What to Pack for a 7-Day Catamaran Charter in Croatia: 2026 Checklist

What to Pack for a 7-Day Catamaran Charter in Croatia: 2026 Checklist

Updated May 2026.

Packing for a Croatian catamaran charter is different from packing for a hotel holiday. Charter cabins are compact (8-12 m² per cabin), storage is built around soft bags and under-bunk lockers, and the right deck shoes matter more than the right shirt. This guide is the practical 2026 packing checklist — what to bring, what to leave at home, and the items most first-timers forget.

The bag itself

Use a soft duffel. Avoid rigid roller suitcases. The biggest single packing mistake first-timers make. Charter cabins don’t have closets sized for hard cases; the saloon doesn’t have floor space for them either. A soft duffel collapses into an under-bunk locker once unpacked. A rigid suitcase stays in the saloon all week, in the way, every day.

Sizing: a 70-100L soft duffel per adult is the right ballpark. Add a small daypack for shore trips and beach hops.

Clothing for the daytime

The Croatian charter daytime temperature range in season (June-September) is 24-32°C. You’re outside almost all of the time. Aim for light layers, mostly synthetic or merino, that dry quickly after a swim or rain shower.

For each adult, a 7-day charter calls for roughly:

— 4-5 t-shirts (one per day plus a spare). Quick-dry preferred.
— 2-3 lightweight shorts. One pair of “going-ashore” shorts in a fabric that looks decent at a konoba.
— 2 swimsuits. One stays wet on the deck rail, one stays dry in the cabin.
— 1 rash guard or UPF long-sleeve top. Croatian sun is intense from 10:00-16:00.
— 1 wide-brim hat or cap. Plus a backup — hats blow off underway and the maestral takes them on a long ride.
— Sunglasses with a retainer strap. Polarised. Floating frames optional but useful.
— 2 pairs of socks. For the rare evening when you wear closed shoes.

Clothing for the evening

Croatian evenings cool to 18-22°C in season, especially after the maestral kicks the breeze up to 16-18 knots. The boat at anchor in evening can feel cool quickly.

— 1 lightweight long-sleeve shirt or henley.
— 1 light fleece or zip-up. Especially for the early-morning anchor watches.
— 1 windbreaker or light shell. Maestral can carry rain showers in shoulder months.
— 1 pair of long trousers or capris. For konoba dinners that lean a touch more formal than the boat.
— 1 swim coverup / kaftan. For walking from the swim platform to dinner without a full change.

Footwear — the critical category

This is the single most-asked category at boat handover and the one charter operators care most about.

Deck shoes must be soft-soled and non-marking. The standard is white-rubber-soled boat shoes (Sperry, Sebago, the classic Top-Siders). Light-coloured soles only; black-soled trainers or hiking shoes get banned from the boat at handover. Bring two pairs — one stays on deck wet, one stays dry.

Other footwear:

— 1 pair of flip-flops or pool slides. For the swim platform and ashore quay walks.
— 1 pair of aqua shoes or pebble-beach booties. Croatian swim stops are mostly pebble or rocky bottoms — Stiniva, Brbinjšćica, the Pakleni rocks. Aqua shoes save your feet.
— 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes for the ashore-village walks. Light trainers or low hikers are fine; just not black-soled.
— NO HEELS. No exception. The deck of a moving boat plus heels equals a guaranteed accident.

Toiletries

The boat has fresh-water showers but the water tank is shared and the pressure is modest. Pack for quick, mostly-cold-water showers.

— Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 30+ minimum, SPF 50 recommended for the 11:00-16:00 zone. EU is tightening rules on oxybenzone and octinoxate; pick zinc-based or “reef-safe” labelled brands. Pack double what you think you need — sunscreen is the consumable you’ll burn through fastest.
— After-sun lotion or aloe gel. Even with sunscreen, daily after-sun helps.
— Shampoo + conditioner (small bottles). Travel-size only; salt-water rinses dominate over fresh-water washes.
— Soap or shower gel.
— Toothbrush + toothpaste.
— Deodorant.
— Razor + small shaving kit if needed.
— Sea-sickness pills (Stugeron, Dramamine or Bonine). Most people don’t need them, but useful for the longer crossings.
— Antihistamines + minor pain relief. Croatian pharmacies are good but island-village ones close early.
— Insect repellent — mosquitoes turn up at sundown in marinas and some anchorages.
— Lip balm with SPF.

Electronics

— EU plug adapter. Croatian outlets are Type F (Schuko). Most American and UK plugs need adapters; most EU plugs work directly.
— Phone charger + cable. Plus a backup cable — charter cabin cables get tangled and lost.
— USB-A and USB-C adapters if you have mixed devices.
— Portable power bank (10000 mAh+). The boat has 12V outlets but they’re not always near where you want to charge.
— EU eSIM data plan — Airalo, Holafly, or your home carrier’s roaming. €10-20 for 7 days is enough for weather routing, restaurant searches and casual social media.
— Dry bag — for the dinghy run to shore in any weather, and for protecting electronics on the SUP / swim platform.
— Action camera or GoPro (optional). Underwater shots in the Pakleni and Mljet are postcard material.
— Bluetooth speaker (optional). The boat has a decent stereo but a portable for the swim platform is a nice extra.

