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Cruises (Blue Cruise)
Below you will find all the information about our cruises (Blue Cruise), subdivided according to various topics for a better overview.
There are three different types of boats. You may choose between classic style wooden boats, modern boats with a steel hull, and comfortable motor yachts.
The boats differ in size, equipment and comfort – please pay attention to the respective descriptions and the table “Technical Specifications”. All information and indications refer to the date of printing – changes in appearance and structure may be possible, due to off-season overhauling.
Occasionally, during wintertime, it may happen that a Captain decides to sell his boat or to buy a new one. It is therefore possible that a ship will be steered by another Captain with another crew. In addition, some crew members may change the boat they work on.
Some wooden vessels in our fleet are already more than 100 years old – which actually means that only the name and the hull shape are for real that old. During renovation and overhaul, over the years, all ribs and planks, nails and screws were replaced. One thing, however, all vessels have in common: They are not to be confused with the large cruise ships – you will live on board in convivial company, without any major formalities and without having to care about dress codes.
The cabin size may differ from ship to ship, and then again from cabin to cabin. The cabins in small and simple ships are, on average, about 4-6 m², in superior and larger ships about 7-10 m², and in deluxe ships about 12 m².
The cabins in our smaller ships offer enough space to sleep in and stow a duffel bag or a travel sack. They are usually functional, and have, in addition to beds, a small wardrobe and/or an open shelf. The cabins of our superior ships offer more storage space, 220-volt outlets and reading lamps.
On some vessels, you will find cabins where the beds are arranged one above the other (bunk beds; mostly without a ladder), while our superior ships feature queen-size beds or two single beds. Triple cabins usually have a queen-size bed, with a third bed above or aside. To learn more about type and arrangement of the beds, please read the ship descriptions carefully.
Almost all vessels feature cabins with ensuite facilities – shower, toilet and a sink (besides of the standard class ships). These are partly wet cells, separated by a door from the cabin space; in general there is no shower curtain or shower stall, especially in the classic wooden vessels. The shower water flows into a floor drain. However, most of our modern steel-hull vessels are equipped with shower stalls or shower curtains.
Have a look at the description of the ship to get a general overview of vessel length and width, and of the number of cabins. Cabins below deck have a ventilation shaft and/or a porthole. Many ships have cabins both, below and on deck; in the ship‘s description there is also a distinction between main and upper deck. When making your reservation, you may choose between cabins on the lower, main or upper deck (subject to availability). Preferences regarding a specific cabin number are not subject to prior confirmation.
The allocation of the cabins is generally organized according to the date of reservation.
At your arrival, beds with clean and crisp sheets will be waiting for you. For your convenience, towels are provided on all our vessels (two towels per passenger per week). You are kindly requested to bring your own beach towels. Since the crew will not enter the cabins during the cruise (except on deluxe vessels), the guests are responsible to keep them in order. Also showers and toilets will not be cleaned by the crew during the tour. Shared bathroom facilities are cleaned daily during the entire journey.
On our Deluxe category ships the cabins are cleaned daily and towels are changed if necessary. Cabin cleaning takes place between 8:00 am and 1:30 pm. If you do not wish to have your cabin cleaned, simply inform the crew the evening before.
The number of cabins indicated in the descriptions, refers to passenger cabins only. The crew members have their own cabins on board, which are not listed in the descriptions.
As individual as the single ships, so are the routes. They correspond largely to the descriptions in the catalogue, but may vary. Many captains will be pleased to show you their favourite bays, and in certain ports, if several ships moor there for the night, there might be restricted space.
Places mentioned in the route descriptions are not necessarily places to stay overnight. It may happen, for example, that in the afternoon you have the opportunity to visit the relevant site and then continue to stay in another bay; or that you will stay in a bay overnight and visit the place mentioned in the tour description only next morning. If for the night, both “bay” and “port” are possible options, it basically depends on the captain and on the desire of the majority of the guests, where to go. This applies in particular to the routes R7, Z7, and T7. It is also possible that routes are done in reverse order; on route R1, for example, half of the boats will start towards Cres instead of Krk, and then continue the journey accordingly.
We have designed our routes in a way to guarantee that each day‘s destination is within easy reach under normal weather conditions – it is up to the captain, to change the route according to weather conditions, or to extend or reduce port stopovers.
