Fully Crewed vs Skippered Charter, What Suits You

You want clarity before you send a deposit. You want smooth service, real numbers, and routes that match your group. I turn boats around every Saturday at ACI Split, D-Marin Kaštela, ACI Šibenik, ACI Zadar, and ACI Dubrovnik. I work with base managers, chefs, and skippers. The field guide below shows how a fully crewed catamaran differs from a skippered charter in Croatia, line by line.

Quick Answer Table

Choose this format	Who suits it	Service level	Privacy	Menu & drinks	Budget note
Skippered charter	Families or friends who handle meals and light cleaning	Professional skipper only	High. Crew uses a forepeak or small cabin	Guest-led shopping. Simple breakfasts. Easy lunches. Dinners ashore	Lower weekly rate. Extras on top
Fully crewed catamaran	Groups seeking hotel-style flow and time freedom	Skipper, chef, hostess. Deckhand on larger cats	Strong. Crew routes and cabins separate	Chef-run menus. Beverage plan or APA	Higher weekly rate. Fewer chores for guests

For model ideas and service outlines, browse our overview of crewed catamaran charters. If you prefer skipper-only weeks with guest shopping, compare formats here: skippered charter options.

What “Skippered Charter” Means In Croatia

A licensed skipper runs the yacht. You set the vibe and handle simple jobs.

Skipper duties

• Route planning with a daily weather brief.
• Berths, moorings, and anchor checks.
• Safety. Tender driving. Fuel and water runs.
• Basic help in the galley during maneuvers or busy landings.

Guest tasks

• Food shopping and breakfast flow.
• Light lunches on board.
• Cabins and towels during the week.
• Trash runs at marinas.
• Dinner reservations ashore.

Realistic pace. Two to three hours of sailing most days. More during one or two longer legs.

What “Fully Crewed Catamaran” Means

A small hotel at sea. Roles split cleanly.

• Skipper manages safety, route, and berths.
• Chef runs menus and sourcing.
• Hostess handles cabins, service, and bar.
• Deckhand joins on larger cats for toys and tender support.

You wake to coffee. Breakfast arrives on time. Swim blocks slide in between legs. Dinners flow on board or ashore by tender. You spend time in the water, not in a supermarket.

Privacy And Space

Cabin layouts

• Four equal doubles reduce friction.
• Owner suite on 60–80 ft hulls gives a calm zone for parents or VIPs.
• Crew cabins sit in forepeaks or a small aft cabin with a private route.

Galley up vs down

• Galley up creates a social core. Faster table service.
• Galley down hides prep. Quieter saloon. Chef works without traffic.

Match layout to group size and habits with this selector guide: how to choose the right catamaran.

Menu And Provisioning

Skippered format

• Guests shop on Saturday afternoon.
• Breakfast staples onboard by 20:00.
• Lunches simple. Pasta, grills, salads, fruit.
• Dinners ashore most nights.

Fully crewed format

• Preference sheet completes four weeks before boarding.
• Chef orders fresh produce and proteins for a week.
• Breakfast set by 08:00–08:30.
• Lunch on anchor.
• Two or three dinners on board. Others ashore by tender.

Shopping checklists and timelines sit in this provisioning guide.

Toys And Experiences

Baseline

• SUPs. Snorkel sets. Towable ring. Swim lines.
• Larger cats carry a bigger tender for dry landings in Hvar or Komiža.

Upgrades on luxury hulls

• Seabobs. E-foil sessions with an instructor. Subwing.
• Floating mats for small kids.
• Safety first. Lifejackets on tender rides. No forward trampolines after dusk for kids.

Safety And Decision Making

Weather drives decisions in Croatia. Three wind names cover most days.

• Maestral from NW. Builds late morning. Often 10–18 knots.
• Bura from NE. Gusty. Clear air. Short blasts near gaps.
• Jugo from SE. Long fetch. More swell.

A skipper sets a plan A and a plan B each morning. Night moorings follow shelter logic. Marina approaches assign clear roles. During peak months, earlier arrivals secure better berths. For daily patterns in Central Dalmatia, review Weather in Split area and map the same rhythm to your route.

Costs And Pricing Logic

Skippered charter

• Lower weekly rate for yacht plus skipper.
• Food and drinks come from your wallet.
• Marinas, moorings, fuel, park tickets, and tourist tax sit on top.

Fully crewed catamaran

• Higher weekly rate for yacht plus three or four crew.
• Two models for onboard spending.

Package vs APA With Simple Math

Package idea on mid-size crewed cat

• House breakfast and lunch. Soft drinks. House beer and wine at meals.
• Fuel and marinas listed as extras.
• Example for eight guests. House wine two bottles per dinner. Extra premium labels billed.

