Getting a group trip beyond the group chat stage can feel like an impossible feat. Even if you lock down a date, there are logistics to contend with, and an itinerary that keeps everybody happy is required - all without blowing the budget. Who would willingly take on such a mammoth task? Well usually it's me, and it's not a task I relish.
While classic cruise holidays tend to attract couples, or a more mature traveler, short group cruises on small sail boats are an incredibly fun, good-value option for pals looking to mark a milestone birthday, or enjoy a destination hen or stag party, which have been steadily growing in popularity.
Go Croatia Sail has been sailing the waters of the Mediterranean for over 20 years, covering Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Turkey, and the company has refined a formula that is an undisputed crowd-pleaser, as well as a simple way to outsource the organisational aspect of a group trip to people in the know.
Let me set the scene. You fly to Croatia and make your way to the port, where a beautiful sailboat is waiting to cruise along the exquisite Dalmatian coast, complete with a crew to attend to your every need. Not only will you wake up in a different location each day, but everything from your meals to group outings are taken care of - and there's even Aperol Spritz on demand. Sounds easy and dreamy, right?
Each route has a boat catering to three age categories that you can opt into: 18-35s, 30-49s, and a mixed-age group (10 to 69s), and depending on the boat, it can take up to 40 passengers.
As you can imagine, when you put a large group of like-minded people together on a boat for a few days, strangers quickly become friends and the drinks, banter and fun starts to flow.
Go Croatia Sail offers four-, five-, and eight-day sails for mixed groups which start and finish in either Split or Dubrovnik, both of which have two large airports with direct flights from Ireland and the UK.
Alternatively, you can do a week-long round trip with different stops on each leg of the journey, but the shorter sailing trips are an ideal option for hen, stag or mixed-gender parties.
These two cities are incredible places to explore in their own right, so my advice is to leave a little time on either side of your trip to really discover the magic.
Croatia's eastern coast has so much to offer in terms of culture, history, gastronomie, viticulture and of course, its famous nightlife (Hvar, I'm looking at you!) that you will feel like day stops only scratch the surface, leaving you planning your return trip before you've even departed.
The Croatian people are known for their warm, authentic welcome for tourists, as well as their brilliant sense of humour and laid-back attitude, and all the boats in the Go Croatia Sail fleet are locally-owned and operated. This means you get the benefits of local knowledge and hospitality on board.
As the crew also includes either one or two reps, they will welcome you at check-in and stay with you for the entire trip, meaning you have someone on hand at all times making sure things run smoothly.
Spoilt for choice
This includes everything from putting recommendations for where to eat, drink and visit, into the boat WhatsApp group daily, as well as organising optional group activities at each location.
Fancy ziplining over Dubrovnik or exploring its iconic walls? A Game of Thrones Walking Tour or wine tasting in Korcula? They'll handle it all. It's a wonderful feeling to put your plans in their capable hands. Not to mention that it will save you hours of research before you go.
The reps are also a dab hand at snapping photos for Instagram when you're busy larking around on a floaty in the water, on one of the daily swim stops.
Every destination on the Dalmatian coast is more picturesque than the next. It really is like holidaying on a movie set, and within the group Instagram handles are swapped at a rate of knots, as there's so much to share and new friends to tag.
Split, Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Mljet, Dubrovnik, Makarska - each have their own unique vibe - but it's rare on a group trip that you get to travel in any meaningful way. However, this kind of group sailing to a new destination every day means you can island hop without the headache.
Plus, it's great if you and your travel companions want to do different activities in each place without having to fly solo. There's always someone in the wider group who wants to do what you want to do. Adrenaline junkies can go one way, and culture vultures the other, and all meet up later.
The reps are great at getting everyone mixing and mingling, which makes the atmosphere on board so enjoyable and inclusive from the get-go. As you don't have to commit to your outing until the morning of, you can tailor your choice to your mood that day.
The boats and cabins
There are three boat styles in the fleet in ascending levels of luxury, ranging from Classic Plus (36 guests), a more rustic style of small ship; Premier and Premier Plus (36-40 guests) and Superior (36 guests).
Each one has air-conditioned cabins, en-suite rooms, a large salon and bar for socialising, a sun deck with loungers, but the two larger boats also have a diving platform at the back, which is ideal for jumping off to swim in hidden coves.
There are also plenty of inflatables, paddle boards and snorkels to make the most of your hour in the water. But a word of warning! Be sure to bring your water shoes as there are sea urchins all over the coast which can cause a nasty injury if stepped on in bare feet.
The good news is that they are a sure sign of excellent water quality.
We suggest choosing the Superior Boat for that extra touch of extravagance as the sun deck also has a hot tub. It's the best spot in the house for taking in the sea views as you cruise. It also doubles as a dipping pool for cooling off from the heat of the sun, because summer temperatures in Croatia climb well into the 30s.
The hotel-style cabins on board are surprisingly roomy, with separate showers and great storage for your belongings.
There's a difference in price for cabins above and below deck, and if it's within budget we recommend choosing the top deck to ensure you're farthest away from the sound of the engine which can be quite loud when cruising and starts very early.
At night, it means that people aren't walking past your door when the boat is moored in a port.
It's also lovely to sit and enjoy the view from bed with the sea breeze on your face should you want a quiet moment away from the group.
Delicious food
Days on board have the perfect flow. Of course, all of that fun needs hearty soakage, and the freshly-cooked hot breakfast each morning is a welcome start to the day.
Mornings are spent cruising and sunbathing on the deck in the sun (just what you need after a night of indulgence), with a swim stop before a three-course lunch.
When the delicious smell of cooking wafts towards the upper sun deck, it's like a siren's call to the communal dining salon.
The daily menu focuses on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, and there are dishes available to suit all dietary requirements from gluten- and dairy-free to vegetarian.
Needless to say the bar sees a lot of action on a sailing trip like this. Thankfully you don't have to worry about carrying cash, as each guest begins a tab at the bar on the first day, and settles up at the end.
It's a good idea to check in mid-way to see that you haven't gone too wild on the Aperol Spritz or the rounds of shots. With a wine list offering incredible local wines, which are almost impossible to buy outside of Croatia, and fully stocked bar, you can request any cocktail from the friendly bar staff who relish a challenge, and who love to ring the shot bell!
Afternoons are for activities, sight-seeing and dinner and drinks at your destination, but guests are invited back for 'Happy Hour' as there is 20 per cent off the drinks menu, plus it's a chance for everyone to get changed, regroup and hit the town together.
There are so many breathtaking and unique places for sunset drinks from beach clubs like Hvar's famous Carpe Diem or Massimo in Korcula, which sits in the turret of the Zakerjan Tower and can only be accessed by a ladder where drinks are brought up via a pulley system.
Best not to wear a dress when going, as there's always a queue at the bottom of that ladder and there really is no way to protect your modesty and still hold on.
While this kind of trip lends itself to groups, it would also suit the kind of couple who loves to socialise, and wants to find a ready-made group of friends to have fun with.
You can have the best of both worlds - a few days of alone-time in Dubrovnik, Split or Hvar, followed, or preceded by, setting sail with your new crew.
Boats sail from May right through to September so you can make the most of the best of Croatia's sunniest months, longest days, and craziest nights!
Booking Details
Prices start from £419/€505 (18-35s four-day sail, below deck room). This includes accomodation, a freshly-cooked breakfast and a three-course lunch every day, fruit and water, a fully serviced bar, transport from place to place, on board wifi, and a rep to make recommendations and bookings. This really is incredible value.
See gocroatiasail.com to book and click here for more information on exclusive offers for groups.
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