How to Choose Between a Sailboat, Motor Boat, and Catamaran for a Croatia Charter

Choose based on how you want to spend time on the water and who is aboard: a sailboat if the sailing itself is the point, a motor boat if speed and comfort matter more than sail handling, and a catamaran if you are travelling with family or friends who need space and stability. Orvas Yachting lists all three types in its Croatia charter fleet, available with or without a skipper, so the decision is mainly about matching the boat to your group and itinerary rather than about availability.

Start with the two questions that decide it

1. Is sailing part of the holiday, or just the way to get there?

Orvas describes sailing boats as the recommendation for "every true lover of the wind and the sea." If you or someone in your group wants to trim sails, feel the boat heel, and spend afternoons under sail, a sailboat delivers an experience the other two types cannot. If you mainly want to reach a cove, swim, and move on, the sailing element becomes optional and the other types become competitive.

2. How many people, and how much do they value space and stability?

The site positions catamarans for holidays "with family and friends," which points to the practical advantage: a wide beam gives more deck and cabin space and a steadier platform at anchor. Motor boats are described as the choice for anyone who appreciates "comfort, speed and power." A couple or a small group of active sailors will find a sailboat sufficient; a larger group with mixed experience will usually be more comfortable on a catamaran.

Compare the three types on the same dimensions

The charter-style row matters because Orvas offers all three "with or without a skipper." A bareboat charter suits independent sailors; a crewed charter gives a fully serviced, relaxed experience. If you are drawn to a sailboat but are not confident handling it, the skipper option removes that barrier without changing the boat type.

Match the boat to a concrete trip

• Two experienced sailors, a week of island-hopping under sail: sailboat, bareboat. The sailing is the activity, and the smaller footprint is an advantage in marinas and tight anchorages.
• A family with children who want to cover distance and anchor for lunch: motor boat. Speed shortens passages, and comfort matters more than sail handling.
• Three couples or a group of friends sharing a week: catamaran. The space and stability described by Orvas are what make a shared charter workable.
• A first-time charter group that wants sailing but not the responsibility: sailboat or catamaran with a skipper.

Check these before you book

• Dates and duration: the site's search uses a 7-day charter span by default but explicitly invites you to contact them if that doesn't suit you, so shorter or irregular durations are worth asking about rather than assuming.
• Destination: Orvas charters across Croatia, Greece, Italy, Turkey, the BVI and more. The boat-type trade-offs above hold generally, but local conditions and typical itineraries vary by destination.
• Bareboat vs. crewed: confirm which style you are booking, since the same boat type can be offered either way.
• Price and payment terms: the site references secure payments and featured discounts (for example, "From -20% Off, book before it's gone"), but specific rates depend on boat, dates and destination — request a quote rather than relying on a headline figure.

If you are still torn between two types, the deciding factor is usually the group: choose the boat that the least experienced person aboard will be comfortable on, then add a skipper if handling is the concern.