Aura

Catamaran Aura Croatia: An Honest Review of One of the Best Weeks of our lives

Here's the truth about chartering in Croatia. The country is staggeringly beautiful — limestone islands rising out of impossibly clear water, walled medieval towns, hidden bays you'd swear were AI-generated — and the demand for charter boats has exploded. With that demand has come a flood of operators of wildly variable quality. If you dig into reviews on the major charter platforms, a pattern emerges fast. The complaints are almost never about Croatia itself. They're about the boats. Tired engines. Mouldy cushions. Broken air conditioning in 38-degree heat. Heads that don't work. Skippers who treat the week as a job they're enduring rather than a craft they're proud of.


I went into my research braced for this. I read everything. I crossed off operators for the smallest red flags. And that's where Josko at Global Yacht Charters came in.


The Boat: Why the Lagoon 42 Is the One


I'll admit it. I was nervous about the boat size. We were a family of six, all of us six foot plus, and on paper I worried we would be elbows-and-knees for a week, getting on each other's nerves by day four.


The Lagoon 42 was, in a word, perfect. Six tall adults fit easily, with enough genuinely separate spaces — cabins, cockpit, foredeck, saloon, the trampolines up front — that anyone wanting fifteen minutes alone with a book and a coffee could disappear and find it. Nobody was tripping over anyone. Meals worked. Sleep worked. Lounging worked. The flow of the boat suits real human beings on a real holiday, not just a brochure photograph.


The proud owner and captain of the yacht, Ivan, has spent his entire life on boats, and the Lagoon is his boat of choice. He'll happily walk you through why — the layout, the helm position, the sailing characteristics, the way the bridge deck is sized, the small considered choices that other manufacturers in the same category get almost right but not quite. And here's the warning: once Ivan points out the differences between the Lagoon and the alternatives, you cannot unsee it. You'll find yourself peering at other catamarans in every marina for the rest of the week, going ah, yes, that's exactly what he meant.


Ivan's Obsession (and Why It Matters More Than You Think)


Catamaran Aura is eight years old. You would not know it. You would, with no exaggeration, assume it had been delivered from the factory last month. Decks are spotless. The teak is in beautiful condition. The lines are coiled the way navy crews coil lines. Every piece of gear has a place, and every piece of gear is in its place.

This isn't accidental. Ivan is, in the most loving sense of the word, obsessed. He notices a smudge on a stainless fitting and addresses it. He's already mentally on top of the next service interval before the current one is even due. He runs through systems checks the way most of us run through brushing our teeth — automatically, thoroughly, without performance. When something on the boat is exactly right, you might not consciously notice it. But the cumulative effect of everything being exactly right is enormous. You feel it in the small ways: doors that latch the first time, plumbing that just works, no faint diesel smell anywhere, no flickering instruments.

Here's what you need to understand about this, because it took me a few days to fully appreciate: a meticulously maintained boat is the foundation of a great charter week. Not the route. Not the weather. The boat. When the boat is right, everything downstream of it — sleep, swimming, meals, mood — is also right. When the boat is wrong, no amount of amazing scenery will save the week. Ivan's standards mean you never have to spend a single second of your holiday worrying about the boat. That's a gift, and most people only realise it in retrospect.


Safe Hands When the Weather Turns


We had a stretch of strong westerly winds during our week. The kind of conditions that, on the wrong boat with the wrong skipper, can quickly turn a holiday into something you'd rather forget. With Ivan, we never felt anything other than completely safe.

He read the forecast the night before and the morning of. He worked out exactly when to leave each anchorage to spend the absolute minimum amount of time in the rough stuff. He repositioned us so that what could have been hours of uncomfortable sea became a short, well-timed transit followed by a calm, sheltered afternoon. The boat handled beautifully — that's the Lagoon and Ivan's maintenance both doing their jobs — but the real magic was in the planning. He always laid out the options. Here's what the weather is doing. Here's what I'd suggest. Here's an alternative if you'd prefer. Nothing was ever pushed on us, and yet the right call always somehow ended up being the one we made together. 


Sandra Runs the Show


If Ivan is the steady hand on the helm, Sandra is the quiet conductor of everything else. As our host of the week the catering was amazing — local, seasonal, beautifully presented, and far better than what we ended up eating ashore at several restaurants. The organisation is the kind you only notice when you stop and think about it: provisions arrive on time, dietary preferences are remembered without anyone asking twice (two coeliacs on board), the boat is always reset and ready, and somehow Sandra makes all of this look effortless while also being warm and present company.


You can also be as active as you want to be on shore, and Sandra makes that effortless too. Mention over breakfast that you fancy exploring an island properly, and by the time you've stepped onto the dock there's a taxi waiting, quad bikes booked, and an itinerary mapped out that will give you the best possible day in that particular place. None of it feels stage-managed. It just happens, in the background, because she's already two steps ahead.


