Small Cruise Ship Collection Reviews 

I recently returned (May 2024) from the 8-day Split to Split South, which I booked with The Small Cruise Ship Collection.

It was a stress-free trip, with all the information needed practically provided prior to the trip.
The transfer to the boat was straightforward (with no waiting time), and the drop-off at the end was well-timed, allowing me to make the most of my last day in Split.

This was my first cruise, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Being on a small boat felt great and a more personal experience. Travel was made easy or perhaps even luxurious, when I consider the alternatives.

ON BOARD: The ship was better than I expected, with lots of nooks and choices of deck areas on which to hang out. We didn't travel at night, but equally, it didn't feel like we spent lots of time at sea.
All the staff were happy to answer questions and help you make the best of your trip.
The food was plentiful. Breakfasts had lots of options to help yourself to. Lunches and evening meals were mainly served, with the exception of salad course. With notice, the chefs were happy to adapt if there was something you didn't quite like.

The internet connection was great, and the shower had plenty of hot water and pressure.

ASHORE: Most stops had a guided tour that was both informative and entertaining. We also had plenty of time for self-exploration and tasting of the local dishes. I hired a bike on a couple of occasions and explored a little beyond the central areas.

The sea was beautifully clear and a real pleasure to swim in. It was a little 'fresh' at the end of May, and the Jacuzzi on board was a great bonus to dip into after a swimming stop. We had some 'floats and toys' to play with off of the back of the boat and some masks, etc. (if you're keen to see underwater, I'd recommend taking a snorkel or swim goggles). I wore beach shoes when entering from the shore, but you could easily get away without them. Most of the beaches were very small pebbles.

The trip was a great combination of all the things I want from travel, from exploration to rest and relaxation with plenty of opportunity to do your own thing or socialise with others and the locals.

I would recommend the Small Cruise Ship Collection, cruising and Croatia. Where to next?

Unsuccessfully bid for a cruise via Ebay. SCSC contacted me with an offer for the following week on Katerina Line vessel "Nautilus" cruising the Croatia coast. The ship, the cabin, the crew and the food were excellent. The local guide, Ayda. was superb. 40 years as a world traveller and this short cruise was the best all round trip I have ever experienced.

Excellent company to deal with right from start of booking. The ship was lovely, great cabin, amazing food and all the staff were brilliant, especially Ivan our tour leader, nothing was too much trouble. We had a fantastic trip thank you! Would definitely have no hesitation in recommending this company or the Dubrovnik to Spilt cruise.

Communication with this company has been excellent. They have gone above all expectations to give us a perfect holiday.
The ship was changed almost last minute and I was apprehensive about this but Caroline dealt with all my queries very efficiently. We cruised from Corfu around the islands, sometimes anchoring out in harbour sometimes in dock but we were taken in and out at any time.
We had 1st class accommodation,food and 2 crew members that could not have done more for us. An excellent trip. We are already looking at next year's.
If you want a treat you're looking in the right place. Very professional company.

Immensely enjoyed our first ever cruise from Dubrovnik to Split, exploring some of the many islands on the way. MS Lastavica was a lovely ship, only a couple of years old with a crew who were friendly and helpful. Sleeping just 36 passengers we were lucky to share and make friends with some great people, mostly from Australia and USA. Our cruise manager Nicos, could not have been more helpful even to the extent of going out of his way to buy English breakfast tea when my partner said she was having withdrawal symptoms! The walking tours of Dubrovnik and Split were fascinating even though my partner & I were obviously the only people in the world not to have seen Game of Thrones! Forget sharing with 5000 people you may never see twice, a small ship with the opportunity of making great friends and great memories is the way to go and the Small Ship Cruise Co were excellent .

A superb cruise from Split to Dubrovnik and back on Seagull. We had challenging weather to start with but the crew did everything to make sure we still had an amazing time .
Ship and cabin were comfortable and spotless, food delicious and we will treasure the memories of the Dalmatian Coast forever. Thank you .

