Wichtige Hinweise & Informationen

Our Vessels

There are three different types of boats. You may choose between classic style wooden boats, modern boats with a steel hull, and comfortable motor yachts.

The boats differ in size, equipment and comfort – please pay attention to the respective descriptions and the table “Technical Specifications”. All information and indications refer to January 2016 – changes in appear- ance and structure may be possible, due to off-season overhauling.

Occasionally, during wintertime, it may happen that a Captain decides to sell his boat or to buy a new one. It is therefore possible that a ship will be steered by another Captain with another crew. In addition, some crew members may change the boat they work on.

Some wooden vessels in our fleet are already more than 100 years old – which actually means that only the name and the hull shape are for real that old. During renovation and overhaul, over the years, all ribs and planks, nails and screws were replaced. One thing, however, all vessels have in common: They are not to be confused with the large cruise ships – you will live on board in convivial company, without any major formalities and without having to care about dress codes.

Cabins

The cabin size may differ from ship to ship, and then again from cabin to cabin. The cabins in small and simple ships are, on average, about 4-6 m 2 ; in superior and larger ships about 7-10 m².

The cabins offer enough space to sleep in and stow a duffel bag or a travel sack. They are usually func - tional, and have, in addition to beds, a small wardrobe and/or an open shelf. The cabins of our superior ships offer more storage space, 220-volt outlets and reading lamps.

On some vessels, you will find cabins where the beds are arranged one above the other (bunk beds; mostly without a ladder), while our superior ships feature queen-size beds or two single beds. Triple cabins usually have a queen-size bed, with a third bed above or aside. To learn more about type and arrangement of the beds, please read the ship descriptions carefully.

The majority of the vessels features cabins with ensuite facilities (shower, toilet and a sink). These are partly wet cells, separated by a door from the cabin space; in general there is no shower curtain or shower stall. The shower water flows into a floor drain. However, most of our modern steel-hull vessels are equipped with shower stalls or shower curtains.

Have a look at the table “Technical Specifications” to get a general overview of vessel length and width, and of the number of cabins. Cabins below deck have a ventilation shaft and/or a porthole. Many ships have cabins both, below and on deck; in the ship‘s descrip- tion there is also a distinction between main and upper deck. When making your reservation, you may choose between cabins on deck or cabins below deck (subject to availability). Please note that with booking of a cabin on deck, the cabin could be located either on the main or on the upper deck of the vessel. Pref- erences regarding a certain deck or a specific cabin number are not subject to prior confirmation.

The allocation of the cabins is generally organized according to the date of reservation.

At your arrival, beds with clean and crisp sheets will be waiting for you. For your convenience, towels are provided on all our vessels (two towels per passenger per week). You are kindly requested to bring your own beach towels. Since the crew will not enter the cabins during the cruise (except on deluxe vessels), the guests are responsible to keep them in order. Also showers and toilets will not be cleaned by the crew during the tour. Shared bathroom facilities are cleaned daily during the entire journey.

On our deluxe ships MY Vita and MY Mystic, cabins are cleaned and towels are changed daily.

The number of cabins indicated in the descriptions, refers to passenger cabins only. The crew members have their own cabins on board, which are not listed in the descriptions.

Air Conditioning

Almost all ships have air conditioning in the lounge, the majority of the ships now have also air-condi- tioned cabins (with individual controls). Ships without air conditioning in the cabins are provided with an air conditioner in the aisle below deck. With air condi- tioning in the aisle, a cooling effect in the cabin is of course only possible if you leave the cabin door open. Generally the air conditioners are activated only when the boat engine or generator is in operation, or when the ship is connected to the mains supply on land. At overnight stays in secluded coves and small fishing villages without power supply, air conditioners are usually turned off, since it is not possible to run the engine or aggregate without disturbing the night- time peace. In some ports, it may happen that the elec- tricity supply is too weak to provide enough power for multiple ships and their air conditioning at the same time.

Footwear

Appropriate footwear on board are lightweight and comfortable shoes such. B. textile sports shoes (Converse, Vans), flip flops or crocs. Wearing high heels (pumps) or wooden clogs on board is not permitted for reasons of safety and consideration.

