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4. MS Mendula

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MS Mendula

This exquisite vessel offers a thrilling and authentic experience on a classic sailing ship yet with all the comfort and glamour of a modern-day private yacht. With just 15 cabins available for 30 guests, the atmosphere on board is convivial and relaxed with a touch of exclusivity – and you’re assured a first-class service throughout.

Instantly recognisable and causing quite a stir on the quayside, as you are welcomed aboard by our dedicated crew, you’ll be made to feel completely at home in your elegant surroundings. Delight in the ample and stylish sun deck where you can sit and unwind over a long cold drink and catch up on some reading or chat with your fellow sailors and take in the panoramic vistas as you glide through the glistening water. When it’s time to cool off, take a dip off the ship’s platform straight into the Adriatic’s crystal waters then back on board to dry off in the sun – once you’ve discovered this way to holiday, you won’t look back!

Dine in the air-conditioned restaurant where the attentive crew serves daily breakfast with hot and cold options and either lunch or dinner featuring local dishes, from salads to hot Mediterranean specialities, meats and fish. At the ‘Captain’s Dinner’ celebrate food from throughout the Adriatic. Moored in delightful ports overnight, on the remainder of the evenings you are free to dine where you wish.

Cabins are comfortably furnished and feature individually controlled air-conditioning, safe, wardrobe, dressing table, hairdryer, and bathroom with shower and toiletries. Free Wi-Fi is available on board.

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Accomodation Types

With just 15 cabins available for 30 guests, the atmosphere on board is convivial and relaxed with a touch of exclusivity – and you’re assured a first-class service throughout.

Cabins are comfortably furnished and feature individually controlled air-conditioning, safe, wardrobe, dressing table, hairdryer, and bathroom with shower and toiletries. Free Wi-Fi is available on board.

Category A+ Cabins

Category A Cabins

Category B Cabins

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Deck Plans

With just 15 cabins available for 30 guests, the atmosphere on board is convivial and relaxed with a touch of exclusivity – and you’re assured a first-class service throughout.

Cabins are comfortably furnished and feature individually controlled air-conditioning, safe, wardrobe, dressing table, hairdryer, and bathroom with shower and toiletries. Free Wi-Fi is available on board.

Upper Deck

Main Deck

Lower Deck

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Dining

Dine in the air-conditioned restaurant where the attentive crew serves daily breakfast with hot and cold options and either lunch or dinner featuring local dishes, from salads to hot Mediterranean specialities, meats and fish. At the ‘Captain’s Dinner’ celebrate food from throughout the Adriatic. Moored in delightful ports overnight, on the remainder of the evenings you are free to dine where you wish.

Restaurant

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Entertainment

Delight in the ample and stylish sun deck where you can sit and unwind over a long cold drink and catch up on some reading or chat with your fellow sailors and take in the panoramic vistas as you glide through the glistening water. 

Sun Deck and Terrace

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Enrichment

Along the many miles of coastline we explore, you'll spot ruined forts, monasteries and the remnants of history that include Roman, Venetian and Ottoman rule. We'll enjoy independent visits, guided tours and plenty of free time to really get under the skin of each destination.

Thanks to their small size, our yachts moor in beautiful harbours and ports, so you can step off the ship and straight into our next destination. This means less time travelling and more time exploring - who can say no to that? 

Onshore Experiences

Iconic landmarks

Our excursions are designed to show you both the world-famous sites every traveller should see, as well as a few secret spots that let you experience life as a local. While many of Croatia's landmarks might not be easy to list off for the less decerning travellers, we'll make sure you feel 'in-the-know'. We'll take you to some incredible man-made landmarks and a few natural spots sculpted over millennia

Little ports and islands

Of course, our expert explorers know that to truly get to know a culture, you can't just visit the major cities and well-known landmarks, you must seek out the unknown too. So, they've scoured the country to bring you the must-see places most tourists haven't heard about.

Together with local guides, we'll visit the beautiful, whitewashed fishing villages that punctuate the coastline, and wander the streets of towns like Rab and Korčula, which have a distinctly Venetian feel - you might even stop in to ex-pirate towns with a colourful history, like Makarska, where you'll discover why the Croatian coastline was so popular with buccaneers. And you may also enjoy additional experiences, including e-bike tours, wine tastings and visits to museums (depending on your itinerary).

Croatian cities

We'll visit some fascinating cities that sit on the shores of the Adriatic, including Croatia's second city, Split, where history, natural beauty and modernity live side by side in almost perfect balance. Beyond the ancient allure of sights Diocletian's Palace (more on that later), Split is home to a vibrant café culture (coffee is a Croatian essential, they drink it well into the evening), bustling markets and a lively waterfront with bars and restaurants that make the most of their ocean views.

And, of course, we'd be remiss not to add Dubrovnik to some of our itineraries. This historic city is known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic" thanks to its picturesque streets, baroque architecture and impressive Old Town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Followers of pop culture may recognise some of the structures from a recent favourite Game of Thrones but it's so much more than a nice change of scenery. The city exudes a laid-back Mediterranean atmosphere, and the locals are very friendly. 

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Health & Fitness

Adriatic Swimming

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Kids & Teens

Please note: There are no dedicated children's facilities on board.