We booked a 7 night cruise from Dubrovnik to Split on MS My Way. The whole experience has been fantastic. We had specific dates we had to travel as part of our 4 weeks in Europe and chose the My Way. Small Ship Cruises were great. Full of information and answered any queries promptly. Not that there were many because they basically provided us with everything we needed to know. The cruise itself was truly amazing and I would not hesitate to recommend it. Anyone thinking about it should just do it, you won’t regret it. We were met at the airport and taken directly to the boat. As an extra bonus when we boarded and met our fellow travellers 30 were Aussies and 2 Kiwis!! They were a great group of people and I’m pretty sure the 2 Canadians and 4 Americans had a ball as well. We even watched the AFL Grand Final on the boat on our last morning before we disembarked.
All the crew were just fabulous and did the captain proud and the food was terrific.
Croatia is a truly beautiful country and we saw some breathtaking scenery and enjoyed lots of Croatian Hospitality.
My only complaint was we had to leave!
I would definitely do this again and wouldn’t hesitate to book with Small Ship Cruises.

The staff and ship were excellent. Absolutely no complaints. Hard working, Personable and very friendly. 5 Star for sure.
What could make it even better is coffee included in cruise price throughout the day … til midday when docked. Other then that it was excellent. Thanks so much!!!!

Such a wonderful week, small cruise ship company sorted transfers, great communication and all very straightforward. Lovely boat, beautifully clean and good food. Loved swimming off the boat every day and the different tours. Split to Dubrovnik with 38 people ideal size for us. Thank you. Would use agin.

My daughter and I booked on a week long cruise Split-Dubrovnik-Split. Booking through this company was a pleasure. They have answered all my questions and worries. I got a lot of personalized information and they were also happy to accommodate special requests. I will definitely be booking with them again!

As for the cruise itself it was an amazing experience. We were on board of Futura Ship from Katarina Line. It was a small group of 30 likeminded people. The whole crew on the ship was fantastic. It was the most relaxing holiday I have been on. Swim stops, food and sunsets were totally worth the price. We also had the best sleeps ever thanks to a very gentle rocking of the boat at night. I was very worried as I get sea sick pretty bad but I was absolutely fine. Totally recommend to anon who likes chilled time with some awesome people from round the world.

Great trip, everything was as described, food was good the boat did not travel too far any day and the evening in ports allowed us to sample local food and drink. Atmosphere on the boat was fun and calm.

Excellent trip - 5 star treatment throughout. Will definitely book again.

We had a lovely holiday - well organised and it’s was great to see some of Croatia’s wonderful islands. Food was good. Just the right number of people on board - would recommend

Having has to postpone our trip to Croatia twice through covid, we were glad we did as we found the Black Swan, a beutiful small cruise ship with a fantastic crew and captain.
Booking through the Small Ship Collection was very easy, everything was included including pickup from hotel, (very) fresh oyster tasting and all many guided tours. We even had some live music from the crew on the last night.

A really fabulous holiday. 11/10 on all counts. Brilliant small ship( the Ambassador) was immaculately maintained, the crew really friendly and efficient, the food absolutely superb, a very comfortable and roomy cabin with good quality fittings etc. The whole cruise was extremely well organised. The highlights were the numerous swim stops in little bays, the delightful small ports we stopped at each day where there were few tourists and very good restaurants. And the really friendly and lovely other guests from all around the world. We cannot fault it! Thank you.

This was a friendly relaxed well organised trip. A few things would enhance it. The quality of the shower towels was very poor. The noise level in the dining room at lunchtime was overwhelming.

Five star is inadequate for my rating. It is easily a 10 star on a scale of 5! The ship was elegant; the crew and staff amazing; the Expedition Team deep in knowledge, wonderful teachers offering delightful and creative presentations. The overall care and concern for passenger/staff/crew safety and comfort was also evident. The desire to protect and preserve the environment was a major emphasis. From the captain to the zodiac crew, everyone was user-friendly, competent, well suited for the individual’s assigned tasks. The expeditions were outstanding. The food . . . Excellent, delicious, lovely service and presentation, total quality, huge variety and every bite, perfection! I have had the pleasure of enjoying many cruises. This particular cruise was without a doubt the best cruise experience I have ever had!

Cruise/cycle islands around Split. Very professional crew and supurb cycle guides. Wonderful. Also worth an extra day or so in Split.

Fabulous trip with guided cycling each day. Travelled to different islands each day by small cruise boat. Clear instructions given on plans for the day with opportunities for swimming and time to explore
Rooms on the boat were bigger than expected and the food was very good. Staff on the boat were very friendly and helpful.

Everything worked like clockwork. All the staff were very friendly and the cycle routes and guides were perfect for our group. The less regular cyclists hired electric bikes which allowed us to stay as a group. Croatia is beautiful and the cycling is excellent.
Do not expect to lose weight on this trip. The meals on the ship are very generous. This is a wonderful way to see this beautiful country