Splendid | Croatia

Boat

Built in May 2014, M/S Splendid is a 38.50-metre steel Croatian cruise ship with an 8-metre beam and 2.40-metre draft. Two 350 hp Scania engines deliver a stated 8.5-knot cruising speed and 11-knot maximum. The technical table records three generators, an 8,000-litre fuel tank, 55,000 litres of fresh water, 18 guest cabins and six crew members.

The vessel's scale is suited to Croatia's island harbours, narrow approaches and sheltered coves. Days combine coastal navigation with meals, swimming and guided heritage visits; nights are generally spent alongside, so guests can dine independently and explore historic centres on foot. Safety equipment published by the operator includes video surveillance, navigation systems, smoke and fire detection, life rafts, life jackets and an onboard announcement system.

The main-deck salon-restaurant covers roughly 72 m² and opens to a 38 m² covered terrace. A second, approximately 60 m² sheltered terrace sits on the upper deck, while the 180 m² sun deck offers open-air lounging and a Jacuzzi. The stern platform, ladders and showers are used during authorised swim stops. Splendid delivers a more traditional, good-value small-ship atmosphere rather than the newest-yacht scale of the fleet.

Food service follows a small-ship rhythm: buffet breakfast every day, six three-course lunches, a welcome dinner and a Captain's Dinner on the standard weekly program. Menus mix Mediterranean, international and Croatian cooking. Dietary requirements should be declared before travel; the galley can make reasonable arrangements but cannot promise a completely allergen-free environment.

Cabin

Splendid's 18 cabins are distributed across three passenger decks: eight standard-deck, four main-deck and six upper-deck cabins. Double and twin beds are available; selected main-deck cabins may add a third bunk. Every room is ensuite and independently air-conditioned. Lower rooms use portholes, while higher categories offer windows and easier access to the public decks.

Published in-room equipment includes satellite LCD television, radio, safe, work surface, chair, mirror, bedside lights, hair dryer, 220 V outlets, wardrobe and under-bed luggage space. Each cabin also carries a life jacket and connects to the fire-alarm and cruise-manager announcement systems.

Daily cleaning is included. Bath towels are normally changed every second day and bed linen in the middle of the week. There is no passenger laundry service. Cabin size, stair access, window type, third-bed availability and solo-use supplement vary by category; confirm the exact room rather than relying on a generic photograph.

Diving and Water Activities

M/S Splendid is not a scuba-diving liveaboard. The operator does not advertise cylinders, compressors, a dive deck, equipment storage, dive guides, certification checks or organised dives. Scuba diving, rental equipment and dive insurance are therefore not included.

A certified guest who wants to dive would need to use an independent licensed shore centre during a sufficiently long port call. Transport, equipment and payment would be separate. Because weather, harbour congestion and the captain can change timing, no dive should be booked until Ambassador Travel confirms in writing that it fits the ship's schedule. The vessel will not wait for an unauthorised shore activity.

Guided snorkelling and loan equipment are not published inclusions either. Guests wishing to bring a mask and snorkel should ask about storage and local rules. The ship's tender is controlled by the crew and is not a general-purpose passenger boat.

The included marine activity is recreational swimming, when conditions permit. The captain selects safe bays and controls access from the stern platform and ladders. Deck showers allow guests to rinse afterward. Jumping overboard during navigation is prohibited. The Biševo Blue Cave visit uses a local excursion boat and is sightseeing—not cave diving or free swimming; entry can be cancelled by waves.

Other Information

The following separation reflects the operator's published 2026 vessel itineraries and general conditions. The confirmation for the selected sailing remains authoritative.

Published as included:

• Seven nights in the confirmed cabin category
• English-speaking cruise manager and the published crew complement
• Daily buffet breakfast, six three-course lunches, welcome dinner and Captain's Dinner
• Complimentary fresh fruit and a drinking-water dispenser
• Guided English-language walks in the cities named in the final itinerary, with wireless headsets
• Daily cabin cleaning, bath-towel changes every second day and midweek linen change
• Wi-Fi, public decks, rooftop Jacuzzi and scheduled swim stops when conditions allow
• CCTV and published onboard safety systems

Published as excluded or payable separately:

• Port and tourist taxes: the published 2026 amount is €50 per person per week, payable onboard in cash
• Biševo Blue Cave and Mljet National Park entrance fees on the published Elixir/San Spirito/Splendid programs
• Optional Vis Island tour and, northbound, optional Ston excursion
• Private transfers, flights, hotels, travel insurance and visas
• Most dinners, bar purchases and drinks beyond expressly included services
• Gratuities; the FAQ suggests 5–7% of fare for crew and 2–3% for the cruise manager
• Laundry, scuba diving, dive equipment, guided snorkelling and independent shore activities
• Solo supplements, upgrades and admission not specifically named as included

Practical booking notes:

• Published season: mainly April to October; weekly cruises normally depart on Saturday
• Duration: eight days/seven nights, one way rather than a return to the embarkation port
• Cabins: normally ready from 14:00; late arrival must be reported in advance
• Language: English is the official onboard and guiding language
• Wi-Fi: cellular and therefore variable between islands; not suitable for guaranteed streaming or remote work
• Food and drink: outside supplies are generally prohibited except authorised medical, infant or special-diet items
• Health: no onboard doctor or medical centre; travel and medical insurance are strongly recommended
• Accessibility: no adapted cabins; published terms say wheelchairs cannot embark and strollers are unsuitable
• Changes: route, port and even assigned vessel may change for weather, safety, port works or charter conditions

Splendid normally alternates one-way cruises between Split or nearby Omiš and Dubrovnik. The route links Brač, Vis, Biševo, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet and the Dubrovnik Riviera. Split port works can move embarkation, disembarkation or a transfer to Omiš, so guests must obtain the final berth shortly before departure.

