, an airline from the United Arab Emirates, has additionally canceled the start of operations on the Zagreb-Dubai route.

Although this seasonal line was supposed to start operating on the first day of the summer flight schedule, this did not happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After that, the company repeatedly delayed the start of operations on this line, and the latest information was that this well-known company would come to the Croatian capital again from July 1 this year.

Emirates usually flies on the Dubai-Zagreb route every day, but due to reduced demand, flights are now postponed until August 1, when the line should start operating with only four flights per week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays). B47-300ER aircraft with a capacity of 354 seats have been announced on the route.

Given that this is the only seasonal Emirates route in the entire destination network, there is a high probability that this airline will not return to Zagreb this season.

May 23, 2020 - What was Split like in 1999? Enjoy this blast from the past by local cameraman Jere Gruic. 

It was the year the Euro was introduced. The human population surpassed six billion. Napster was released. Bill Clinton was acquitted. Movie theaters screened The Matrix, and radio stations played Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. 

Times were simpler then, it seemed, especially if you were in Dalmatia. 

This is confirmed by a video of Split, made back in November 1999, which was discovered on the YouTube channel of Split cameraman Jere Gruic. As you can imagine, it has quickly become a hit.

Various Dalmatian media, like Dalmacija Danas and Dalmatinski Portal, were quick to share the 90s nostalgia. Slavićeva, Vukovarska, Bosanska, Pjaca, Riva, Marmontova, Žnjan and many other famous locations are featured in almost 19 minutes of film of our beautiful city, some 21 years ago. 

“Some other time. The video was created as an idea to send the recordings to my father, because he has been working in Australia for three years now and he longs for Split," Gruić wrote in the description of the video, which you can watch below.

"What a flashback, that winter I turned 20, I have a different life now, how time flies," reads one comment. "The red bus at Sv. Frane - what a flashback!" reads another. "It's nice that someone put this out! Do you have more?" the others say. 

Join us in this walk down memory lane; let's pine for this simpler Split life together. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 22, 2020 - It's the news we've all been waiting for... Thousands of international festival-goers will not gather in Split this summer, as the 8th edition of Ultra Europe has officially been canceled. 

"It is with a heavy heart that, due to the ongoing pandemic stemming from COVID-19, the 8th edition of Ultra Europe originally scheduled for 10-12 July 2020 at Park Mladeẑi is being rescheduled to 9-11 July 2021.

The current health crisis is an unprecedented situation, and there is no higher priority for us than the health, safety and well-being of all our fans, as well as all those involved with the production of the event.

Tickets will remain valid and will be honored for use at the rescheduled festival. Alternatively, if you are unable to attend, you have the option to seek a refund. All purchasers will be contacted via email with more information on how to make their choice.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 21st of May, 2020, the loan for Ultramarine's construction was provided by HBOR, and the guarantee was given by the Government of the Republic of Croatia back on the 16th of May, 2018 with its decision.

A few days ago, Newbuild (Novogradnja) 487, a passenger ship for polar expeditions, which will be named "Ultramarine", was launched in the Shipbuilding Industry Split.

The President of the Management Board of Brodosplit, Tomislav Debeljak, thanked the workers of the Split shipyard for being able to complete such a significant project in the challenging times of the coronavirus.

The technologically advanced ship for polar expeditions has been contracted with the American company Quark Expeditions, part of the Travelopia Group, which has in its portfolio a number of world companies specializing in adventure travel.

The ultramarine is 128 metres long and 21.5 metres wide, and will be able to accommodate up to 200 passengers who will be cared for by 140 crew members in 103 luxuriously decorated cabins and public spaces and will have an incredible range of adventure options for all of them. Otherwise, the value of the ship is over 106 million euros. The loan for its construction was provided by HBOR, and the guarantee was given by the Government of the Republic of Croatia on 16 May 2018 with its decision.

"After the delivery of the ''Hondius'' polar cruisers, which to the great satisfaction of irs owners and users completed its first Arctic and Antarctic season, this ship will be the new pride of Croatian shipbuilding and the confirmation of Brodosplit's entry into the market of passenger ships of up to 200 metres in length which compete well in the niche of the builders of some of the most modern polar cruisers,'' read a statement from the well known Split-based shipyard - Brodosplit.

Watch the video of Ultramarine's launch below:

For more, follow our lifestyle page.