The Food

… corresponds to Mediterranean standards. The break- fast is simple, including coffee and tea, bread, butter and jam. Partly, you will get cold cuts, cheese, eggs or yoghurt as well. The main meals (lunch and/or dinner) usually consist of soup or starters, meat or fish with side dishes and salad, and dessert or fruit. Although our tours are sea voyages, and you often will be served fish, mainly meat is on the menu.

On request vegetarian food is available on all ships – please inform us at the time of booking if you require vegetarian food. Vegetarian food does not mean that special menus are prepared; rather more side dishes (vegetables) will be served instead of meat.

The preparation of special diet food is possible by exception only. Please advise us prior to making your booking if you require special diet food.

Only the new Yoga Cruise is an exception. To complete the experience of well-being, the cuisine on board is mainly vegetarian. Please let us know about any food intolerances at the time of booking so that we can take your needs into account.

Half board or full board is available, depending on the ship (see the price list).

“Half board plus” (HB+) comprises breakfast and lunch or breakfast and dinner. The half board plus service starts with a lunch snack on the day of arrival, as soon as embarkation is completed. Later on, dinner will be served. Furthermore, a captain’s dinner is held once per voyage. On the other days, dinner can be enjoyed in restaurants ashore. Now and then the captain may offer you to dine on board (e.g., during overnight stays in sheltered bays); this service is subject to be paid sepa- rately on board (approx. € 10 to € 25 per meal and person, depending on the order and selection of dishes). Meal service ends with breakfast on disem- barkation day.

Full board consists of breakfast, lunch and dinner; meal service begins with a lunch snack on the day of embarkation and ends with breakfast on the day of disembarkation.

The “half board plus” service also applies to all our “Island Hopping by Bicycle” cruises. It starts with a lunch snack on the day of embarkation and ends with breakfast on disembarkation day. Mostly, you may enjoy lunch in typical local restaurants or taverns (not included in the tour price), while dinner will be served on board. Depending on the itinerary, it might also happen that lunch is served on board, while you will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants ashore.

On our Island Hopping routes we have adapted the menu to meet the needs of cyclists. For breakfast, in addition to the usual coffee or tea, bread, butter and jam, also cold cuts, cheese, corn flakes, muesli, fruit, juices and dairy products like yoghurt will be served.

On our Hiking Cruise we will serve full board; lunch is served either on board or in lunch boxes during the hike.

Embarkation

In the ports of Rijeka and Zadar, embarkation takes place from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm, in the port of Trogir from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm. Guests arriving later, will be informed by our staff where to embark.

If arriving at the ports of Rijeka and Zadar by your own car, you can enter the port already from 10:00 am. Our Service Team will accompany you to the parking garage respectively the parking lot, and transfer you back to the port.

If arriving to the port of Trogir by your own car, you can approach our parking reception already from 10:00 am. Here, you will park your car, and our Service Team will transfer your luggage to the port.

The port of embarkation for passengers arriving by plane depends on the flight schedule.

Guests, who book their transfer with I.D. Riva Tours, in the case of late arrival of their flight, will be transferred to the first overnight port, to embark there in the late afternoon or evening.

With transfer booking via I.D. Riva Tours and flight arrival to Rijeka airport until 11:30 am, embarkation in the port of Rijeka is guaranteed. With flight arrival to Zadar airport until 12:00 noon, embarkation in the port of Zadar is guaranteed. With flight arrival to Split airport until 12:30 pm, embarkation in the port of Trogir is guaranteed. Passengers arriving later will be transferred to the first port of call for embarkation. Please note that there are no refunds for any unused services due to late embarkation.

With transfer booking via I.D. Riva Tours and flight arrival to Rijeka airport until 11:30 am, embarkation in the port of Rijeka is guaranteed. With flight arrival to Zadar airport until 12:00 noon, embarkation in the port of Zadar is guaranteed. With flight arrival to Split airport until 12:30 pm, embarkation in the port of Trogir is guaranteed. Passengers arriving later will be transferred to the first port of call for embarkation. Please note that there are no refunds for any unused services due to late embarkation.

