Do you want the ultimate sailing and holiday experience in Croatia? Nava are now creating tailor-made yacht vacations so you don’t need to think about all of the details, all you need to do is book and enjoy.
The Croatian coastline is one of the most attractive destinations in the world for charter and sailing, evidenced by the fact that the number of sailors and charter guests touring the Adriatic continues to grow. However, the majority of charter companies doing business in Croatia base their offer solely on the rental of vessels, skippers and hostesses, while only rare ones have special programs tailored to the wishes of individual clients, which offer guests absolutely everything – from detailed routes for sailing with stops at the most attractive locations, to offers of additional services such as diving tours, wine tastings on islands, big game fishing or cycling combined with sailing. The Split-based Nava Company has been developing a special charter offer for its clients for several years, and the interest for such targeted and intimately designed programs is rising each year.
“We have recognized the needs of overseas guests, often visiting Croatia for the first time, who find it very important for us to not only take care of their yacht but also their complete vacation and organize everything – from sailing itineraries to reservations in restaurants, various activities and organized tours. Nava has been organizing special charter programs for many years, but the segment has been especially in focus since 2015, and we are constantly updating with new services. Our clients are mostly well-off clients, predominantly with less nautical experience, from overseas, Arab and western European countries, but also from Russia,” said Inge Čosić, CEO of Nava.
The charter company offers 11 specially designed charter programs: 50 Shades of Blue Honeymoon, Island Hopping and Wine Tasting, Adventure Sailing, Team Building and other Corporate Programs, Big Game Fishing, Bike’n’sail, Art of Living, Dalmatian Traditions, Culinary Adventures, Dive And Sail through Croatia and Sailing training aboard X-Yachts. Considering their preferences, clients are interested in all special programs, while the most popular programs last year were Dive and sail, Wine Tasting and Island Hopping as well as Honeymoon.
The Dive & Sail program offers a tour of the best Dalmatian diving locations. Additional price per guest (beyond the standard catamaran rental price) is 570 euro, with included transfers from and to the airport, breakfast and lunch on the boat, snacks, a wine tasting, tourist tax and diving expenses. The first day of Dive & Sail charter program covers the sailing from Split to Palmižana, where guests can explore hidden beaches and bays through stand up paddling and dine in one of the top-notch restaurants or bars in Palmižana or Hvar town. Afterwards comes sailing to Komiža on Vis Island, where the program includes diving to a B-24 Liberator wreck and the Italian cargo steamship Teti. The third day includes Vis town, with a stop on one of the renowned beaches: Stiniva, Stončica, Ravnik Island with the Green Cave or Srebrna. The fourth day includes sailing to Lastovo Island, where diving is possible close to Bijelac Island, or at Cape Struga, adorned by large walls of gorgonians and corals, and onward to Korčula Island, where guests can dive, but also taste authentic wines – Plavac and Grk – produced here ever since Greeks colonized Croatian islands 2.300 years ago. On the sixth day, the sailing continues back to Hvar, with occasional stops for swimming and diving, an overnight in Jelsa or Vrboska, charming towns on the northern shores of the island. The last dive is on the seventh day on Brač Island, where depending on weather conditions the location is either outside Lučice village with a large underwater cave or outside Livka Bay near Šolta Island, with a vertical wall covered in sea flora and corals.
The Wine Tasting and Island-Hopping program has a similar route across middle Dalmatian islands, with an accent on touring the best local wine producers. Guests can thus taste wines of the Dobričić family on Šolta, from an indigenous grape variety which is by all accounts, the genetic predecessor of Plavac Mali and Zinfandel. On Vis, the program includes a history and wine tour covering numerous above and below ground military installations from the Yugoslav era, and a visit to the famed Lipanović winery, whose cellars are within former military installations. On Hvar, the guests have the opportunity to taste Tomić wines and later dine in the renowned Gariful restaurant, while the last day comprises a tasting of Stina wines on Brač. The surcharge for the Wine Tasting and Island-Hopping program is 480 euro per person and includes three wine tastings, one excursion with wine tasting and dinner, breakfasts on board, tourist tax and airport transfers.
“Inquiries can be sent via the website or through our agents, with programs adapted to each individual client and their wishes and needs. Tours are designed in a way to offer our catamarans with a full crew (including guides and instructors), or superior equipped motor boats for big game fishing, as well as the newest X-Yachts sailboats for special sailing programs. The offer of our tours is not limited or necessarily predefined, but rather adapted to individual needs and guest desires. Although programs are primarily designed to better promote and book periods beyond the main season, they are open to reservations during the main season as well, if we have any available yachts,” said Inge Čosić.
Last year Total Croatia Sailing attended the Adriatic Lagoon Regatta which was organised by Nava boats in conjunction with Yachts Magazine. It was a 4-day regatta and every day was meticulously organised, with a perfect dining and entertainment program every evening. If the attention to detail given for this 4-day regatta is anything to judge by, any guests booking a 7-day tailor-made program with Nava are in for an exceptional sailing and holiday experience.
You can find more details about the 11 different programs Nava offers on their official website here.
All photos provided by Nava Boats.
