Exploring Dalmatian Coast on a small ship

If you watched Below Decka reality TV series about sunny days and cocktail-filled nights on a superyacht (Available for free on 7Plus), the story may sound familiar: 35 guests and 10 crew sailed along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast for an adventurous week, dropping bombs from the aft deck into the Adriatic Sea and partying until dawn in some of the Mediterranean’s wildest ports.

There will be dates, espresso martinis, beautiful sunsets and bikinis. My only hesitation? I don’t want to be cast as a flashy, middle-aged woman in a sea of ​​glamorous young people. Twenties can be a lot of fun (and they often give me helpful tech tips), but do I really want to be the only guest over 50? Or is it 30?

I didn’t need to worry. The night before embarking on an unforgettable Croatian small ship cruise from Split to Dubrovnik, I chat with a few friendly Texans by the hotel pool. Celebrating over 30 years together, the duo will join me on MV Memories, one of six ships in the Unforgettable fleet.

The next day at check-in and orientation, I met a fun group of guests from Perth in my vintage, a sweet 30-something couple on a baby vacation, two stylish young women from Philadelphia, and a husband-and-wife duo from the Boston area who were so loved-up they had either been married for three years or 53. Turns out they were 53.

Our group includes representatives from Australia, the USA and the UK from all age groups, from their 20s to their 80s. The crew consists of Croatian and Serbian nationals, including at least three Ivans.

And so the fun begins. Croatia’s dazzling coastline, historic walled towns and pristine national parks surrounded by sapphire-coloured waters are designed to be explored aboard luxury small ships.

Daily swim breaks quickly become the highlight of the day. After a hearty breakfast buffet of fruit, cereal, cheese, ham and eggs, we put on our swimming gear and race to be the first into the big blue. Some hop on stand-up paddleboards, others float on inflatable rings or drift dreamily on foam noodles as we chat and laugh. The invincible sunlight and the cold, salty shock of water are a refreshing, invigorating, daily dose of nature’s bounty.

Conversation flows during the three-course lunch on board. Open seating at five tables accommodating seven to eight passengers encourages people to mingle and mingle in a way I’ve rarely experienced on larger cruise ships.

Shore excursions are included, with an emphasis on hyper-local and authentic experiences. An oyster farm in Ston, joy and fun at the Hvar winery game of Thrones Gossip on a Dubrovnik walking tour.

One of the biggest advantages of small ships is that they can dock right in the heart of Europe’s old town ports. With the ship anchored until the early hours of the morning, there is no mad scaffolding to get back to the ship due to everyone’s curfew. We are free to explore the lively restaurants and bars of the city centers of Trogir, Vis, Korcula and Hvar. Impromptu plans like having dinner together, toasting the birthday girl, making an appointment for midnight ice cream come true.

“It’s great to meet a group of people like you traveling together this week,” cruise director Tena Perkov says at our raucous farewell dinner. “I suggest you change your contact information and make plans to meet again next year.”

DETAIL

FLY
Emirates flies to Dubrovnik from Sydney and Melbourne via Dubai. To see emirates.com

TO WANDER
Unforgettable Croatia offers seven-night small ship cruises starting at $3,549 per person double sharing, including breakfast, lunch, two dinners, private transfers, all excursions and Wi-Fi. To see unforgettablecroatia.com

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The writer was the guest of Unutulmaz Croatia.