Family sailing in Croatia – a dream holiday

“The kids absolutely loved it and thought this was the best trip they've been on in a long time! And they have traveled a lot,” says Jennifer as she looks back on their summer holiday in Croatia. 

They had thought about a sailing holiday for a long time and also dreamed of visiting Croatia. When they heard about More Sailing through friends and colleagues, it felt natural – of course they should take a holiday on a boat in Croatia. The family had previously travelled, among other things, on cruises in the Caribbean. The contrast could not be greater. 

“This is more picturesque. A relaxed lifestyle at a calmer pace and quieter than on a cruise ship. It’s also more personal. The women who were the skipper and host on the boat made the trip even better!”

Tell us more! 

“The work that the skipper and the host put in was absolutely outstanding in my eyes. Especially the food. Our host Felicia cooked the tastiest food I've ever eaten and the way that they organised things for the guests was amazing. The boat was also very well equipped and felt luxurious!” 

What was the best thing about sailing in Croatia? 

“As well as the hosts, the freedom and tranquility on the boat was amazing. The surroundings were incredibly nice and Croatia as a country has so much to offer. I really like history and the country's history with war and independence stretches way back in time. In all the places we stayed there was something to dig into, which was very fun. The water is also so beautiful and the area is famous for its sailing! There are good winds and we got to see so much – at the same time it is always possible to find a bay where it is completely calm.”

Were there any challenges?  

“The packing! Haha, next time I will listen to the advice about bringing soft suitcases. And I’ll pack smarter! Our family compete a lot in equestrian sports and travel around by van, so we aren’t totally new to packing smart. But when you’re on a boat, it’s nice and important to bring everything with you – even though you aren’t completely stranded. We were also worried about getting seasick, but we avoided that which was great!” 

What did the kids like about having a holiday on a boat?

“It was the best trip they've been on in a long time. Our skipper and host made the trip even better! They were very careful to include the children in everything, they asked if the kids wanted to join in and learn and were generally very nice. We can’t praise them enough, the children enjoyed it so much.” 

That’s great to hear. What were the highlights of the trip? 

“I would like to say everything, but above all visiting and seeing so many places in one week! A highlight for the whole family was when we stopped in the middle of the sea and swam from the boat, in fairly deep water. That was really amazing! For the children, the dolphins were of course a highlight, but also having a go at steering the boat and learning how to sail. I would like to take another trip to relive it all! Maybe at a new destination? Greece is appealing! Or even the Caribbean.” 

Was there anything you were surprised by during the trip? 

“It was great that we were able to help choose where we were going. It wasn’t entirely decided beforehand, which allowed us to participate and have our say. Should we go to this island or that island? The sun is shining over there – OK let’s go there then!” 

How would you describe a day on the boat? 

“I’m a morning person and always get up very early in the morning. It was special to have my morning cup of coffee up on the deck in the sun while everyone else was sleeping, and it was completely quiet and calm on the sea. Another highlight was making toasts with some bubbly or another nice drink and a snack. It was a cosy moment for the whole family as we often paused for a swim and gathered together.” 

Favourite stop of the week? 

“All the stops had their charm! It's very difficult to rank what was the best. The whole trip was magical!” 

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Want to see more? Take a look at the family's YouTube video from the trip here!