The Croatian coast is not only one of the most indented, with several natural bays and beaches, but it also has a plethora of marinas, with over 12 500 sea berths and 7 500 ground berths.
All of the marinas along the coast, especially the ACI marinas, are well-equipped, with restaurants, bars, bathrooms, showers, parking, a grocery store, and much more.
Furthermore, since the marinas are well connected to the harbors and airports, one can easily get there whether arriving by car, ferry, or aircraft.
Traditional cuisine, water and power, doctor’s facilities, charter company services, apartment lodging, and electronic monitoring and protection of visitors’ belongings have also been added to the amenities of many ports of nautical tourism.
ACI, or Adriatic Croatia International Club, is a big participant in Croatian nautical tourism. The ACI marinas have excellent service and have helped to popularize sailing.
Regardless of the excellent service provided by Croatian marinas, continuous enhancement is still a priority. The ACI club offers a one-of-a-kind network of 21 marinas that stretches from Dubrovnik in the south to Umag in the north of Croatia’s Adriatic.
The ACI Club’s headquarters are in Opatija. In their 17 years of operation, ACI marinas have achieved recognizable level of service through their attempts to promote sailing and through the use of recognizable architectural characteristics.
Visitors to the new ACI marina will take advantage of other technological facilities, as well as restaurants, snack bars, supermarkets, laundromats, and other amenities that will enhance and make their stay more enjoyable.
Professional navigators recognize the ACI club as a dual sailing regatta organizer, with notable events including the ACI cup and World Cup in dual sailing organized in Dubrovnik in 1996 and Split in 2000.
The association is a partner in all big nautical fairs in Europe and stands out in the promotion of nautical tourism in Croatia.
The Croatian Marina Group, which promotes nautical tourism, has worked successfully with the Yacht Club Austria, the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce’s Board for Marinas, and the German Association of Motor Yachts.
Contracts for a five-year collaboration with the German association were signed in 1997. A one-year contract was signed with the Yacht Club Austria and the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, with the option of an immediate extension after the expiration date.
Croatian marinas, in exchange, receive full funding from Austrian information providers. They are granted unlimited access to all media available to the German motor yacht association (Sander magazine, daily and summer press, professional magazines, TV and radio promotion).
Since nautical tourism is one of our country’s most appealing tourist attractions, the Association of Nautical Tourism is where navigators can receive valuable and essential knowledge, as well as address and overcome technical concerns with the association’s assistance.
As a result, tourism is progressing to the delight and satisfaction of the navigators and visitors who have selected our coast, islands, and sea as their vacation destination.
Access, navigation, and stay, permission question, navigation protection compensation, paying demurrage, currency control, yahtmaster’s certificate, wintering of yachts in Croatia areas where navigation is prohibited, boat facilities, radio telephones, participation in sporting activities, transportation of vessels, boat rental & charter firms, change of creed At least during the day, harbourmaster’s offices and marinas can normally be reached on VHF channel 17.
Most harbourmaster’s offices have their own patrol vessels, which they can use to assist boats in trouble or though the weather is poor. Harbourmasters have the freedom to enlist the assistance of any appropriate boats, including foreign yachts, in compliance with international custom and tradition.
Marina facts in general
Marina berthing fees
In Croatian marinas, fees are charged for yacht berths and other facilities. In the fall, they are normally finalized and written for the next year.
Fees for mooring in municipal harbors
Local municipalities have the power to charge mooring fees on city piers in municipally operated harbors. The fee is determined by the size of the yacht and the length of the pier it occupies, meaning yachts moored alongside the pier will cost more than those moored at the stern or bow. The mooring fee is paid for each yacht while mooring “in a pack” (a group of yachts moored together). The size of the tax is set by the municipal government and varies from one harbor to the next.
Fees for Bay Berths
Local councils in some regions charge mooring fees for yachts moored in bays within their control. Garbage is obtained and, in some cases, groceries are distributed in exchange. The degree to which payments will be paid without any service being rendered will be governed by legislation in the future. Mooring fee collectors must produce a printed receipt to prove their identity.
Purchasing Food
Food shopping is easy to come by along the Croatian coast and on the islands. Both marinas and harbors have stores that are well-stocked. On small islands without a daily ferry service, though, there could be a lack of fresh vegetables and bread during extended periods of bad weather. The cost of food is equal to that of Europe. Restaurants on small islands can be more costly.
Both on the highways and in the harbors, fuel is readily available. All types of gasoline are available, including unleaded gasoline and diesel; however, unleaded gasoline stations are less popular on piers.
When gas stations are being supplied with petrol from tankers, they are temporarily closed for safety concerns. Over the off-season, gas stations will only be open for a few hours, normally in the morning.
During peak season, particularly in the morning hours, the large number of customers can result in long lines and long waits at gas stations.
Marinas provide water and electricity.
On the pontoon-piers of all Croatian marinas and some harbors, there are water and electricity hook-ups.
Water connections are normally 1 inch in diameter, with 3 inch connections being much less common. Most Croatian marinas need yachts to use hoses with taps during the summer months due to the risk of water shortages.
Electrification
The voltage in Croatia is 220 V AC. Three-pin “Euro-plugs” are found in marinas and public harbors (as well as camping grounds). A number of pillars in some marinas (Punat, Kremik) have ‘traditional’ safety sockets.
Some marinas’ power pillars are so far apart (for example, in Zut, Piskera, and Palmizana) that extension cables with insulated connectors (storm, rain) are required.
The number of power outlets is often inadequate to fit all yachts that need power at the same time. Extension leads with connection elements that are well-insulated