In life, there are a handful of sublime moments that are indelible. Boarding the DS Yacht Cristal, my first luxury super yacht in Split, Croatia, was one of them.
I replay the scene like a movie in my mind, strolling along Split’s palm-lined scenic waterfront, bustling with lively restaurants overlooking the shimmering Adriatic.
Then I saw The Cristal, a stunning white-on-white 160-foot super yacht beauty with a gorgeous teak sundeck.
The second I boarded, a glass of sparkling wine was placed in my hand. An impressive spread of Croatian delicacies, including my favorite soparnik, a butter-basted savory pie, was beautifully laid out to nibble on.
After a heartfelt welcome toast, my cruising mates and I were introduced to our ever-smiling, tireless, and dedicated crew of 12 staff who made our yachting dreams come true.
The Luxurious Experience on the Cristal
I’m convinced there’s no better way to explore Croatia’s more than 1000 islands than by super yacht. The Cristal’s 14 cabins host up to 28 guests. Oh, did I mention there’s a jacuzzi on the sundeck and a marble bar?
All this was ours for the next four glorious nights as we cruised to pristine, postcard-perfect Croatian islands, including Hvar, Brač, Vis, and the Pakleni Islands – exploring stunning archipelagos and quaint coastal towns.
What Is “Smart Money” Luxury Yachting?
Yachting is entirely different from cruising. It’s more bespoke and tailored to your needs and offers access to smaller ports and more coastline.
Apart from deboarding to explore Vis and Hvar, while on The Cristal, I had the crystalline blue waters of the Adriatic almost to myself.
DS Yachts or “Super Yachts” like The Cristal are managed by Goolets and offer discerning travelers a new “smart money” solution for luxury value seekers. I did the math, and it’s incredibly economical.
For less than what you would pay per night at a posh luxury hotel in New York, Monaco, or Paris, you can gather up to 28 friends or family and split the cost of a luxury super-yacht in Croatia for the island-hopping vacation of a lifetime.
The Cristal is a giving machine.
Gorgeously plated gastronomic meals, a talented bartender shaking handcrafted cocktails, and all the sea toys I could imagine – a 2-story waterslide, five paddleboards, a floating swimming platform, three water scooters, a jet ski, an electric surfboard, and a captained tender for excursions.
Yes, all included in the package and for less per person per night than a standard room at a luxury hotel in a premier destination.
Cruising Croatia
Our first dinner together aboard The Cristal was a preview of the Croatian gastronomic delights to come. White tablecloths, elegant local wines, and orchestrated dinner service set the tone.
Our culinary adventure began with fresh tuna tartare, followed by a flaky sea bass, and for dessert, a silky lavender panna cotta. Each meal was an exquisite delight with locally sourced smoked duck and grilled octopus.
Dishes also touched on Croatia’s Italian influences with seafood risotto and sweet cannoli for dessert.
Before turning in for the night in my elegant and spacious cabin with a private bathroom, I lounged on the upper deck, where there’s a new al fresco dining area.
I looked right at Split’s sparkling city lights and then left to see the moon’s reflection glistening on the Adriatic.
This magical moment was hard to leave, but I needed a solid night’s sleep to be fresh for exploring Croatia’s lush green islands ringed with blue hues. It was easy to doze off, smiling in anticipation of what tomorrow would bring.
The Pakleni Islands and Hvar
I woke up with the sun as we set off cruising along the stunning Dalmatian Coast en route to the Pakleni Islands. A delicious European buffet breakfast was served as our smiling barista frothed cappuccinos with hearts stenciled in the foam.
I had two – joking that I needed one for each eye to wake up from jet lag. But in truth, the cappuccino was so delicious, I simply wanted another.
Shortly, we anchored at our first swim stop in a cove that was ours alone but for a handful of sailboats. Remarkably fast, the crew set up a bevy of water toys off the back of The Cristal and inflated its infamous two-story adrenaline-inducing water slide.