APA idea on luxury cat

• Advance Provisioning Allowance equals 20–35 percent of the base fee.
• Week spends include food, drinks, fuel, marinas, park tickets, and transfers if used.

Sample APA math

• Base fee 40,000 EUR. APA set to 30 percent.
• APA wire 12,000 EUR.
• Crew spends 3,500 EUR on menus and drinks.
• Marinas and moorings 1,800 EUR.
• Fuel across engines, tender, generator 1,600 EUR.
• Park tickets and tourist tax 900 EUR.
• Transfers and extras 600 EUR.
• Total 8,400 EUR. Leftover 3,600 EUR returned at check-out.

What Is Included vs Extra

A clean list reduces stress. Read this line-by-line overview as a cross-check: what is included in the rental agreement.

Skippered charter often includes

• Yacht, skipper wage, linens, towels, dinghy, basic toys, final cleaning.

Skippered extras

• Fuel. Marinas and moorings. Food and drinks. Tourist tax. Park permits. Tips.

Fully crewed often includes

• Yacht, skipper, chef, hostess. Bed and bath linens. Standard toys. Base support. Menu scope per program.

Fully crewed extras

• Fuel and marinas if not inside a package. Park permits. Premium bar. Tips.

Tipping Norms In Croatia

Gratuity stays optional and performance based. Ranges vary by crew size and service scope. Guidance and handover timing sit in this local brief: tipping in Croatia.

Sample 7-Day Route For A Skippered Charter From Split

Board Saturday from 17:00 at ACI Split, D-Marin Kaštela, or SCT Trogir. Handover completes by 19:00. Distances are approximate nautical miles. Time on water assumes 6–8 knots with short swim stops between legs. For ideas around culture and day walks, scan Split catamaran charters.

• Day 1. Split to Šešula, Šolta. 12 NM. 1.5–2.5 hours. Swim and safety brief on anchor.
• Day 2. Šešula to ACI Palmižana, Pakleni. 20 NM. 3 hours. Tender to Hvar Town for sunset.
• Day 3. Palmižana to Vis Town. 14 NM. 2–2.5 hours. Dinner on the quay.
• Day 4. Vis to Komiža with Blue Cave window. 14 NM total. 2–3 hours split around Biševo timing.
• Day 5. Komiža to Lučice, Brač. 28 NM. 4–5 hours. Snorkel in clear water.
• Day 6. Lučice to Milna. 6 NM. 1 hour. Long lunch.
• Day 7. Milna to Split. 14 NM. 2–2.5 hours. Fuel early and return.

Sample 7-Day Route For A Fully Crewed Catamaran From Dubrovnik

Base at ACI Dubrovnik upriver. Calm handovers and short transfers. For area flavor and hidden coves, read Dubrovnik catamaran charters. For a wide view across nearby islands, use the Elaphiti route guide.

• Day 1. ACI Dubrovnik to Koločep cliffs. 8 NM. 1–1.5 hours. Blue swim.
• Day 2. Koločep to Šunj, Lopud. 6 NM. 1 hour. Long shallow apron for kids.
• Day 3. Lopud to Šipan. 10 NM. 1.5–2 hours. Dinner ashore.
• Day 4. Šipan to Pomena, Mljet. 18 NM. 3 hours. Park ticket at the kiosk.
• Day 5. Pomena to Polače. 6 NM. 1 hour. Lakes by bike or on foot.
• Day 6. Polače to Dubrovnik skyline pass. 24 NM. 3–4 hours. Golden hour frames near the walls.
• Day 7. Short hop upriver. Fuel and farewell.

Alternative Routes With Permit Notes

Šibenik And Kornati

• Start at ACI Šibenik.
• River run to Skradin for Krka.
• Two park nights in Kornati or Telašćica with mooring fields.
• Tickets checked late afternoon by rangers.

Primer for towns and staging sits in Šibenik and Kornati route. Deep dive on moorings and ridgeline walks here: Kornati route guide.

Zadar Islands

• ACI Zadar shortens legs to Ugljan, Sakarun, and Telašćica.
• Sakarun fields protect seagrass during summer.
• Fuel at Zadar before return on Friday morning.

Trip primer with bays and town notes here: Zadar catamaran charters.

Season And Weather Notes

Sea and air by month guide comfort and marina flow.

• April. Air 15–20C. Sea 14–16C.
• May. Air 18–24C. Sea 16–19C.
• June. Air 22–28C. Sea 20–23C.
• July–August. Air 26–33C. Sea 24–27C.
• September. Air 22–28C. Sea 23–25C.
• October. Air 17–23C. Sea 19–22C.

Crowd levels follow school holidays. Prices track demand. Month-by-month advice sits in best time to charter in Croatia.

