- Sailing Croatia tips
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by Ultra Sailing Team
Have you heard from friend of yours about the beautiful warm sea, good fun and carefree cruising? Now would you afford to sail or cruise on the Croatian Adriatic? Don’t know where to start? Here are some helpful tips.
1. Create a trusting relationship with your agent
Establishing a trusting relationship with your yacht agent (broker) will greatly improve your overall experience as he is more likely to be open to giving you free advices based on your experience on-site.
- It is always better to book directly with the charter fleet (Ultra sailing feet operator) than through large internet portals that offer over 2000 vessels and do not have professional staff with the knowledge about vessels as well as charter operators. You are just a number for them and there is a possibility that you will not get all necessary information when making such a reservation.
- Of course, there are also valuable excellent Charter brokers (classic agencies) who can save your time by conducting all the research to find the perfect boat for you, but there are just few of them because they have been repressed by internet portals. You cannot expect internet portals to be at your service and know the vessel you have chosen. Give yourself a little effort and don’t always choose the first 3 paid ads on search engines. We advise you to look at how long a charter company or agent has been on the market. Also check if their WEB page is authentic.
- Whether you book through an agency or directly with the fleet operator, you need to be honest and say what you want and expect. The contact person can offer you the best value for your first yacht charter, because he/she has an insight into the numerous yacht options, their current condition and special offers that may be available for you.
- Ultra Sailing broker reservation office, will not give you only information about the vessel, crew,etc…..the same people will meet you upon your arrival on the vessel and will be available 12 hours a day for your questions and concerns about planning a holiday on board.
2. How does the yacht charter price list work?
Generally, the charter price list or the price list for renting a vessel is closely related to the purchase price of that same vessel from the shipyard. The more expensive a vessel in purchase, the more weekly market of its charter should be. Over the past few years, boat rental prices have changed.
The yacht charter seasons of 2018 and 2019 were successful, but due to the great competition, the boats were offered with big discounts in order to be filled out as soon as possible. Boat rental prices in Croatia were significantly lower than in Italy, France or Greece. With the emergence of a pandemic, a large number of commercial vessels were sold for private use. This is a natural trend that was to be expected. Due to restrictions, many boaters decided to make their dreams come true and sail on their own boat. Of course, used boats in 2020 were favorable because most charter companies decided to sell their own boats due to the uncertainty of future business. In early 2021 used vessels reached a better market place. At the same time, new vessels deliveries became limited and shipyards raised their prices.
The 2021 season has shown that nautical charter is a safe and favorite escape from the unpleasant reality that has captured us all. That year seemed successful, but it was a great challenge to agents and yacht charter fleets who already had a reduced offer not only because of the boats sold but also because of the rebookings and vouchers they granted their guests from the 2020 season.
Because of these reasons, “Last minute” reservations at a good price, failed (in high season that is July, August and September).
Charter companies are also faced with an increased costs, primarily the annual berth and work force (cleaning of the vessel, for example, which has had to be intensified in the last 2 years) as well as the costs of suppliers and external associates.
3. Why do boat rental prices vary?
First, the prices are divided into seasons. So, for example in Croatia the most popular terms are July, August and September when the weekly rental prices are the highest. Pre-season in April and May is the cheapest when boaters usually come for their first sailing vacation. For some reason, June still does not belong to high season, although it is already summer, day is the longest, the crowds are not so obvious, and the prices are more acceptable. It is important to know that the classic charter week starts and finishes on a Saturday. Only a few companies offer sailboats out of standard Saturdays, mostly in pre-season. Ultra Sailing fleet offers Beneteau Oceanis 35 which can be rented at any time and without any restrictions in duration.
4. What kind of discounts I can expect when chartering a vessel?
Early booking discount was always about 5-10 %, where catamaran discounts were always smaller. This discount was valid till end of January, which coincided with Europe’s largest indoor boatshow in Duesseldorf (Düsseldorf Boot). On top of early booking discount, extra boatshow discount is applied, then 5% for returning clients, 5% for booking of 2 or more weeks etc.
Last minute discounts would generally start about 45 days before intended charter week. Unfortunately for a lot of charterers who counted on this usually high discount, this year they were left empty handed as available boats were non-existent. This is due rebookings from 2020, which rendered a lot of boats unavailable in season 2021. Same or similar situation is expected in 2022 as there are still unresolved rebookings from 2020 and now from 2021 (clients from countries that opened up late) which are turned now into vouchers for next season.
5. How to ask for an offer and what to focus on?
Below you can take a look a classic example of an offer, which is generated from a booking system, and it shows:
- Model, built year, name of the vessel and marina of departure.
- Weekly charter price is shown, from Saturday to Saturday with 10% early booking discount.
- If skipper is not highlighted in the offer, it means it is a price for bareboat charter. If the skipper is included in price, it will be visible on the offer. Feel free to ask us, because you can order a skipper extra. For first timers in Croatia, this is a recommended option.
- You can click on “more info” where you can see the equipment of the boats as well as original photos. Observing the layout pf cabins and bathrooms is very important when having a skipper/hostess as they require a separate cabin each.
- Transit log (or charter pack or comfort package)… Charter companies give it different names, but this is an obligatory extra that covers cleaning, under water inspection, bed linen and most often towels. . Depending on the price, some companies offer an outboard as a part of this extra, or beach towels etc. Be sure to check what transit log entails, and which items need to be paid extra at check in.
- Tourist tax item is listed last and usually paid in the base at check in. Amount is 10 kn/person) night. As this is paid when crew list is finalized, it is rarely or never paid in advance, as we often see changes in the crew list at the very check in. Children up to 12 years of age are exempt from paying the tourist tax.