If chartering one of our ships, you can decide about the time of embarkation and the start of the cruise by your- self. The time frame is set for embarkation from 11:30 am on the day of arrival and for disembarkation until 9:00 am on the day of departure.

Clothing and Luggage

Leave your evening gowns and suits at home – casual holiday wear, such as shorts and T-shirts, as well as swimwear, are more appropriate. For cooler evenings (especially during the off-season), we recommend a sweater or a sweatshirt; also a rain jacket can occasion- ally be useful. Since the storage space in the cabins of most ships is not very generous, you should avoid suitcases (especially bulky shell suitcases) and bring a duffel bag or sports sack instead.

Even if the ships are always guarded by at least one crew member, you should leave valuables at home. I.D. Riva Tours disclaims all liability for any lost, stolen or damaged personal property.

Beverages

The boat saloon functions as restaurant, lounge and bar at the same time; here you will always get cool drinks – with or without alcohol. Typically, the beverage consumption will be entered in a “checklist” and then settled at the end of the journey. Of course, drinks on board are more expensive than in the supermarket, but remember that you are on a small „floating“ guest house. The prices of the drinks, however, are generally lower than in hotels and can be compared to those in cafés and pubs; for example, about € 1.50 for 0.5 litres of mineral water, € 2 for soft drinks, € 2 for 0.3 litres of draught beer, and from about € 15 for a bottle of wine. It is not allowed to bring drinks on board.

Should you, however, wish to bring your own bever- ages for onboard consumption, this needs to be arranged with the captain in advance. A corkage fee applies.

Disembarkation

Disembarkation generally takes place on the last day until 9:00 am. The crew needs time between disembar- kation and embarkation, to organize the cabins as neat and tidy, as you found them upon your arrival.

Travel Documents

Croatia is EU member country since July 2013 but still is not a member state of the Schengen Agreement. Therefore, passport controls still take place when entering or leaving the country.

To enter Croatia, for EU and Swiss citizens, a passport or identity card is sufficient. Accompanying children need an own document of identification as well.

To enter Montenegro (Route T4), as well as Bosnia- Herzegovina (Route T5), for EU citizens a valid identity card is sufficient. Upon entry into Montenegro with an identity card, a free entry permit is issued at the border, which grants the right to stay in Montenegro. To avoid time-consuming paperwork at the border, it is prefer- able, however, to enter the country with a valid pass- port.

To be able to create the passenger lists for entering Montenegro, we need the personal data of all participants two weeks prior to departure (name and surname, passport or ID number, date of birth, nationality).

Citizens of non-EU countries are kindly requested to ask for information in relevant embassies or consulates.

Arriving by Plane

The port of embarkation for passengers arriving by plane depends on the flight schedule. Guests, who book their transfer from/to the airport with I.D. Riva Tours, will be in the case of late arrival of their flight, transferred to the first overnight port, to embark there in the late afternoon or evening.

Please note that there are no refunds for any unused services due to late embarkation.

With transfer booking via I.D. Riva Tours and flight arrival to Rijeka airport until 11:30 am, embarkation in the port of Rijeka is guaranteed. With flight arrival to Zadar airport until 12:00 noon, embarkation in the port of Zadar is guaranteed. With flight arrival to Split airport until 12:30 pm, embarkation in the port of Trogir is guaranteed. Passengers arriving later will be transferred to the first port of call for embarkation.

If travelling to the port of embarkation by air, you are responsible for your transfer to the port of embarkation or to the first overnight port. Of course, you can book your transfer from the airport to the ship and vice versa as a separate service with I.D. Riva Tours. The applicable surcharges you will find in the price tables.

Since most return flights are scheduled around noon or in the afternoon, you may still have the opportunity for a relaxing shopping trip or a visit to the beach.

From the port of Rijeka, the transfer to the airport on the island of Krk takes place on Saturday morning, immediately upon disembarkation. If your flight departs in the afternoon or evening, you can choose if you like to be transferred directly to the airport or to the town of Malinska. In Malinska, you can enjoy your last vacation day at the beach, while our partner agency is keeping your luggage safe. Without an addi- tional surcharge, you then will be transferred to the airport on time.

