Romantica

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Enjoyed riding and visiting the islands, they were just beautiful. The crew of the Romantica were very attentive and friendly. The food was fantastic at every meal.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Wow! Hands down, one of our best vacations ever!! Everything was memorable . . . gorgeous landscapes (new eye candy every day!), beautiful weather (Sept. 20 - 27) - 70's and sunny, challenging exercise, exquisite meals, dipping in the crystal clear Adriatic . . . and, best of all, getting to know our terrific guides, Romantica staff, and travel mates from all around the globe (Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Canada, and the U.S.).
My husband (70) and I (64) love to bike ride, but we weren't quite sure what to expect on this trip in regards to elevation. The rides were tough, but so rewarding when finishing. I rode a regular bike 4 out of the 6 days; My husband rode a regular bike 5 out of the 6 days - it was so great that extra e-bikes were available so we had a choice on the most difficult days. Only 3 riders (out of the 26) rode regular bikes all 6 days.
We love adventure and active vacations . . . this trip was the best!!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Beautiful sites but people need to know that even with E-bikes, it was challenging due to hills. Only complaint was due to noise level , dining experience on board was unpleasant

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

When weather prevented our captain from sailing to two planned islands on the itinerary, it was Srdan (our guide) who had to revise plans for the day. He did a great job working on the fly!
We had a lovely group of travelers that knew how to have a good time!
The chefs have to be challenged preparing the amount of meals in a confined area. Breakfast was pretty standard every day, with an added boiled egg, scrambled eggs or French toast thrown in as an extra treat. They made an effort to present attractive meals.
It was disappointing not to be able to receive a cup of hot water for tea before bed, and wine is not available by the glass - only bottle.
For the shower you may want to pack a bar of soap. There is only a liquid soap dispenser at the sink.
We read the previous reviews suggesting an eBike. We are very happy we followed this suggestion. One day the ride had an elevation gain of 3K feet and another close to 2K feet.
Overall, we loved this boat/bike tour. Croatia is beautiful and discovering the islands was so much fun!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

We had a wonderful time in Croatia staying on the Romantica and biking and touring the Islands! The food was delicious and the crew and guides did a fantastic job!
I recommend renting electric bikes because it is very hilly. But if you are up for a challenge the hybrid bikes are for you! Enjoy!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The guides were wonderful. We had a mix of regular bikers and power assist. Every bike trip provided us with amazing views, an opportunity to see a new island every day to experience the people, culture and cuisine. Since the temperature was 90+ degrees every day, I would recommend not going on regular bike for the months of July and August. The accommodations and food on the boat were comfortable and plentiful. We met many nice people and appreciated that the boat only had 28 guests onboard. The guides and captain provided us with ample opportunities to swim, relax and enjoy one another. Croatia is a wonderful country. We loved the geography, people, culture, and the relaxed atmosphere. Being on the bike/boat provided us with the opportunity to explore the country away from the massive crowds that we were in the major cities.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The guides were amazing! The trip was so well organized. Due to weather they had to make a quick decision to change our route and it went effortlessly. The food on the boat wasn’t very good - I suggest giving people some options rather than plating and serving. The bathrooms only have a porthole so they lacked ventilation and were very stuffy. The staff worked extremely hard. We made wonderful friends from all over the world. All in all we had a marvelous vacation!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Top trip of a lifetime … cycling guides Tara and Filip were fun, skilled, delightful; boat crew including bar master Goldie were attentive and professional; the meals were plentiful and yummy; the boat and bikes well maintained and comfortable. But mostly … exploring the breathtaking islands by cycle, meeting locals, dropping anchor to swim, the history and architecture, sailing the Dalmatian Adriatic, our fellow travelers — all of it was beyond beyond.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

This is a delightful area to visit; the history of the walled cities along with the coastline, warm climate and great ride leaders made for an enjoyable trip. The climbs can be a bit challenging but e-bikes are available and they were the bikes of choice by 95% of the travelers. If you haven’t seen the “Pearls of Dalmatia”, you need to add it to your list or make it your next ride.

  Romantica Highlights of Dalmatia E-Bike & Boat
Croatia

Croatia is a beautiful and very clean country. The tour of Dalmatia was a fabulous overview of the outside islands. My most memorable part was climbing the uphills on the bikes. Even with an E-Bike it was a lot of work.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Our guides Ana and Bubi were most memorable; they were excellent and made us feel safe and informed. Ana is a gifted leader who always had a smile on her face.

The meals were nutritious and tasty; the portions were large ( often larger than needed). The crew and cooks worked very hard to make us comfortable and taken care of. The boat was clean and well maintained despite being older than the Harmonia.