The other thing Ivan and Sandra both do, which is genuinely hard and rarely talked about, is read the room. Every single time. They are there when you want company — happy to share stories, talk about the islands, dig into local history — and they melt into the background the moment you want the boat to feel like your own. They never hover. They never intrude. They never make you feel watched. And then, exactly when you're hoping for a chat or a recommendation or a hand with something, there they are. I'm not sure how you teach that skill. They have it in abundance.


Together, Ivan and Sandra have the rhythm of people who have done this a long time and clearly still love it. They are not running a party charter. This is important to say out loud. If you want a booze cruise with a thumping speaker and a skipper who'll look the other way while you trash the cabins, this is not the boat for you. Go and find one of those — they exist, and good luck.


What Catamaran Aura is, instead, is something closer to an old school bed and breakfast on the water. You are being welcomed into their home, because the boat is their home for the season. Show up with that mindset — respect for the space, respect for the people running it — and you will be met with extraordinary warmth, generosity, and care in return. It's a beautiful exchange. The handful of people for who this framing doesn't appeal will self-select out, and everyone involved is better for it.


The Route We Sailed (and Why I'd Do It Differently Next Time)


We sailed Dubrovnik to Split, mostly because that's what worked with our flights. The route took us through Ston, Korčula, Hvar, Brač and finished in Split. It was, by any reasonable standard, magnificent. Ston with its incredible walls and its oysters. Korčula's old town glowing in the late afternoon light. Hvar, somehow living up to its reputation. Brač with its quiet bays and Bol's iconic beach. Split as a punctuation mark at the end.


But here's the thing I learned over the course of the week, and it's the single most useful piece of advice I can give a future Catamaran Aura guest: let Ivan and Sandra plan it.


They have been working these waters for years. They know which harbour will be sheltered when the seasons winds are blowing. They know which marina master will save them the best berth and which will leave them rafting four-deep. They know the konoba tucked behind the church that doesn't take bookings and only does the day's catch, and they know the slick waterfront place that's all show and no substance. They read the forecast and the swell and the holiday weekends and the cruise-ship schedules and they assemble a week that flows.


The small moments where Ivan gently suggested a different anchorage based on the wind that day were always, without exception, the right call. Next time, I won't be building a sailing route around our flights. I'll be building our flights around getting to Split, stepping onto the boat, and letting the week unfold from there. Tell Ivan and Sandra roughly what you love — swimming, food, a bit of culture, peace and quiet, whatever it is — and let them shape the week around the weather and the wind and their decades of accumulated knowledge. You will see more, eat better, sail in better conditions, and stress less.


The Verdict


A week aboard Catamaran Aura is not the cheapest way to see this coast, and it shouldn't be. What you are paying for is a meticulously cared-for boat, two people at the absolute top of their craft, a Lagoon 42 that genuinely works for real families, and the rare experience of being properly hosted in a part of the world that rewards being properly hosted. It is one of the best weeks I have ever had on the water, full stop.

Ivan also told me the absolute best week of the year to be out on these waters. I'm not going to share that one with you, because I plan to book again. Our skipper and our host quickly became our friends, and I cannot wait to get back out there and keep exploring this magical part of the world with them.

August - 2025

First of all, the hospitality afforded by Ivan and Sandra was outstanding. They were most. They responded to special request whenever it was possible and they were cheerful at all times. The atmosphere on the boat was always pleasant and we always felt “at home”.
I’d say the biggest surprise for us was the comfort level on the boat. The air conditioning certainly surpassed expectations. The meals provided and prepared by Sandra were beautiful and tasty. She even made sure that we had excellent quality wine. Each day the opening of the wine was an event. The coffee maker added another a little special touch to make you feel comfortable. We did not expect capuccinos on the boat.

Regarding the itinerary, each island visited was beautiful and unique. I can’t say that I would change a thing.

We all felt that safety was a priority. This really was of great importance to us since we were traveling with 2 young teenagers. They paid a lot of attention to make sure we were safe on the boat and that was very noticeable.

When we return to Croatia, hopefully that’s in the in the near future, Ivan and Sandra will be will be our choice for further exploration.

Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to pass along our comments.

June 2025

Thank you so much!!! Ivan and Sandra lived up to all their positive reviews - they were wonderful hosts, terrific sailors, and knew all the sites so well. Super helpful and attentive. Thank you for all your help coordinating everything!!!

