Croatia Small Ship Cruise: 8 Days from Dubrovnik to Split

Updated: September 2026

Friends kept telling me about their trips along the Croatian coast. They used words like unspoiled, historic, and turquoise, and I wanted to see it for myself. After comparing options, I chose a Croatia small ship cruise over a large ship. A smaller boat feels more personal and it can dock in harbors that big ships skip. Our group of four booked through LiveAboard and sailed from Dubrovnik to Split.

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The Boat: MB Oscar

MB Oscar launched in 2022 and was built for small ship cruising along the Croatian coast. It is 204 feet long and 25 feet wide, with 19 air-conditioned cabins for up to 40 guests. The crew-to-guest ratio is 1 to 4, so service is attentive without feeling crowded.

The cabins are spread across three decks:

• 8 cabins on the standard deck
• 9 cabins on the main deck
• 2 VIP cabins on the upper deck

Each cabin has a safe, a flat-screen TV, and toiletries. The upper deck is the best place to unwind after a day onshore.

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Dining and Drinks Onboard

Breakfast is a buffet. Lunch is a multi-course meal served around noon. Most dinners are at local restaurants the crew chooses along the route, so you taste each island. The bar stocks soft drinks, beer, wine, and spirits, and the tab is settled at the end of the cruise.

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Electricity Onboard

Cabin outlets are European standard 220 volts with two round pins. Bring a universal adapter plug for chargers and small devices. Check the label on hair tools and shavers, since some will not work on 220 volts without a transformer.

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Croatia Cruise Itinerary

Day 1: Dubrovnik and Embarkation

We arrived in Dubrovnik around 4:00 pm and took a 20-minute taxi to Gruž Harbor, where MB Oscar was docked. Embarkation opens at 2:00 pm and early arrivals can leave luggage onboard until cabins are ready. The crew delivered our bags to our cabin.

My daughter and I spent the evening on the upper deck watching the lights come on around the harbor. At 7:00 pm the cruise director held a welcome meeting to explain the week and introduce the crew. Dinner followed and the boat stayed docked overnight.

Day 2 · Dubrovnik and Slano

After breakfast, an English-speaking guide met us at the pier and a bus took us into Dubrovnik. The tour started in the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with polished limestone streets and steep stairways.

Next came the cable car to the top of Mount Srđ. From there you see the terracotta rooftops, the city walls, and the Adriatic all at once. My guide covers timing and photo spots: A Ride on the Dubrovnik Cable Car.

We returned to the Old Town for more time by the walls and fortresses. Around 4:00 pm the bus took us back to MB Oscar and the captain sailed toward Slano. He stopped along the way for a swim in clear water. Slano sits on the Dubrovnik Riviera and is known for its beaches, pine forests, and olive groves.

Dinner was onboard. I wish I had brought a notebook to record every dish. The plates were beautifully presented and the ingredients were excellent.

Day 3 · Mljet and Korčula

The captain docked before sunrise, so we were the first boat at the shore. After the breakfast buffet, we set out for Mljet National Park. Entrance fees were included with our charter.

We spent the morning on trails past forest and lakes. The highlight was the Islet of St. Mary, home to a Benedictine monastery.

Lunch was onboard while we sailed to Korčula, which some say is the birthplace of Marco Polo. We swam at a stop along the way, then I read in the Jacuzzi on the sunny deck with a frozen piña colada.

In Korčula, our guide led us through the Old Town’s narrow cobbled streets. For where to eat and what to see, read Korčula for a Day: Explore, Eat, and Fall in Love. We passed The Coral Shop Irena, run by a third-generation jeweler continuing a family tradition of about six decades. We watched the sunset from Tre Pozzi Terrace, a rooftop bar above the old streets.

Dinner was at Adio Mare, known for fresh seafood, homemade pasta, and a wine list that is almost entirely local Korčula wines. We chose the pairing menu and stayed for hours.

Day 4 · Vis

We sailed toward Vis in the morning. Breakfast was a latte and toast, followed by a swim stop and quiet time on the loungers with a book. Lunch was onboard.

