Sun, sand and beach. Croatia is one of Europe’s trendiest destinations for travellers to visit. To be honest, this comes as no surprise to us!
Croatia has a long and sexy coastline and is the perfect spot for an incredible sailing trip. Good news, we have a glittering Croatia Island Sail, just for you! And, even better news, the boat you’ll be sailing on will be helping you make more conscious travel decisions.
How, you ask? Because our boats are owned by female-led local business Katarina Line! We’ve caught up with Katica, the owner of Katarina Line, to hear from here how she’s grown her sailing business in Croatia and her passion for the sea.
Where it all started
“Back in 1992, I started Katarina Line. It was the worst possible time to start a business during the Croatian War of Independence. After working in the travel industry as a travel agent, I used my connections in the industry to grow my business.”
The business is now a huge success, and all it took was one mighty leap of faith from Katica. Today, Katarina Line operates on land and sea in Croatia, hosting over 165,000 travellers every year with departures that run from April to October across the country.
This is also a job Katica loves! “If you like to travel and love people, tourism is a great fit for you. Once you start it’s a drug and you meet a ton of people.”
Working closely with family
Everyday Katica works closely with her daughter, Anamaria and son, Daniel. “We’re a local family-owned company. It can be difficult at times, but good for us,” says Katica. “I enjoy working with young people for their ideas. They usually provide two solutions when confronted with a problem and then they find the answer on their own, which is probably the one we would have chosen anyway!”
Supporting local businesses
Working with local families adds to the overall experience of our travellers’ trips. “We started with wooden fishing or sand removal ships, which were converted into excursion ships. 35 years ago, we added cabins to the ships, then bathrooms. Now, more than half of our ships are made of steel. The government helped to fund and improve the experience with air conditioning,” – perfect for the long, sun-drenched days sailing on the Adriatic Sea.
Image source:Contiki
Partnering with Contiki
“My son, Daniel who manages our marketing got in touch at the World Travel Market with The Travel Corporation (TTC)” says Katica. What started as just an accommodation supplier on land has grown across the TTC Family to Katarina Line being the main supplier for Croatia sailing trips with Contiki.
What to expect while sailing in Croatia
“If you start in Dubrovnik, expect all the amazing history. Walk the walls and you’ll get goosebumps from taking in the atmosphere.” For Game of Thrones fans, this is where you’ll get a dose of Westerosi déjà vu. “There are over 1,288 islands to see in Croatia. You can easily spend time exploring, or you can visit the many National Parks.” With Contiki you’ll spend days exploring the historic side of Croatia in Hvar, Dubrovnik and Split, while enjoying the sun and sea, sailing along the Dalmatian Coast.
So, why not support local business when heading to Croatia? Book your trip to Croatia with Contiki.