July 2024

We have just returned from Croatia and I wanted to let you know that our week with Sandra and Ivan aboard 'Aura' was simply fantastic. They are an amazing crew and made everything about Aura as perfect as it could be. The itinerary between Split and Dubrovnik worked well and each night they offered really good suggestions for restaurants and made the reservations even. It made for a very relaxing holiday. Sandra's cooking is amazing - breakfasts were so good and her lunches were delicious. I sat down with Sandra at the end of the week to review her APA - very detailed which was appreciated.

Thank you again for setting up this incredible holiday for us. Airport transfer worked great. I was very glad to work with your office to set this up. Thanks again.

June 2023

Ivan and Sandra- thank you for all of your hospitality. This trip was one our family was excited about and looking forward to, but didn't know what to really expect. You both, and Croatia, did not disappoint! We loved exploring the islands and saw something new each day. We appreciate that you were flexible and helpful with helping us navigate our vacation. We loved the time in the water and relaxing on the boat. Thank you for the amazing meals and snacks. It made the trip that much better.

We all enjoyed getting to know you both! Getting to know you and hearing about your family was a gift. Thank you again for your hospitality and we wish you and your family a happy, healthy and safe summer.

June 2024

Such an incredible week and adventure this has been! Thank you for sharing Croatia with us. The experience you provided was above all others. It beyond exceeded our expectations. Ivan- thank you for planning all of the island stops, making sure the kids had a great time, for being the best Captain! Sandra you have spoiled us! You noticed every detail, took care of all of our needs and your cooking will be missed for sure. We can't wait to come back and visit again!

June 2024

This week was amazing! We enjoyed every aspect of your plan for us to have an amazing time, The boat, islands, Sandra's cooking was all a perfect experience. We have fallen in love with Croatia and look forward to visiting again!

September 2023

Ivan and Sandra,

You both exceeded all expectations and enabled us to have a most wonderful 10 year anniversary while discovering all of the beauty and serenity that exists in Croatia!

When we were coming with ideas for our vacation, we agreed that the one thing we wanted to be able to do more than anything on our first real vacation without kids was to RELAX and have minimal responsibilities. The two of you are perfect hosts in every way and blew us away with your teamwork, skills, knowledge of the area, and ability to make us feel right at hime- you succeeded in every way and allowed us to truly relax, reconnect with each other and spend time with our life long friends.

When the weather was less than ideated members of our group had different departure timelines, you both provided expert recommendations to enable us to all get the most out of our time here on your beautiful Aura. Each of you demonstrated a true passion and mastery of your craft and an eagerness to share it with us made it feel like we were part of your extended family.

Thanks again - we sincerely hope to be able to join you again in the future.

August 2023

Sandra and Ivan- We cannot thank you enough for your flawless guide around the amazing and spectacular country of Croatia aboard your beautiful boat. You dialled up the perfect weather, never failed to find a picturesque gleaming jewel of a harbour to dock in and enabled us to see a slice of country from a magical perspective that would not have been possible without your expert guidance. You also kept us well fed (Sandra's cooking could easily be featured at any of the restaurants we ate in!) and somehow anticipated our every need.

From our perspective you are living life like the way it was meant to be - doing what you love and at the highest level and because of that, the Sibermans got to experience a trip of a lifetime. And for that we once again say thank you!

September 2023

Wow! Ivan and Sandra,
Our second trip with you was amazing. I have told you all before, but we mean it every time, you two are SO special.

We feel like we have found a secret gem in a sea of skippers and hostesses. No one can make a trip as special as you two. Ivan knows the perfect places to see, and showing us the special places of the country, that not a lot of people see. And Sandra,,, making a boat feel like a home is np easy task but you do it with ease. We love you two so much. You have such a special gift in making people feel at home on the seas and in your country.

Hopefully one day we can return the favour is the US. if anyone else read this, and if you don't book another trip with them next year, you are crazy. Do it now before they book up...

July 2023

Dear Sandra and Ivan,
No words can describe the amazing trip we had last week. We felt like royals on your fantastic, high end boat. The fantastic lunches and appetisers Sandra prepared will be always on our minds (we will start our diet again from next Monday!!!). Ivan's passion for boats and the beautiful sea is really inspiring. What a beautiful country you have, we are looking forward to discovering more in the future.

Aura

We absolutely loved Ivan and Sandra! We couldn’t have been happier with them. Ivan is super well connected – he knew everyone at every port we went to and you could tell it made such a difference, especially when the weather was not great and we needed to change ports and find a spot. He could magically come up with someplace to go even though ports were full! Sandra ‘just has it down’. She was super attentive and at the same time very discreet. If we mentioned something to each other, like boy it would be nice to have a gin and tonic right now, one would magically appear. Her cooking was just fantastic….had these amazing lunches that would really fill us up we probably didn’t need to do dinner some nights because we were still full. On cloudy days, Sandra would use her connections to plan out our day from the taxi pick up to the tour. They were both so nice and just lovely people. The boat was beautiful — chic and clean, well maintained. Ivan takes a lot of pride in it because he built it from a shell into what it is today. Overall, it was an amazing trip and we loved the boat and crew!