Luggage Storage

If you combine your cruise with a hotel stay, you might not want to take your entire luggage on the ship. In Rijeka, you can leave your luggage in the baggage room of the bus station (about 300 metres from the port of embarkation). The cost is approximately € 1.50 per day, per piece of luggage. In the ports of Zadar and Trogir, our representatives will suggest appropriate solutions. The cost is about € 10 per item, per week.

Parking at the Port

In all ports of embarkation, we will be happy to arrange secure parking lots for you; please inform us about your needs and wishes already at the time of booking. In Rijeka, a parking garage for passenger cars is avail- able – the fee is 360 kunas (approx. € 50) per week; in Zadar and Trogir, parking fees are 300 kunas (approx. € 40) per week. Parking fees are to be paid on-site, in local currency kuna (HRK). Parking lots, availability and fees for other kinds of vehicles, like caravans or trailers, are subject to prior request. The parking lots are guarded, but not insured through the car park opera- tors or us. There might be coverage in case the vehicle is comprehensively insured (basically the same liability rules apply as in parking lots or parking garages in European Union). Upon arrival, please follow the direc- tions you receive from us with your travel documents and sign up with our representatives at the port. The parking garage in Rijeka and the parking lots in Zadar are located outside the port area – our Service Team will accompany you there and transfer you back to the port. In Trogir, you will park your car at our parking reception, just a few minutes by foot from the port.

Electricity and Water

Of course there are electricity and water on board, but not in unlimited quantity. All ships have 220-volt generators, which of course are, considering the night- time peace and quiet, not always in operation. The same applies when anchoring in secluded bays, as it certainly would not be pleasant to take a sunbath on deck, “accompanied” by constant motor or generator noise.

We kindly ask you to pay particular attention to the use of high-performance electronic devices, such as hair dryers. With simultaneous operation of a number of hair dryers, the electrical system is quickly overloaded and fuses to interrupt the power supply.

The capacity of the water tanks is related to the number of cabins; there will be sufficient water for washing and showers, even when the tanks cannot be refilled for several days. This presupposes, however, that all passengers use the precious liquid with some common sense. The ships usually use a central hot water system for showers.

WiFi-Internet

Since 2014, WiFi internet access is available on all our vessels. You may use this service with your own laptop, tablet or smartphone. Please note that due to technical reasons, it will not be possible to surf the internet 24/7.

Fair Usage Policy

The WiFi internet access on our vessels works via UMTS/ HSPA. This means that there are no flat rates avail- able so far and that the provider might impose limits on downloading, or throttle the speed. Please respect the service limitations and refrain from downloading large data files such as movies, videos, or music. In case of non-compliance, the captain reserves the right to terminate the service at any time.

Dependent on internet connection?

Our experience during the last two years indicated that sometimes the monthly traffic volume aboard is being consumed already after a couple of days. There- fore – if you are depending on an internet connec- tion – we recommend to buy a Croatian data SIM card or an appropriate USB modem with a prepaid tariff. For example, the service provider VIPnet offers a USB modem including a data SIM card for € 26. Alter- natively, you can buy a data SIM card only for € 11, ten days of internet usage included. For 24 hours of internet usage up to 1 gigabyte at highest speed, you’ll pay just 10 kunas (€ 1,30). Prepaid vouchers are avail- able at all kiosks and fuel stations.

Environment

In the interest of environmental protection - enshrined in the Croatian Constitution - we urge you not to throw any waste into the sea or down the toilets. In all ships there are sufficient waste disposal, in order to ensure an environmentally correct waste removal.

Please help actively to keep our Adriatic Sea, the “bluest” of all seas, clean.

Sleeping on Deck

Many of our guests consider it a unique experience to spend the night in the open air, under the starry skies of the Mediterranean. There is of course plenty of room on deck, but please bring a sleeping bag and a foam pad or air mattress, as mattresses and bedding from the cabins are not allowed to be carried on deck.

Payment on Board

Sojourn taxes and groundage, as well as drinks and all extras on board can be paid in the local currency Kuna (HRK), in Euros (EUR), Swiss Franks (CHF) or US Dollars (USD). Credit and debit cards are not accepted.

