Dubrovnik essential information

Sail

About the marina

Marina facilities
Sunsail yachts are located on quay No. E.  

This modern marina offers, electricity, fuel station, water, grocery shop, shower/toilets, laundry, tennis courts, swimming pool, weather forecast and hourly or weekly parking (for a fee). 

Shops are generally open from 7am until 7pm every day.

In the marina, the supermarket is also open from 8am until 8pm on a Sunday (1st June till 30th September, and low season from 8 am till 12 am). There is a money exchange in marina reception, and cash point machine at the supermarket entrance.

Near the entrance of the marina is a Konzum market. This is a local market and not a marina market, like in some marinas. The locals shop here and it sells a variety of produce from bakery, fresh fruits, vegetables, deli, dairy and fresh meat.

Dock facilities

• Fuel Station location: In the marina close to the Sunsail base

Sailing grounds

Experience level
Level 2

Get more information on Dubrovnik's sailing conditions.

Sailing area

Download Sunsail's Dubrovnik Cruising Guide here.

Sailing licences

Click here to view the sailing requirements in Croatia. 

Please contact one of our Vacation Planners for more information.

Skippered charter information
The skipper’s time is booked from 12pm-12pm in 24-hour periods. If you have reserved a skipper for the first day of your charter and have a 6pm start, he or she will use this time to ensure they are happy with all aspects of the yacht and will be at the base to meet you upon your arrival. If you've reserved a skipper for a later date on your charter they will start at 12pm on that day.

The skipper is responsible for the safety of the yacht at all times. They are not permitted to dive with you, nor leave the vessel overnight. He or she must conduct a safety brief with you before leaving the dock regardless of the duration of the contract with you.

For “check out charters” (anything less than the full duration of the charter) the check out skipper’s time is booked from 6pm-6pm to allow for a meet and greet in the evening and go over basic systems, then a full day with you the next day.

The skipper is required to give you a thorough briefing on all aspects of the yacht and dinghy in addition to assisting you with planning an itinerary for the trip and advising you on how to contact the base, the return to base procedures and the emergency assistance procedures. We suggest that you attend the scheduled chart brief that will be supplemented by the skipper during his or her time with you on the yacht. We also suggest that you make it clear exactly what you want to cover: anchoring, docking, etc.

The skipper fee does not include food or beverages for the skipper and this is your responsibility. We suggest that you discuss this on the first day with your skipper and establish whether you'll provide cash for meals, whether you've included him or her in your provisioning or whether you'll accommodate him or her as part of the group for meals ashore.

The skipper must have his or her own cabin. We prefer not to put the skipper in the bow due to the shared head and size of the cabin. If you expect your skipper to stay in the bow, please let us know well in advance so that we can choose the appropriate (small) skipper.

For one-day check out skippers, it's your responsibility to get the skipper back to the base. If you prefer not to come back to the base you must pay all expenses (ferry, taxi, etc.) to get him or her back to the base.

The average tip for a skipper is 15-20 percent of the skipper’s fee. This is, of course, at your discretion.

Skippers & Crew qualifications and boat papers
It is ESSENTIAL that we have all of the following details in advance:

• Full name per passport (include middle name)
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Nationality and passport number/ID card number for every member of your crew so that your boat papers can be prepared

Cruising Permits
Montenegro: It is possible to sail to Montenegro, a permit must be obtained from the Harbour Master in the port of entry in Montenegro, and you must go through the Clearing procedures for both legs of your journey. The Croatian Clearing Port is Cavtat, south of Dubrovnik, and the Montenegrian Clearing Ports are either Zelenika or Kotor.

All yachts arriving in Montenegro have to purchase a Montenegrian cruising permit costing approx. €100. Port fees in Montenegro are additional.  By law in order to pass clearance to go outside Croatian waters there must be two people on board who hold recognized skippers’ licenses - regardless of the size of the yacht. You must advise Sunsail in advance (at the time of booking if possible) if you plan to visit Montenegro.

Please note that the Croatian customs clearing procedure to leave Croatian waters can take several hours.  Sunsail will do everything to assist but please bear in mind that Sunsail is not responsible for delays caused or as a fuction of the customs clearing process. More information on the sailing in this area.

Sailing area restrictions
Restricted zones will be covered in your chart briefing. 

It is strictly forbidden to sail alone, we require two persons minimum on board.

Night sailing
You must be moored at least one hour before sunset. Night Sailing is not allowed without permission from the base manager. The decision to allow night sailing is based on your skill level and can be requested in advance.

You will need to fill out the Sailing resume for the base to review but we cannot guarantee approval.

Charts + pilot books
All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are issued at your chart briefing. Charts and pilot books can be purchased by mail order from the UK chandler Kelvin Hughes by contacting 02380 634911.

Weather reports
The best Meteo report (In English) can be heard on the following wavelengths on your VHF, initial call is on 16.

Radio Dubrovnik Broadcasting: 7.45am, 2.45pm, 9.45pm VHF channel 04, 07, 28, 85

Radio Split Broadcasting: 7.45am, 2.45pm, 9.45pm VHF channel 07, 21, 28, 81

Internet: http://meteo.hr

Marina or Harbour Master office has updated weather in the morning from DHMZ at reception.

The base will also inform you of local weather conditions upon your arrival.

Sailing permits + taxes
VAT (Value Added Tax): This tax is issued by the Croatian Government and is paid up front at 6.5% of the charter fee. -->

Tourism Tax (Sojourn Tax): Croatian tourism tax will be collected by our vacation planners at time of booking. The cost is 10 HRK per person/per day and must be paid for the duration of your charter. There's no charge for children under 12.