When which ship is planned on which route can be found on the pages of the route and ship descriptions.
You can find detailed information about chartering ships here
Normally our ships cruise the routes with engine operation. Even if the conditions may vary depending on the design of the single ships, sails will be hoisted usually once a week, if the weather permits.
The Food corresponds to Mediterranean standards. Breakfast is simple, including coffee and tea, bread, butter and jam. Usually, you will get cold cuts, cheese, eggs or yoghurt as well. The main meals (lunch and/or dinner) usually consist of soup or starters, meat or fish with side dishes and salad, and dessert or fruit. Although our tours are sea voyages, and you often will be served fish, there is mainly meat on the menu.
Vegetarian food is available on request on all ships – please inform us at the time of booking if you require vegetarian food. Vegetarian food does not mean that special menus are prepared; rather more side dishes (vegetables) will be served instead of meat.
The preparation of special diet food is possible by exception only. Please advise us prior to making your booking if you require special diet food.
If you charter a boat, you can choose between half board and full board.
Catering on the advertised routes is mainly half board – half board (HB) basically comprises breakfast and lunch. On our bike & boat cruises it might happen that on certain days, depending on the schedule, dinner will be served instead of lunch. The half board service starts with a snack on the day of arrival, as soon as embarkation is completed. Later on, dinner will be served. On the other days, dinner can be enjoyed in restaurants ashore. Now and then the captain may offer you to dine on board (e.g., during overnight stays in sheltered bays); this service is subject to be paid separately on board (approx. € 25 to € 30 per meal and person, depending on the order and selection of dishes). Meal service ends with breakfast on disembarkation day.
Full board (only available on routes RF, ZF, TF, ZW, and TW) consists of breakfast, lunch and dinner; meal service begins with a snack on the day of embarkation and ends with breakfast on the day of disembarkation.
The half board service also applies to all our bike & boat cruises. It starts with a snack on the day of embarkation and ends with breakfast on disembarkation day. Partly, you may enjoy lunch in typical local restaurants or taverns (not included in the tour price), while dinner will be served on board. Depending on the itinerary, it might also happen that lunch is served on board, while you will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants ashore.
On our bike & boat routes we have adapted the menu to meet the needs of cyclists. For breakfast, in addition to the usual coffee or tea, bread, butter and jam, also cold cuts, cheese, corn flakes, muesli, fruit, juices and dairy products like yoghurt will be served.
On our Hiking Cruise we will serve full board; lunch is served either on board or in lunch boxes during the hike.
The boat saloon functions as restaurant, lounge and bar at the same time; here you will always get cool drinks – with or without alcohol. Typically, the beverage consumption will be entered in a “checklist” and then settled at the end of the journey. Of course, drinks on board are more expensive than in the supermarket, but remember that you are on a small „floating“ guest house. The prices of the drinks, however, are generally lower than in hotels and can be compared to those in cafés and pubs. The prices vary from ship to ship.
It is not permitted to bring own beverages on board.
Leave your evening gowns and suits at home – casual holiday wear, such as shorts and T-shirts, as well as swimwear, are more appropriate. For cooler evenings (especially during the off-season), we recommend a sweater or a sweatshirt; also a rain jacket can occasionally be useful. Since the storage space in the cabins of our wooden ships is not very generous, you should avoid suitcases (especially bulky shell suitcases) and bring a duffel bag or sports sack instead. Our modern steel-hull vessels offer more storage space, so that even larger suitcases can be stored under the beds.
Even if the ships are always guarded by at least one crew member, you should leave valuables at home. I.D. Riva Tours disclaims all liability for any lost, stolen or damaged personal property.
In the ports, during embarkation and disembarkation, you will be assisted by the Riva Service Team. Our representatives are available as contact persons at the port of embarkation (they will accompany you to the parking lot, answer questions about the location of ships, etc.). On board, a short welcome meeting will take place.
The regular itineraries, such as R1, Z2, T1, T3, etc. are not guided routes – this means that you will not have a guide on board. Sightseeing tours or excursions according to the route descriptions are done by local guides.
Active cruises like Island Hopping by Bicycle, the Hiking Cruise or Active & Cappuccino are guided routes, i.e., a guide will accompany you during the entire cruise as well as on the tours ashore.
Guided city tours of Rab, Zadar, Šibenik, Trogir, Split, and Dubrovnik are always done by local guides.
