If you’re thinking about the best time to cruise Croatia, you’ve probably decided on the trip and are now looking at departure dates. Maybe even in a desperate effort not to pick the wrong week. Go too early, and the sea is too cold to swim. Go in high summer, and you’re dealing with heat and crowded old towns… and paying top price for the experience, too. In this post, we’ll go into the nitty-gritty of how to choose the perfect cruise week on the Adriatic Sea.  Here’s the headline before we go into the details: The best time to cruise Croatia, to avoid crowds and boiling weather, is May, June, or September. In those months, the sea is warm enough for a stretch of snorkeling, and the summer peak is ahead of you or behind you. Here’s what you can expect in each part of the season: Peak season (July–August): the liveliest weeks, but also the hottest days, and the coast is busy on and off the water. Shoulder season (late May–June, September): warm sea and long days, and the crowds are thinner, especially on the islands. Early and late season (early May, mid-October): our lowest prices, with slightly cooler sea in May and fewer crowds in October. Month by Month: What You Can Expect on an Adriatic Cruise Month by month, Croatia’s cruise season covers May to October. In May the sea averages about 18 °C, June and September bring warm water with fewer crowds, and July and August are the hottest and busiest months. In 2027, we sail every Saturday from May 1 to October 16, and we don’t sail from November to April. MonthSea TemperatureThe daysCrowdsDo we sail?Best forAprilcoolmildquietNo—Mayabout 18 °C(64 °F)warmquiet, building late in the monthYes, from May 1lower prices early in the month, empty swim stopsJune21–22 °C(70–72 °F)hot, longbuildingYeslong days and warm waterJuly23–24 °C(73–75 °F)hottestbusiestYesthe liveliest eveningsAugust24–25 °C(75–77 °F)hotbusiestYesthe warmest waterSeptemberabout 23 °C(73 °F)warmthinningYeswarm water, fewer people ashoreOctoberabout 21 °C(70 °F)mildquietUntil October 16our lowest prices mid-month Long-run averages at Hvar and Komiža (Vis), from DHMZ data to 2019. The sea has been getting warmer, so check DHMZ’s live sea readings before you travel. August is Croatia’s busiest month for crowds on the shore, with July close behind. In 2025, the two months together brought more than two-fifths of the year’s tourist arrivals, according to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. If you pick a date before May 15 or after October 1, bear in mind that some attractions, including Mljet National Park, keep shorter hours than in shoulder and high season. If there’s something in your itinerary you don’t want to miss, check those hours for your dates. Weather, Sea, and Winds Adriatic Blue, one of Zantium Travel’s small cruise ships in Croatia. Weather on a Croatia cruise is mostly about the wind. In summer you’ll usually get the maestral, a steady northwesterly that picks up in the afternoon. In May and October, two other winds are more likely: jugo, a warm, humid southeasterly, and bura, a gusty northeasterly that can blow at gale strength. Maestral comes up most summer afternoons. It’s steady and mild, and that’s why most of our swim stops are in the morning. Jugo is warm and damp, brings clouds, and builds a swell from the south. It’s more common in spring and autumn. Bura comes off the mainland in strong gusts. It’s mostly a winter wind, but it can turn up in any month. When the wind picks up, our captain may decide to move the stops around so you still get your swims and your towns that week. For example, a visit to the fabled Blue Cave is in our itinerary, and the weather can affect whether we get to see it or not. Since we have to go through a small opening (1.5 meters or about 5 feet high), high swell will close off the access. If that happens, we usually add another stop instead, like a cove or a small town. If you want to check the forecast before you fly, DHMZ, Croatia’s weather service publishes one for the Adriatic. Crowds, Festivals, and Port Days on Your Croatia Cruise July and August are the months with the biggest crowds on the Croatian coast, and August is the busiest of all. They’re also festival months: the Dubrovnik Summer Festival is on from mid-July to mid-August, and Split hosts the Ultra Europe music festival in the first or second week of July. In Korčula, you can watch the Moreška sword dance on set evenings throughout the season. Split, first or second week of July: if your cruise starts or ends in Split on the festival weekend, book