Moorings fees + taxes
Mooring fees are usually charged in harbors and on town quays by the local municipality. These are usually between €25 and €30 which is less than the per night charges in the larger marinas, but shower and toilet facilities may not be available. 

Well equipped marinas are common in Croatia and generally cost about €50 (for a 30 ft yacht) to €80 (for a 50ft yacht) per night. The actual price is dependent on the size of your yacht and the specific marina pricing policy. Shore power, water, and shower and toilet facilities are included in the cost of berthing in a marina.
If you use a private jetty free of charge, you are expected to eat at the owner’s restaurant.
In Hvar yachts are charged for anchoring as well as in National Park areas.

Health + safety

Swim Safe 

Swimming is often a fun and important part of a vacation. However local rules, flag systems, currents and where swimming may be permitted, can be different and vary from country to country. Snorkel vests, Life Jackets and Diver Down flags are all available on board. 

Children:

• Talk to children about water safety at the start of a vacation, making them aware of the potential dangers.
• Accidents can happen at any time on vacation, but often they happen on the first and last day, so keep watch and do not get distracted when your children are playing by, or in the water.
• Children in or near water should always be supervised by an adult and never left unattended. 
• Get in the water with them, it is easier to keep an eye on them as well as good fun. Floatation devices are highly recommended for children but are not a substitute for supervision.

Be aware of your surroundings

• Check warning flags and signage on the beach and only swim where it is permitted. 
• Beware of dangerous currents, these can be very powerful. Not all beaches have lifeguards and/or warning flags.
• Beware of underwater hazards, such as reefs, rocks, sudden changes in depth and marine life.
• Never swim where a sign says not to e.g. in zoned areas for jet boats or jet skis.
• Never swim at night or after drinking alcohol.

Look out for others

• Never swim alone, ‘buddy up’ with others in your party and use the snorkel vests provided.
• Know how and where to get help. If you see someone in difficulty; raise the alarm, preferably the emergency services. Ensure you know the correct number for the country you are in.

Do not overestimate your ability

• Consider swimming lessons before you go if you think it would be useful to learn proper swimming technique.
• Even if you regularly swim in a pool, remember that open water swimming can be very different.

Safety

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets, harnesses, snorkel vests & diver down flags. You can see all this equipment demonstrated in our online safety briefing, and we strongly recommend that you make use this equipment during your vacation. This safety equipment will be displayed in the saloon of your boat on boarding - If you have any questions feel free to ask our base staff during your briefing. 

We have a very limited supply of children's life jackets on base so highly recommend that if you are travelling with children, you bring their own. This ensures that children have correctly fitting jackets that are comfortable for them.  

Children should not be allowed in the dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and should wear a buoyancy aid or harness whilst on deck. 

Children under the age of 16 should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy. 

Travel advice
Dubrovnik is generally risk-free of contagious disease. Current travel, health, and safety information can be obtained by visiting travel.state.gov

Travel insurance
Sunsail offers comprehensive travel insurance for your complete peace of mind. If you have your own travel insurance, please make sure that it covers all of the destinations and activities of your Sunsail vacation. Visit here for more details.

*Please note country entry/exit and vaccination/immunisation requirements can and do change. Sunsail is not accountable for these requirement changes and we advise visiting the destination's authority website to receive the latest updates.

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Shop

Around the base

Accommodations
Hotel accommodation in Dubrovnik is generally more expensive than elsewhere in Croatia. Demand for beds is high in July and August, so you should be prepared to arrive early in the day, or book in advance. 

There are no hotels at the airport, the nearest accommodation being in Cavtat, around 5km (3 miles) away.

Hotel Vimbula
Tenturija 44
20236 Mokošica
Tel.: 00385 20 452 244
email: [email protected]

Berkeley Hotel
Ulica Andrije Hebranga
116A 20000 Dubrovnik
Tel: +385 20 494 160
Fax: +385 20 494 170
Email: [email protected]

Located on Gruz Harbour, Berkeley Hotel is a great base to explore Dubrovnik and its surroundings. As one of the few family owned and operated boutique hotels in Dubrovnik, guests staying here experience warm and friendly hospitality. 

Villa Konalic
Rožat Donji 15
Dubrovnik
Croatia
Tel: +385 (0)20 452 506
GSM: +385 91 453 12 33
Email: [email protected]

Villa Konalic is about four miles from the center of Dubrovnik. Public transportation is available to the Old Town, with buses leaving every 10 minutes.

Banks
Open from 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 12 noon Saturday. 

There are ATMs on most of the islands. Traveler’s checks are not readily accepted.
Cash can be exchanged at banks, post offices, exchange offices, travel agencies, marina offices and hotels. There are many small exchange offices in town offering a better exchange rate than the bank. They are open from 8am to 8pm.

Post office
The post office is situated in the center of the town. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm.

Shopping
When shopping in Croatia you may be offered receipts in shops far lower in value than the amount paid. Shops do this to declare less tax. The Customs Officers at your home airports are well aware how much most goods are worth. If you declare a lower value, you may have the goods seized and a heavy fine imposed.

Supermarkets are situated a short walk away from the bases. Shops are open from about 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day (some close for siesta) and the majority close Sunday mornings. Many of your favorite products and brands may not be available.

Dubrovnik offers a variety of experiences and memories such as walking the town walls and shopping at the many shops. Jewelry is stunning here, and handcrafted in the old town. You will find traditional necklaces, strings of coral and pearl, silver earrings with filigree work, rings and brooches.

Many local markets can be found selling embroidered table cloths, linen, Dalamatian wine, spirits, preserves and dried fruit. The morning market at Gunduliceva Square is great for souvenirs, while the morning market at Gruz is great for fresh local produce. A VAT of 18.5% is added onto all non-essential products and services purchased in Croatia.

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