Croatia has long made a name for itself as one of the world’s standout yachting destinations, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s the beautiful coastline, historic towns and charming islands, not to mention excellent seafood, local wines, and plenty of secluded spots to discover by boat. We got an actual feel for some of that for ourselves at the 2026 CROYA Yacht Charter Show in Split, where the Boatbookings team spent 4 days getting a closer look at some of the yachts available for charter around the Adriatic, which will take you to iconic yachting gems like Hvar, Dubrovnik, and Trogir, to name a few.
Boatbookings’ 2026 CROYA Yacht Show Experience, Up Close
The Boatbookings charter team and experts got up close with the biggest local and international fleet’s best yachts and saw firsthand what guests can expect on board. Over the course of the show, we toured a wide range of catamarans, motor yachts, sailing yachts, and superyachts, from around 20 meters to more than 30 meters, exploring everything from guest areas and deck spaces to onboard facilities and lifestyle features. We also enjoyed lunch aboard several yachts, giving us the chance to experience the service, atmosphere, and dining firsthand rather than simply viewing each yacht from the dock.
A Taste of Croatia During the 2026 CROYA Yacht Show
Food was an absolute highlight on board the many yachts. We tried various dishes specially crafted for the show as a preview of the many more creative bites they serve during their charters.
We also had the chance to visit other stunning yachts at the show, and the top-deck jacuzzi pools were easily among the features that made us want to stop, dip in, and relax for a while. Seeing them in person instantly had us imagining the scene: warm water, open views, your favorite drink in hand, and the sky slowly changing color as the sun sets over the horizon. It is the kind of moment that makes yacht life feel especially tempting.
Boatbookings’ Top 5 Picks: Our CROYA Yacht Show 2026 Favorite Yachts
Of course, we all came away with our favorites. Some impressed us with their design, others with their food, and a few simply had that something that made us want to stay on board a little longer. Here are the yachts that caught our attention and why we think they’d make for incredible cruising adventures in Croatia.
Favorite Catamaran Under 20m in Croatia | FARBEN
Best for Discovery, Adventure, Island Exploration and Hiking
Yacht Facts
- Bali 5.8 luxury crewed catamaran
- 4 cabins for up to 8 guests
For travelers who want to see a little more of Croatia than the usual island-hopping itinerary, FARBEN is a lovely place to start. The captain knows the Croatian coast inside out, and chatting with him quickly made one thing clear: he really loves showing people around his home country. He told us about Croatia’s history, the local dishes worth trying, and some of the quieter coastal spots he thinks are worth seeking out. He’ll even join guests on hikes ashore, so you can spend one day swimming in a secluded cove and the next exploring the landscape beyond it.
That sense of discovery carries through to the yacht itself. This Bali 5.8 catamaran has 4 comfortable cabins for up to 8 guests, along with plenty of space outside to relax between excursions. And then there’s the food. The onboard chef took first place in CROYA’s 2026 Chefs’ Competition, so guests can expect just as much thought to go into what’s served on board as where they’re taken.
Favorite Catamaran Over 20m in Croatia | AMBER ONE
Best for Food and Drink
Yacht Facts
- Sunreef Power 70 luxury crewed catamaran
- 4 cabins for up to 8 guests
The AMBER ONE has an energy that’s hard to ignore. Her dark exterior immediately caught our attention as we approached her in the harbor, but once we stepped aboard, it was the food and drink that really stood out. She is a luxury crewed catamaran for people who enjoy the finer details of a meal. The chef combines their experience as a professional chef and food stylist to create beautifully presented dishes, while the stewardess has professional mixology training and can create cocktails tailored to guests’ tastes. There’s even a dedicated bar area on the flybridge, which feels like exactly where you’d want to be as the sun starts to set.
And then there’s the yacht itself. It’s been named our team’s favorite boat of the week for a reason. With generous outdoor spaces and 4 stylish cabins for up to 8 guests, there’s plenty of room to enjoy a leisurely breakfast outside, come back from a swim for a freshly prepared lunch, or simply settle in with a drink and watch the Croatian coastline pass by.
Favorite Motor Sailer in Croatia | MARALLURE
Best for Activities and Themed Nights
Yacht Facts
- Custom 41m luxury sailing yacht
- 6 cabins for up to 12 guests
MARALLURE was built to bring people together, and that was one of the first things we noticed about her. At 41 meters, this luxury sailing yacht offers plenty of room for a group to spread out, but just as many reasons to come back together at the end of the day. There are 6 cabins for up to 12 guests, multiple outdoor lounging areas and a spacious flybridge with a jacuzzi, already enough to make a very good case for settling in here for a week. But the crew takes the social side of things a step further with themed evenings, karaoke and a projector on the flybridge for movie nights under the Dubrovnik sky.
Then, of course, there are MARRALURE’s impressive water toys, from wakeboards to water skis. Whether your group wants to spend the afternoon racing across the water or doing absolutely nothing at all, there’s plenty of room for both.
Favorite Motor Yacht Under 30m in Croatia | ZATARA II
Best for Socializing and Sunbathing
Yacht Facts
- Sanlorenzo SL90A luxury crewed motor yacht
- 4 cabins for up to 8 guests
Some yachts make you want to explore every corner of them. ZATARA II made us want to find a comfortable spot, order a drink, and stay there for a while. This Sanlorenzo SL90A luxury motor yacht has 4 cabins for up to 8 guests, including a full-beam master suite on the main deck. Outside, there are spacious sunbathing areas on the bow and aft, as well as an open-air flybridge where you can gather with your group. ZATARA II is the kind of yacht that will make you want to put your phones away, chat with loved ones, and live in the moment.
We could easily picture a day here starting slowly with breakfast outside, followed by a swim in one of the Adriatic’s clear coves, then an afternoon stretched out on the sunbeds. Come evening, you can head back up to the flybridge and watch the coastline change color as the sun goes down.
Favorite Motor Yacht Over 30m in Croatia | MIRAGE IV
Best for Water Sports and Wellness
Yacht Facts
- Princess 40m luxury crewed motor yacht
- 6 cabins for up to 12 guests
MIRAGE IV had us feeling a little like kids in a sweet shop once again. Except the sweet shop was a 40-meter Princess luxury motor yacht, and instead of sweets, it was packed with water toys. There’s a slide from the sundeck, a climbing wall, an Air Blob, a sea pool, a jet ski, SeaBobs, and an electric surfboard, alongside plenty of other equipment for getting out on the water. You could easily spend an entire day trying something different without ever needing to leave the yacht. And when you’ve had enough adventure for one day, there’s plenty of space to switch gears. The expansive sundeck has a jacuzzi and room to stretch out in the sunshine, while the yacht’s comfortable interiors and 6 en-suite cabins give everyone somewhere to retreat when they want a little downtime.
With a professional crew and an impressive selection of activities, MIRAGE IV is particularly well suited to families or groups who want a cruise where the yacht itself is part of the adventure and not just the way you get from one Croatian island to the next.
Get Ready for Your Next Croatia Yachting Escape with Us!
Ready to plan your own Adriatic escape? Get in touch with one of our charter experts to create a bespoke Croatian itinerary aboard one of these standout yachts.