any hotel night in Split early. Dubrovnik, mid-July to mid-August: the Summer Festival is on, with performances around the Old Town, and these are the busiest weeks there anyway. Korčula, through the season: you can see the Moreška at the town’s summer cinema, on different evenings each month. If it’s on while you’re in Korčula, stay in town for it. You can check the dates with the Korčula tourist board. Hvar and Split at night: both towns have a busy nightlife in summer. If you’re worried about ending up on a loud boat when all you want is a relaxing cruise, here’s how to tell a party cruise from a quiet one. We stay overnight in port, so you spend your evenings in town however you like: a cozy cabin will be waiting for you when you’re done for the night. What the Best Time to Cruise Croatia Means on Our Route The best time to cruise Croatia on our route depends on what you care about most: warm water, smaller crowds, or a lower price. In 2027, a standard lower-deck cabin costs €1,890 per person on early-May and mid-October departures, €2,190 in late May, mid-July to mid-August, and late September, and €2,390 in June and from late August to mid-September. Departures (2027)Price per person, standard lower-deck cabinMay 1, 8, 15€1,890May 22, 29€2,190June 5 to July 3€2,390July 10 to August 14€2,190August 21 to September 18€2,390September 25, October 2€2,190October 9, 16€1,890 Those are the prices you can expect for 7 nights on most of our ships. Main-deck and balcony cabins cost more. We also have some limited lower fare: those start from €1,490 per person on select Season 1 lower-deck departures. Here’s what you get at each price: Early May (€1,890): fewer people ashore, and the sea is around 18 °C. June, and late August to mid-September (€2,390): warm water and long days, but it’s the highest price of the season. Mid-July to mid-August (€2,190): the hottest days, the warmest water, and the busiest towns. If you’re traveling with kids during school holidays, you’ll probably be looking at these weeks. Our guide to a family cruise in Croatia has tips for planning the week with kids. Mid-October (€1,890): the same price as early May, calm streets, and a higher chance that some attractions will close earlier and some of our itinerary stops (like the Blue Cave visit) won’t be possible. As a rule of thumb, most of our June and September departures sell out early. If you want one of those weeks, book well in advance for the best choice of cabins. Upper deck VIP cabin aboard Adriatic Blue. In 2027, all Zantium’s small ships sail the same 8-day route: Šibenik to Dubrovnik or the reverse, Saturday to Saturday, with Vis, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet, and Slano in between. If you start in Šibenik, you meet us in Split and we take you there. For a closer look at the islands, see our island-hopping guide to see what to expect on each one, or browse our small ship cruises in Croatia to check which dates we have left. On top of the cruise price, you pay port and residence tax of €85 per person for the week, in cash on board. Dinners ashore, bar drinks, and the Mljet National Park ticket are extra, too. Our guide to what a Croatia cruise costs breaks this down further. See every 2027 small-ship cruise departure. Best Time to Cruise Croatia: Common Questions Which month is the best to cruise Croatia? The best months to cruise Croatia for most travelers are June and September, when the sea is warm, the days are long, and the crowds are smaller than in July and August. May is close behind. On Zantium’s ships, June and most of September are also the most expensive weeks, and early May and mid-October cost the least. What is the cheapest month to cruise Croatia? The cheapest months to cruise Croatia with Zantium are early May and mid-October, when our 2027 prices are lowest. June and most of September cost the most, and mid-July to mid-August costs somewhere in between. Prices start from €1,490 per person on select Season 1 lower-deck departures. Are May and October good months to cruise Croatia? May and October are both good months to cruise Croatia if you want smaller crowds and a lower price. The sea averages about 18 °C in May and 21 °C in October, and our 2027 departures sail from May 1 to October 16. Some attractions keep shorter hours, and in October the Blue Cave is more often closed by swell. How far in advance should I book a Croatia cruise? Book a Croatia cruise as far in advance as you can if you have a particular week or cabin in mind. On Zantium’s ships, balcony and single