Cabin Charter Croatia: Motor Sailors vs Gulets Explained

Cabin charter in Croatia offers travelers a unique way to explore the Adriatic, but not all vessels are the same. While gulets originate from Turkey, Croatia’s most popular cabin charter vessels are motor sailors. Each option offers distinct experiences, from bustling port stops to tranquil nights at anchor. Here’s a clear breakdown to help you choose the perfect style for your Croatian sailing adventure.

Key Takeaways:

Motor Sailors: Croatia’s Most Popular Option - Larger vessels (20–45m) with 10–20+ cabins, available in B, A, and A+ categories, offering more cabin comfort but less deck space.
Gulets: Smaller, More Exclusive - Typically 20–30m long with 5–8 cabins, ideal for fewer crowds, relaxed cruising, and nights at anchor.
Pricing Differences: Motor sailors range from €500–€1,000 per person per week; gulets range from €700 for standard to €1,400 for luxury, both including food.
Experience Onboard: Motor sailors have large indoor salons and always dock in ports; gulets focus on outdoor dining, spacious decks, and swimming in secluded bays.
Choosing the Right Fit: Pick motor sailors for town-hopping and comfort; choose gulets for a laid-back, nature-filled experience with fewer passengers.

Cabin charter Croatia - Motor sailors

They are bigger in size ranging from 20 and up to 45 meters in length;

They have more cabins: from 10 and up to 20 cabins or more;

They come in 3 different categories. B category is older vessels, which have for example 10 cabins and 2 toilets and showers for entire vessel. A category ships are already bigger and newer, every cabin has its own shower and toilet and most of them are also air conditioned. And then you also have A+ category, which is newest type vessels, more or less made from steel (not from wood) and quite spacious and comfortable;

Prices in high season range from € 500 per person per week and up to max € 1.000 per person per week including food. Even the most luxury vessels do not surpass this luxury range;

All these ships normally have 2 or 3 stories. Saloons are huge and meals are served most of the times inside in this saloons;

On this ships, nights are never spent on anchor but always in ports;

Deck space is also a bit limited. You can spend time on sunroof in the sun or near saloon in the shade. As there are around 30 or more people on board it can be a bit crowded sometimes.

Cabin charter Croatia - Gulets

In Croatia gulets have a size from 20 and up to 30 meters max;

They have from 5 and up to 7 or 8 cabins max;

As there are fewer people on board, prices are higher. So Standard gulets have prices from € 700 – € 1.000 per person per week, while luxury gulets can have prices up to € 1.400 per person per week including food;

In gulets you eat “al fresco” (outside on deck) most of the time;

Gulets have lots of deck space, they spend also nights on the anchor and are more comfortable to cruise on. Cabins can be smaller than on motor sailors.

If you are looking for more of an easy going experience, with fewer crowds, with more nature and more relaxed cruise, then I would suggest you gulets. If you are looking for more of a town explorations, you do not mind a bit mass tourism and you wish to have a bit more comfortable cabins, I would suggest you motor sailors.

I had great fun on both concepts, to be honest. But gulet cabin charter cruise was more fun for kids (more swimming and jumping in the sea) and less tight schedule. Also, you connect more with other people around you and also from my experience on gulets food is better.