Dining on a Yacht Cruise
Mouthwatering meals onboard and endless dining choices ashore are just part of the fun of a yacht cruise.
Our team of travel enthusiasts know food and make or break a holiday. It connects us with our destination, from locally sourced produce that connects us with the land to traditional recipes passed down through generations reminding us of the rich history and culture. Delicious dishes we can recreate at home to reawaken treasured memories of our time away.
Food onboard the IL Mare
Onboard dining
Our simple, yet elegant, restaurants are the heart of the ship with tables of up to 8. While the refined and tasteful decor of our restaurants varies across our five-star yacht fleet, the ambience does not. We're an informal bunch so you can leave the ball gowns and tuxedos at home, shorts and t-shirts are the order of the day. There's no dress code and no seating plan.
You choose your own table and dining companions. Our guests are a pleasant bunch - interested and interesting - so there'll be plenty to talk about. And with a max of 40 guests on board and an average of 7 crew, you'll be on a first-name basis with everyone on board in no time. The atmosphere on board really is so warm and friendly.
Ensure you have all the energy you'll need to explore with our onboard breakfast buffet, served daily. With hot and cold options available - and some heart-smart options - there's no better way to start your day.
Our yacht cruises are half board with select lunches and dinners available throughout your holiday. Offering a mouthwatering set menu of 3 or 4 courses, lunch and dinner in our elegant onboard restaurant features a wide range of dishes, including flavours from your chosen destination and delicious seafood.
Of course, a highlight of the yacht cruise experience is the Captain's Dinner, when our expert chefs serve an extra-special menu inspired by Croatian and Mediterranean flavours. Usually towards the end of our holiday, the Captain's Dinner is the social event of the holiday and a real highlight. Guests tend to dress up a little, so remember to throw a blazer or dress into your suitcase!
Dining ashore
We spend every evening moored up in port, allowing you the opportunity to explore. Our experts know you like to make the most of this experience and that you value the freedom to dine independently too, so our itineraries are carefully balanced to include days where lunch or dinner is at leisure, allowing you the opportunity to sample the local flavours.
Every foodie knows Croatian food is some of the best - most underrated- cuisines in Europe (and, if you didn't, trust us, you're missing out). Our yacht cruises explore Croatia's 1,104 miles of coastline and many of its islands and islets, so seafood is an obvious highlight. But you'll also find succulent meats and hearty stews on the menu and staples of the Mediterranean diet: olive oil, truffles and, of course, wine.
Look out for peka, which is both a dish and a traditional method of cooking. 'Peka', meaning bell, is a technique used to slow-cook meals under a doomed lid, which intensifies the flavours.
If you're not sure what to eat? Your Cruise Director can offer suggestions of where and what to eat. Or why not ask a local? This will open up neighbourhoods off the tourist's radar and give you a more authentic taste of everyday life in each destination.