Night-time, Peace and Quiet

Usually, at 11:00 pm, it gets quiet on board. This is of course not a rigid rule, but rather depends on the formation of the “Holiday-Crew“ – on some ships the party will go on a bit longer than on others. Due to their construction, the ships are clairaudient, and in many ports, due to space constraints, several vessels may anchor side by side – therefore, mutual consider- ateness is appropriate.

Generally, the ships moor in harbours of larger towns (see route descriptions). Since the harbour is usually the lifeline of those towns, and since on summer evenings, all social life in Mediterranean countries takes place outdoor (restaurants, cafés, pubs, terraces), the evenings and nights are usually somewhat live- lier. Especially in the months of July and August, in the most coastal places traditional annual festivities are celebrated, which often last until the early morning hours. I.D. Riva Tours has no influence on any noise in various ports.

Music and Entertainment

… are not uncommon on board – as are spontaneous parties. If you play a musical instrument, such as a guitar or harmonica, make sure you bring it along.

Routes

As individual as the single ships, so are the routes. They correspond largely to the descriptions in the catalogue, but may vary. Many captains will be pleased to show you their favourite bays, and in many ports, if several ships moor there for the night, there might be no space left.

Places mentioned in the route descriptions are not necessarily places to stay overnight. It may happen, for example, that in the afternoon you have the oppor- tunity to visit the relevant site and then continue to stay in another bay; or that you will stay in a bay over- night and visit the place mentioned in the tour descrip- tion only next morning. If for the night, both “bay” and “port” are possible options, it basically depends on the captain and on the desire of the majority of the guests, where to go. This applies in particular to the routes R7, R8, RP, Z7, T7, and T8. It is also possible that routes are done in reverse order; during Route R1, for example, half of the boats will start towards Cres instead of Krk, and then continue the journey accordingly.

We have designed our routes in a way to guarantee that each day‘s destination is within easy reach under normal weather conditions – it is up to the captain, to change the route according to weather conditions, or to extend or reduce port stopovers.

Regarding our sailing trip routes R8 and T8, the itin- erary depends on wind and weather conditions. Due to using the sails instead of the engine, it may occur that sailing time takes longer. Therefore, it may happen that swimming breaks and stays at the ports of call might be shorter than on our other cruises. Please note that access to the sun decks is restricted while the sails are set.

The route schedule of each ship can be found in the route plans, next to the price tables. This plan shows the situation of January 2016 and may change depending on bookings and occupancy – anyhow, when you book, we will inform you which ship is planned to sail the chosen route, or which route your ship will take.

Charter

When chartering a boat, it is compulsory for all passen- gers to book half board treatment. If you opt for full board, this will be binding for all tour participants; the combination of half and full board within a charter group is not possible. However, it is possible for the entire charter group to book half board on specific days and full board for the remaining days (e.g. 3 days half board and 4 days full board). Please inform us at least four weeks prior to your travel date. The selected catering is to be paid equal to the respec- tive minimum number of charter participants, set for the surcharge calculation (see table with charter prices).

The list of participants must be delivered at least four weeks prior to the travel date; until four days prior to departure amendments regarding passenger number and names are free of charge (see also our “General Terms and Conditions”).

The routes within Croatian territorial waters can be discussed individually; the average daily sailing time is about five hours (= 35 hours per week), but not more than seven hours per day. When exceeding the average daily sailing time, a fuel surcharge applies, payable to the captain. You should therefore inform us in time, if possible already at the moment of booking, about your route requests and wishes, so we can estimate the daily sailing time and calculate a possibly applicable fuel surcharge.

Example: While the Routes R1 or Z2 are within the scope of the charter price, for the Routes T1 or T3 a fuel surcharge of € 20 or € 50 per person applies (the fuel surcharge is subject to be paid per person, according to the minimum number of charter participants).

Sports activities, such as bike tours, during a charter trip are possible only on request and on certain ships; additional fees or costs will apply. See also “Important Information about Charter”.

»Shared« Twin Cabins

When booking one of our active cruises (“Island Hopping by Bicycle”, “Active & Cappuccino” and “Hiking Cruise”), you may also book “shared” cabins without surcharge. In this case, you will share your cabin with another person of the same sex. For all other cruises, shared twin or double cabins are not available, but single cabins (only MS Kruna Mora, MS Maček, and MS Carpe Diem) or twin/double cabins for single use (see price list for surcharges).