If you combine your cruise with a hotel stay, you might not want to take your entire luggage on the ship. In Rijeka, you can leave your luggage in the baggage room of the bus station (about 1,700 metres from the mooring of our vessels). In the ports of Zadar and Trogir, our representatives will suggest appropriate solutions. Luggage storage costs vary and are subject to be paid on site.
Pets are not permitted on our cruises.
Applicable to regular cabin bookings (not to charter):
Embarkation in the ports takes place at the time listed below:
Poreč 12:00 noon–1:00 pm, arrival to the parking reception possible from 9:00 am to latest 11:00 am
Rijeka 11:00 am–1:00 pm, entrance to the port possible from 9:00 am–12:00 noon
Zadar 11:30 am–1:00 pm, entrance to the port possible from 8:00 am–12:00 noon
Trogir 1:00 pm–2:00 pm, arrival to the parking reception possible from 10:00 am to latest 1:00 pm
Guests arriving later, will be informed by our staff where to embark. A possibly required transfer to the first port of call includes extra costs, and is subject to be paid on site.
Please note that there are no refunds for any unused services (e.g. welcome snack, guided city tours, bicycle tours) due to late embarkation.
Embarkation Information for Boat Charters
When chartering a boat, you can determine the time of embarkation and departure from the port yourself. The time frame is the earliest embarkation from the times stated under “cabin bookings” and disembarkation until 9:00 am on the last day.
We offer guarded parking spaces in all ports of embarkation, which must be reserved at the same time as the cruise booking and will be shown on the cruise confirmation/invoice. The parking fee is € 70.00 per car per week in all ports and is payable with the cruise fare.
**Reservation and payment of a parking space on site is no longer possible since 2023.
We also hold parking spaces for motorhomes, cars with trailers and coaches etc. – as the prices for these vary, please send us an enquiry stating the vehicle length and height.
Poreč A guarded car park is available here. You will receive the exact arrival and embarkation procedure with your travel documents.
Rijeka Drive your vehicle to the front of your ship and unload your luggage. Our service team will then guide you to the underground car park and bring you back to the port.
Zadar Drive your vehicle to the front of your ship and unload your luggage. Our service team will explain the short route to the underground car park. Park your vehicle here and walk back to the harbour (just under ten minutes’ walk).
Trogir Drive your vehicle directly to our car park reception. Unload your luggage here and our service team will bring it to the ship. You will then reach the harbour in about ten minutes on foot. It is not possible to enter the harbour by vehicle.
Disembarkation generally takes place on the last day until 9:00 am. The crew needs time between disembarkation and embarkation, to organize the cabins as neat and tidy, as you found them upon your arrival.
Rijeka At the end of the cruise you need to pick up your car from the garage on Friday evening, and park it at the port in immediate vicinity of your ship. This gives you the opportunity to stow unneeded luggage in your car the evening before disembarkation, and ensures a smooth disembarkation procedure on Saturday morning. There are no additional parking fees in the port, as these are already included in the weekly price for the garage.
Zadar At the end of the cruise you need to pick up your car from the garage on Saturday morning, and drive to the port to load your luggage.
Trogir At the end of the cruise our service team will assist you with your luggage on Saturday morning, and take it to the parking lot, which you can reach on foot from the port.
Dubrovnik At the end of the cruise you need to pick up your car from the parking lot on Saturday morning, and drive to the mooring of your ship to load your luggage.
The port of embarkation for passengers arriving by plane depends on the flight schedule. When booking flights and transfers through I.D. Riva Tours, the following arrival times at the airport apply to guarantee embarkation at the original port of departure:
Rijeka until 11:30 am (Rijeka Airport /Island of Krk) Zadar until 12:00 noon (Zadar Airport) Trogir until 1:00 pm (Split Airport) Dubrovnik until 3:00 pm (Dubrovnik Airport)
Passengers arriving later will be transferred to the first port of call for embarkation.
Please note that there are no refunds for any unused services (e.g. welcome snack, guided tours, bicycle tours) due to late embarkation.
If you book your flight separately, e.g. directly with the airline, you are responsible for your transfer to the port of embarkation or to the first overnight port. Of course, you can book your transfer from the airport to the ship and vice versa as a separate service with I.D. Riva Tours.