May 21, 2020 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for flights to Croatia with updates from Zagreb, Zadar, and Split.

Croatian Aviation reports that Brussels Airlines announced on Tuesday that in its current summer flight schedule, it would not fly to two destinations in Croatia - Zagreb and Zadar.

The company decided to cancel all unprofitable lines, as well as those bordering on profitability (in Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Greece), which led to the cancellation of two lines to Croatia.

For now, Brussels Airlines will keep the Brussels-Split and Brussels-Dubrovnik routes on sale, while the routes to Zadar and Zagreb have been withdrawn from sale.

The Brussels-Zadar line was introduced in May 2018 as a seasonal line, while the line between Brussels and Zagreb was introduced in 2015.

On the route between Zagreb and Brussels, there will still be the option of a direct flight, as Croatia Airlines operates between these two cities twice a day in the conditions of normal air traffic.

Furthermore, Ex Yu Aviation announced that Eurowings would grow its presence in Croatia, but at reduced frequencies.

Namely, Eurowings will add services to the Croatian coast by resuming flights from Stuttgart, Hamburg and Dusseldorf to Split.

Its Cologne-Zagreb service, which has been maintained throughout most of the coronavirus pandemic, will be reduced from two to one per week in June. The lines from Hamburg and Dusseldorf to Rijeka, Dusseldorf to Pula and Cologne to Zadar will resume once per week on June 20.

“We can feel the growing desire of people to travel again and relax and enjoy their holidays after a long period of travel bans. This is exactly what we are now making possible with our extended summer schedule – reliably, safely and with all due caution. Travelling, whether private or professional, will be possible again," said Eurowings’ CEO, Jens Bischo.

Ex Yu Aviation adds that Eurowings’ parent company Lufthansa will not resume any of its destinations in the former Yugoslavia before June 15. You can read more about that on Ex Yu Aviation.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, May 19, 2020 - The Croatian Pensioners' Union (SUH) has pressed charges against Ivan Skaricic, director of a care home in Split, believing that it is necessary to investigate further his responsibility for the "biggest (COVID-19) hotspot and dying place" in Croatia.

In the charges filed at the Split municipal prosecutor's office for grave crimes against people's health, SUH said on Wednesday the Split home was "one of the deadliest coronavirus infection hotspots in Croatia" given that as of May 18, 69 of its residents have been infected and 18 have died.

Although inspections by two ministries found no irregularities, SUH said it had pressed charges against Skaricic believing that his responsibility for "this tragic situation" had to be further investigated because of "indications that the existence of the virus was unofficially suspected about ten days before it was officially detected in the home."

"Those ten days or so probably would have prevented some residents from getting sick and reduced the number of fatalities," SUH said in the charges, adding that the outbreak was discovered on April 7, when it was said that a dozen residents were infected.

SUH said Skaricic had publicly admitted that several days before a number of residents had a fever, yet this was not reported to epidemiologists because the home did not suspect COVID-19.

May 17, 2020 - What is the situation with animal shelters in Croatia in the corona era, and who is looking after the animals? A new TCN series meets the volunteers behind the animal shelters and associations around Croatia. Today, TCN meets Deseti Zivot in Split. 

If you've visited Croatia, you've most likely crossed paths with a street cat or four, and perhaps even stopped to pet them or bring them food. However, if you live in Croatia, you've likely grown so immune to swarms of street cats in your neighborhood, that you fail to realize the underlying and rapidly increasing issue. 

There are hundreds of incredible shelters and associations in Croatia working tirelessly to ensure no animal is left behind. In a new TCN series, we meet the people behind the animals. 

Today, TCN meets Deseti Zivot in Split. 

Tell us a bit about the history of Deseti Zivot.

Deseti Zivot (Tenth Life) is a non-profit NGO founded by five cat lovers in Split on September 29, 2013. The Association’s primary goal focuses on the welfare and protection of cats.

The Association provides care, sterilization/castration, medical intervention, oversees the general welfare of community (street) cats, prevents abuse and inhumane treatment, raises general awareness, ensures compliance with the Animal Protection Act, Decisions on the Treatment and Possession of Animals and Other Related Acts of the State and Local Government Units.

