7-Day Sail Croatia Cruise Review: What It’s Really Like

Introduction

I stepped out of my hostel and into the blistering Split heat, dragging my suitcase toward Penelopa, the boat that would be my home for the week.

Sail Croatia runs week-long sailing trips that island-hop along the Adriatic. I joined the 7-day Explorer Cruise (Split Return, South), which is especially popular with Aussies and Kiwis in their 20s doing their big Europe trip, and it’s marketed hard — I saw endless Sail Croatia ads on my phone the whole week. If you’re thinking about booking Sail Croatia, here’s what my week was like (spoiler: a mix of turquoise swims, backpacker banter, and nights out at fortress clubs).

Life on Board

Onboarding was simple: hand over your passport, get a quick welcome, and suddenly you’re part of a floating micro-society. My first meal was with my roommate and two girls she’d just met on a Contiki in Greece. After lunch, we got herded into “icebreakers” on the top deck — ten minutes of forced introductions, or “fun”, that felt like high school orientation.

Food

Food was decent. 

Breakfast ran from 7–10am, though staff would sometimes whip you up something later if you asked nicely. Breakfast was eggs, pancakes, bread, bacon, cereals, and so on. 

Lunch at 1pm was daily soups and salad as an entree, then a main like lasagna, chicken, or pasta, and a dessert like fruit or lamingtons. 

Dinners were not included onboard (apart from paid boat dinners), and often involved pizzas or bakery snacks with the group on the islands.

If you want proper Croatian meals like seafood, you may need to pay (think €80+ in Mljet for high-end spots).

Cabins

The lower-deck rooms are tiny bunks with just enough space for a small suitcase (medium or large = daily drag-out struggle). There’s a shelf, a sink, a mirror, and a small window — which note, you should keep shut at night unless you want waves splashing over your bed at 5am. The doors don't lock and strangers can wander onto your boat when docked, so ensure you bring a padlock and try avoid bringing high-value items.

Our room stank like poop on day one. The trip leader sprayed lavender and told us to “let the tap run.” The smell came and went all week. Not ideal. Pillows were hit or miss, some mattresses concave, but mine was okay and I slept well every night.

Upstairs cabins are bigger with en suites, and pricier. 

You get one towel for the week. Dry clothes on deck if you peg them properly (otherwise they’ll fly off into the Adriatic). Jake is still looking for his board shorts.

Showers & Bathrooms

Four showers for 36 people, plus two toilets. Two showers are inside toilet cubicles, sharp water pressure like a spa jet, usually warmish. Honestly not bad — after swimming in cold sea water, a lukewarm, simple shower feels fine. Two are in a shared sink room, better pressure, hotter. 

Group Dynamics

Expect 80% Aussies, 15% Kiwis, 5% other. Most will be in their twenties — mostly hospitality, teaching, tradies, or travellers on OE stints. On my boat there were just two Germans. 

Every boat will be different, but we started off timid, with all the guys on one side, girls on the other. As a few days passed, people started to integrate with each other more and mingle. Groups and subgroups started to form. A “cool guy” and “cool girl” emerged, influencing the group’s decision-making about activities and ideas. 

Romantic-wise, our boat was fairly tame. On night six, the couples and flings started to surface.

Daily Rhythm

5am: Boat leaves for the next island (you sleep through the rocking, which is oddly soothing).

11am: Swim stop — it was sometimes choppy water you fight to stay in, and sometimes calm turquoise bays. One morning we swam to a pebbly beach and found two kittens curled under a deck chair.

1pm: Lunch.

2pm onwards: Island exploration or excursions.

The trip leader announces options, but if you research ahead you’ll make the most of free time. Some people napped throughout the day; others explored.

Weather

We had mostly sunshine, plus one storm in Dubrovnik — lightning flashing over the city walls at night. Honestly, cinematic. But storms can derail plans: other boats got stuck at one island longer than planned.

Island Highlights

Day 1: Split & Hvar

Didn’t explore Split — went straight to the boat. In Hvar, we climbed Španjola Fortress for night views of the city and anchored yachts. Nightlife was dead apart from our boat. 

Highlight: a bartender lining up 36 flaming Jägerbombs.

Day 2: Korčula

Pretty, quiet island known for wines like Grk and Pošip. Half the group chilled at the tiny beach; I journaled on a bench overlooking mountains. That night: Italian dinner, then a Sail Croatia wine tasting (four wines, I liked the local Grk best).

Day 3–4: Dubrovnik

First morning = seasickness carnage. The kitchen looked like a hospital ward with everyone collapsed, regretting life choices. Dubrovnik itself was incredible: the City Walls (€40), cliffside bars, cable car, Game of Thrones tours. On day two we did more group exploring and cliff-jumping. 

Day 5: Mljet

My favourite. Hired bikes (20€) and cycled ~20km around turquoise lakes under pine forests. Stopped to meditate at the water’s edge. Paddle-boarding, swimming, and a black-bun octopus burger for dinner. Calm, secluded, magical.

Nighttime revealed a beautiful, clear sky — we sat on the deck chairs with blankets and stargazed and spotted shooting stars.

Day 6: Makarska

Stunning backdrop — mountains looked like a painted set. Options: canyoning, ziplining, or (free) cliff jumps of 8m and 12m. Evening walk to Nugal Beach, watched the sunset with a stray cat.

Day 7: Split

Back to Split. I napped half the day, then watched the sunset. Final night = guitar on deck, card games below, then Charlie’s Bar — a proper backpacker atmosphere with young travellers (finally not just our boat).

Nightlife

Nights followed a formula: pre-drink on the boat until 11pm, then hit bars/clubs. Some spots had noise bans, which killed the vibe a little. Clubs were hit-and-miss, sometimes just being a boxy room with 2000s music, but it was the surrounding experience that was unforgettable (like eating a pastry at 2am then going for a night swim).

My favourite place was Culture Club Revelin in Dubrovnik, a 500-year-old fortress turned EDM rave. Ancient arches + lasers + girls in demon cages = fun but slightly unnerving.

Be wary of Deep Makarska cave bar. It’s atmospheric, but the men were pushy — 40-year-olds using “my friend likes you” lines, younger guys grabbing when you just want to dance. The bar had even been shut down before for dodgy dealings. Stick with your group, watch your drinks.

Money Breakdown

• Total week spend: ~€1200 (excursions, food, souvenirs).

  • Initial trip cost: ~€700 (lower deck bunk).

  • Cash used: ~€400.

  • Excursions: canyoning ~€85, zipline €100, rafting €75, bikes €20 (all need cash)

  • Food & drink: dinners €10–20, gelato €3, bar drinks €10–20.

  • Tab at end of the week: €93

    • €43 bar tab (this was on the low side)

    • €25 group dinner

    • €25 tourist tax

Top tip: Avoid Euronet ATMs and use OTP Bank (Bankomat) instead.

Who It’s For (and Not For)

For: Backpackers, relaxed travellers, people who love banter, swimming, cheap drinks, and group vibes.

Not for: Luxury seekers, planners, those who hate group living or big Aussie/Kiwi energy.

You could travel Croatia solo cheaper, but you’d miss the built-in social side.

Would I Do It Again?

Honestly, probably not. It was fun and memorable, but not exactly my travel style. Talking to others, some echoed the sentiment; others were enthusiastic about a future trip. Ultimately, Sail Croatia feels like a choose-your-own-adventure week — sometimes blissful, sometimes chaotic, and occasionally edging into reality-TV energy.

Would you ever do a Sail Croatia trip? Or if you’ve done one already, what was your experience like? I’d love to hear in the comments.