If you’re considering a private yacht charter from Split, I can’t recommend Sparus Boats highly enough. We chartered their beautiful 45-foot Luxury Motor Yacht Colnago 45 for a full-day cruise, and from the moment we stepped aboard, we felt like celebrity VIPs.

The yacht is immaculate, spacious, and exceptionally well-appointed. Beach towels, snorkeling gear, a freshwater shower, Bluetooth music, and thoughtful amenities made the day feel effortlessly luxurious. We were a group of 12 spanning three generations, including our parents in their early 80s, and Captain Josip and Leonarda took incredible care of everyone. They were constantly checking to see if anyone needed anything, ensuring our older family members could safely board and disembark, and sharing their genuine love for Croatia. Their professionalism, warmth, and hospitality were truly the highlight of the day.

Communication with Dario during the booking process was outstanding. Every question was answered promptly, and the entire experience felt polished from start to finish.

Our itinerary included Bol, a scenic pass by Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn), two swim stops, Hvar, the Pakleni Islands, and lunch in Milna. Looking back, my biggest piece of advice is to spend extra time discussing the itinerary with your captain before departure. This route covers a surprising amount of distance, and it’s easy to underestimate how much time is spent cruising between destinations. If there is one place that’s especially important to your group, don’t be afraid to eliminate another stop so you have time to truly experience it.

For us, that was Zlatni Rat. I hadn’t realized we would only pass by from offshore for a few minutes. Had I known, I would have asked to spend more time in Bol so we could visit Croatia’s iconic beach. Likewise, our lunch restaurant was very good, but the slow service created unnecessary stress because we had to return to our cruise ship by 5:00 p.m.

One final tip: discuss provisioning carefully before your trip. We were glad we brought our own ice (yes, we are American) to keep the wine cold, and with an 8:00 a.m. departure, champagne or Prosecco for morning mimosas would have been a perfect addition.

None of these observations reflect on Sparus Boats or the crew—they were outstanding. They simply reflect the importance of tailoring the itinerary to your group’s priorities. Sparus Boats is a first-class charter operator, and I would enthusiastically book with them again.