Skip to content
Home » Exploring Croatia’s Coastline: A Small-Ship Cruise Guide

Exploring Croatia’s Coastline: A Small-Ship Cruise Guide

Only a short flight of two and a half hours away from London, Croatia’s coastline is becoming a small ship cruise hotspot. Steve Newman explains why.

With over a thousand islands along its length, Croatia’s coastline is universally acknowledged as being second only to Norway in its scenic beauty. 

Whilst it’s often compared to Norway’s fjords, Croatia offers warmer temperatures, blue skies, and a history of conquest by different cultures stretching back to before the Romans. All of this makes exploring the narrow streets of walled cities such as Dubrovnik and Korkula an absolute delight. 

An intimate way to explore the Croatian coastline is to take one of the small-ship cruises. These yacht-like vessels, typically carrying fewer than 50 people onboard, which, with the ambience of a private A-lister’s yacht, plus their shallow draft, allow you to visit areas and ports simply not accessible to the bigger cruise ships. 

Oyster and Mussels are on offer after a short boat trip (photo: Steve Newman)

I joined Unforgettable Croatia’s MV Wish, which had only 36 passengers on board for its 7-night Signature Dalmatian Wonders Cruise from Sibenik to Dubrovnik.

Her small size allowed us to explore destinations inaccessible to bigger cruise ships. She also offered a level of service and intimacy that you don’t get on the larger ships. The distinction became particularly clear when we saw large cruise ships docked at Dubrovnik on our last day.

Cultural Immersion and Natural Beauty

Krka National Park with the most beautiful waterfall (photo: Steve Newman)

Our first day found us in Krka National Park. Wooden walkways keep you above the ground and offer great views of the hundreds of waterfalls of different sizes that cascade, bubble, and roar all around you. Some of the larger waterfalls are stunningly beautiful. 

Croatia is full of history everywhere, from medieval walled cities with narrow cobbled streets and alleyways to Baroque and Romanesque cathedrals. During our time in Split, we were given a guided tour of the city’s Old Town, much of it inside the walls of the sprawling Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace. Exploring the massive cellars, which were only rediscovered in the 1940s, was a fascinating experience.

Don’t let her size deceive you, MV Wish is packed with features like a sundeck, gym, and hot tub at the stern. The cabins themselves are spacious and comfortable. The ship’s greatest asset was that we often could anchor in tiny coves for a swim in the warm, turquoise waters. Some of us went snorkelling, paddle boarding, or kayaking.

If you’re into beaches, a short twenty-minute walk from the village of Bol along a shaded promenade brings you to Golden Horn Beach, which got its name from the uniquely shaped peninsula that stretches out into the Adriatic. This long pebble beach has mountains above, and the crystal clear water makes for some jaw-dropping scenery.

Gastronomy and Practical Considerations

My Wish Jacuzzi on the ship (photo: Steve Newman)

Whilst small-ship cruising is subject to weather, this can lead to unexpected discoveries. When strong winds prevented us from anchoring one day, our Cruise Director, Marco, devised an amazing plan B, where we visited an olive farm and press. We were treated to a sumptuous olive oil tasting with bread, local cheeses and wines.

There were two evening meals onboard, a Welcome Dinner and The Captain’s Evening, the latter with local entertainment. The other evenings, we went to restaurants in the towns where we were berthed to sample the local cuisine. We were given an excellent little restaurant guide covering each port, so we could choose the type of food/cuisine we wanted.

Most people opted for harbourside tavernas where you could watch the world go by and soak up the sunset as it bathed the walls and boats with that beautiful orange cast.

Food does play an essential part in this cruise, and when we arrived at Slano on the Peljesac Peninsula on the mainland, we travelled a short distance to the small fortified village of Mali Ston, famous for its shellfish.

Olive tasting brac (photo: Steve Newman)

Boarding a local boat, we sailed across the shimmering cobalt waters of the Adriatic through oyster and mussel farms to a tiny uninhabited island. There, in the shade of a lovely traditional building, we received an informative session on shellfish cultivation. We learnt about oyster and mussel farming and were again treated to a tasting session of both with local bread, olive oil, and wines.

The guided tours were outstanding, and you were given radio whisperers to clearly hear all that was being said. Dubrovnik, in particular, was extremely well presented, with the guide being invaluable on what to do in your free time afterwards.

Incidentally, you can top up your water bottles in the city as the 15th-century Onofrio fountains still supply public drinking water today.

Ultimately, the cruise proved to be a highly rewarding experience. It was well-planned and provided exceptionally good service at all times. Whilst a single coffee machine occasionally created a brief morning queue during peak times, it was a minor detail in an otherwise flawless operation. In general, this was an excellent cruise in a fascinating part of the world and well worth considering.

WARNING

Bol on the island of Brace (photo: Steve Newman)

Depending on when your flight lands and when you arrive at the ship, you may have up to three hours to wait until your cabin and the boat are ready. Your baggage is taken onboard, but you will have to explore the town and get lunch, etc., so you must bring Euros with you to do this, as many restaurants and bars only take cash.

Many ATMs in Croatia are individually owned and can charge a high commission. When you withdraw cash from a Croatian ATM, it may offer you a seemingly helpful service to view the transaction in Sterling rather than in Euros. If given the choice, you should always choose Euros, as it avoids the possible commission charges.

The ship placed a list in the reception area of the best ATMS, which we all found very useful. I photographed the list on my phone and used it to check which ones were safe to use in the places we visited.

Steve was a guest of Unforgettable Cruises

If you are passionate about hiking in the wild, check out our Naturalist Journeys page to discover other exciting destinations.

Share this article

Steve Newman

Steve Newman

Steve Newman is a former primary school teacher who gave it all up to become a freelance travel writer and photographer. When he’s not exploring the world, reviewing hotels or interviewing fascinating people, he’s birdwatching in the hill and on the beaches of his beloved Northumberland.

Copyright © 2025 Voyagers Voice Ltd, All rights reserved