Croatia by Superyacht: Why the Croatian Coast is the Most Underrated Trip in Europe
July 9-17, 2027 | Venice, Rovinj, Sibenik, Trogir, Vis, Hvar, Korcula, Dubrovnik
A year ago, Croatia was not on JJ Bell's bucket list.
That is not a knock on Croatia. It is a testament to how little most American travelers know about the Adriatic coast and what it is actually like to sail it. JJ, co-owner of Excite Experiences, made the crossing on the Emerald Azura last year as a firsthand research trip. What he came back with was not just a trip recommendation. It was a conviction.
"I don't think you'll find anything like this anywhere else."
Next July, Excite Experiences is bringing guests aboard the Emerald Caya on a 2027 Croatia superyacht cruise, sailing from Venice to Dubrovnik along one of the most historically rich coastlines in Europe. The Caya is the newest ship in the Emerald Yacht Cruises fleet, launched in April 2026. Here is what makes this trip worth understanding.
What a Superyacht Is, and Why It Changes Everything
The Emerald Caya is not a cruise ship. That distinction matters more than it sounds.
A cruise ship carries thousands of passengers. The Caya carries a maximum of 100 to 120. Most sailings run between 80 and 100 guests. The crew numbers 80. That is nearly one crew member for every guest on board, and you feel it from the moment you arrive.
By day two, the crew knows your name. By day three, they know your drink order. JJ describes sitting at the bar and having the bartender ask before he said a word: "Another Grey Goose dirty martini tonight?"
On a large cruise ship, you are one of thousands. On the Caya, you are a guest. The difference in how that feels is not subtle.
The ship itself is built for the places it visits. It is large enough to carry everything you need for a week at sea - multiple restaurants, a pool, a spa, a hot tub, a lounge, a bar on every deck, and balcony cabins throughout - and small enough to dock directly in ports that larger ships cannot reach. When it cannot dock, it tenders. A boat launches from the stern of the ship, loads passengers at the dock, and delivers them to shore on demand. When you are ready to come back, you radio the ship, and they send the boat for you. Cold water and cold towels are waiting when you board.
Everything on board is included. All meals. All drinks - premium spirits, wine, beer, cocktails, sodas, water. Room service. Breakfast delivered to your balcony on a schedule you set the night before. Wi-Fi. Port charges. Gratuities. The Caya does not nickel-and-dime. It covers everything.
The Ports: What You Are Actually Going to See
The Croatian coast is one of the most historically dense coastlines in Europe. Venetian, Byzantine, Hungarian, Ottoman, Habsburg - every empire that ever wanted to control the Adriatic left something behind here. What you see sailing from Venice to Dubrovnik is not one country's story. It is the whole story of Mediterranean civilization told in stone.
"Rovinj"
The first port in Croatia has the feel of a place that has not entirely decided whether it belongs to Italy or Croatia. Rovinj sits on the Istrian Peninsula and was under Venetian rule for centuries, which you see immediately in the architecture - narrow cobblestone streets, colorful Renaissance buildings, the Baroque bell tower of St. Euphemia's Church rising above everything on the hilltop. The harbor is filled with fishing boats. The streets are lined with art galleries. It is a port made for wandering without a plan.
"Sibenik"
One of Croatia's oldest towns, founded in 1066, Sibenik has been claimed by the Venetians, the Byzantines, the Hungarians, and the Habsburgs - which means its architecture reads like a survey of medieval European history. The city is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most striking of which is St. James Cathedral, a fifteenth-century architectural fusion of Gothic and Renaissance that took over a hundred years to build. The Nikola Fort, reached by a staircase from the seaside promenade, offers views over the old city and the water below.
"Trogir"
Trogir is a small island connected to the Croatian mainland by bridge, and its entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site - one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. The Cathedral of St. Lawrence dominates the Old Town Square, and climbing the cathedral's bell tower gives you views over the red rooftops and the water that most visitors never see. The seaside promenade below is lined with bars and cafes and is, according to JJ, perfect for an afternoon of people watching.
"Vis and the Blue Cave"
Vis was a Yugoslav military base from the 1950s until 1989, closed to outside visitors for nearly four decades. That isolation preserved the island in a way that is genuinely rare on the Croatian coast. It is unhurried and authentic in a way that the more tourist-heavy islands are not.
The main excursion from Vis is the Blue Cave, and it is one of the most visually striking things on the entire trip. You take a speedboat across the channel to the island of Bisevo, then board smaller wooden boats that paddle you through a narrow cave opening. Inside, the combination of sunlight, water clarity, and the white sand below the surface turns everything an electric shade of blue that photographs cannot fully capture. JJ's description of it is simple: "I think everybody should do that."
The island was also used as the setting for Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, playing the role of a fictional Greek island. The setting makes clear why it was chosen.
