When we hear the word yacht, it automatically conjures up images of our favorite celebrities vacationing on luxury mega yachts while cruising the islands of the Mediterranean or Caribbean. While the European yachting market in France and Italy has become overcrowded and beyond the reach of most visitors, other countries like Croatia offer alternatives and have become yachting destinations in their own right. Even celebrities have figured this out and it’s common to spot an A-lister or two like Beyonce and Jay Z who have been vacationing in Croatia since 2009 when they were first spotted on the island of Hvar.
At the end of the summer, I traveled to Croatia to meet Goolet, one of the leading luxury crewed yacht companies in Croatia, offering a range of wooden, sailing and luxury yachts. I sailed aboard the Ohana, a 14-cabin yacht that can accommodate up to 30 guests. To enjoy the waters of the Adriatic, there was a selection of water toys on board, including a jet ski, paddleboards and kayaks. After a full day of sightseeing, you can unwind in the upper deck jacuzzi and enjoy the view of the Adriatic Sea or unwind in one of the yacht’s many seating areas. The food on board Ohana was international cuisine – also including traditional Croatian dishes such as black risotto – prepared with fresh ingredients and beautifully presented.
Here’s how I spent 4 days visiting some of Croatia’s most famous islands aboard the Ohana…
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Croatian cuisine
Eating aboard Ohana was an out-of-the-ordinary affair. Before you begin your trip, you are contacted to provide your dietary requirements and information on allergies and tolerances.
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Day 1: Split
The tour aboard the yacht Ohana started in Split, the second largest city in Croatia with just over 200,000 inhabitants and the largest on the Ardian coast. The city’s new airport terminal opened in 2019 after two and a half years of construction and now allows the airport to handle an additional million passengers a year to ease pressure during summer congestion.
Croatia’s second-largest city is a quintessential Mediterranean city that has plenty to hold the attention of its visitors. The most important attraction are the historical sites of the palace of Diocletian, the Roman emperor who reigned for 21 years from 284 AD. He chose Split to build his palace and the ruins, which are among the best preserved and most valuable from Roman times, are now a World Heritage Site. Split was first settled by the Greeks and later by the Romans, Venetians and Ottomans. Its importance as an important trading port in the Mediterranean remains today and it is gaining in popularity with tourists who are increasingly numerous.