Shooting down the slide into the Adriatic’s clear blue water was not only a thrill but also perfectly inaugurated our first day.
It wasn’t my first time traveling to Croatia, but it was a first for me aboard a super yacht. The Adriatic, which felt more like a lake, quickly became my favorite sea.
The water was incredibly calm, clear, and utterly refreshing. I didn’t see a single jellyfish. Only shimmering schools of silvery blue fish gliding along the shore.
The Pakleni Islands, like most islands in Croatia, were ringed with deepening hues of blue that shimmered on the water’s surface in the sun.
The sea is fed by rivers that bring a particular sediment, making the rings of color pop and the Adriatic crystal clear. Although it was mid-October, the sea was warm enough to swim in for hours.
I sat at the bow of the tender as Ivan took us on a high-speed tour, arriving at even more snorkel spots and stunning coves where the sea’s hues varied from deep turquoise to emerald green closer to shore.
Days were still quite long. Only when the sun began to dip did I want to come in and warm up in the jacuzzi on the top deck.
It was also the perfect spot for a sunset cocktail, and by then our fabulous bartender knew everyone’s preferred drink, mine being a gin and tonic infused with edible roses, amongst, of course, a few gratuitous shots of Croatian plum brandy.
Soon, we arrived at Hvar, where our captain Andrija Marasovic, who co-owns The Cristal with his wife Tatjana, expertly navigated us to dock on the harbor’s front row.
We arrived before dusk, perfect timing for a short hike up to Hvar’s Fortica Fortress for an unbelievable sunset before yet another incredible gastronomic feast aboard The Cristal.
Vis and Brač Islands
The next day, we arrived at Vis, a storybook island with cobblestone streets, art galleries, open-air cafes, olive oil shops, a monastery, an ancient Roman theater, and its original city walls.
Add in another swim stop with all the water toys and more high-speed tours on the tender with Ivan, and the days began to melt into each other like a dream I didn’t want to end.
I was also thrilled to learn that The Cristal is a category of eco-superyacht that consumes up to 70% less gas than traditional yachts.
On our last night, we anchored off the coast of Brač, famous for its Zlatni Rat Golden Horn, a stunning triangular-shaped landform that juts out into the sea.
We didn’t know it yet, but Tatjana, co-owner and director of hospitality, had quite a surprise for us up her sleeve. She flew in a DJ for our last night together.
We danced and sang until the wee hours of the morning, reveling in every sublime moment of the past four days. The next day, we cruised back to Split, where our adventure had begun, and I disembarked with a full heart.
I always knew that I’m happiest on a boat. Now, I know that I’m truly happiest aboard a super yacht, The Cristal.
How to Book
The Cristal is booked through Goolets, an experienced luxury yacht management company whose goal is to make this level of luxury within reach.
A trusted partner, Goolets works closely with the owners, Tatjana and Andrija Marasovic, to curate the perfect experience, especially for multi-generational travel.
When to Visit
Bookings for The Cristal run from mid-April through early November, with high season beginning mid-June through August. Days are long even in fall, and the water stays warm and swimmable until the end of the season.
Read More: When to Visit Croatia: A Month-by-Month Guide for Every Type of Traveler
Getting to Split
Arriving in Split is quite easy as Split Airport (SPU) is serviced by major European hubs, including Munich, Frankfurt, Rome, and London. Bus, train, or ferry options are also well served by operators such as FlixBus and Jadrolinija Ferries.
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Author Bio: Donna Sozio is an author (Simon & Schuster, Kensington), book coach, and travel writer focusing on luxury, wine, and wellness. She’s been featured in over 100 publications, including The New York Post, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen Magazine, Allure, Pop Sugar, W Magazine, The Sun, JWM Magazine, 5280 Magazine, MSN, Organic Authority, Shermans Travel, The Culture Trip, and Yahoo. When not in Los Angeles, she’s exploring hidden travel gems. Celebrity interviews include Mandy More, Tony Parker, and Jillian Michaels.
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