FAQ
What type of food is served on the boat?
The cuisine is generally typical Mediterranean. This means lots of fresh, boiled, and steamed vegetables often combined with potatoes and rice, which are also served as a side dish for meat and fish. Popular dishes are made from fish and other sea creatures, including squid (calamari), octopus, etc. Grains and legumes are often served as side dishes (and sometimes main dishes), including beans, peas, chickpeas, and rice and vegetables. Mediterranean bread (baguettes of white wheat flour) is always on the table in virtually unlimited quantities. Each main dish is served with a vegetable salad. Meals are frequently prepared on a grill, mainly fish, ground meat, or poultry.
Who prepares the food?
The boat’s chef prepares the food. Sometimes other members of the crew help with preparations. Often the captain himself mans the grill on deck. Clearly, this type of food prep is very important!
Is there a choice of meals? What about vegetarian fare?
There is no choice of food on board. A single menu is served. But chefs are willing to adapt to various nutritional routines and diets. If your requirements are announced in advance you’ll be able to come to some arrangement with the kitchen. Individual vegetarian meals are possible, even gluten-free fare. Of course, such requests must be made in a timely manner, preferably as part of the application process. If an entire group has special nutritional requirements, a solution may be figured out in advance. In such cases, the captain and boat’s cook will be as accommodating as possible. My friends and I look forward to our fish-vegetarian table.
Is there a bar on board?
Of course! Local draft beer and nonalcoholic drinks such as mineral water, Coca-Cola, etc. are available, as well as wine, generally from a local source. Prices are similar or somewhat more favorable to those found in local restaurants. During communal meals it is strictly prohibited to consume food and drink brought on board! This should come as no surprise as the boat is also a restaurant. Food and drink brought on board should not be placed or stored in the boat’s communal spaces without the captain’s agreement.
How are evenings spent on board? Are they organized?
Evenings are not organized. The course of the evening depends mainly on where the boat is. In most ports we will be able to head into town. If we are at anchor in a cove, we must entertain ourselves.
How demanding are the bike trips?
The bike trips are as demanding as you or your group make them. Thus some are demanding, others are less so. Our programs are based on a variety of choices. If you set out with the MTB cruise, you can expect that every day may be like training for a marathon, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re ready for everything, and there is always a choice. The “zero option” is always available – staying on board and perhaps then riding out to meet the group. And there are generally many choices of routes to take.
Bicycle touring is relatively difficult in central and southern Dalmatia and relatively easy in the northern Adriatic, generally depending on the degree of incline. Bicycle touring routes are designed so that the daily distance traveled at an average speed of 10 km/h (if rest stops don’t significantly exceed biking time) may be accomplished with energy to spare.
Can beginners sign up for yoga cruises?
They can and they are most welcome. Yoga is nonconfrontational. Everyone exercises according to instructor recommendations and individual limitations. Each person concentrates on him- or herself.
Is it possible to make a group reservation for an unscheduled time?
Certainly. We can adapt our cruises to fit concrete needs, and we can reserve boats for unscheduled periods. The type of cruise depends on you. If you have an idea and a program, we will be happy to make it happen. But it must be determined in advance, let’s say by the end of February. Boat owners try to ensure maximum capacity, and making arrangements during the season is generally not possible.
Is the classic relaxation cruise intended for kids?
Kids love going on cruises – that is, if they know how to swim and are mature enough to understand where they are and why. They jump in the water, snorkel, and get to know the sea and the boat. But it is important that they are not overly naughty and become a problem for the crew and the other passengers. This is of course an individual matter. I’m looking forward to taking my own daughter on the boat (she is seven years old).
Will I become seasick?
My friends and I were interested in the very same thing before our first cruise. Seasickness can happen, but we do everything we can to prevent it. Our main recourse is to try not to sail when seas are too rough. If we must set sail during rough weather in order to keep to our program and our cruise organization, we’ll certainly let you know. The probability of being on a cruise that will cause you extreme seasickness is 1 in 50. Certain medicines can help with rough cruises. One tried-and-true method is kinedril taken two hours before setting sail. But passengers generally get used to rolling with the waves and even learn to like it.
How big are the cabins?
The cabins are small. They allow for a surprisingly comfortable night’s rest but they are not intended for a long-term stay. And storage space is limited, but it is precisely enough for your needs on the boat. So don’t bring items on board that you aren’t likely to use.
Is cabin fever a problem on board?
No, unless the problem is in your cabin. Curiously enough, the boat itself offers enough space for relative privacy. Social, tolerant individuals are best adapted to going on cruises. People get to know each other quickly on board, and a spirit of friendship and community generally reign.
Is the boat noisy, especially at night?
Prior to my first cruise I was particularly concerned about this. I even brought along earplugs, but in the end they were unnecessary. While it's true that noise travels on board without much hindrance, it is a matter of mutual tolerance whether or not we disturb one another. Quiet time is from 11 PM to 7 AM, during which being loud is unacceptable unless it is a closed group and we’ve come to an agreement. Imagine being in a tent at camp – the situation is much better on board. At least noisy individuals can be found and reasoned with.
Won’t the bikes get splashed with salt water and suffer from salt air?
Bikes don’t get directly splashed with salt water since they are stored high enough above sea level. When the wind blows hard they may come in contact with ocean spray. Salty ocean spray and salt air have an effect on bicycles after a longer period of time, but bikes are not harmed by a weeklong cruise. If the bikes happen to come in contact with too much salt water, they can be rinsed in virtually every port with freshwater from a hydrant, and then dried.
What will the weather be like?
As we all know or can easily imagine, Mediterranean summers are warm, dry, and sunny. But few of us know that Mediterranean winters are wet and windy. Transitional seasons, spring and autumn, make it seem like “a battle between summer and winter weather.” In early May, when our cruise season begins, winter is long gone. Daily maximum temperatures generally range between 20° and 30°C. Nighttime temperatures generally stay above 15°C. Bad weather in May generally refers to wind which can make the cruise less pleasant or even detour it. The sea is cooler in early May, generally between 17° and 20°C. Surface water warms up quickly, especially in sheltered coves, but then again the wind can quickly mix and cool the water.
Spring in the Adriatic is lovely and lush, full of flowers and scents. The landscape is lush, the people are fresh and looking forward to summer. The days are long – ideal for long bike ride, getting in shape, tanning, and putting your body in sync with the approaching summer. But we must of course be careful of our skin as the May sun can burn.
In the first half of October, the weather in the Adriatic seems like summer to Central and Northern Europeans: daily maximum temperatures over 20°C, warm nights. The approach of winter is suggested mainly by periods of rain or when the jugo (southeasterly wind) blows, usually lasting a day or two. The water is still surprisingly pleasant, over 20°C, and uniformly warm, so occasional inclement weather doesn’t cool it down. In any event, October dates extend summer and draw on the sun’s energy.
The fall is rich with copious fruits from countryside and garden: grapes, tangerines, figs, and pomegranates.