Since some return flights are scheduled around noon or in the afternoon, you may still have the opportunity for a relaxing shopping tour or a visit to the beach. We will gladly take care of your luggage meanwhile.
From the port of Rijeka, the transfer to the airport on the island of Krk takes place on Saturday morning, immediately upon disembarkation. If your flight departs in the afternoon or evening, you can choose whether you prefer to be transferred directly to the airport or to the town of Malinska. In Malinska, you can enjoy your last vacation day at the beach, while our partner agency is keeping your luggage safe. Without an additional surcharge, you then will be transferred to the airport on time. In certain cases it might occur that the transfer from Rijeka to the airport is done in the evening, and you may spend the day in Rijeka.
Of course there are electricity and water on board, but not in unlimited quantity. All ships have 220-volt generators, which of course are, considering the night-time peace and quiet, not always in operation. The same applies when anchoring in secluded bays, as it certainly would not be pleasant to take a sunbath on deck, “accompanied” by constant motor or generator noise.
We kindly ask you to pay particular attention to the use of high-performance electrical devices, such as hair dryers. If several hair dryers are operated simultaneously, the on-board power supply can be overloaded, especially on older ships, and the fuses interrupt the power supply.
The capacity of the water tanks is related to the number of cabins; there will be sufficient water for washing and showers, even when the tanks cannot be refilled for several days. This presupposes, however, that all passengers use the precious liquid with some common sense. The ships usually use a central hot water system for showers.
Almost all ships have air conditioning in the saloon, the majority of the ships now have also air-conditioned cabins (with individual controls). Detailed information for each ship can be found in the respective ship description. Ships without air conditioning in the cabins are provided with an air conditioner in the aisle below deck. With air conditioning in the aisle, a cooling effect in the cabin is of course only possible if you leave the cabin door open. Generally the air conditioners are activated only when the boat engine or generator is in operation, or when the ship is connected to the electricity supply on land. At overnight stays in secluded coves and small fishing villages without power supply, air conditioners are usually turned off, since it is not possible to run the generator without disturbing the night-time peace. In some ports, it may happen that the electricity supply is too weak to provide enough power for multiple ships and their air conditioning at the same time.
WiFi internet access is available on all our vessels. You may use this service with your own laptop, tablet or smartphone. Please note that due to technical reasons, it will not be possible to surf the internet 24/7. While network coverage according to HSPA and LTE standards is provided in almost all ports and also at sea nearby larger islands or the mainland, in the vicinity of small islands or lonely bays often only a signal according to the EDGE standard or no signal at all can be received. Furthermore, for technical reasons, the WiFi signal may not be received throughout the entire ship, but only in the saloon or on the aft deck behind it. On some ships, WiFi is only available when the engine or generator is running or the ship is connected to the mains supply on land.
»Roam like at home« – roaming at national prices
The EU “roam like at home” rules, which took effect on June 13th 2017, mean that when you use your mobile phone while travelling outside your EU home country in any other EU country you don’t have to pay any additional roaming charges. When you roam like at home there are no volume restrictions for voice calls and SMS, but there are rules and limits for internet usage at domestic price which are determined by the type of contract you have. Further information you will find here.
In the interest of environmental protection – enshrined in the Croatian Constitution – we urge you not to throw any waste or cigarette stubs into the sea or down the toilets. In all ships there are sufficient waste bins provided, in order to ensure an environmentally friendly waste disposal.
Please help actively to keep our Adriatic Sea, the “bluest” of all seas, clean.
A cruise on one of our boats is certainly a unique experience. But please note, that those planks have their drawbacks: stairs are narrower and steeper than you may be used to; after a rain shower or with morning dew, the deck can be slippery, thus creating numerous “pitfalls”. Since wood is a living material and easily contracts under warm summer temperatures, in case of rain or bad weather, water could enter your cabin. In any case, in bad weather you should always make sure to close all portholes or windows in your cabin. Portholes and windows should also stay closed during sailing.
Since especially in high season many ports might be crowded, often several ships will moor side by side. We therefore ask you to take special care when climbing across other vessels to board or go on land, particularly in relation to the different deck heights of the vessels. This is especially important after the consumption of alcohol, since we are not liable for possible accidents.