cabins sell out first, and most ships have only one or two cabins for a third guest. Our 2027 departures are open for booking now. Is a cruise a good way to see Croatia? A cruise is a good way to see Croatia’s coast and islands. On a small ship, you stay overnight in harbor towns such as Korčula and Vis and stop in coves to swim, so you unpack once instead of moving between hotels and ferries. It’s less suited if you’re after the inland sights: Plitvice Lakes, for example, is a long way from the coast. Which cruise line is best for Croatia? The best cruise line for Croatia depends on the kind of trip you want more than on the brand. Large cruise ships call at a few big ports such as Dubrovnik, while small ships of a few dozen guests stay overnight in island towns and stop for swims along the way. Pick the ship size and the shape of the vacation you want to have first, then compare routes and what the price includes. Is it safe for US citizens to travel to Croatia right now? Croatia is safe for US citizens to visit: the US State Department rates it Level 1, “Exercise normal precautions,” the lowest of its four advisory levels. Use the same common sense you would in any busy old town or port, and check the current advisory before you travel, since levels can change. Is there a dress code in Croatia? The dress code in Croatia is simple: swimwear stays on the beach. In Split, Hvar town, and Dubrovnik, you can be fined for walking around in swimwear or without a shirt, and stop at all three at a Zantium cruise. Elsewhere it’s an unspoken rule, so pack a shirt or a light dress for the walk back into town. Booking Your Croatia Cruise Week The best time to cruise Croatia will depend on what you’re after: For the warmest water, look at July and August. For warm water with fewer people around, look at June and September. For the lowest price and smaller crowds, look at early May or mid-October. If you’d like help picking a departure, our team will walk you through the dates and cabins that are still open. Speak with our team.

Are Croatia cruises party boats? Some are, but a lot of small-ship cruises on this coast aren’t. If you’re looking for a cruise vacation in Croatia, you’ve probably come across the party offers already. Most give themselves away quickly: they speak to a younger crowd (ages 18 to 39), and their evening itinerary is chock-full of nightclub names. But if you’re coming to Croatia for quiet harbors and a boat that sails at a leisurely pace? In that case, ending up on a party boat for seven nights would be a pretty expensive mistake to make… so let’s make sure you know how not to make it. Which Croatia Cruises Are Actually Party Boats Croatia’s party boats come in three formats: week-long party cruises on small motor ships for 18- to 39-year-olds, yacht-week flotillas of skippered yachts that raft together for parties, and day boat parties of a few hours. All three sail through the summer, and the week-long formats spend their nights in party ports such as Hvar and Makarska. Who it’s forThe boatLengthHow drinks workEveningsParty cruiseAges 18 to 39Motor ship, up to 40 guestsA weekBar on board, a boat party on the scheduleBars and clubs on the itineraryYacht-week flotillaAdults, mostly under 40Skippered sailing yacht motor boatA weekAlcohol extra, guests split port fees and fuelYachts raft together, with a DJDay boat party18 and overMotor boat or sailing yachtAbout 6 hoursA welcome shot, then a barA club after-partySmall-ship cruiseAll agesMotor ship, up to 36 guests, private bathrooms7 nightsA bar tab, settled at the end of the weekMost dinners ashore, wherever you choose Based on the operators’ own pages, October 2026. Party Boat or Quiet Week? What to Look For Each of these formats suits people with different sensibilities and different vacation goals. And each can be a great time… if you book the right one for you. The trouble starts when you book a party cruise by accident. What you were actually after was seven nights at an easygoing pace: time to swim, time to bond with your family, and time to read those 4 books you’ve packed. The good news?  