Diamond

We stayed on in Split for three nights which partly explains this belated reply. We would do it again which really says it all. In fact we are interested, not now but maybe in twelve months time, in a similar cruise if it was between Venice and Split. The northern half of the Croatian coast. We think we were lucky to have one of the best cabins (4) and we wouldn’t want any less comfort than that. 

We liked the Diamond very much.The small but hard working crew were terrific.  Our timing was good as the vast crowds around Dubrovnik and Split in July and August had eased and the weather was hot but not too hot. Most of our fellow guests were Canadian who are friendly and good mannered. We didn’t think the food was very good apart from breakfast. We longed for a salad bowl. Despite the advertisement that there was a fresh water fountain on the boat they were rather mean in handing out half litre because titles which we thought was penny pinching. 

The concept of the 499 ton boat really appeals to us. We wouldn’t take a cruise on the ordinary leviathan. We loved Croatia and think we saw the best of it. We had a splendid holiday.

Robin

Thank you for your feedback Robin. The Water cooler should have been in operation, and water is free on these cruises in Croatia from 2020 onwards. Powell Ettinger, The Small Cruise Ship Collection

Yes, we did enjoy our Croatian cruise.  The boat manager did a wonderful job, despite her youth!  She often had to re-arrange our programme because of the Captain having received instructions about where we could moor and the impact of the weather.  We had one very wet and rough day (when my friend was sea-sick!) but most of the weather was fine, with a gentle breeze to avoid getting too hot.  Dubrovnik was a great disappointment for me, being over-run with tourists, even so late in the season.  I would think it would be better to have a guided walk in the afternoon, rather than the morning, when there were so many others that it was difficult to keep with your own group.  Unfortunately, the walls were beyond our ability, but we had a taxi up to the mountains where the cable-car started, stopping at various viewing points, and then back via the new bridge to our boat.  I could recommend that.  We had spare time on the last day, owing to our late flight, and the cruise manager suggested we took the boat to Lokrum, a nearby island, and this gave us great views of the walls, etc.  The island is kept for wild-life, and we had to share our sandwiches with the peacocks!  Going out we did not see anything of Split, as the programme had been changed, and the guided walk in Split happened before we arrived at 7 p.m. instead of the next morning.  

The end of the cruise was not good for us, but in no way the fault of the cruise firm.  My friend lost her handbag when we got to the airport and she thought she had left it in the taxi, but it could not be found so the official at the airport found us accommodation for the night, and next morning the handbag was found on the boat, and returned to us, and then we had to pay for another flight back to the U.K. It was all a nightmare for us, but we must say the Croatians were very helpful and took great care of us. 

Going back to the boat cruise, we would have much preferred evening meals instead of the dinner at lunch time. We only had two, one the day we arrived, and then the captain's dinner.  In the evening we did not want another dinner, and were rather at a loss to find something to do, as it was getting dark by 7.30 p.m.  There is no menu for meals, but when I saw the size of the galley, I was not surprised, and the chef did well to prepare nearly 40 meals for us, plus more for the crew.  All the crew were pleasant and helpful, especially getting us on and off the boat safely.  We thought the wine and drinks were VERY expensive, so did not drink much on the boat, and the allowance of 1/2 a litre of water per day was not very generous if it is very hot.  Then tax was added to the bill as well.  We thought they were expecting very large tips, and we had to reduce them to a more reasonable level.  We were also stung very high charges when using the ATM in Gruz port and at the airport, which I have never experienced before in other countries.  However, we still enjoyed the experience.  And Vicky was very helpful when we made the booking.