October 10-17th, 2026

How Big is This Boat Going to Be?

Dalmatian Coast (Dubrovnik to Split)

Never having stepped aboard a boat to stay for seven nights, we were not sure of anything, really. From our evening out walking the streets of Dubrovnik, it is impossible to miss the massive cruise ships in the harbor. Luckily, most of them leave by 7pm – they dock for the day in each port that can handle their ship. We knew ours was nothing like that (thank goodness). Except for Mia – her dream is to live on one of these boats for a whole trip. 

The boat we chose is called the Prestige and the company is Kompass Cruises. It has room for 34 passengers in 19 cabins. It is 170 feet long. To me, this seems reasonable. The only problem being, I hate boats. Really it’s just the constant rocking motion – especially in the big waves!

We boarded this boat in the rain and it rained all day and night. It was the only time we actually saw rain. And knowing the island weather now, there are islands that almost never get the rain even when it is happening elsewhere (HVAR, I’m looking at you). I am reminded about the north side of most islands – windier and drier. And the south side is usually more sunny and populated. 

This reflection is about the people we met throughout the week – our boat-mates. The next post will be about the islands. It was pure magic to have a small boat where you eat breakfast and lunch together everyday. Oh, the characters on board! 

First, the kids encountered the two Jimmy’s. It was Jimmy Dean and Jim Carey (they made those names up, of course). These were the brothers from the United States – oh boy, they were excited to speak English to other Americans. Their traveling companion was the lovely MacKenzie (another pseudonym) as she looked exactly like my cousin. And they reunited with their parents to take this trip together. Jimmy Dean and MacKenzie got engaged on the trip!

Then we met the Aussies – there were several couples from all over Australia. Oh what fun to hear new words and try to copy the accents! Throughout the week, Emerson made sure to eat with each person on the boat. She was a hit! Many of our new friends are exploring other places in Europe and topping it off with the U.K. When you travel 24 hours to get to your holiday, you need to make it worth the trip. One of the pairs was a mother and daughter from Tasmania – incredible!

Next, we met the English contingent. There were a couple of couples who were delightful. We spoke about the Queen’s English and the various accents from around the country. On most mornings, I went immediately to the top deck to see the sun on the horizon line as the ship swiftly left each port by 7am. And there I always greeted Nod, one of the gentlemen on board who spent at least 14 hours a day up top. It helped with the motion and constant rocking (kind of). The stormy seas the first couple of days did not help our cause. After three days, we were back to sunshine and swim stops in cozy coves along the way. 

The other highlight of the week on the boat is our cruise manager. She is from Dubrovnik and she has an advanced degree in the history of Yugoslavia and the formation of Croatia as it is currently arranged. She would say “no, no, no” about any special education, but I think it must be true – she knows everything and was such a gift. Her humor, her patience, and her genuine engagement was the best gift for getting the most out of each day’s tour. 

In addition to having Grammy Pammy with us, it was also Eric’s birthday on Thursday. We landed on the island of Vis and explored the military history of the island with a full Land Rover tour to the underground tunnels and bunkers used throughout the Cold War (1940s-1980s). We invited the other boat-mates to come out for a drink with us at a small place called Fish Delish. We may have overwhelmed the proprietor a bit, but she thanked us for coming. It was a perfect patio evening with new friends. Vis is also where they filmed Mama Mia 2 and it is quite adorable.

The best ending is knowing we will keep in touch with some of our new friends … one even promises to send some Vegemite!

New Vocabulary:

Wha’do ya reckon?

Good-day Mate!

Živjeli! (pronounced zhee-veh-lee) – Cheers!

Jumper (Jum-pah) – sweater

Windcheater – (one of my favorites!) – sweatshirt

Sloppy Joe – (also a fav) – casual pullover