Party boats are easy to spot if you know where to look, because the party is scheduled into the itinerary. Almost all of them advertise the DJs, or a nightclub stop by name. The flotilla, often sold as a sail week, is the easiest cruise to mistake for a quiet sailing holiday. On paper, each yacht is a small group with a skipper. But that’s the trap: the yachts sail as a fleet between bays and islands such as Bol on Brač, and they tie up side by side in the evening. You probably won’t confuse a day boat party with a relaxed cruise. They last an afternoon, leave from harbors such as Split, and end at a club. The fact that there are no cabins and no overnight stays is a dead giveaway that you’re not booking a week-long cruise. How a Small-Ship Cruise Is Different from a Party Cruise A relaxing SUP ride in clear Adriatic waters during a Croatia small-ship cruise. A small-ship cruise is different from a party cruise in its format and pace, and often in the age group it caters to. Zantium’s small boat cruises, for example, mix swim stops, guided tours, the Ston oyster tasting, and free time in the evenings. You might think that the size of the ship — fewer than forty guests — usually means a quiet week. But it doesn’t have to, at least not on its own. Some party cruises in Croatia also sell air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms. The fact that you get a cabin doesn’t mean you’ll get to enjoy peace and quiet… not if there’s a party raging on deck at all hours of the night. So if the guest count and the cabins can’t help you distinguish a quiet week from a party week, what can? It’s the itinerary that makes it abundantly clear. On a non-party cruise, your day usually looks like this: Breakfast on board A swim stop in a cove, with lunch on board A guided walk through town in the afternoon An evening on the town at your own pace Our routes follow that rhythm, from Šibenik to Dubrovnik by way of Vis, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet, and Slano. There’s no nightclub schedule involved. Is a Zantium Cruise a Party Boat? No Is a Zantium cruise a party boat? No. Our seven-night Šibenik–Dubrovnik cruise carries up to 36 guests of all ages, and there’s no drinks package. Your days are built around swim stops and guided walks in Šibenik, Hvar, Korčula, and Dubrovnik. There is a bar on board, drinks are paid separately, and five out of seven of your dinners are ashore. When you book, we take care of the itinerary, but a lot of the time we spend in harbor is yours to plan. Here’s what that looks like on paper. What your fare covers: Breakfast every morning and six three-course lunches on board Two dinners on board: the welcome dinner and the Captain’s Dinner Guided walking tours with local guides in Šibenik, Hvar, Korčula, and Dubrovnik The Ston oyster and wine tasting, and a swim stop on most days What you pay on board: Your bar tab, settled in cash at the end of the week Port and residence tax, €85 per person, also paid in cash For every expense, see what a cruise week costs with us. Our evenings look different from a party boat’s, even though both spend the week hopping from island to island. Five of the seven dinners are ashore, in Vis, Hvar, Korčula, Slano, and Dubrovnik, and on those nights you eat locally and explore the town. Your cruise manager briefs you each morning and can recommend restaurants (even make reservations) and places to visit. Most of your time is free time, and we don’t plan your night for you. If you’d rather celebrate on your own terms, a full-boat private charter gives your group the whole ship, up to 36 guests. See the 2027 small boat cruise dates How to Avoid Booking an Adriatic Party Cruise by Mistake Early morning arrival along the Biokovo range coast. To avoid booking a party cruise by mistake, check five things on the cruise page before you book: the advertised age range the drinks on the schedule where it spends its nights who leads the evenings the cabin (and bathroom) setup The ‘wild night out’ format usually advertises an age band ending at around 40: a suggestion, not a cutoff. The DJs are written into the itinerary, as are the clubs and parties. Look at the age range. Party cruises usually advertise one, and it tends to end around 40. Some quiet cruises publish an age range too, as guidance on what to expect, so this isn’t a definitive check. Check how the drinks are sold. Look for drinks written into the schedule: a welcome shot, a boat party, club entry on a set night. On a quieter cruise, you settle the bar tab at the end of the week, and alcohol doesn’t feature heavily on the itinerary. Check the itinerary for evening plans. A party boat names its nights out, so you’ll see a club in Makarska or a bar in Hvar. Calm cruises name harbor towns and leave most of the dinner decisions to you, like the five dinner towns on ours. Find out who leads the evenings. On a party cruise, a tour manager or host travels with the group, and the week’s events are planned for