Yes, Croatia’s marinas are among the best equipped in the Mediterranean. In 2025, the coast had 86 marinas (official Croatian statistics), including 21 dry marinas, and the ACI network runs 22 of them. Every marina with wet berths offers water, electricity, toilets and showers, and help with mooring. The only real catch is the price: in 2026, a night in a marina costs between €80 and €400 in high season, depending on the size of the boat. To keep costs under control, most crews alternate between marinas, town harbours, mooring buoys and anchorages.

What facilities do Croatian marinas offer?

Croatian marinas are designed for leisure sailing and charter boats. The level of service mainly depends on their size.

Sockets on board use European two-pin plugs, which are different from UK three-pin plugs. You will need a UK to EU adapter to charge your phones, laptops and other devices on board.

Which marinas are the best equipped?

ACI marinas are a safe bet for sailing boat hire in Croatia as well as for a catamaran holiday. This long-established network covers the whole coast, from Istria to Dubrovnik, with facilities designed for charter boats.

• Large marinas (Split, Trogir, Dubrovnik…): full services, shops, restaurants and laundry on site. Split has several of them, which makes it a convenient starting point for catamaran hire in Split.
• Small marinas and island marinas: basic facilities, more limited services.
• Blue Flag marinas: this annual award recognises water quality, environmental management and safety, as at ACI Umag, ACI Rovinj and ACI Pula in Istria.

Are the marinas open all year round?

Most of them, yes. Of the ACI marinas, four only open in summer: Palmižana, Piškera, Rab and Žut. If you are planning to sail in spring or autumn, often seen as the best time to visit Croatia by boat, ask our advisers which marinas are open along your route.

What is a marina stopover like in Croatia?

Do you need to book a berth in advance?

Outside the peak season, it is usually not necessary. In July and August, it is best to book a few days ahead in the most popular marinas, especially around Hvar, Vis and South Dalmatia, towards Dubrovnik.

• With a skipper: they take care of the booking.
• Through the base manager: they know the local marinas and can call ahead for you.
• Yourself: the ACI app shows available berths and lets you book directly.

In high season, arriving in mid-afternoon gives you a better choice of berths.

How do you moor in a Croatian marina?

In Croatia, as everywhere in the Mediterranean, boats moor stern-to, without finger pontoons.

• Call the marina on VHF before entering: they will assign you a berth.
• A marinero will be waiting on the pontoon to take your stern lines.
• At the bow, the boat is held by a lazy line, a rope attached to a block on the seabed, which the marinero hands to you.
• Bring gloves: lazy lines are often slippery and covered in shells.
• Put fenders out on both sides before entering the harbour.

Lines ashore (tied to a tree or a rock) are prohibited in Croatia.

Are the nights at the charter base included?

For the vast majority of charters, the first and last nights at the departure marina are included at no extra cost. Check-in is on Saturday in the late afternoon, between 5pm and 6pm, and check-out the following Saturday morning, between 9am and 10am. Conditions vary between charter companies: our advisers will confirm what applies to your boat.

How much does a night in a marina cost in Croatia?

Croatia is one of the most expensive destinations in the Mediterranean for marina nights. In high season 2026, expect to pay from €80 a night for a monohull to €400 for a very large catamaran. The price depends on the size of the boat, the marina and the region. With catamaran hire in Croatia, berths cost more than for a monohull, as the boat takes up more width on the pontoon.

Average 2026 prices for a 13 m boat in high season.

Prices vary widely from one marina to another, even within the same region. Our advisers can give you an estimate for your boat and your route.

Town harbour, mooring buoy or anchorage: what are the alternatives to a marina?

Anchoring is free in most bays. It becomes chargeable in concession bays, where you moor on a buoy, and in national parks. The concession holder must be able to show you their permit.

Over a week, most crews sailing in Croatia split their nights like this:

• 1 to 2 nights in a marina, to rest, fill up with water and recharge the batteries;
• 1 to 2 nights in a town harbour, right by the old towns;
• 2 to 4 nights on a buoy or at anchor in the most beautiful bays: Vis, Lastovo and the Kornati are among the must-see stops in Croatia.

With a skipper, alternate one night at anchor and one night in port: at anchor, they have to stay alert all night, whereas in a marina they can rest properly.

What to know before you go

• Documents: on arrival, the marina may ask for the boat’s papers and the crew list.
• Fuel: around 70 fuel stations along the coast can be reached by boat. Some close from time to time, so it is best to call before heading there and not to wait until the last day to fill up. Spare fuel cans are not allowed.
• National parks: a ticket is required as soon as you anchor, swim or spend the night in the park. In the Kornati, ACI Piškera is the only marina inside the park.
• Draught: on a monohull, some stopovers require you to check the depth in advance. Our advisers will tell you whether your route is affected.
• Pets: when they are allowed on board, a cleaning fee of €200 to €400 applies, whatever the size of the animal. Conditions depend on the charter company, so check with our advisers.
• During your trip: our concierge service liaises with the base manager for any questions while you are sailing.

