Gulets and motorsailers are Croatia’s own answer to a big group. These are wide, wooden-hulled two-masted yachts with a lot of cabins, a huge shaded aft deck, and crew who cook and serve on board all week. Nothing else in the Adriatic gives that many people that much space for the money.
They motor most of the time and put the sails up when the wind suits, which is exactly how the coast works: short hops between islands, long lunches, and a berth in an old town most evenings.
Broker insight
When a group of ten or more comes to us for Croatia, the gulet is almost always the answer. You get everyone on one boat with their own cabin, a crew cooking every meal, and deck space no catamaran of that price can match. The newer motorsailers have closed the gap on comfort too, so you are no longer trading luxury for size.
Chris de Kock
Charter Broker, Sales Broker, Active CYBA Member
Crewed gulets and motorsailers in Croatia start at around €30,000 per week, with mid-sized luxury motorsailers from €50,000 to €80,000 and the largest, newest boats well beyond that. Split across a group of 10 or 12, it is the best value on the coast. On top of the base rate, budget for:
Gulet weeks almost always run from Split or Trogir through the central Dalmatian islands: Brac, Hvar, Vis, and Korcula, with a swim stop most days and a town berth each night. The Kornati islands add a wilder, emptier stretch out of Sibenik. Because these boats motor comfortably, a one-way route down to Dubrovnik is easy to build in.
Broker-picked shortlists from the boats we have been aboard:
In practice, very little. Both are wide, two-masted, wooden or steel-hulled boats built for comfort rather than speed. Motorsailer usually signals a newer, more luxurious build with better cabins and more powerful engines.
Most take 10 to 12 guests in ensuite cabins, and the largest are licensed for more. For groups above 12 see our large-group gulet picks.
They motor most of the week and sail when the wind and the route line up. If sailing itself is the point of your trip, a performance sailing yacht or catamaran is the better fit.
From about €30,000 per week, with luxury motorsailers €50,000 to €80,000, plus 13% VAT and a 25-30% APA. Per guest it is the best value in Croatia. See our full cost guide.
Gulets for big groups are the first boats to sell out, especially for July and August. Nine to twelve months ahead is realistic for peak weeks; June and September stay open longer and cost less.
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