June - 2023

We just got back to split from our wonderful charter with Ivan and Sandra. They were wonderful. They really are true locals who know most every cove and island and service in the entire country. Their boat is in pristine condition not only do they take great care of it constantly but Ivan has equipped it himself with more power and air conditioning and electronics and lines etc.. than any other boat around. Additionally, Sandra and Ivan seem to know everyone who they can connect with, really anything you may want to do or see or eat. They love all travellers and really know how to prepare everything beyond expectations. All of the food was made with care and high-quality olive oil, fresh ingredients and good wines. They really did yearn to do whatever they could to make the trip perfect and tailored to your preferences. Our kids were a handful and they did great to help us pivot with both unexpected weather and preferences for more relaxed beach time. Even after we arrived back at Split they continued to help us make arrangements for new place to stay and scuba and even additional activities we learned about. Ivan was a joy. He’s obviously a very confident and experienced captain and uses his lifelong friendships and laid back personality in a way to tailor where we were able to stay and anchor and visit or eat.

All on all just wanted to give you great feedback. I wouldn’t hesitate to have any of your clients or guests sail with them. We only hope that we can revisit in the not too distant future.

June 2023

Our trip aboard Aura exceeded our expectations in every way- we loved the boat itself and the unspoiled beauty of the Croatian islands was like nothing we'd ever seen. Truly captivating each day, in bright sunshine and even in the rain. But the hidden gems of our trip were Sandra and Ivan themselves.

I couldn't imagine feeling more secure and connected than with Ivan as our captain. Sandra was a wonderful hostess- fantastically healthy breakfasts awaited us each morning and, whereas we have envisioned sandwiches and salads for lunches, each day she whipped together (seamlessly!) a new Croatian delight that kept us full until 8 or 9pm. Sandra is just a lovely person- even on a cloudy and rainy couple of days we had she worked to fill the days with tours she herself had organised, all of which we enjoyed. We hope to be back abroad the Aura within the next couple of years - it was a trip of a lifetime!

June 2023

Ivan & Sandra, Thank you very much for the wonderful week introducing and hosting us in Croatia. Not only did we eat, drink and live well but we now know how much more there for us to return to see and do in the future! We felt safe and secure the entire time and look forward to returning to see more islands and towns and beaches.

We hope our children remember your hospitality and guidance throughout their lives. We know when we return that we have friends who will guide us like no others could, both on and off the water.

If you ever visit the states, we hope you will let us know. We have a wonderful time and appreciate all of your hard work and the beautiful Aura!

The Clarks

First voyage of the season! We were so honoured to be the first guests of your long season!

The importance of this trip for our family did not go unnoticed by you and Ivan- your combined efforts made it a week we will never forget. Your kindness, hospitality and attention to detail made the perfect vacation. We feel secure on the knowledge that we will be sending our two kids off to college with memories that will last a life time.

'Thank you' - just doesn't seem adequate!! We are leaving with a deep love and appreciation for your beautiful Croatia, thanks to you!

We will be back

July - 2022

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Aura - May 2022

We had a wonderful trip with Ivan! Thank you for your recommendation for the Aura - it was an amazing catamaran and we appreciated all of the extras that Ivan has added. He was so professional and kind, and we loved his attention to detail and safety. Many thanks to you for all of the information and detail you provided as we prepared for the trip, and for always replying so quickly.

"We were so honoured to be apart of your family for this EPIC, amazing, and incredibly memorable trip"

"We were so honoured to be apart of your family for this EPIC, amazing, and incredibly memorable trip in your beautiful country. You were so thoughtful, friendly, and anticipated everything we needed and wanted - not a small task!! Thank you for the love this week, we will always cherish these memories!"

"What a fantastic and memorable trip for our family"

"What a fantastic and memorable trip for our family. Aura is such a special boat. Very beautiful and well cared for, Aura was very comfortable and provided so many amazing spaces to sun, read a book, listen to music, dine as a family, jump into the sea, and even connect to the TV and watch our Dallas Stars lose. We can't thank you enough for allowing us to be together as a family - home away from home. The care you provided us was top notch. Sandra's meals were always delicious, and the snacks and wine you selected were excellent. Ivans ability to maneuverer the boat in tight quarters was very skilful, and his laugh was contagious. Your recommendations on where to eat and what to do on each island was appreciated. Thank you for your amazing hospitality. Many memories were made during our time in Croatia. Until we return...