A straightforward yacht charter in Croatia : the Euro and Schengen

Starting with the 1st of January 2023, Croatia has officially discontinued all of the mainland and sea borders that connect Croatia with other members of the Schengen border system. In practice, this means that Croatia has integrated into a singular border of the European Union.

In other words, all air, sea and land-based traffic are free of all border controls, and incredible ease of access is provided for all travellers within the borders of the EU.
To better understand some aspects of this big change, here are the most important points:

Understanding the Schengen border system

What is the “Schengen border system”?

Schengen is a border system that ties together all the accepting member states of the European Union. In practice, Schengen means that there are no borders between member-states and traffic (whether by air, sea or land) is conducted without border restrictions, once travellers cross the external border of the EU.

Respecting and enforcing border law is one of the main points of the Schengen system; luckily, this pretends only to the outer borders of Croatia – mainly with Bosnia and Hercegovina and Serbia on land and Monte Negro and Bosnia on sea.

For land-based travel, this primarily impacts the border between Croatia and Slovenia, while for sea-based travel, the biggest impact is felt on traffic conducted between Italy and Croatia. Starting with the 26th of March 2023, Croatian airports will also start applying the same rules – there will be no border checks for travellers moving inside the Schengen borders.

In the case of sea borders with Monte Negro and Bosnia, a joint police taskforce works to preserve the territory of their respective states, while also making sure not to harm tourism in any way. Recreational vessels, a category that includes super yachts and charter yachts, are considered a special category, when it comes to border security, and are handled in “white gloves” by both parties.

In short, the Schengen system makes lives easier for thousands of visitors wanting to spend their hard-earned vacation in Croatia, the new mecca of European tourism.

Adopting the Euro as Croatia`s new currency

With the end of 2022, Croatia has officially stopped using the Kuna as its currency, and made the long-awaited switch to the Euro. The Euro as a currency guarantees ease of payment for all visitors and travellers; because of this, there is no more need to convert from domestic to foreign currency or wait in line at exchange offices.

Also, Croatia sharing a joint currency with the majority of the European Union means that the Euro will be accepted as the only currency in all places of business in Croatia.
For charter guests, this means less paperwork with yacht bookings, and easier access to certain provisions; shopping in exclusive boutiques or for some charming local souvenirs will also be much simpler.

Since each transaction will be done in Euros, there will be fewer and fewer exchange offices in Croatia and the exchange rates will be lower.

The adaptation of the Euro as a currency also makes Croatia more accessible and open to tourism and trade. This is just one of many steps that Croatia has taken in order to become a mecca for international tourism on all levels. With this kind of progress, it is only a matter of time before Croatia establishes itself as one of the primary destinations for luxury and yacht tourism in the world.

Real-life examples of a yacht charter in Europe and Croatia

Sea:

Yacht charter guests will now be able to freely cross the Adriatic sea, from Italy into Croatia, without going through complicated (and sometimes costly) border procedures. This will not, however, pretend to the southern sea border with Monte Negro.

Air:

The 26th of March is the date that marks the transference of the Schengen border system to air traffic as well. Until then, Croatian border police will apply the old standard, but with the end of March, all restrictions regarding flight inside the European Union will be lifted, and travelling will happen without border inspections (that is, only for incoming and outgoing traffic inside the EU).

When booking a yacht with SuperYachts Croatia, always remember that you can talk with your expert broker about uncertainties regarding continental and intercontinental flights.

Land:

Land-based travel will see no more traffic jams or congestion on borders during the peak of the summer season. Sure, there will be still dense traffic the closer you get to the shoreline, but nothing like the kilometres-long lines that foreign travellers have used to see on Croatia`s land borders.

Payment:

You will be able to pay for your charter in Euros; also, all other transactions (whether digital or in cash) will also be conducted in Euros. Finally, after your charter has ended, you will also be able to tip the crew in Euros.

Good news for guests on a yacht charter in Croatia

Croatia has taken a major step forward into becoming a widely recognized holiday destination. Besides investments in maritime infrastructure, this is also due to Croatia adopting the Euro as an official currency, as well as being accepted as a full member of the Schengen border system.

This translates to Croatia becoming more open to Europe and the rest of the world, enabling visitors to witness her natural beauty much more freely and without restrictions.

The prestige of being a member of the European Union and adopting the Euro is another aspect, that will be a factor when deciding where to spend your holiday. The same standard that applies to a yacht charter in Europe can now also be applied when booking a yacht charter in Croatia, thanks to the Euro and the Schengen. Finally, a sense of security and a strong rule of law is synonymous with being a member-state of the EU, and a guarantee that individual freedoms will be upheld and protected, regardless of being a citizen or a visitor