The boat could’ve used chairs at the upstairs table so we could sit together there. One bench was good, but chairs are needed. Perhaps a wifi booster could be added in the captain’s helm so rooms at the front of the boat could stay connected.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

We had a lots of fun meeting the other guests and biking the islands. The crew were great and we were well looked after. The islands are very hilly with long uphills sometimes for 6 km. Even though it was not listed as an ebike trip, 29/30 of us used ebikes. If you are on the lower deck the port windows do not open. There are fans but I would have liked fresh air. For me the biking temperatures were great in April. We swam a few times after our bikes and found some nice beaches close to the port. The food is good and plentiful. The drinks, except water are extra. Coffee and tea are only included for breakfast so you need some cash at the end for your bar bill. The biking only took up part of the day so if you want to bike longer I would look for a different trip. Overall the people made the trip!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Everything about the trip was great! Even though we are experienced cyclists, we chose the eBike option. Our tour started in Dubrovnik and terminated in Split. On our cruise, there were 4 Americans, 2 Brits and the rest, a group of Canadians. Everyone got along well. Our two guides, Luka and Serge were excellent. My wife and I are swimmers. We swam every day. Every port in which we stayed for the night had a nice, clean city beach. Each day when the ship docked, we sought out the city swimming venue. My only suggestion is that we wanted to have access to our bikes even after the boat docked. Unfortunately, the bikes were always locked up as soon as we arrived at the boat. It would have been nice to ride our bikes to the city beaches instead of walking. Ib Dubrovnik, we swam at the 50-meter indoor pool, Bazen u Gruzu which was very close to where the ship docked. In Split, we swam at a huge swimming/water polo indoor facility, SC Bazeni Polzud.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Amazing trip with amazing views.
Cycle time was adequate with enough downtime to tour on yor own.
Crew was fantastic and met every need. Excellent food.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Tour guides were amazing as well the scenery on the islands , Dubrovnik and Split
Rent the e-bike as the hills on the islands are steep and long unless you just want an extreme work out and not a holiday

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Fabulous scenery on the islands
Comfortable boat with friendly crew
Great meals
Hybrid bike was dated but reliable

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Wonderful views while riding the isles , great support from the guides

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The people, the beauty of the country, the food and cycling/swimming experiences.

If you are looking to just cycle, cycle cycle this experience for me was leisurely but challenging due to the hilly landscape and I did NOT use an ebike.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

What a fabulous time we had! We could not have asked for a better trip with the best guides in all of Croatia. Alan and Dora were the best. They packed our trip with such great experiences, we could not be more pleased. Thank you!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Views from hilltops & the food on the boat!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The people in the group were great. I think the boat should offer free coffee and wine at dinner. Also there should be more biking.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The guides and the people we met were wonderful. The locations we visited were also great.
The bikes were quite worn and a number broke down regularly causing delays. We should not have been charged another $75 for drinking water as soon as we boarded. It was very strange that soap and shampoo were not provided for the showers. The bathroom had a bad smell and was very old and in poor condition. We were unable to do about 20% of the biking due to fears about the weather that were incorrect. We let you know that we could not have dairy when we booked 5 months in advance and yet the only alternative for dessert every day was a fruit cup while others enjoyed great desserts. I could go on but will stop as the guides, Dora and Alan were great. The captain was also very good but the bar/server could use some manner lessons.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

If you like to get some exercise, I think boating and biking the Dalmatian islands is the best way to see the best of Croatia. The communication with
Tripsite was great. Our boat the Romantica was very clean and comfortable. The food was plentiful and very well prepared. Our guides were very pleasant ,helpful and good at their job. I would have liked the bedding changed half way through the trip.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Meeting all the people and getting a chance to have meals with each of them.

Suggestions for the boat-
-include cappuccinos and other coffee and teas without having to pay extra.
-include a bottle of wine for each table at least one or two times as the prices were very high.
-clean tiles in bathroom better as there was black mold growing.

For others
- bring water shoes for going into water at beach stops

Other than that, everything was great!!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

When you think you had your best boat and bike trip ever, but then you decide I'll try another, and you wonder, how will it ever meet my expectations, and then! it exceeds your expectations, one couldn't be happier! This is a fabulous trip, the biking is undulating and a little challenging but the ebikes and the expert guides make it all possible. The crew went out of their way for our comfort, service when spending time on board, wonderful meals, clean rooms, and always finding a way to get us swimming in the Adriatic on days of high heat. The landscape, the historic ports, the charming town squares, and beautiful sunsets over the Adriatic made it a most memorable journey!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The boat was better than other trips, the staff were excellent. Croatia is delightful and the trip I took showed off many of its assets. The arranged tours were a bonus that were generally well worth the attendance. I had no issues with the trip that Tripsite or the local supplier could be held responsible for. The Romantica was a well resourced boat with an excellent chef (can't be faulted and should be paid more). The company on the trip was excellent (again out of Tripsite and the provider's control) and I have no hesitation in recommending this trip to others. Croatia should be on everyone's to do list.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Croatia is well known for its scenic nature and it does not disappoint. On our cycling trip we were constantly shown not only eautiful views of the coastline, but of the centuries old towns and cities. The swim stops in those wonderful waters were highlights of the days during or after bike legs. Our boat, the Romantica had a wonderful chef in Andeliqua, a steward, whose enthusiasm was another highlight, and our two guides who were always happy and helpful, and the crew were always calm, quiet and efficient. Day walks escorted by local tour guides added an extra dimension to the cities visited as well. Onboard services were very good. Coffee each morning on the rear deck was a great way to start the day.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The promenade at Split! Cycling was fantastic and perfect! City tours so informative! Loved the boat, guides and food! Best scenery ever!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The trip was absolutely fabulous. The staff was fun and friendly. The food was phenomenal! The only problem was the riding was way harder than described. My friends and I are very fit and ride regularly but these hills were brutal!