you. Where partying isn’t the goal, the cruise manager briefs you on the day each morning and can book you a table for dinner. Check the cabins, but don’t rely on them. Shared bathrooms and bunk beds usually point to a budget party ship. Private, air-conditioned cabins are a good sign, but some party cruises sell those too, so treat the cabins as a hint. The real answer lies in the itinerary. Are Croatia Cruises Party Boats? Frequently Asked Questions Is Croatia known for partying? Croatia is known for partying in a few places, mainly in summer. Zrće beach near Novalja, on the island of Pag, has open-air clubs through the season, and Hvar town is known for its nightlife, though its council voted in 2025 against relaxing noise rules. Most of Croatia’s coast is quiet harbor towns and islands. Which month is the best to cruise Croatia? The best months to cruise Croatia for most travelers are May, June, and September: the cruising season is under way, and the heat and crowds of July and August are either ahead of you or behind you. Zantium’s small-ship cruises depart on Saturdays from early May to mid-October. Is Sail Croatia a party boat? Some Sail Croatia cruises are party boats and some are not: the company sells party cruises aimed at travelers aged 18 to 39 alongside non-party cruise lines. Whether a Sail Croatia cruise is a party boat depends on the line you book, so check each departure’s age range and day-by-day itinerary before booking. Do people get seasick on sail in Croatia? Some people get seasick on a Croatia cruise, though most legs of a Dalmatian coast itinerary are between islands near the shore, and the crossing to Vis is the most exposed. If you’re prone to motion sickness, take your usual remedy on sailing days or consult with our article on dealing with motion sickness on a small ship cruise. On a Zantium cruise, the captain can reorder the day when wind or swell builds. Choosing Your Cruise in Croatia Once you know what to look for, a cruise page will tell you within a few minutes whether you’re booking a party boat in Croatia.  When you check out ours, you’ll find swim stops in the morning, guided walks in the afternoon, and evenings in harbors such as Korčula and Vis that are yours to plan, with time left over for those four books. Need help picking a departure date? Our team will walk you through it. Speak with our team.

When it comes to multi-generational kicking back and relaxing for the summer, nothing beats a family cruise in Croatia. Picture it… Your boat anchors off the Pakleni Islands just before lunch, and by the time the plates are cleared, there’s nothing to do but relax. The kids splash about and explore the shallows while the parents and grandparents lounge on the sundeck, drinks in hand. Slow, experience-rich afternoons like this one are what a family cruise on the Adriatic is built around. You share a family meal, chat with a few fellow travelers, explore old harbor towns… and maybe glimpse another boat or two as you move towards your next harbor. Nobody is driving. Nobody is cooking. Tonight it’s Hvar, tomorrow Korčula, the day after is Mljet. And you’ve only unpacked once. It’s easy to picture a week like this… but it can be hard to book. That’s why we put together this guide that tells you how to plan a small boat Croatian vacation for your entire family, no matter how many people you count in it. Three Ways to Book a Family Cruise in Croatia Depending on the size of your group, there are three ways to book a family cruise in Croatia. One household, or several booking together, takes cabins on a scheduled small-ship departure, sharing their week with up to 36 guests in total.  But if you’re a big extended family, chartering the whole ship becomes an attractive option. That means that you have a say in the sailing itinerary and stops, with fixed first and last ports, and are consulted on the daily menus. Large groups benefit from this arrangement because they get to shape the experience so that everyone in the group gets something out of it. One householdSeveral householdsExtended familyHow you bookCabins on a scheduled departureA block of cabins on one departureThe whole shipHow it’s pricedPer person, from €1,890Per person, same faresBy the ship, from €50,000 a weekWho else is aboardOther guests, up to 36 in allOther guests share the rest of the shipOnly your groupRouteŠibenik to Dubrovnik or the reverse, Saturday to SaturdaySameShaped around your group ( first and last port pre-set)Meals on boardBreakfast daily, six lunches, two dinnersSameBreakfast and lunch daily plus a welcome dinner, menus set with youDatesPublished departuresOne departure for everyoneBy arrangementSettle firstWho sleeps whereWho pays, and enough cabinsDates and the guest list Croatian Family Cruise for One Household One household books cabins on a scheduled departure with Zantium Travel and shares the ship with other guests, up to 36 in all. Lower-deck cabins start at €1,890 per person. Grandparents and anyone who finds stairs hard should book main-deck cabins. We confirm cabin arrangements for children before you book. The one choice that really matters when you’re booking for a diverse group is the deck.  