Travel report: Bike and boat in Croatia

Whitsun 2016: off to the sun!

Hail, heavy rain with flooding and high water at home in southern Germany. The children have a two-week Whitsun break and most of my vacation has to be cancelled this year. A short week in Croatia would still be possible.

Quickly checked with the office. The brand-new ship MS Aria is ready and starts its first voyage in a week! A premium steel ship with plenty of space. There are still places available. There are no photos yet. Wouldn't that be a useful addition to our travel program? Get there quickly and see for yourself.

Judith, one of our two bike and boat specialists in Croatia, takes care of everything. Unfortunately, we can't be in Croatia until Sunday morning at the earliest, one day too late. No problem - a special transfer is organized. We have to be in Rijeka at the harbor pier at 10.00 am on the dot. Someone will come there

.

How to get to Rijeka by car

Munich-Rijeka approx. 520 km:
via A8, Tauern freeway (prone to traffic jams during vacation periods), Slovenia (still winding country roads in places)

• Vignette requirement in Austria (10 days approx. 9 euros, 2 months approx. 26 euros, 1 year approx. 86 euros), additional toll requirement in the Tauern tunnel and in the Karawanken tunnel.
• Vignette compulsory in Slovenia (7 days approx. 15 euros, 1 month approx. 30 euros, 1 year approx. 110 euros), Caution: A 7-day vignette is not enough for a week's bike & boat vacation (7 nights = 8 days)!
• Tolls compulsory in Croatia (toll booths, payable in Kuna or by credit card)

Price information as of 2017.

The journey: Rijeka, transfer island of Krk

Finding the meeting point at the jetty - no problem. And indeed, at 10.00 a.m. sharp, a member of our local team and a driver arrive. With follow me we go to a multi-storey parking lot, everything seems perfectly organized and well coordinated. We quickly transfer our luggage in the parking garage and are already in the car on our way to the island of Krk, while the other guests are already on the first and most difficult cycling stage of the tour. When we arrive in Baska, on the south-eastern tip of Krk, the Aria - Croatian for air - is moored in the harbor.

On the main deck is the pleasantly spacious saloon. What I particularly like is that there is a spacious outdoor area with tables and space to eat for an estimated 25 people right next to the salon. I've always missed something like this on the classic ships in Croatia that I've known so far: a place to have a coffee after dinner or a beer beforehand. Where you can also eat outside if the ship is not fully booked.

Then we move into our cabins. Ok, I probably have the nicest and largest cabin on board. And it's fabulously beautiful. On the upper deck next to the captain's cabin.
Right beds. A proper shower cubicle. Space.

The island of Rab

The next morning, we take the boat to the island of Rab during breakfast. The weather is just right: Bright sunshine. After the ship docks in Lopar, we get on our bikes. Like the ship, they are new.

As always when you start at sea level, the tour begins with a slight incline. No problem with these bikes. Then we follow the road with hardly any traffic. There are always beautiful views of the blue sea. Then an ice cream and coffee break - the Austrian-Lower Bavarian faction drinks beer - before we reach Rab Stadt, where the beautiful Aria is already waiting for us.

Losinj Island

The next day, the boat trip takes several hours. Pure pleasure. The only thing missing are dolphins accompanying the ship. The guests on board spread out and enjoy the trip under a cloudless sky. After a while, we arrive at a quiet bay and drop anchor. Into the water! From the bathing platform at the stern into the crystal-clear water. Early June and already around 20 degrees. Then we rinse off the salt water at one of the two showers at the stern and order a small pivo.

In the afternoon, we enter the port of Mali Losinj (pronounced: Mali Loschin). Palm-lined promenade in fantastic weather. Street cafés, small stores, restaurants and little hustle and bustle. The MS Aria is perfectly positioned at the jetty. For me, that means taking photos from all sides.

The island of Cres

The next island on our route is Cres (pronounced: Tsres). The special feature: we reach it via a bridge. Today the sun is not so kind to us. It rains a little from time to time and the route is hilly, so the cycling is more meditative than the Ahhhh and Ohhhh of the previous days' panoramas.

A traditional suckling pig meal is on the menu during the lunch break. A must! And a pleasure. And on we go on the bike. My daughters struggle a little with the route, but they bite through it. But then it's time for a thrilling, kilometer-long descent to Martinscica!

While we shower, the captain starts the engines and after a cold beer, we reach Cres town. A beautiful promenade, nice cafés and a very popular wine bar. What more could you want? A bigger awning! Because suddenly it starts to pour.

The stretch from Losinj to Martinscica has taken its toll on my daughters, so they send me on today's last bike tour to Predoscica and the viewpoint there overlooking the entire Kvarner Bay. And so I can really step on the gas without worrying about the children, while the two of them make themselves comfortable on the sun deck with books. One last lunch on board, then off to a final - unfortunately somewhat rainy - swimming break in a small bay off the coast of Istria. And then we call at the port of Rijeka.

Rijeka

Other ships from the Bike & Boat fleet are already in port and our colleagues on site once again demonstrate their professionalism. Guest advisors swarm out and collect feedback, cab drivers are ready to take guests to their cars and back again. Parking attendants are at the ready. Respect!
Another night on the ship in the port of Rijeka. The city has a lot of charm and life in its historic center. We enjoy our last dinner in a fantastic setting.

The new ships in 2017: MS Aria, MS Columbo and MS Carpe Diem

The new comfortable premium-class steel ships such as the MS Aria, the Columbo and the Carpe Diem are a good addition to the cozy classic wooden ships, although they offer significantly less comfort and space.