Vis was a strategic military stronghold for centuries which helped it avoid heavy development. Its beaches, farms, and stone buildings are well preserved. We spent the afternoon walking the town.

Dinner was at Konoba Vatrica, a seafood restaurant on the waterfront with a vine-covered terrace. The menu included grilled fish, shellfish, and grilled lobster. After dinner, the captain caught octopus off the stern.

MB Oscar stayed docked in Vis overnight.

Day 5 · Biševo and Hvar

In the morning we sailed to Biševo. The captain dropped us at the dock, and a small boat took us to the Blue Cave, which is reachable only by boat. Planning a visit? Read Blue Cave Croatia: Complete Guide to Visiting Biševo Island.

After a swim stop, we continued to Hvar, with lunch onboard. A local guide met us at the dock and walked us through the town. Before dinner we stopped at Palace Elizabeth Hotel for a cocktail.

At sunset we walked to Black Pepper and ate on a small balcony over the busy streets. The food and service were excellent. Read more here: Black Pepper Restaurant, Hvar: Menu, Prices & Review

Day 6 · Bol · Togir

MB Oscar sailed to Bol, home to Zlatni Rat, a pebble beach with a distinctive horn shape. Bring water shoes, since they make walking on the pebbles much easier. My full guide is here: The Amazing Geographical Wonder of Zlatni Rat Beach.

Lunch was tuna steak onboard as we sailed to Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a well-preserved medieval old town. I spent the approach on deck with a frozen mojito. Our guide led a walking tour through the old town’s stone streets and squares.

After lunch, I relaxed on the sunny deck with a refreshing frozen mojito, soaking in the Adriatic views as we approached the harbor. Once docked, we met our English-speaking guide for a walking tour before setting off to explore the island’s narrow stone streets, historic squares, and waterfront promenade.

My daughter is allergic to dairy, so she researched vegan gelato before the trip and found Bar Bella. It was a great find. See the flavors in Gelato Bar Bella in Trogir Offers a Variety of Unique Flavors.

That night was the Captain’s Dinner. There was live Croatian music, and many of us danced. The captain joined our table and told stories from his years at sea and guests from a neighboring ship came aboard for drinks and dancing.

Day 7 · Split

We sailed for Split with one last swim stop along the way. After lunch, our guide led a walking tour that started in Diocletian’s Palace, which is more than 1,700 years old and sits at the heart of the old town. Split’s historic center joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. For beach time, see Sun-Kissed Shores: Discover Split’s Top Beaches.

A crew member recommended his favorite pizza place, Bakra, and it did not disappoint. The crust and toppings were excellent, and locals fill the room. Read more in Bakra · Where Locals Go to Grab a Sensational Pizza in Split.

Day 8 · Split

There was no morning sail, since MB Oscar had docked in Split the night before. We packed, thanked the crew, and said goodbye to new friends from around the world. Guests leave the ship by 10:00 am, but the crew stored our luggage so we could keep exploring before our flight. We walked the old streets, saw a few monuments, and had one more gelato. For ideas on extra time in the city, see One Day in Split, Croatia: Complete Itinerary.

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Why Choose a Small Ship Cruise in Croatia

1. Views of the Adriatic from the deck between ports
2. Early arrivals that avoid the midday crowds from large ships
3. A swim stop almost every day
4. Crew who share local knowledge and stories
5. Mediterranean food and drinks
6. Personal service with so few guests
7. Access to coves and harbors large ships cannot reach
8. Guided tours in many ports
9. Unpacking only once
10. The chance to meet other travelers

Learning a few local expressions also helps. See Basic Phrases in the Croatian Language to Know before you go.

Croatian Close

A Croatia small ship cruise gave us a new stop almost every day and let us unpack only once. We swam in the Adriatic nearly every day, ate well at every stop, and got to know a crew who clearly loved where they worked. I wish we had double the time in each port and I would sail this coast again.

— izzy