The activities of the Association include:

- Sterilizing/castrating street cats primarily in the area of ​​Split, to reduce and control their number;

- Encouraging citizens to take action on the "trap-neuter-return" (TNR) of feral cats;

- Providing support and care, in accordance with regulations, for socialized homeless cats as well as those cats who are abandoned and abused; 

- Providing medical treatment to sick cats in cooperation with veterinary stations and ambulances;

- Educating citizens through lectures, charitable events, exhibits, etc. in order to promote understanding and a better coexistence between humans and cats ;

- Detecting problem behavior and abuse and taking all available legal measures to prevent these from continuing and/or reoccurring;

- Taking all possible measures against the abduction and killing of cats in accordance with the law;

- Building no-kill shelters (still mission impossible);

Publication of cat-related literature;

- Developing relationships and expanding connections with like-minded companies and associations who share our goals, both in Croatia and abroad;

- Cooperating and working with associations, foundations, institutions and organizations dealing with the protection of cats as well as with other animal rights groups having the same or similar interests  and with whom the Association may work to accomplish its objectives and goals;

- Other activities that could contribute to the achievement of the Association's goals.

How many animals do currently house? What is the largest number of animals you’ve taken in? 

At 4 locations, well, actually in 4 flats, we have approximately 100 cats. Half of them are chronically ill and won't ever be adopted. They have been with us for years.

What is the success rate of getting animals to their new owners? 

In Croatia, it is tough and very rare to find good homes and responsible/trustworthy humans, so we cooperate with and German and Austrian associations.

Do you receive any support from the city, county, or state? If so, how much/in what way?

No, never.

What is the process of bringing animals to your shelter? Are there any obstacles/red tape in place for you as a shelter/association? For example, if you're located in Kastela, are you allowed to rescue animals in Split? 

The laws in Croatia are very ambiguous and vague, and there are many loopholes in the law. In principle, no one except authorized concessionaires, including us as a registered association, may take street animals, i.e., street cats, into our care.

But we do it and no one calls us out because we are making it financially easier for the city for the costs they should cover.

Also, the city, in cooperation with concessionaires and dispensaries, does not have adequate accommodation or capacity to treat cats. If we didn’t do what we do, more than 90% of them would be put to sleep because it’s the easiest and cheapest solution and no one cares

There is an increasing amount of kittens and puppies left to die in bins or boxes on the side of the road, especially in the springtime. Is the lack of sterilization one of the biggest problems in Croatia? Is it really that difficult to get cats and dogs sterilized in Croatia? 

Sterilization is the best and the only correct solution, but most people think that it is not natural. Also, many people here don't care and believe that animals are lesser beings than humans

How much does sterilization usually cost? Do vets offer discounts for street cats or special circumstances? 

The usual price for females 60 euros, for males 45 euros. Yes, our vet gives us special rates for street cats (35 euros females, 25 euros males).

How do we make this process easier for locals to get more of them involved in sterilizing street cats? 

Education!

How many cats/dogs would you say your shelter/association gets sterilized per year? 

I am not sure, maybe 300 or more. 

So far in 2020 around 200

Poisoning street cats is another issue in Croatia. Is this considered a crime in Croatia? Where should someone report this should they witness it? Are there fines/punishments in place?

It is crime, and according to the law, it is punishable, but the law is not enforced. You should report it to the police, but sadly, the police often do not care, and sometimes even make fun of it.

What are the best ways for the local community to get involved in helping your shelter/association?

Any kind of volunteering is more than welcome, but we mostly need foster homes and financial support.

How can people from abroad get involved, apart from sending donations?

Maybe sharing our Facebook page and posts and informing others about the situation.

Is there a way for Croatia to utilize its place in tourism to help animals in Croatia? Whether its connecting tourists with animals for adoption or organizing volunteer events at shelters?

Personally, I am skeptical about this, because the government has failed to care or take an interest in it. Most cities don't even have a shelter!

What is the most rewarding part of your job? What is the most challenging?

Every saved life is an important award of its own. The most challenging part would definitely be trying to build up proper communication with our society because they are in the wrong mindset. The financial burden is also a big issue because there aren't many donations coming in.

As we are not supported by the city or other governmental institutions, we are reliant on your donations. If you wish to support our work, you can make a financial donation to the bank account or PayPal account below. You can also support us by donating food and supplies, which we also critically need; please send us a message to coordinate the pick-up or delivery of such.

