Dalmatian Coast Small-Ship Cruise: Split to Dubrovnik, Island by Island

At a glance

• Trip: 7 nights, one way, Split to Dubrovnik, on a small ship of roughly 22 to 38 guests (Katarina Line says its vessels range from about 22 to 38 guests ).
• Route (representative): Split, Bol on Brač, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, Mljet, Ston on the Pelješac peninsula, Dubrovnik. Representative itinerary: confirm the ports and order on your booking.
• Money: Croatia uses the euro, as of 2026-10-17 to our knowledge; confirm on mvep.gov.hr. Budget for drinks and tips in cash euros.
• Fly in: Split (SPU). Fly out: Dubrovnik (DBV). Book it as an open-jaw.
• Watch this: Katarina Line currently says Split-area embarkations are organised from Trogir, Seget Donji or Omiš because of reconstruction at the Port of Split . Check your boarding point.
• Safety level: Croatia is Level 1, Exercise normal precautions, issued 2026-05-18 .
• Best months: late May to June and September for warm water without peak crowds.
• Best for: people who want a different island every night without unpacking.

The route in one paragraph

You board in the Split area, spend the first evening alongside, and then hop east and south along the Dalmatian islands. Day two is Bol on Brač for the pale spit of Zlatni Rat and a swim stop. Hvar town is next, with its fortress above the harbour. Vis, the remote island, comes after, then Korčula's walled old town. A small ship can tuck into Mljet, where the national park's saltwater lakes sit. The ship finishes at Ston on the Pelješac peninsula, known for its long wall system and the oyster beds, then glides to Dubrovnik. Swim stops punctuate most days. Operators reorder ports for wind and swell, so treat the sequence as a sketch.

When to go

May and June give you warm days and cooler nights, with fewer crowds on Hvar and Korčula. July and August are hot, busy and the sea is at its warmest. September is a popular shoulder month: the sea is still warm and queues are shorter. The Dubrovnik cable car is closed January to March and December, and runs 09:00 to 21:00 on October 1 to 20 , which tells you how the shoulder season thins out. Many islands feel shuttered by November.

Embarkation city in 150 words

Split is built inside and around the fourth-century palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The Cathedral of St Domnius is the emperor's former mausoleum . The old town is a living neighborhood of lanes, laundry lines and cafes, and you can walk across it in ten minutes. Arrive the day before so a late flight does not eat your embarkation. Stay inside or near the palace walls and walk the Riva waterfront promenade at dusk. Because Katarina Line says Split embarkations are currently organised from Trogir, Seget Donji or Omiš, ask your operator whether your ship leaves from Split itself or a nearby marina, and plan the transfer. Split also has luggage storage throughout the harbour, per the same page.

Rough cost, three ways

Fill the blanks from the official pages named. We do not quote cabin prices because they change daily.

• Plan your budget

  Your trip budget worksheet

  Prices change daily, so we don’t quote them. Fill this in from the official fare pages.

  Your trip budget worksheet

  Item	Your amount
  All cash: Cruise fare
  (operator's fare page) + flights
  night before
  drinks and tips in euros
  excursions
  Item 6

• Plan your budget

  Your trip budget worksheet

  Prices change daily, so we don’t quote them. Fill this in from the official fare pages.

  Your trip budget worksheet

  Item	Your amount
  All points: Flights in and out
  points + taxes
  hotel night
  points; cruise fare paid in cash

• Plan your budget

  Your trip budget worksheet

  Prices change daily, so we don’t quote them. Fill this in from the official fare pages.

  Your trip budget worksheet

  Item	Your amount
  Mixed: Cruise in cash, flights on points via the transfer chart in the full guide, hotel in cash. Total cash

Entry rules

As of 2026-10-17, to our knowledge, Croatia uses the euro and is in the Schengen area. We could not confirm either on an official page we opened today, so confirm both with the Croatian foreign ministry (mvep.gov.hr) before you publish or travel. EES and ETIAS entry systems may apply to US travelers; confirm the start dates on the EU's official pages. Check this on the official page before you book. For the State Department: the country to check is Croatia, Level 1, issued 2026-05-18 .

Packing and money in brief

Pack light and soft: cabins on a ship this size are small, and operators often prefer duffels to hard cases. Bring water shoes for pebble beaches, a hat, sunscreen and a light jacket for evenings on deck. Carry a cash float in euros, because Katarina says bar drinks are charged in euros and card use varies by vessel . Tipping is at your discretion on that operator, since the service charge is not included, so ask your line what is customary. Before you book, ask three questions: where does the ship actually leave from, which meals and guided visits are included in your fare, and how are onboard purchases paid.

Three free things

• Split: the Riva at dusk. Walk the waterfront promenade outside the palace walls. Photo subject: the Riva with Diocletian's Palace facade and the harbour at sunset.
• Hvar: the harbour steps. Sit on the quay and watch the boats come in. Photo subject: Hvar's main square and harbour from the water's edge.
• Dubrovnik: Gruž harbour and the evening walk to the old town. Photo subject: Dubrovnik's Pile Gate and the stone walls at golden hour.

What the full guide adds

Day-by-day stops with clock times, photo stops, rain plans and half-day cuts; the embarkation and disembarkation logistics; port-by-port pier notes with human-check items; a points playbook using only our verified transfer chart; hotel base cards; a cost sheet with blanks and the official page for each line; and a printable one-page plan.

This is the free lite guide. The full day-by-day guide, with maps, photo stops, rain plans and the points playbook, is part of PerkJolt All-Access.