4 Days on This Catamaran Changed How I See Croatia – FLORAMYE

Stepping onboard Catamaran FLORAMYE at CRO.YA Yacht Show, Split 2025

I first stepped onboard FLORAMYE at the CRO.YA Yacht Charter Show in Split in October 2025. She was one of 50 yachts I was inspecting with the DMA Yachting team. At that moment, I didn’t realize FLORAMYE would end up being one of our favorite crewed catamarans in the fleet.

Later that week, I joined a 4-day familiarization trip onboard with Captain Nino and his crew, island hopping around the Dalmatian Islands off Split. This was my experience:

Layout, Atmosphere & Theme

The moment we stepped onboard, we were welcomed with cold drinks and warm smiles by a confident, professional crew ready to show off their yacht. That first impression speaks volumes about the hospitality you can expect onboard a charter.

FLORAMYE is named after a famous 100-year-old Croatian opera, telling the story of the most beautiful woman in the Adriatic in search of love. Stewardess/deckhand Nadia told us the story as we toured the boat, and once you hear it, the yacht’s theme becomes crystal clear. Elegant, colorful interiors, beautiful flower arrangements, and paintings of characters from the opera throughout the vessel bring the story to life.

FLORAMYE has 4 cabins for 8 guests, including a spacious master suite and 3 doubles. The cabins are neat and minimally decorated, avoiding clutter and using quality bedding. The main saloon is nice and open with a galley in full view from the aft deck.

The aft deck is the main social area with a large dining table and plenty of lounge spaces for relaxing out of the sun and wind. This is where we ended up spending most of our time onboard. The flybridge offers a panoramic 360-degree view and is a good place to take in the surroundings while underway. I personally favored the foredeck, where I could sit more out of the wind and watch the horizon ahead.

This layout is brilliant for a family or for a group of friends if they can agree on who gets the master suite.

The Crew – Great Hospitality & Local Knowledge

Captain Nino Barzic, Stewardess/Deckhand Nadia Tomasevic, and Chef Igor Oliveric run a tight ship with true Mediterranean hospitality and storytelling at the forefront. From the very first day, each of them showed pride in their roles and worked well and enthusiastically as a team.

Nadia’s presence stood out in particular; she is attentive and intuitive, and she always knew the right moment to offer a coffee or when a cocktail would be more appreciated. She introduced us to local wines and spirits from her family’s islands, like fig liqueur from one cousin, honey liqueur from another, giving every aperitif a local story.

Captain Nino, who grew up on the island of Vis, gave the entire trip a deeply local flavor. Cruising along the coast, he pointed out landmarks on every clifftop, shared his deep knowledge of the island’s history, and talked about what life was like on a remote island. His experience showed not just in his storytelling, but in the way he handled the yacht.

Captain Nino and Nadia are both very competent sailors, and made sure everything was going smoothly while Chef Igor worked non-stop in the galley.

Dining Onboard – Creative, Local & Delicious

Chef Igor’s food was a highlight. Not only did he accommodate several dietary restrictions (including seafood-free and vegan), but he did so without compromising the menu for the others.

Igor’s style is rooted in Croatian cuisine – he cooks with a deep respect for local produce and fresh ingredients, knowing how to bring out their best flavor without overcomplicating things.

Meals were often served family-style. “So everyone gets a chance of tasting different things,” he said. From hot veggie curries to lamb, grilled fish, lobster, scallops, mussels, and Croatian classics – every dish matched the mood and weather. Hot soup on a rainy day. A fresh salad after a swim. Beautiful desserts with every meal. Breakfast changed daily.

Igor checked preferences and adjusted the menu accordingly. Portions were generous, and we always left the table full and satisfied.

Itinerary Highlights

We departed Split and headed directly to Hvar, as one of the first yachts, and got the best spot on the dock right on the promenade, steps from the square, with a perfect view up to the fortress.

We went for a walk in town, up to the fortress, and around the narrow back streets, and enjoyed our first dinner onboard with a straight view of a concert playing on the square.

This was a true VIP experience of Hvar and does not in the slightest compare to arriving here by ferry.

On the second day, we cruised to Vis Island, Captain Nino’s home island. Cruising along the dramatic coastline, Nino told stories from life on the island and its military past.

We explored wartime sea bunkers used for hiding warships, explored the long, dark tunnels with flashlights, tasted wine in an underground bunker, and watched the sun set over Komiza from the island’s peak – stopping to pick wild thyme and sage on the way.

It was a lovely day, perfectly paced, intriguingly adventurous, and totally unforgettable.

We spent the third day exploring the remote coves on the south coast of Vis. We were supposed to go to the Blue Cave, but the weather was simply too bad. In the end, it did not matter because Nino’s local knowledge meant we found spots just as beautiful but much less crowded.

In Stiniva Bay, I finally jumped in for a swim surrounded by the tall cliff sides. Although it was October and the wind was fresh, the water was surprisingly warm and so clear; it could have been the Caribbean.

That evening, we docked in Stari Grad for waterfront drinks and another beautiful dinner onboard.

My personal favorite. We raised the sails and let the wind do the work. FLORAMYE sailed beautifully, reaching up to 10 knots with the steady breeze.

I spend the hours sitting on the flybridge with Captain Nino, enjoying watching him smoothly handle the boat at every tack.

We anchored outside Milna on Brac for lunch, our final stop before heading to Trogir, where we would disembark the next morning.

Performance & Handling – Real Sailing

FLORAMYE does not just look pretty with the sails up – she actually sails. With the fresh October winds and choppy seas, FLORAMYE performed beautifully, keeping a steady 7 knots and reaching 10 on a stronger gust. More importantly, Captain Nino knew exactly how to work with the conditions. He timed departures to avoid strong winds and navigated in the lee of the islands to keep us comfortable.

We watched other catamarans beating into headwinds, while we consistently seemed to go with the wind. That kind of planning and seamanship is an art – especially on a schedule.

FLORAMYE and her crew’s sailing capabilities, paired with her comfort and stability, make her a standout in a fleet of floating condos.

Final Thoughts – Why FLORAMYE Stands Out

FLORAMYE is more than a luxury catamaran – she’s a love story, a cultural experience, and a comfortable performer at sea. With a professional and personal crew, thoughtfully personalized cuisine, and a smartly curated itinerary through Croatia’s most charming islands, she delivered nothing less than an exceptional charter experience.

I recommend FLORAMYE for guests who value comfort, authenticity, storytelling, and a true connection to Croatia.

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