Split/Omiš to Dubrovnik – Eight Days

Day 1 – Split or Omiš: Board from 14:00 at the confirmed port. When Omiš replaces Split, the operator publishes a group transfer and separate instructions. The welcome briefing and dinner introduce the crew and weekly plan.

Day 2 – Omiš and Pučišća: A Split heritage walk may precede navigation, depending on the berth plan. The ship crosses the Brač Channel to stone-built Pučišća, with lunch and time in Omiš or a swim stop according to the operational sequence.

Day 3 – Bol and Vis: Morning time in Bol focuses on the waterfront and Zlatni Rat. After lunch, the ship continues to Vis, where an independently paid island tour may visit Komiža; otherwise the old harbour and taverns are easy to explore on foot.

Day 4 – Biševo and Hvar: A local boat attempts the Blue Cave when wave height permits. After a bay stop and lunch, Splendid reaches Hvar for a guided old-town introduction and a free evening ashore.

Day 5 – Korčula: A scenic passage and possible swim precede lunch. In Korčula, a guide explains the fortified street plan, maritime history and cathedral quarter; dinner is chosen and paid independently.

Day 6 – Mljet and Slano: Guests visit Mljet's lake area before returning for lunch and sailing to quiet Slano. The Captain's Dinner is held onboard that evening; its exact entertainment depends on the published departure.

Day 7 – Elaphiti Islands and Dubrovnik: The final coastal leg passes the Elaphiti archipelago, with lunch before Dubrovnik. A guided city visit and transfer introduce the walled centre, followed by free time and the final overnight in Gruž harbour.

Day 8 – Dubrovnik: Breakfast ends the cruise. Airport transport is separate unless written into the individual confirmation.

Dubrovnik to Split/Omiš – Eight Days

Day 1 – Dubrovnik: Embark in Gruž with cabins from 14:00, welcome meeting in the evening and dinner onboard.

Day 2 – Dubrovnik and Slano: A coach and guide cover the Old Town before the ship sails to Slano. The Ston visit is an optional paid excursion, not part of the base fare.

Day 3 – Mljet and Korčula: The route visits Mljet's lakes, then continues after lunch to Korčula for a guided walk and free evening.

Day 4 – Vis: Navigation includes lunch and a possible swim stop. Vis is explored independently unless the optional island tour is purchased.

Day 5 – Blue Cave and Hvar: Blue Cave access is decided locally that morning. The ship then heads for Hvar, normally adding a swim, lunch and an included guided introduction.

Day 6 – Bol and Pučišća: Time at Zlatni Rat and Bol is followed by lunch and an afternoon in Pučišća. Captain's Dinner is served onboard.

Day 7 – Omiš and Split: The final full day combines Omiš, Split and Diocletian's Palace. The order and overnight port depend on Split berth availability, with transfers arranged according to the revised notice.

Day 8 – Split or Omiš: Disembark after breakfast and follow the operator's final transfer instructions.

Cruise Rhythm and Time Ashore

Life aboard Splendid is built around daylight cruising rather than long open-sea passages. Breakfast is followed by a port visit or navigation; lunch is served onboard on six days, often while moving to the next island. When timing, weather and traffic agree, the captain anchors in a protected bay for swimming. Arrival later in the day leaves a guided introduction and free evening ashore. Because only the welcome and Captain's dinners are normally included, the itinerary deliberately leaves room for local restaurants.

Swim stops are opportunities rather than guaranteed appointments. The captain chooses the place and duration, and may cancel access for wind, current, vessel traffic or a late port clearance. Blue Cave is even more weather-sensitive: guests transfer to a local boat, and the entrance can close after the ship has already reached Biševo. Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a light layer are more useful than specialist marine gear.

Choosing a Direction and Planning Connections

Both directions cover the central Dalmatian highlights, but their atmosphere develops differently. Southbound sailings build toward the dramatic arrival at Dubrovnik's walls; northbound journeys begin with Dubrovnik, then finish among the Roman layers of Split and the medieval lanes of Trogir or the Cetina scenery around Omiš. The best direction is usually the one that matches flight and hotel plans.

These cruises are one way. Dubrovnik and Split/Trogir are several hours apart by road, so a return flight from the embarkation city requires an independent transfer or an extra night. A published common coach between Split and Trogir/Omiš is a port-arrangement service, not automatically an airport transfer. Avoid tight same-day flights until the final disembarkation place and time are confirmed.

The route suits guests comfortable with gangways, stairs, uneven stone streets and occasional movement across neighbouring vessels moored side by side. City walks can include steps and summer heat. Travellers with mobility or medical needs should review the full route with the operator before paying a deposit, because the published conditions state that no adapted cabin is available and wheelchairs cannot embark.

Important Itinerary Notes

• This is a leisure and cultural cruise, not a dive safari.
• Swimming stops, Blue Cave access and small-boat movements depend on weather and the captain.
• Most dinners are free and paid ashore.
• The Vis and Ston tours are optional extras.
• These are one-way routes; arrival and departure transport must be planned from different cities.
• Split port works may shift embarkation or disembarkation to Trogir or Omiš.
• Guests must return by the announced time; the ship cannot wait for private activities.
• The captain may alter the sequence for safety and the operator may substitute a vessel under its terms.