UDRUGA DESETI ŽIVOT

 IBAN : HR7423600001102396278

 BIC/SWIFT: ZABAHR2X

primatelj: Udruga Deseti život

opis plaćanja: donacija

poziv na broj odobrenja: datum plaćanja DDMMGGGG

PayPal: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you're interested in fostering an animal or want more information on how you can help get street cats in your neighborhood sterilized, you can follow Deseti Zivot on Facebook HERE

Do you have an animal shelter or association in Croatia and want to share your story? Get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 16, 2020 - By the beginning of summer, surveillance cameras will be installed in 14 locations, or public areas, in the city center of Split.

If you've been wondering about the installations in attractive locations around the heart of the city over the last few days, it is most likely the new surveillance devices installed by the employees of the company "Electronic Security", which is the contractor of the project. This news was confirmed to Slobodna Dalmacija by Krešimir Budiša, the mayor's advisor for development projects.

The video cameras will thus cover the most popular areas in the city center, like Peristyle, Pjaca, Matejuška, the area in front of the Croatian National Theater, Sv. Frane, the Riva on both ends, Marmontova, King Tomislav Street near the Josip Hatze Music School, the top of Bosanska Street, Zlatna Vrata, Đardin and Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square.

"With this, we will finally get video surveillance of the city center in the 21st century. The cameras are currently in function at the Croatian National Theater and Matejuška. The cameras will help us fight crime and solve communal problems. For now, the recordings are being monitored from a special room in Banovina, which is being done by a security company, and our plan is to form a joint operational control center for everyone in the building of the former "Čistoća" building," Budiša announced.

HRK 1.7 million has been allocated from this year's budget for the video surveillance of public areas, and the next planned activity is the installation of cameras at bus stops. The Mayor's advisor also announced that the intention of the City of Split is to have full management of traffic and intersections with a modern system, which is already being agreed with the Ministry of Transport.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

May 14, 2020 - The comic drama Laponija by Cristina Clemente and Marco Angelet, produced by the Croatian National Theater in Split and directed by Nenni Delmestre, will be performed on Monday, May 18 at 8 pm at HNK Split as the first play after the theater closed its doors on March 11. 

"As a gift to the audience that supported us for more than two months when the theater was closed and who in large numbers watched our virtual production on social networks, tickets for this play, as well as for all other programs that we will perform until the beginning of preparations for the 66th Split Summer, will be free," said the intendant of HNK Split Srećko Šestan for Dalmatinski Portal. 

Due to the high interest in tickets after the first announcements of this performance, and because of the significantly reduced capacity of the auditorium adjusted to the recommended protective measures, the drama ensemble of the Croatian National Theater Split will perform Laponija on Wednesday, May 20.  

"A great comedy ... a smart and witty play that speaks about serious issues with ease" is how theater critics assessed Split's Laponija after the premiere on Stage 55 in December 2019. Director Nenni Delmestre said for the premiere: "Genre-wise this is a comedy, but with very serious blades that drive into our intimate and social fabric. It is a drama with funny, witty remarks and reactions, but in which the wit stems from cultural differences that actually speak to some factual conditions."

The play immediately became a real theatrical hit on the Split stage, as before on the Catalan and Spanish stages. Laponija premiered in January 2019 in Barcelona, and at the end of the same year, the Split production followed. It will be performed for the 20th and 21st time on Monday and Wednesday.

At the center of the plot are two married couples. Spouses Monika (Monika Vuco Carev) and Robi (Siniša Novković) from Dalmatia (in the original text from Catalonia) come to visit Monika's sister Nela (Zorana Kačić Čatipović) who is married to Finn Olavi (Nikša Arčanin) and has been living in Finland. But instead of an idyllic Christmas family reunion in Santa's homeland, the characters enter a series of fierce dramatic conflicts for which, at first glance, the trigger is opposed to Mediterranean and Scandinavian mentalities, attitudes about raising children, about desirable and undesirable behavior.

Tickets will be available until Friday, May 15 at 10 am at the box office of HNK Split and on its website, until the capacity of the auditorium is filled.

The play will be played on a large stage in front of an auditorium whose maximum capacity, due to the recommended spacing measures, has been reduced to 187 spectators.

Spectators are asked to come to the show with protective masks. At the entrance to the theater, a body temperature check and the necessary disinfection of the hands and shoes of each visitor will be performed.

The HNK Split box office will be open twice on Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm, on Saturday from 10 am to noon, while it will be closed on Sunday.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.