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

The incredible group of international participants and how we all enjoyed each other's company.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Guides Mirta & Kristofer were terrific and flexible. Angelina our cook served up meal after meal of tasty food & plenty of it. The bicycling was very scenic.
I would opt for an above deck cabin though, well worth the extra cost.

  Romantica Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia

Croatia is a very beautiful country that reminded me of Greece. Touring the various islands with bikes was exciting and filled with stunning landscapes and seascapes.
This is a place that would be great to come back to again!

  Romantica National Parks of Dalmatia
Croatia

The absolute highlight of the trip were the amazing bike rides. The tour guides, Marko, Marin and Mirta, were knowledgeable and fun! Our first time on eBikes! It made the bicycling effortless and we could completely take in all the sites. The entire trip was very well organized with hiking, biking and swimming most days (a triathlon!) Also, the scheduled tours on various islands were fantastic. The boat and crew were first class, very kind and accommodating. Croatia and it’s beautiful islands should be a must for everyone to see and experience via bikes and boats. Highly recommend this tour!

  Romantica National Parks of Dalmatia
Croatia

The beautiful water of the Adriatic Sea and the beautiful coastal views. Food on board was exceptional and bikes were excellent. I would suggest e-bikes for those shy of hills as there are a few tough climbs. Also bring water shoes as the beaches are more rock/pebbles. Kuna is most easily acceptable currency so have lots on hand

  Romantica Southern Dalmatia
Croatia

The guides, Senad and Martin, were fabulous. The Romantica crew we’re also excellent. Meals were great. Cycling was generally good, although there was one day where the roads were a bit busy and there was really no scenery to make it worthwhile.
The Romantica is an older boat, and some of the mattresses and pillows are much too soft. The other thing is that there is no soap or shampoo supplied for the shower. Supplying that wouldn’t cost much and would go a long way to increase satisfaction.

  Romantica Southern Dalmatia
Croatia

The itinerary is fantastic. The boat crew was excellent with food and service beyond what was expected. An E bike is very helpful as there are several long steep hills with 10 degree slope. The outdoor seating on this boat wasn’t great but everything else makes up for this.

  Romantica National Parks of Dalmatia
Croatia

Best part: How attentive and accommodating the entire staff (both the crew & guides) were to our needs and desires.

  Romantica Southern Dalmatia
Croatia

What an amazing way to see Southern Dalmatia - by boat and bike. From the first greeting arriving at the boat to the farewell breakfast, we had a truly outstanding vacation. We chose the e-bike option and are glad we did. Out of six days riding, one had nearly 1,000 meters climb, another day 600, and a couple more 500 meters. The e-bikes definitely made each ride fun for the entire group on the boat. Our guides were awesome - encouraging, informative, and engaging. The boat crew was fantastic, keeping us safe, sound, and happy the entire time. Each day was a different island, along with stops for swimming in the beautiful Adriatic sea. We were sad to see it end.

Bring your helmet and sturdy riding shows - they'll get a workout. You can even bring your own pedals and they will attach them to your bike.

  Romantica Southern Dalmatia
Croatia

Excellent guides, fabulous food, breathtaking scenery, challenging, but fun cycling(no e-bike), and great camaraderie!

  Romantica Southern Dalmatia
Croatia

My wife and I are biking enthusiasts and found this trip very exciting. But be forewarned it is a challenging ride and if your not riding a lot I'd recommend an e-bike. The guides were great, food was also great. We upgraded to a top cabin and found it very comfortable. Late Sept. weather was in the low 80's and sunny most days. My only negative was the bar bill and water bill were collected at the end of the trip and no credit card was accepted, cash only. I'd wrap the water bill into the price of the trip and collect the bar bill on a credit card. We also signed up for the "extension trip" which was two additional nights. We found this part of the trip poorly planned and a real disappointment.

  Romantica National Parks of Dalmatia
Croatia

The food on the Boat Romantica was wonderful.

  Romantica National Parks of Dalmatia
Croatia

Trip with some room for improvement.
As positive:
1. Bike guides were kind and always trying to fulfill all of our requests.
2. Waiter was really helpful, efficient and nice with all of us
3. Meals on board were tasteful
As 'not so positive':
1. All the the bike routes run 100% by car roads
2. We just were able to take a swim from the boat 2 or 3 times during the full week
3. Captain had to change the itinerary, that initially it did not sound as a problem until we finally spent 24 hours with the ship docked beside the garbage containers in a city with absolutely nothing to visit or to do... while enduring flies and really unpleasant smell...
4. Captain and part of the crew far from 'nice behavior' during the full trip until the last moment that they started to open the tip envelopes and count the money in the dining room with all of us still on board

As a summary, this National Park 'bike & Boat' trip was far from expectations.