- Security deposit is left by the skipper (charterer) by card at check in. This amount is not charged, only blocked till check out. If the boat is returned in the same condition and without damages, deposit is released. In case damages, amount charged will be amount of the damage made. If for example, a fender costs 50€ and you’ve lost it, then you will be charged 50€. Ultra has a list of most common damages in the boat’s documents, which are lost winch handle, lost fender, damaged cushion). If the damage is higher than the deposit, charter company cannot charge more that the blocked deposit amount.
6. What if I want to hire a skipper or a hostess on a boat, what would change regarding the offer?
Always mention beforehand that you need a skipper and/or hostess. There are different vessels and different offers with a crew or only a skipper. Here are a few basic offer models:
Charter fleets mostly consist of bareboat sailboats which charterers rent without a skipper or a hostess, so they are free to organize their meals in galleys or in local restaurants while on a berth. 31 to 51 ft are the usual sizes of these bareboat sailboats, or 40-47 ft of smaller catamarans. In case you would want to hire a skipper or a hostess, then this is paid extra. Depending of the charter company, the prices vary from 150€ to 200€ per day. Important thing to mention is the having a skipper onboards means you can ease your navigation, sleep carefree and save money on berths as local skippers are very well familiar with not only places, but people. With one phone call they get a berth in a busy charter season. If you need a skipper and/or hostess, please let the agent of charter fleet operator on time, and always keep in mind each should have their own cabin. There will always be cheaper hires than the 150€ per day, but please beware this will mean they won’t have an open business, won’t be insured and/or are new in the business and therefore inexperienced.
• Bigger sailing yachts of 53 to 65 ft, and catamarans over 47 ft usually are only rented with a skipper who is paid extra, which of course increases the offered price. Bigger bareboat sailing yachts and catamarans are very hard to come by. Skipper prices on bigger vessels range from 180€ to 200€ per day. Also, professional local skippers who most often speak more than one foreign language and have extensive skipper experience. Very popular type of charter over the past few years have been 4 or 5 cabin catamarans with a skipper and a hostess with their own cabins so everyone is comfortable and have privacy. This type of charter is best booked till March, mid-April the latest, as most popular terms are booked by then, as well as the most popular skippers and hostesses.
Most charter companies send you a preference list where you can enter details about yourself and your wishes regarding the crew, so they would try and meet most of your expectations.
You will be able to give details on dietary preferences, how active you want your holiday to be, if you would like to mingle with your crew or do you need your privacy, even on where you want to spend the night. No detail is too small, whether it is about the kind of coffee you take, or which wines you prefer.
You will also be asked about food allergies or any other health issues so the crew can prepare adequately. When given a preference list, make sure you fill it in full and as much details as you can, and on time. All in all, the list is there to serve you, so the crew can do all in their power to make sure you are comfortable and satisfied.
• Big wooden sailboats (gulets), or luxurious larger yachts usually have all inclusive offers, with food, drinks, fuel, crew of 4 and more and a chef already in price. These types of vessels have permanent crews and accommodate over 14 persons, up to 30 on some.
7. What are extras (or options, or additional) in the charter pricelist?
For basic boat rental, the offer with a weekly price, transit log, tourist tax and security deposit is standard and includes the basic things you need for a week of cruising without a skipper.
Extras in the price list is everything you could want: skipper, hostess, outboard engine (if not already included in the transit log), transfer from / to the airport, water toys.
8.Communicate with the captain and crew
Introductory conversation is usual with the captain (skipper) when you come on vacation. It is necessary to communicate with the hostess who has already received the “preference list” and knows which menu you could expect. A good relationship with the crew during the trip is very important because they can give you great tips, suggestions and show you interesting places. Skippers are always looking forward to making their passengers happy and providing them with an unforgettable experience. You may also want to talk to the captain if you find problems while sailing or when you have questions while on board. The captain will do his best to solve any problems you may notice.
9. Have respect for the crew
It is not news that everyone should be treated with respect, however, keep in mind that the crew is not your personal servant. They are hosts who try to give their best to ensure you a pleasant holiday and make your trip as more comfortable as possible. Don’t forget that they have a lot of other responsibilities that may not be obvious (their goal is to make them look flawless) and realize that they will have to spend time on them as well.
If they wanted to do you a favor and tie the vessel in solitude, and the weather isn’t great, the skipper probably won’t sleep all night, and the hostess will have trouble getting provision if you haven’t sent the list of food you like, or just can’t get you something because you are 100 NM away from a store that has what you want. Understand, local skippers and hostesses probably know a large number of people on islands and know what they are doing and are willing to please you. Remember you are on a boat, and the boat is an island in itself.
With that in mind, always show respect and be kind to the staff during the trip. A few compliments here and there can be very helpful and can make the experience enjoyable for both.
10. Your itinerary is subject to change
A good tip that any experienced sailor would agree with is to be flexible with your travel plans. Some factors such as bad weather, occasional restrictions, and other reasons you cannot have any influence will require you to change your plan from time to time.
It is impractical to stick to a firm and fast plan, and truly one of the attractive qualities of a sailing vacation is the lack of a schedule. Things that are out of your control can happen, so be willing to make the necessary adjustments if needed.
If your skipper suggest a change, it’s probably because he has estimated the situation and believes the second option is more appropriate. They will usually have other great alternatives for you so be open and flexible if circumstances require. Therefore, follow the safety rules of the captain-skipper.