How many people can you take on a catamaran?

What is the maximum capacity of a charter catamaran?

A hire catamaran can carry a maximum of 12 people, crew included. If you sail with a skipper and a hostess, that leaves no more than 10 places for guests. Even on the largest models, this limit does not change: a longer boat mainly gives everyone more space, not more places.

The exact number of people allowed depends on the boat's certification, which also determines its insurance. It varies from one model to another: your adviser checks this figure for each boat before you book.

How many people by catamaran size?

Source: Filovent - Data taken from our catamaran hire offer in October 2026.

Very large multihulls are the exception. On a luxury catamaran over 20 metres long, the space is given over to comfort: some models have only 3 or 4 suites for 6 to 8 guests.

Why are there more berths than cabins?

The berth count on a boat's specifications includes several types of bed:

• Double cabins: 2 people per cabin, often with an en-suite bathroom.
• Forepeak cabins: single bunks at the bow of each hull, narrower and reached from the deck.
• Convertible saloon: the saloon seating can be turned into an extra bed.

Cabin layouts also differ from one boatbuilder to another. For the same length, around 11.7 metres, a Lucia 40 offers 3 cabins and 8 berths, whereas a Lagoon 40 can have 6 cabins and 12 berths. The same model also sometimes comes in several versions: before choosing, look at the cabin plan on the boat's page rather than just its length.

For a one-week cruise, ideally plan on 2 people per double cabin and keep the extra beds for children. Eight people on a boat built for twelve will find life on board far more comfortable.

Do the skipper and crew count towards capacity?

Yes. Every crew member counts towards the limit of 12 people on board. With a skipper and a hostess, the boat therefore takes no more than 10 guests. The crew also use berths:

• With a skipper: they sleep in a forepeak cabin or in a guest cabin, depending on the model and the charter company. If your group is large, check this before booking a skippered catamaran charter.
• With a full crew: large catamarans often have dedicated crew cabins, separate from the guest areas. This applies to most models available for crewed catamaran charter.

Above 15 metres, hire usually comes with a professional crew: bear this in mind when working out the places available.

How many people are on board a cabin cruise?

On a cabin cruise, you book a cabin rather than the whole boat. The catamarans used are 15 to 20 metres long and take up to 12 passengers in 6 double cabins with en-suite bathrooms, depending on their certification. A family or a group of friends can also charter the boat privately, for example for a catamaran cruise in the Caribbean.

Which catamaran suits the size of your group?

For groups of more than 12, contact an adviser to find a solution that suits you. In the Mediterranean, the fleet covers every size, from the Lagoon 38 to the Lagoon 52, for example for a catamaran hire in Corsica or a catamaran hire in Greece.

Yes, the all-inclusive package is part of our offering with certain partners! It is available for boat rentals that include at least a skipper and a hostess. It generally includes:

• Full board (meals and non-alcoholic beverages)
• Customs and mooring fees
• Consumables (diesel, gasoline, gas)

It does not include:

• Flights (can be booked through our advisors, 20% above the public price, with free replacement in case of cancellation)

Please note:

• This is a premium option with significant additional costs
• In certain destinations (e.g., Polynesia), the skipper and hostess must stay in a cabin, which requires a larger boat

“Semi-inclusive” alternative:

• Anonline provisioning service (groceries prepared and delivered on board on the day of embarkation)
• You choose your provisions while saving time
• More economical than all-inclusive, but does not cover fuel or other consumables

Estimated rates:

• Mediterranean: approx. €350/day
• Caribbean: approximately €290 per day

These rates apply only to the skipper’s services. They do not include his provisions, i.e., his meals during the cruise.

Please note:

You are responsible for providing meals for your skipper. You have two options:

• Invite him to join you for a meal (on board or at a restaurant)
• Pay him a meal allowance (approximately €20 per meal) if he eats on his own

It depends on your itinerary and your preferences: just remember to include the skipper in the logistical planning of your trip.

The rental price includes:

• Use of the boat for the selected duration.
• Booking fees.
• The dinghy is generally included, but the outboard motor is often offered as a paid option.
• End-of-cruise cleaning is generally not included: this is a mandatory extra in 95% of cases, as indicated in your quote or contract.

Other fees may apply depending on the boat or destination: bedding, towels, visitor’s tax, port fees, skipper, fuel, etc. All this information is specified in advance.