Partner Story

Our first cruise with Katarina Line was in October 2017. Since then, with the exception of the COVID years, Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor has operated as many as three Croatia cruises a year with Katarina Line.

That kind of repeat business does not happen by accident.  It happens because of trust, consistency, personal service, and a shared understanding of what makes a small group cruise special.

At Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, we specialize in carefully planned, adults-oriented small group tours for travelers who want comfort, culture, good pacing, and a more personal travel experience. For our Croatia cruise programs, Katarina Line has been an ideal partner.

Over the years, we have come to prefer chartering a deluxe category ship such as the MV Aquamarin or a similar style vessel. As Katarina Line has gotten to know our groups, the booking process has become almost automatic. They understand what we want, what our travelers enjoy, and how to help us design an itinerary that works well for our style of travel.

Like us, Katarina Line is a family-owned company. That matters. They are responsive, flexible, and easy to work with. They help us select the right ships, plan the best itineraries, coordinate pre-cruise hotel stays, and arrange thoughtful touring before and during the cruise.

For us, the true character of Katarina Line was revealed during COVID. We had cruises booked and paid for that needed to be canceled for two sailing seasons. Without hesitation, Katarina Line gave us full credit for those sailings and helped us reschedule when travel safely resumed. 
That kind of response builds long-term loyalty.

We have chartered several Croatia cruise routes, including Opatija to Split and Split to Dubrovnik, but the itinerary we continue to enjoy most is the Split-to-Split cruise.

Before the cruise, our group usually spends two nights at the 5-star Cornaro Hotel in Split, arranged through Katarina Line. It gives everyone time to arrive, relax, and get to know one another before boarding the ship. We begin with a welcome buffet at the hotel, followed the next day by a guided walking tour of Split and its remarkable historic center.

On other itineraries, Katarina Line has also helped us arrange pre-cruise stays in Zagreb and Opatija, always with the same attention to detail.

This pre-cruise experience is important to us. Our travelers are not simply booking a ship cabin. They are joining a carefully planned small group travel experience where the pacing, hotels, touring, meals, and overall flow of the trip matter.

One of the great pleasures of working with Katarina Line is the private charter experience. Our groups enjoy the comfort and intimacy of a small ship, but with the added benefit of flexibility.

The captain and crew are attentive, approachable, and genuinely interested in making the trip enjoyable. Through Katarina Line, we can request special entertainment, such as The Two Tonyas, who are always a wonderful fit for our travelers.

We also appreciate the flexibility of captains like Captain Duje, who work with us to adjust the itinerary when needed because of weather, sea conditions, or crowding. For example, while Hvar is famous, we often prefer the calmer and more charming town of Pučišća, known for its white limestone and Stonemasonry School, which we visit each time.

That ability to make thoughtful adjustments is one of the reasons our travelers enjoy these cruises so much. It is also why some of our guests have returned for three or even four Croatia cruises with us.

On our cruises, we also use the services of a tour manager provided by Katarina Line. This makes an enormous difference.

The tour manager helps with dinner reservations, keeps the group informed, coordinates excursions, answers questions, and handles unexpected issues. In the rare case where a guest needs medical assistance, they are right on it.

That kind of support gives our travelers confidence. It also allows us to focus on what we do best: creating a relaxed, well-organized, enjoyable small group travel experience.

While the ships, itinerary, and scenery are all important, the highest praise goes to the crew.

Each day and night, they work hard to make sure our guests are well cared for. They serve delicious meals, keep the ship clean and comfortable, answer questions, help with luggage, pour drinks at the bar, assist the captain, and make sure everyone is safe.

Their work is not always glamorous, but it is essential. A good crew can turn a beautiful cruise into a memorable one. Katarina Line crews have done that for our travelers again and again.

Our experience with Katarina Line has been nothing but positive. They understand our travelers. They understand our standards. They understand the importance of flexibility, comfort, and personal service.

For Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, Croatia is one of the best destinations in Europe for a small ship cruise. The coastline is beautiful, the towns are historic and welcoming, the food is excellent, and the relaxed pace of island-hopping is ideal for our style of travel.

Each year, we look forward to working with Katarina Line again. After so many successful cruises together, we can say with confidence: this is a partnership that works.

For travelers interested in joining one of our carefully planned Croatia small group cruises, visit Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor at smallgrouptours.com.