Croatia Small Ship Cruise Categories
Croatia’s small ship cruise fleet ranges from luxury balcony vessels to traditional wooden gulets. All carry around 36–40 passengers maximum, which means access to small islands and ports the larger cruise ships can’t reach. This page explains the categories, cabin types, and deck layouts so you can work out what suits your group before browsing specific cruises.
Browse all ships by name, or jump to a category below.
Ship Categories
 Luxury Balcony (LUX) |
 Deluxe Superior (DLX SUP) |
 Deluxe (DLX) |
 Vintage Premium Superior (PRM SUP) |
 Vintage Premium (PREM) |
 Vintage Ensuite (ENS) |
 Traditional (TRAD) |
 Sailing Yachts |
Luxury Balcony (LUX)
The highest category of domestic small ship in Croatia. Modern vessels with private balcony cabins on the upper deck, alongside porthole cabins on the lower deck at a more economical rate. Same onboard amenities and inclusions across both cabin types — the difference is the balcony. Balcony cabins are popular for honeymoons, anniversaries, and milestone celebrations, and June and September departures often sell out more than a year ahead. View Luxury Balcony ships.
Deluxe and Deluxe Superior (DLX, DLX SUP)
The bulk of Croatia’s modern small ship fleet. Air-conditioned ensuite cabins on the main deck and lower deck, contemporary interiors, and the same vessel size as the Luxury Balcony category — just without balcony cabins. Strong balance of comfort and value, and the most common category our clients book. View Deluxe ships or Deluxe Superior ships.
Vintage Premium and Vintage Premium Superior (PREM, PRM SUP)
Older or smaller modern vessels with ensuite cabins. Comfortable and clean, with the essentials covered. A good choice if you want the small ship cruise experience at a lower price point than Deluxe. View Vintage Premium ships or Vintage Premium Superior ships.
Vintage Ensuite and Traditional (ENS, TRAD)
Traditional wooden vessels with classic Mediterranean charm. Vintage Ensuite cabins have private bathrooms; Traditional cabins may have shared facilities. The vessel name is generally not specified at time of booking — you’ll be allocated a vessel within the category closer to departure. View Vintage Ensuite ships or Traditional ships.
Sailing Yachts and Gulets
For smaller groups (typically 6–16 passengers), sailing yachts, catamarans, motor yachts, and gulets are available for private charter. See our Private Charter page for details.
Cabin Types
Balcony Cabins
Available only on Luxury Balcony category vessels. Located on the upper deck, with a window and door opening onto a private balcony with seating for two. Cabin entrance is from the inside corridor. Limited availability — the highest-demand cabin type on Croatian cruises, particularly in summer.
 Balcony cabin interior — window and door opening to a private balcony. |
 Private balcony with seating for two. |
Main Deck and Upper Deck Cabins
The standard cabin on most ships. Opening windows and/or external doors for fresh sea air, ensuite bathroom, air conditioning. Some open onto an external corridor with public deck access; some open to an inside corridor. Cabins at the bow of the vessel typically have larger fixed windows for safety reasons.
 Main deck cabin — door opens to external corridor, high windows open inward for ventilation. |
 Main deck cabin at the bow — sealed windows for safety. |
Porthole Cabins (Lower Deck)
The most economical cabin type. Located in the hull with small porthole windows that don’t open. Accessed via internal stairwells. These cabins are quieter than upper deck cabins, particularly when the ship is docked in busy ports — many repeat cruisers prefer them for that reason. Same ensuite bathroom and air conditioning as upper deck cabins.
 Porthole cabin — small high windows with retractable covers. |
 Internal stairs accessing lower deck porthole cabins. |
Deck Layout
Most Croatian small ships have four decks:
Sun Deck (top) — public area with sun loungers and shade. Often the social hub during the day.
Upper Deck — restaurant and salon on most vessels. On Luxury Balcony ships, this deck holds the balcony cabins instead, with the restaurant on the main deck.
Main Deck — the primary cabin deck on most ships, with opening windows and doors. Some vessels also locate the restaurant or salon here.
Lower Deck — porthole cabins, crew quarters, and the engine room. Crew quarters typically sit between passenger cabins and the engine area to buffer noise. Croatian small ships do not sail at night, so engines are off when you sleep.
Beds and Capacity
Maximum capacity on Croatian small ships is around 36–40 passengers (varies by vessel) across up to 21 cabins. Crew quarters are separate and do not appear on deck plans.
“Double” cabins on Luxury, Deluxe, and Vintage Premium ships often have flex-beds — two single mattresses on a combined base, which can be made up as a double or split into twins on request. European-style bedding usually means two single duvets on a double bed rather than one large duvet, which is normal practice across the region. If you have a strong preference either way, let us know at the time of booking.
Accessibility
Croatian small ships are not suitable for passengers with significant mobility limitations:
- No lifts on board — all decks are accessed via stairs
- Stairs between decks are typically steep
- Boarding sometimes involves crossing between vessels at the dock with gaps of up to 50cm
- Shore excursions involve cobblestones, uneven terrain, and stairs in old town areas
- Wheelchair access is not available on these vessels
If you have any mobility concerns, please get in touch before booking so we can talk through whether a particular cruise is suitable.
Typical steep stairs between decks, and gaps between vessels at the dock.
More Information
For details on what’s included, food and drinks, tipping, and other onboard matters, see the Croatia Cruise FAQ.
For private charter of a full vessel, see the Private Charter page.
To browse cruises by ship, visit all ships by name.
Discover Croatia (Sydney)
Phone/WhatsApp: +61 2 9212 1507
Email: [email protected]