"Hvar"
Hvar is the sunniest place in all of Croatia - a fact the island wears visibly in its lavender fields, olive groves, and terracotta rooftops baking in the summer light. The old town is a layered history lesson: Vast St. Stephen Square, a cathedral built across the 16th and 17th centuries, and a restored arsenal that once served war galleons. Above the town, the medieval Fortica fortress offers panoramic views over the harbor and the surrounding islands.
The harbor itself is a spectacle. Hvar has long attracted the kind of international crowd that arrives by private yacht - JJ describes rows of superyachts lined along the waterfront - and the town's restaurants and bars have calibrated to match. It is a genuinely beautiful place to spend an afternoon, and it looks particularly extraordinary at night.
"Korcula"
Locals call Korcula "Little Dubrovnik." The fortified medieval old town on its UNESCO-listed peninsula, the Gothic and Renaissance churches, the elegant palaces and stone squares - all of it carries the same architectural DNA as Croatia's most famous city at a fraction of the crowds.
Korcula is also the birthplace of Marco Polo, which the town marks with the Marco Polo Centre, and it is renowned for producing some of Croatia's finest dry white wine. The island's vineyards have been cultivating wine since ancient times, and one of the most memorable excursions available here is a four-by-four island tour that visits local wineries and ends at the beach.
JJ did this excursion and recommends it without hesitation. The tour stops at a local winemaker who ages bottles on the floor of the Adriatic Sea - submerged under extreme pressure and cold temperatures for years before being brought back up encrusted with shells. He bought a bottle. Most people do.
"Dubrovnik"
The final port is Dubrovnik, and it saves the most famous sight for last. If you have watched Game of Thrones, you have already seen Dubrovnik - the city's medieval walled old town served as the visual model for King's Landing. In person, the walls are more impressive and the setting more dramatic than the show suggests. The old city is entirely pedestrian, entirely enclosed within its ancient stone walls, and one of the most striking urban environments in Europe.
Guests disembark in Dubrovnik and fly home from there. For those adding the optional post-tour extension, there is an additional day to explore the old city before departure.
What Is Included
7 nights aboard the Emerald Caya superyacht
All meals on board - breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
All beverages - premium spirits, wine, beer, cocktails, sodas, water, coffee, tea
Room service and in-room breakfast delivery
All port charges and gratuities
All airport transfers
Flights from your home city, included in the tour price
Wi-Fi throughout the ship
The optional pre-tour extension adds one night in Venice at the Hilton, located directly across the canal from the cruise departure point. The optional post-tour extension adds one night in Dubrovnik to explore the old city before flying home. Both extensions are bookable through Excite Experiences and details will be sent to all registered guests. Information on the Excite Experiences Payment Protection Plan and TripMate travel insurance is available at excitemytravel.com/payment-protect-program-travel-insurance.
A Note on the Ship
The Emerald Caya launched in April 2026 and is the newest vessel in the Emerald Yacht Cruises fleet. JJ traveled on the Emerald Azura, the Caya's sister ship, and describes the experience in enough detail to give a clear sense of what to expect. Every cabin has a private balcony. The ship has multiple dining venues including a main dining room, a poolside restaurant, and a cafe. Dinner menus change nightly and feature dishes inspired by the region the ship is visiting, with chicken, beef, fish, and vegetarian options at every service alongside a full dessert menu. If nothing on the menu appeals, the kitchen will make whatever you want.
The ship has a pool, hot tub, spa, and multiple lounge areas including what JJ calls a "bird's nest book room" that most guests never find. Once you find it, it becomes yours.
Pricing and How to Book
Cabin categories and pricing are detailed in the brochure, available at excitemytravel.com/tours. All rooms are balcony cabins. The tour has already begun filling and cabin selection is on a first-come basis, so if you have a preference for a specific cabin type or location on the ship, booking sooner gives you more options.
Flights are included in the tour price for guests who pay in full. Excite Experiences manages all flight arrangements from your departure city - Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Denver, or other cities by arrangement. Departures available from Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota (excitemytravel.com/nebraska) and Kansas and Missouri (excitemytravel.com/kansas).
Tour dates: July 9-17, 2027, with optional pre-tour Venice extension July 8 and optional post-tour Dubrovnik extension July 17-18. Have questions before booking? Visit excitemytravel.com/contact#FAQ.
To book or to ask questions, call 402-293-9282, email info@excitemytravel.com, or visit excitemytravel.com and search Croatia to find the full brochure. Browse all fly-in tours at excitemytravel.com/fly-in-tours or view the full tour catalog at excitemytravel.com/tours. Subscribe to our newsletter at excitemytravel.com/newsletter-registration to stay up to date on new tours and announcements.