Main-deck cabins are on the boarding level, so you don’t climb any stairs to get to bed. The lower deck is always down a staircase, but it stays cooler and quieter, which suits parents and teenagers who don’t mind the steps. Judging from the reviews, our past guests agree: if you’re 55+ — or your knee is giving you trouble — the slightly higher main deck fare is money well spent. Teenagers get evenings of their own. Vis and Hvar are free nights in town, and Hvar’s nightlife is unrivaled on the Adriatic coast. Vacationing with toddlers? Children of all ages are welcome on our cruises, and we set no minimum age. However, kid’s clubs are not a feature on our boats. For a big family with small children, a private charter is the better fit: you can tailor the week toward the kids, with special tours and rentals like floating islands and trampolines. Decide in this order: Count heads, and note who needs the main deck. Pick a season. Pricing changes from low to high season. Ask how the children will sleep. The section on ages further down covers it. Choose from our small boat cruise departures in Croatia. Several Households Booking a Cabin Block Several households booking a block take cabins together on one scheduled departure, each paying the per-person fare. A family of twenty needs about ten cabins, more than half the ship, so decide on your departure date first and book early for the best cabins and rates. This is a reunion-shape vacation: siblings, their kids, the grandparents, and one person with strong organizational skills tasked with managing the spreadsheet. That organizer has two jobs: get everyone onto the same week, and settle who pays what before booking (have that conversation early). Once you’re aboard, it’s almost like an intimate house party on a ship. Our cruise manager briefs everyone on the day’s plan each morning after breakfast. On the four evenings ashore — Vis, Hvar, Korčula, and Slano — ask where to eat, and our cruise manager can recommend a place and help book a long table. Some households peel off for dinner and find each other again at a café on the harbor. Decide in this order: Name one organizer. Agree on the departure, and who pays what. Count the cabins (check main deck preference). Ask us whether your cabins can be together, and we’ll tell you what’s possible on your departure. There’s no minimum group size for a charter, so the whole ship is an option too, and we explain it below. With a strong headcount, booking the whole ship can easily turn into a more economical option. What Your Croatia Cruise Booking Covers On a scheduled departure, the fare covers your cabin, breakfast daily, six lunches and two dinners on board, guided walks in four towns, the Ston oyster tasting, the Blue Cave entrance fee, swim stops, and transfers on the first and last day. The dinners ashore are by design: your entire group gets to sample the rich culinary treats of several Croatian islands, each one different and unique, and you pick a place the kids will actually eat at. For every line of what the pricing includes, season by season, see what a Croatia cruise costs in 2027. The Extended Family on a Private Charter Zantium Travel guests during one of the guided town visits included in their cruise. A big extended family, often with friends along, can charter the whole ship. Only your group is aboard, the route and menus are shaped around you, and one contact handles everything from inquiry to embarkation. Charters start at €50,000 for the week, priced by the ship, with no minimum group size. These charters are a great choice for larger families, groups of friends, and multi-generational trips because everyone travels aboard the same ship while having their own private cabin. In this case, the week bends to your group: ports, swim stops, excursions, and the daily plan. Only the first and last ports are fixed. Menus are set with you, and a milestone dinner on board becomes the celebration that the whole week — and everyone on board — works toward. The charter includes the ship and crew, breakfast and lunch daily with a welcome dinner, daily housekeeping with a midweek linen change, and Wi-Fi. Airport transfers, excursions, and extra dinners are arranged on request. Decide in this order: Fix the dates with the core family. Confirm the guest list. Agree how the cost is split. Tell us who’s coming.  