Paperwork Snapshot

Bareboat weeks require a recognized skipper license and a radio card. Originals sit on the nav desk during harbor master checks. Read acceptance lists and practical tips in bareboat requirements in Croatia. Radio notes and SRC rules sit in this VHF certificate guide.

During a skippered week, no license from guests. During a fully crewed week, the team holds all papers. Tourist tax applies per guest per day on both formats.

Booking Timeline

1. Inquiry. Dates. Headcount. Base. Format.
2. Shortlist. Three yachts with layouts, crew bios, and rates.
3. Option hold. Brief window while flights lock in.
4. Contract and deposit. First installment secures dates and crew.
5. Crew list. Passports, ages, contact number for harbor master entry.
6. Preference sheet. Menu and bar notes due 30 days before boarding for fully crewed.
7. Balance. Per schedule in the contract.
8. Boarding. Saturday from 17:00. Safety brief and systems tour follow.

Support runs by phone and WhatsApp. Base desks help with marina reservations during peak weeks.

Decision Tree In Three Steps

1. Group size and pace. Kids or seniors on board. Equal cabins needed.
2. Budget band. Decide on hotel-style service or skipper-only with dinners ashore.
3. Start port. Split for Hvar and Vis. Šibenik for Kornati. Zadar for north park entrances. Dubrovnik for Elaphiti and Mljet.

What Drives Weekly Fuel And Marina Spend

• Distance between legs.
• Generator hours for air-con.
• Tender runs to busy towns.
• Beam and length in marinas.
• Park nights vs town quays.

A short Split loop on a 45–50 ft cat lands near 80–160 liters across a week. A luxury 65–80 ft hull draws more due to size and hotel loads. Town quays and ACI marinas price by meter with multihull surcharges.

Ready to start planning? Browse our catamaran fleet to compare layouts, pricing, and availability for your dates.

FAQs

Do guests sleep in equal cabins on both formats
Many 45–55 ft cats offer four doubles with similar size. Luxury hulls add an owner suite. Ask for a layout with equal doubles for two families.

Who handles breakfast during a skippered week
Guests handle a simple spread. Tea, coffee, fruit, eggs, bread, and yogurt. The skipper sails and keeps timelines safe.

How does APA work on a luxury cat
You wire a percentage before boarding. Crew pays menus, drinks, marinas, fuel, tickets from this fund. Any leftover returns at check-out.

Are toys included during a fully crewed week
SUPs and snorkel sets sit onboard. Seabobs, e-foil sessions, and premium towables sit on request with a fee.

Where do park tickets apply
Kornati, Telašćica, and Mljet. Rangers check stubs late afternoon near mooring fields.

Who decides go-no-go in strong winds
The skipper. Safety first. Plans shift to sheltered channels or park fields during bura or Jugo.

How early does boarding start on Saturday
We board guests at Split base on Saturday from 17:00. Handover completes by 19:00.

Which months give warm water with fewer crowds
June and September balance warm seas and lighter lines at marinas.

What To Expect On Base Day

• Luggage drop near the pier by 14:00.
• Shopping run or chef sourcing from 15:00.
• Boarding from 17:00.
• Safety brief and systems tour by 19:00.
• First leg next morning by 09:30 after a short fuel or water stop if needed.

Mooring Choices And Night Rhythm

• Town quays in Hvar, Vis, and Korčula fit mixed crews who want dinners ashore.
• Park moorings in Kornati and Telašćica suit photo nights and star views.
• ACI hubs give shore power and calm water for kids.

Route Ideas Beyond Split And Dubrovnik

• Šibenik and Krka with Kornati nights. Use ACI Šibenik. River shelter for strong bura periods. Ticket checks inside the park. Start with this primer: Šibenik and Kornati route.
• Zadar to Ugljan, Sakarun, and Telašćica. Short hops and a sand shelf day in Sakarun. Read Zadar catamaran charters for fuel and mooring notes.

When To Book For Best Choice

Early birds secure new models and equal doubles for school holiday weeks. Flexible travelers who avoid July and August get more value and calmer marinas. Month-by-month comfort and crowd notes sit in best time to charter in Croatia.

Your Next Step

Share dates, headcount, start port, and service level. I will reply with three live yachts, crew bios, menus if needed, and a clean pricing sheet. Support follows from first call to Friday refuel.

► Contact our team

About this guide

This guide was prepared by the Catamaran Charter Croatia editorial team — a group of charter brokers and sailors who have been organizing yacht charters in Croatia since 2007. Every itinerary, marina, and pricing range described here reflects current first-hand fleet experience and direct partnership with licensed charter agencies. Last reviewed: May 2026.

If a detail looks out of date, write us at www.catamaran-croatia-charter.com/contact — we update guides quarterly.