When the 160-foot motoryacht Ohana launched just a couple of years ago, the owners had the idea to offer by-the-cabin bookings similar to a small cruise ship. But demand was so high for full-yacht charters in the Croatian cruising grounds that the practically new vessel is already undergoing a refit.
“We convinced them to upgrade it to a yacht with the amenities and service of a superyacht, and make it just for private charter,” says Aymen Boulehmi, marketing manager at Goolets Ltd. “To do so, they needed to do many upgrades to the cabins, salon and deck, and add many new amenities on board as well.”
The refitted yacht is expected to start accepting bookings this summer in Croatia, a nation that continues to be a highly sought-after East Mediterranean destination for motoryacht charters. The section of the Croatian coastline from the walled city of Dubrovnik south to Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor is particularly well suited to charter, with everything from historical cities to natural islands and quiet bays available to explore. Fans of the show “Game of Thrones” are particularly drawn to this region, where filming for the HBO series often took place in locations that tourists can visit today.
Ohana’s onboard guest spaces include a cinema where those “Game of Thrones” episodes can be watched after days of having fun in the sun. The yacht’s sun deck has an open bar, a barbecue, hanging egg chairs, an open fireplace and loungers for sun-worshipping time. A shade can cover the space around the hot tub for guests who want more protection from the elements. Inside, the yacht has a children’s playroom—an onboard space that is becoming increasingly popular aboard superyachts being ordered from European shipyards. There’s crew space for the addition of a babysitter as well.
The Croatian Coast
- Dubrovnik has an Old City that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture is centuries old and is preserved in fountains, churches, palaces and more.
- Korcula is an island about 20 miles long that’s sometimes called Little Dubrovnik because of its preserved buildings.
- Hvar is another popular island, with fields of lavender, olive trees and vineyards.
- Brac island is less touristy with rocky shores and popular scuba sites.