PLAN A PRIVATE CHARTER › The Zantium Sailing Route Stop by Stop Our sailing route runs Šibenik, Vis, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet, Slano, and Dubrovnik over eight days, or in reverse. Mljet and Korčula win over every generation, Hvar and Vis give your antsy teenagers a night on the town, and there are daily swim stops. Flying into Split early? Diocletian’s Palace and nearby Trogir make a brilliant bonus day, though neither is part of the cruise. For more on the islands, see our island-by-island guide. Šibenik We start the day with a guided walk of about an hour: from the harbor through the park to the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St. James and its square, then into the old town core, with some history and a feel for everyday life in Šibenik. The city’s towering fortresses—St. Michael’s and St. Nicholas’ in particular—are a sight to behold and worth exploring if the time allows.  Vis Closed to foreigners from 1945 until 1989, Vis kept its villages as they were, and both teenagers and adults are fascinated by its military past. The Archaeological Museum is in an Austrian fort on the shore (check it’s open). From Vis, the whole family gets into a small boat to visit the Blue Cave on nearby Biševo island. Hvar On the way to Hvar, you get a few hours of swimming off the Pakleni Islands after lunch on board. Then a local guide walks you through Hvar town, and you get to plan your own evening entertainment. Teenagers make for the waterfront, which is buzzing by dark. Our recommendation? Book the whole family into the family-owned Hora estate on the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, for local wine and a traditional Dalmatian dinner. Korčula We start exploring Korčula after a swim stop and lunch on board. In the afternoon, a local guide walks you through the old town, which claims to be Marco Polo’s birthplace, with plenty of stories and legends along the way. Grown-ups love it because the old town is small, easy to walk, and full of restaurants. Dinner is ashore, so ask our cruise manager for a recommendation, and catch the Moreška sword dance if it’s on. Mljet Mljet National Park works for every age: two saltwater lakes for swimming and bikes to rent to get around them. Don’t forget to take a boat out and visit a 12th-century monastery, perched on its own little islet in the middle of one of the lakes. Park entry is extra (price list). Slano and Ston On the way to Slano, the ship stops for a swim in one of the bays along the coast. Then it’s on to Ston, whose medieval walls (built by Dubrovnik Republic in 1333) still stretch more than 5 km. A short boat ride takes everyone out to an oyster farm in the middle of the bay, where oysters have been farmed since Roman times. Of course, you get to sample the oysters and wine. If you’d rather skip the oysters, there are mussels cooked buzara style, prosciutto and cheese platters, marinated anchovies, and local olives and olive oil. Tell us about any allergies before you sail. Dubrovnik The Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik, is the last full day. A local guide walks you through the UNESCO-listed Old Town and down Stradun, its main street, and teenagers will know these streets as King’s Landing from Game of Thrones. The afternoon is free for gelato, souvenirs, or the city walls (tickets and hours). On the last morning, cabins are cleared by 9:00, and you can leave your luggage on board until your airport transfer. Ages, Kids’ Fares, and What to Ask Before You Book Ages, kids’ fares, and cabin setups vary between Croatia cruise lines. Some set a minimum age, some discount children’s fares, and some sell triple cabins. On our small ships there’s no minimum age, so children of every age are welcome aboard. We confirm the rest for your family before you book. Seeing Croatia with kids on a small ship goes smoothly when these are settled first: Child fares. Children under 3 sail free when they share a cabin with two adults. Children aged 3 to 12 pay 30% of the fare in a third bed, or 80% when they share a standard bed with one