Life on Board

A cruise on one of our boats is certainly a unique expe- rience. But please note, that those planks have their drawbacks: stairs are narrower and steeper than you may be used to; after a rain shower or with morning dew, the deck can be slippery, thus creating numerous “pitfalls”. Since wood is a living material and easily contracts under warm summer temperatures, in case of rain or bad weather, water could enter your cabin. In any case, in bad weather you should always make sure to close all portholes or windows in your cabin. Portholes and windows should also stay closed during sailing.

Since especially in high season many ports might be crowded, often several ships will moor side by side. We therefore ask you to take special care when climbing across other vessels to board or go on land, particularly in relation to the different deck heights of the vessels. This is especially important after the consumption of alcohol, since we are not liable for possible accidents.

Particular caution is also appropriate if you anchor in a bay and take a “bold leap” into the refreshing water. First of all, be careful not to hurt yourself while jumping from the deck; on the other hand, remember the increased danger of slipping, since the deck will be wet due to other guests coming out of the water.

Children on Board

Without any doubt, a cruise is an unforgettable expe- rience for children. Due to the special circumstances on board, we recommend our cruises only for school- age children who know to swim. Especially children will discover new things on board every day, like the many switches and levers at the helm, hoisting the sails or anchoring. We kindly ask you to consider the risk of accidents and to take appropriate precautions, since parental supervision on board is your responsibility.

Sailing

Normally our ships cruise the routes with engine opera- tion. Even if the conditions may vary depending on the design of the single ships, sails will be hoisted at least once a week, if the weather permits. Our new routes R8 and T8 are supposed to be done by using the sails only. Of course, the right wind and weather conditions have to be given. These routes are operated by traditional motorized sailing boats.

Fishing

The Croatian Adriatic is an ideal fishing ground. Of course you can bring your fishing gear and use it from the boat or from the shore. You will need a fishing license, issued by many local travel agents (extra fee applies).

Pets

Pets are not allowed on our cruises.

Smoking Policy

For the comfort and enjoyment of everyone, smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas, including the cabins. Smoking is permitted on the open decks only. Please use the ashtrays provided and do not throw cigarette butts into the sea. For the comfort of all of our passen- gers, we request strict adherence to this policy.

Representatives and Guides

In the ports, during embarkation and disembarka- tion, you will be assisted by the Riva Service Team. Our representatives are available as contact persons at the port of embarkation (they will accompany you to the parking lot, answer questions about the location of ships, etc.). On board, a short welcome meeting will take place.

The regular itineraries, such as R1, R2, T1, T3, etc. are not guided routes – this means that you will not have a guide on board. Sightseeing tours or excursions according to the route descriptions are done by local guides.

Active cruises like Island Hopping by Bicycle or the Hiking Cruise are guided routes, i.e., a guide will accompany you during the entire cruise as well as on the tours ashore.

Guided city tours of Rab, Zadar, Šibenik, Trogir, Split, and Dubrovnik are always done by local tour guides.

Not Included

Our prices do not include sojourn taxes (€ 7) and groundage (€ 14). The total amount of € 21 per week and per person (children up to 12 years: € 10) is payable upon embarkation.

Entrance fees to museums and national parks, etc., or additional excursions are not included and must be paid on-site, if not mentioned in the description explic- itly as included in the tour price.

Minimum Number of Participants

According to our General Terms and Conditions, our cruises are subject to a minimum number of partici- pants, required to ensure that the cruise takes place. The minimum number of participants for each ship is stated in the price tables. As soon as it becomes obvious, that the specified minimum number of partic - ipants will not be reached, we will inform you not later than 22 days prior to the travel date. Of course, we will also provide, availability permitting, an offer on an alternative ship.

Insurance

Travel insurance is not compulsory, however we strongly recommend that you have cover for your own peace of mind and security. Emergency medical coverage is most important. Insurance policies vary, so read the fine print carefully to see exactly what is covered, or ask your travel agent for advice.