Documents and money

The most-forgotten category. Pack all of these in a single zip pouch:

— Passport. Original, plus a phone photo backup.
— Sailing license original if you’re bareboating. See our sailing license guide for the accepted list. Bring the actual certificate — phone photos are not accepted at check-in.
— VHF radio certificate if you have one (rarely checked but the rule).
— Charter contract printout. Operators rarely need it but it speeds up disputes.
— Credit card with €5,000+ available limit for the security deposit hold.
— Travel insurance documents.
— €200-400 cash in small euros. For Anegada-style remote village restaurants and ATM-light island stops.
— Driver’s license if you plan a one-day inland car rental (Pelješac wineries, Motovun truffle lunch, etc.).

Galley and food extras

The boat’s galley is fully equipped but a few small additions help:

— Insulated water bottle per person. Reusable, keeps water cool on deck for hours.
— Small cooler bag for beach picnics or dinghy shore runs.
— Reusable shopping bags for the Day-1 supermarket run and mid-week top-ups.
— Coffee filter or pour-over (optional) — if you’re particular about your morning coffee, the boat’s standard espresso pot is fine but not gourmet.
— Small spice kit (optional) — the boat will have salt and pepper; bring your favourite paprika, oregano, garlic salt if you cook seriously.

What NOT to pack

— Rigid roller suitcases. Already mentioned twice; it’s that important. Soft duffels only.
— High heels. Never useful on a boat.
— Black-soled shoes. Banned from the boat. Light-coloured soft soles only.
— Glass containers. Glass and boats don’t mix — the heel of a wave plus a glass jar on the saloon table equals broken glass and a long cleanup. Decant into plastic before sailing.
— Oversized luggage. Most ferry companies and airlines have luggage limits; many Croatian charter operators recommend total per-person weight under 15 kg.
— Hair dryers. The boat’s 220V outlets work but the inverter typically can’t handle a 1500W dryer for long. Pack low-wattage if you need one (rare).
— Excessive formal wear. No tuxedos on a Croatian charter. One smart-casual outfit per adult covers every konoba in the country.

The compact “essentials only” list

If you’re rapid-packing, these are the can’t-skip-it items:

1. Soft duffel (not a hard case).
2. Two pairs of light, non-marking deck shoes.
3. Reef-safe sunscreen (double what you think).
4. Polarised sunglasses with retainer strap.
5. Hat (plus backup).
6. 2 swimsuits.
7. Light fleece for evening.
8. Aqua shoes for pebble beaches.
9. Passport + sailing license (originals).
10. Credit card with €5,000+ headroom.
11. EU eSIM.
12. Dry bag.
13. Phone charger + power bank.
14. Lip balm + after-sun.
15. €200+ cash.

Related reading

— A day on a Croatian catamaran — the rhythm to pack for.
— First-time catamaran charter Croatia: 12 things to know.
— Sailing license requirements — the license you need to pack.

Ready to book your charter?

Browse the 2026 fleet on the Croatia Yachting fleet page. For a route + boat recommendation that fits your packing list (and crew), contact us via the site.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a hard-shell roller suitcase on a Croatian charter?

You can, but you’ll regret it. Charter cabins have storage for soft duffels and under-bunk lockers; hard cases stay in the saloon or cockpit all week, in the way. Pack a soft duffel of 70-100L per adult; you’ll thank yourself by Day 2.

What kind of shoes do I need for a Croatian catamaran charter?

Soft-soled, non-marking deck shoes (white or light-coloured rubber soles). Bring two pairs — one stays wet on deck, one stays dry. Plus flip-flops for the swim platform and aqua shoes for the pebble swim stops. No black-soled trainers or hiking shoes; they get banned at handover.

Do I need to bring towels?

Most Croatian charter operators include bath towels and a beach towel per crew member. Confirm with your operator at booking. If your operator doesn’t include beach towels, pack a lightweight microfibre beach towel per person.

How much cash should I bring?

€200-400 per adult covers tips, smaller-island konobas, harbour-master fees and the occasional cash-only village shop. Most Croatian restaurants and marinas accept cards, but cash is essential for the smaller fishing villages and the Anegada-style remote stops.

Can I forget anything and still be okay?

Most things, yes — Croatian island villages have small supermarkets and pharmacies that cover gaps. The exceptions: your sailing license original, your passport, your credit card (security deposit) and prescription medication. Those four items are non-substitutable; leave the others to local resupply if needed.