adult. These arrangements are subject to availability. A third bed in your cabin. An adult in a third bed pays 80% of the fare. Third beds are only in cabins equipped for them, and most ships have one or two triple cabins, so book early if you need one. Cots for babies. Cots are available, please ask for one in advance, when you book. Cabins side by side. Cabins can be booked next to each other, but none connect, and each has its own entrance. Life jackets. There’s one for every guest, with smaller vests for children. They’re for emergencies, not for swimming, so bring swim vests or floats for the youngest. Meals. Our chefs have cooked for gluten-free, vegetarian, and pescatarian guests. They take allergies and dietary needs into account, so tell us before you sail. Charters. A charter puts more of the week in your hands. There’s no fixed itinerary beyond the first and last ports, so you can choose different stops and shore experiences, and tailor the week toward the kids. Best Time for a Family Cruise in Croatia, and What to Pack The best time for a family cruise in Croatia is June to September for sea swimming, with July and August the busiest months. Fares follow three seasons, lowest in shoulder season and highest in July and August. For warm water and quieter harbors, look at June and September first. When Should We Go? School calendars usually decide a Croatia family holiday. If school breaks up earlier in your part of the world, then late June and early July are open to you, and you get to enjoy a family cruise in Croatia before the peak. Generally, families with school-aged children book their Adriatic holiday in July and August. For current sea temperatures, see Croatia’s national weather service. Most mornings we set sail while breakfast is served, so the day’s sailing starts before the kids are done eating. What Should We Pack? Water shoes, for pebbly beaches and the paths on Mljet. Plenty of sun protection. Shoes with grip. Dubrovnik’s limestone streets are beautiful and slippery. Some cash, for the bar tab and the port tax, both settled at the end of the week. FAQ: Family Cruises in Croatia Is Croatia suitable for families? Yes, Croatia is suitable for families, and a small-ship cruise is one of the easiest ways to take a Croatia family holiday together. The coast offers short hops between islands, daily swim stops, and old towns you explore on guided walks. Before booking a family cruise in Croatia, confirm the cabin arrangement for your children and anything the youngest will need. Which is the most family-friendly cruise? The most family-friendly cruise in Croatia depends on your children’s ages and the size of your group. Large ships offer kids’ clubs and pools. A small ship carrying up to 36 guests offers daily swim stops and guided walks in four towns, and a big extended family can charter the whole boat, with no minimum group size. Which Croatian island is best for a family vacation? The best Croatian islands for a family vacation are Korčula and Mljet, because both suit every age. Korčula’s old town is compact enough for grandparents to walk, and Mljet National Park has two saltwater lakes and a 12th-century monastery on an islet. Hvar is the pick for families with teenagers who want an evening in town. Which month is the best to cruise Croatia? The best months to cruise Croatia are June and September, when the water is warm and the harbors are quieter. The swimming season is June to September, and July and August are the busiest months. Cruise fares follow three seasons, lowest in shoulder season and highest in peak season.  Which cruise line is the best for Croatia? The best cruise line for Croatia is one that spends the whole week on the Croatian coast. Large ships usually call at one or two Croatian ports on a wider Mediterranean itinerary. Our small ships spend all seven nights in Croatia between Šibenik and Dubrovnik, with guided walking tours in four towns. The Last Night Aboard On the last evening, everyone is back on board, sunburned and arguing about which swim stop was best. That last dinner, with the whole family at the table, is what you’ll look back at with a smile… and while quietly planning your next adventure with Zantium Travel. At least, that’s what our returning guests tell us. That’s what a family cruise in Croatia is for: one boat, three generations. A week spent together making memories and exploring the Adriatic coast. Tell us how many of you there are and which week you’re thinking of, and we’ll work out the rest with you.  SPEAK WITH OUR TEAM ›