Additional costs when chartering a boat in Croatia

When planning a sailing holiday in Croatia, it's crucial to be aware of additional costs that are not included in the yacht charter price. The additional costs include port and mooring fees, fuel costs, food and beverages (provisioning), and tickets for National parks and Nature parks.

Port and mooring fees

Port and mooring fees are a significant cost to consider when chartering a yacht in Croatia. The fees depend on the size of the boat, the sailing period, and the marina's location. Marinas that are highly sought after in summer are more costly and hardly available.

In high season the weather is, in general, very nice and there is no need to be docked every night. In addition, in order to get a place in ports every night, you would have to arrive in the port no later than noon, or 1 PM. Alternatively, you would have to have a good local skipper who will make sure that you do get a place if you arrive later, but many times even that’s not possible.

EVERY NIGHT IN PORT / THE MOST EXPENSIVE ROUTE in Croatia you could take sometime in the period from 1st July to 31st August would look like this:

• 1^st day Saturday: Split, Kastela or Trogir – Milna, Brac
• 2^nd day Sunday: Milna on Brac - Vis town
• 3^rd day Monday: Vis – Komiza, island Vis
• 4^th day Tuesday: Komiza - Hvar town / Pakleni islands
• 5^th day Wednesday: Hvar / Pakleni islands – Starigrad, Hvar
• 6^th day Thursday: Starigrad, Hvar – Maslinica, Solta
• 7^th day Friday: from Maslinica back to starting marinas

3 NIGHTS IN PORT, 2 ON BUOY, 1 ON ANCHOR / THE REALISTIC SAILING ROUTE IN SPLIT AREA would be the same route as the most expensive one above, visiting the same destinations, in the same period from 1st July to 31st August, but it is calculated more realistically with 3 nights docked, 2 on a buoy and one night on anchor.

Fuel costs

The average fuel consumption for the 7-day cruising on the Split route mentioned above would be:

All the above prices do not include the cost of operating the generator on board. The average generator consumes between 7 and 9 liters per hour. If we take into consideration that the generator works approximately for 3 - 4 hours a day, then prices per week increase by 350 - 450 euros. This should certainly be considered when choosing a boat with air conditioning because the air conditioning works either with a generator or when anchoring in marinas (when they are plugged in). If the boat has solar panels that are sufficient to charge the generator, then those costs are reduced.

Motorboats are much more expensive compared to sailing yachts and catamarans; therefore, consumption should be calculated separately for each model.

Food and beverage costs

Provisioning for your sailing trip involves stocking up on food, drinks, and other supplies. When chartering a boat in Croatia, food and beverages are never included in the price, unless the charter requests advance payment for APA - fund board amount, serving to cover the costs of requested supplies, port and mooring charges, diesel and fuel, crew gratuities, and extras.

While you have the option of bringing your own provisions, you can also purchase them in supermarkets before embarkation, or on the islands during your trip. Near the main harbors and islands around Split there are usually markets close to marinas, while on the other hand on distant and small islands in Zadar County, it’s not such a good offer of markets except on islands Ugljan and Murter.

To avoid losing your mind and searching for markets, we suggest you organize things in advance by using online provisioning stores. Online provisioning stores offer a wide assortment of food and beverages, as well as other supplies you might need for your charter vacation, and deliver ordered supplies directly to the marina. After you spend a certain amount on shopping (usually around 100 EUR), the order will be delivered without additional charge.

We also want to mention that there are many small family restaurants along the Adriatic coast with local food and fine wines. Of course, cooking for yourself is always more cost-effective than eating in restaurants, but Croatian local food it’s definitely worth a try.

National Parks and Nature Parks tickets

NP Mljet

Mljet National Park covers the entire northwest part of Mljet Island. It borders two saltwater lakes – Veliko and Malo Jezero (Large and Small Lake). In the middle of the Large Lake, there is a small island/islet Melita (Sveta Marija) with a large building of the former Benedictine monastery, erected there in the 12th century. The monastery’s building is now a café/restaurant. As both lakes are encircled by well-marked paths, you can cycle or stroll along the pleasant, shaded footpaths. You can also rent a bicycle in Pomena, Polače, and Mali Most to cycle around.

Kayaking is allowed too, so you can rent a kayak at Mali Most (the point where two lakes are joined by a narrow channel) to paddle around both lakes. The access to the park is on the north or west coast through villages Pomena and Polače. Although there is no official entrance to the National Park as such, visitors are expected to pay for the entrance (buy your ticket at a kiosk in Polače or Pomena). Info brochures and leaflets, as well as maps of the Park, are available in both kiosks.