Particular caution is also appropriate if you anchor in a bay and take a “bold leap” into the refreshing water. First of all, be careful not to hurt yourself while jumping from the deck; on the other hand, remember the increased danger of slipping, since the deck will be wet due to other guests coming out of the water.
Suitable shoes on board are comfortable shoes such as sneakers, flip-flops or crocs. Wearing high heels or wooden clogs on board is not permitted for reasons of safety and consideration.
Without any doubt, a cruise is an unforgettable experience for children. Due to the special circumstances on board, we recommend our cruises only for school-age children who know to swim. Especially children will discover new things on board every day, like the many switches and levers at the helm, hoisting the sails or anchoring. We kindly ask you to consider the risk of accidents and to take appropriate precautions, since parental supervision on board is your responsibility.
Our cruises are not suitable for persons with reduced mobility due to the design of the ships.
Although some ships seem suitable for people who do not need a wheelchair, it should be borne in mind that several ships usually have to be moored side by side in ports. Due to different deck heights of the individual ships, there is an increased risk of accidents during the transition from ship to ship. In addition, none of the ships is wheelchair accessible in terms of stairs, door widths and cabin sizes including bathrooms.
The Croatian Adriatic is an ideal fishing ground. Of course you can bring your fishing gear and use it from the boat or from the shore. You will need a fishing license, issued by many local travel agents (extra fee applies).
Smoking is not allowed in the cabins or in the saloon, but on deck of all our ships. Please note that the cigarette butts (especially of filter cigarettes – it takes about 4-5 years for the filters to decompose in the sea) must not be thrown into the sea and use the ashtrays available on all ships. Especially while sailing, the danger of flying ashes and embers should not be underestimated.
Many of our guests consider it a unique experience to spend the night in the open air, under the starry skies of the Mediterranean. There is of course plenty of room on deck, but please bring a sleeping bag and a foam pad or air mattress, as mattresses and bedding from the cabins are not allowed to be carried on deck.
Usually, at 11:00 pm, it gets quiet on board. This is of course not a rigid rule, but rather depends on the formation of the “holiday crew“ – on some ships the party will go on a bit longer than on others. Due to their construction, the ships are clairaudient, and in many ports, due to space constraints, several vessels may anchor side by side – therefore, mutual considerateness is appropriate.
Generally, the ships moor in ports of larger towns (see route descriptions). Since the port is usually the lifeline of those towns, and since on summer evenings, all social life in Mediterranean countries takes place outdoor (restaurants, cafés, pubs, terraces), the evenings and nights are usually somewhat livelier. Especially in the months of July and August, in the most coastal places traditional annual festivities are celebrated, which often last until the early morning hours. I.D. Riva Tours has no influence on any noise or loud music in various ports.
Music and atmosphere are not uncommon on board – as are spontaneous parties. Anyone who owns a musical instrument, such as a guitar or harmonica, should therefore bring it along.
Sojourn taxes and groundage, as well as drinks and all extras on board must be paid in the local currency euro (EUR). Credit and debit cards are not accepted.
Our prices do not include sojourn taxes and groundage, which have to be paid in cash on board during embarkation.
In the 2023 season, the total amount is € 35 per week and passenger (children up to 12 years € 17); in the 2024 season, the total amount is € 42 per week and passenger (children up to 12 years € 21).
Entrance fees to museums and national parks, etc., or additional excursions are not included and must be paid on-site, if not mentioned in the description explicitly as included in the cruise price.
When chartering a ship, the services listed in the route descriptions (see “what’s included…”), such as city tours or entrance fees to national parks, are not included and must be paid on site.
The consumption of drinks on board is not included in the cruise price and is usually entered in a “tally sheet” – billing and payment is made at the end of the cruise. You can view this “tally sheet” at any time so that there are no misunderstandings at the end of the cruise.
Our cruises are subject to a minimum number of participants, which is necessary for the trip in question to take place. This minimum number of participants is indicated in the description of each ship. Should it become apparent that the minimum number of participants required to carry out the cruise for a ship is not reached, we will inform you at least 30 days before the start of the cruise. Of course we will offer you at the same time – subject to availability – a replacement ship and, if necessary, an alternative route without any extra charge.
Travel insurance is not compulsory, however we strongly recommend that you have cover for your own peace of mind and security. Emergency medical coverage is most important. Insurance policies vary, so read the fine print carefully to see exactly what is covered, or ask your travel agent for advice.