What is a private gulet charter?
A private gulet charter means your group books the entire vessel exclusively — every cabin, the full deck, and the crew's undivided attention for the week. This is actually the standard charter format for gulets in Croatia; virtually all gulet bookings are private group charters rather than individual berth sales. When people search for a "private gulet charter Croatia" they are usually distinguishing from large group/flotilla cruise ships, not from a shared-cabin arrangement.
The crew — captain and cook at minimum — works exclusively for your group. The route is set collaboratively between you and the captain. Meals are prepared by the cook based on your group's preferences. The boat goes where you want to go, anchors where you choose, and stays as long as you like at each stop within reason. For a full explanation of how the charter week works, see our gulet cruise Croatia guide.
All gulet charters in Croatia are private by default. If you book a gulet for your group, you get the entire boat. There are no shared-cabin gulet arrangements in the mainstream Croatian charter market.
Private gulet vs shared charter vs cruise ship
A private gulet charter is not a cruise ship or a flotilla — those formats have fixed itineraries, shared facilities with strangers, and no flexibility over the route. The private gulet gives you: full flexibility on the daily programme, a cook preparing meals to your preferences, and the ability to anchor in remote bays that cruise ships cannot access. It is an inherently intimate format — 8–14 people on a boat, no crowds, full deck and facilities exclusively yours.
Compared to a sailing yacht or catamaran charter, a private gulet has more living space and a full crew, but less sailing independence — the captain makes final navigation decisions for safety. For the comparison: catamaran vs gulet.
What is included in a private gulet charter
The base charter rate includes the vessel and crew (captain + cook). The APA fund — paid upfront as an estimate, settled at trip end — covers fuel, harbour fees, and provisions. The cook shops daily and prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the APA. Whatever is unspent is returned to the group. Typically not included: premium alcohol, national park entry fees, and crew gratuity. Full breakdown: charter cost guide Croatia.
Group sizes and vessel matching
Matching the right vessel size to your group is the most important booking decision. Most gulets have fixed cabin layouts — typically 4–7 double cabins — and you pay for the whole boat regardless of how many of those cabins you fill. There is no benefit to booking a 7-cabin gulet for 6 people (you pay for empty cabins). Match as closely as possible:
| Group size | Cabins needed | Recommended gulet size | Price range (Jun/week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–6 people | 2–3 | 18–20m (4-cabin) | €4,000–6,500 |
| 6–8 people | 3–4 | 20–23m (4–5 cabin) | €5,500–9,000 |
| 8–12 people | 4–6 | 22–28m (5–6 cabin) | €7,000–16,000 |
| 12–16 people | 6–8 | 28m+ (7–8 cabin) | €14,000–35,000 |
Browse vessels by size and base: all gulets Croatia. For luxury vessels specifically: luxury gulet charter Croatia.
Costs of a private gulet charter
The total cost of a private gulet charter is the base charter rate plus the APA. Base rates run from €4,000/week for a small traditional gulet in June up to €35,000+ for a large luxury vessel in peak season. APA adds 25–35% on top. The full cost breakdown with every line item explained is in our charter cost guide.
Setting your own itinerary
One of the main advantages of a private charter over a cruise is route flexibility. Before departure, you will have a conversation with the captain about preferences — how many nights in marinas vs anchorages, how much time on islands with nightlife vs remote bays, whether you want to cover a lot of ground or stay in a few places longer. The captain will propose a route based on the weather forecast; you agree or modify it. For route inspiration: 7-day sailing itinerary Croatia, island hopping guide, and the base guides for Split, Dubrovnik, and Sibenik.
How to book a private gulet charter
Book 6–9 months ahead for July and August; 3–4 months for June and September. The standard booking deposit is 30–50% on signing, with the balance and the APA estimate paid 4–6 weeks before departure. Direct booking with the owner-captain, via a Croatia charter broker, or via platforms like Sailogy. Full process: how to charter a boat in Croatia. Best time to go: best time to sail Croatia. Operators: list your vessel here.