 

NP Kornati

The Kornati National Park truly lives up to its reputation as a nautical paradise with its stunning array of islands, islets, and reefs that provide a challenging yet rewarding experience for sailors. Navigating through these picturesque landscapes requires a level of skill and expertise, especially when weather conditions add an extra element of unpredictability. It's no wonder why the park is a popular destination for those seeking adventure on the open waters. The Kornati NP is located approximately 7 nm from Murter, i.e. 15 nm from Šibenik and Zadar.

VISITOR ACTIVITIES - Sailing, snorkeling, autonomous diving, swimming, and observing plant and animal wildlife.

Anchoring and spending the night in the Park is allowed only at 16 locations.

You can buy a ticket on the web shop for the season period, i.e. for June, July August, and September, on the mySea portal for all periods, as well as in the marinas along the coast. The ticket has to be purchased for the exact date of the visit to the park. Visitors were given the possibility, if due to unforeseen circumstances they are unable to visit the park on the planned date, to change the date of the visit. This can be done once per season by sending a request with a change of date to the email address [email protected] no later than the day before the originally planned arrival by midnight.

 

NP Krka

Krka National Park lies within Šibenik-Knin County and covers a total area of 109 km² of the loveliest sections of the Krka River and the lower course of the Čikola River. Krka National Park is open for visitors year-round and can be toured by water, by road, or by foot on many hiking trails, in compliance with the rules of conduct in the protected area. You can purchase tickets online through its web page or directly in the office.

There are five entrances to the park: Lozovac, Skradin, Roški slap waterfall/Laškovica, Burnum/Puljane, and Kistanje/Krka monastery. Working hours are different depending on the season. During mid-season, May, September and Oktober the Park is open from 8 am - 7 pm, and in the peak season, the Park is open 8 am - 8 pm.

 

NP Brijuni

National Park Brijuni offers a variety of activities for you to enjoy, whether you choose to stay in the marina Veli Brijuni or anchor in the bay Saint Nicholas on the island of Mali Brijun. If you are in the marina Veli Brijun you should check in at the reception, and you are off to start your adventure. Veli Brijun port provides a safe place for all boaters so it is possible to sail into the port by a boat up to 55 meters long. For larger ships, a buoy is secured, and anchoring in the Fažana Channel itself is possible.

Each boater will be provided instructions regarding the National Park when sailing into the port, as well as power and water connections, and the possibility of using showers and bathrooms.

St. Nicholas’ Bay on Mali Brijun is a new nautical destination of the Brijuni Islands. The surface area of Mali Brijun is approximately 100 ha, and once it was part of Veliki Brijun, while today the two islands are separated by Tisnac Channel, 120 m wide and 2-3 m deep. The low shore of Mali Brijun is rich in gentle bays and beautiful beaches with pebbles.

Tickets to the park can be purchased online and on the island itself in the ticket shop.

 

Nature Park Lastovo

The Lastovo islands are located 14 km towards the south (Dubrovnik) of the island of Korčula. It is a part of the outer group of southern Dalmatian islands and comprises the southernmost Croatian-populated island of Lastovo with adjoining islands, the island group of Lastovnjaci and Vrhovnjaci, and the island of Sušac.

Bays on Lastovo:

• Pasadur is a nice bay located on the western side of the island, where the only hotel on Lastovo is located (Solitudo).
• Ubli - the port of Lastovo - from Ubli to Pasadur (west) one can enjoy walking with a nice promenade 3 km long.
• Skrivena Luka - is located on the southern part of Lastovo island and is well protected from strong winds and rough seas providing safe anchoring.
• Zaklopatica - situated on its northern part, only 2 km from Lastovo village, it is well known for its so-called islet of “Zaklopatica” on which the rare species of birds – called Kaukala (Puffinus yelkouan) is nesting. Zaklopatica is heaven for divers and yachtsmen who can enjoy the well-known natural landmarks of the Lastovo archipelago and its magnificent bays.

Tickets for Nature Park Lastovo can be purchased online.

 

Nature Park Telašćica

Tickets purchase is available via web services:

• Parkovi Hrvatske web shop
• MySea web service

A ticket purchased through the web service can be purchased no later than one day before the planned date of the visit to the park.

Three-day and seven-day tickets are valid for three and seven consecutive days, respectively. Three-day and seven-day tickets can be purchased only through the MySea web service.

• One-day ticket bought from 00:00 till 24:00, valid until 12:00 the next day
• Three-day ticket bought from 00:00 till 24:00, valid until 12:00 fourth day
• Seven-day ticket bought from 00:00 till 24:00, valid until 12:00 eighth day

The ticket is purchased for the exact date of the park visit.