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Useful Information

Dress Code

There is no requirement to bring formal dress - smart/casual is acceptable for both day and evening as there is no dress code enforced. However, men are requested not to wear shorts for dinner or vest tops at any time in the dining room. You may wish to wear a jacket and tie for dinner. The Chef's Dinner offers the opportunity, should you wish, for more special attire.

Drinks Packages

We have a drinks package included for all European river cruises in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Superior Drinks Package

For all 2024 and 2025 European river cruises:

Over lunch in our restaurants enjoy unlimited drinks from a choice of:

• Red, white, rosé and sparkling house wine, including non-alcoholic
• Draught beer, including non-alcoholic
• A selection of soft drinks and juices

Then from 6 pm until midnight in our bar and restaurants, enjoy all of the above, plus unlimited drinks from a choice of:

• Our cocktail and mocktail of the day
• House spirits and mixers (including gin, vodka, rum and whisky)
• A recommended regional wine during dinner
• Martini & Sherry pre-dinner
• Port & Brandy after dinner

All-inclusive drinks package

Available on 2026 European river cruise departures

Available from 10am to midnight each day:

• Red, white, rosé and sparkling house wine, including non-alcoholic​
• A choice of draught beer, including non-alcoholic​
• A selection of soft drinks and juices​​
• Our cocktail and mocktail of the day​
• House spirits and mixers including vodka, gin, rum, whisky, martini, sherry, brandy, port and Baileys (excluding liqueurs)
• Daily recommended wines ​
• Tea and coffee from the bar

View more about our drinks packages.

Air Conditioning

Our ships are fully air-conditioned throughout. Each cabin has individual air-conditioning and heating controls.

Age Restrictions

The minimum age limit is 12 years old at the date of departure. We reserve the right to limit the number of children on any particular cruise. Any minor must be accompanied by and share a cabin with an adult aged 21 or over. If the adult is not the minor’s parent, a ‘Parental Consent Guardianship Form’ must be signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to sailing.

Dietary Requirements

Breakfast: In the morning a full breakfast is served which includes healthy options and your choice of eggs made to order.

Lunch: For lunch enjoy salads from the buffet, soup and a choice of main courses, including local dishes, plus dessert.

Dinner: The four course a la carte dinners include a selection of international and regional specialities.

We cater for most dietary requirements, please ensure you advise our sales team when making the booking.

Medical Facilities

If you have any concerns about your health whilst on tour, please see your Cruise Director or Concierge. They will be able to advise you about chemists and availability of doctors, etc. In an emergency you could always phone our emergency number as issued on your itinerary. There are no on-board medical personnel, although specific crew members will have basic first aid training. However, the ship can stop at any time to transfer any passenger requiring emergency medical attention to local medical facilities.

Disabled Facilities

We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us.

Please take a look at our Passengers with Reduced Mobility FAQs page for more information.

Alternatively, you can contact us online or call us on 01283 688 164 to discuss these concerns. 

Our ships are not adapted for wheelchair access. If you are intending to take a wheelchair or mobility scooter with you, it is essential that you contact us to let us know.

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be used on excursions but they cannot be used on board the ships due to safety reasons and must not be left in corridors, the lounge or restaurant or any other public areas. They must be stored in your cabin.

River cruises operate with a smaller crew than ocean cruises and do not have the crew available to personally attend to passengers with reduced mobility, therefore a travelling companion would need to be able to help with any physical needs.

The itinerary we include with our river cruises involves shore excursions visiting places with cobbled streets which can be on an incline making navigation of these streets difficult for anyone with reduced mobility.

If you can’t do many shore excursions, river cruising in Europe can still be very enjoyable and worthwhile. Cruising down the Rhine, Danube or any of the European rivers we offer gives you the opportunity to take in the spectacular scenery and there is a lot to enjoy from the comfort of the ship. Please contact us with any concerns you may have.

Whilst most of our ships have a lift on board, it does not operate to all decks.

We include mobility information regarding lifts between decks on each ship under the deck plan section of the page. You may wish to view all of our ships before booking.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi available for your convenience

Smoking and E-Cigarette Policy

Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted anywhere on board except for designated areas on the sun deck. More and more countries in Europe are adopting a stricter legislation on smoking in public places.

Smoking is not allowed on any public transport and there may be other restrictions in hotels, bars and restaurants.

Facilities and Services

Details on the facilities on each ship can be found in the individual river cruise ship pages.

Hairdressing services

• Most ships, with the exception of the MS Douro Elegance and MS Douro Splendour, offer a hairdressing service.

Medical services

• There are no on-board medical personnel, although specific crew members will have basic first aid training. However, the ship can stop at any time to transfer any passenger requiring emergency medical attention to local medical facilities.
• If you have any concerns about your health whilst on tour, please see your Cruise Director or Concierge. They will be able to advise you about chemists and availability of doctors, etc.
• In an emergency you could always phone our emergency number as issued on your itinerary.

Laundry service

• A limited laundry service is available on board, except on the day of disembarkation.
• A dry cleaning service is not available.

Library

• There is a small library on board with a selection of books, games and puzzles.

Gift shop

• There is a gift shop on board.

Lifts

• There is a lift between all three internal decks but not the sun deck on most ships.

Luggage Information

There is no official limit to the amount of luggage on the cruise.

You will be subject to the luggage allowance limitations according to your flight and airline.

It is recommended to travel fairly light, due to restricted storage space in ship cabins.

Sailing information

How much time do we spend sailing?

The majority of sailing is made during the day. The itinerary is designed so you have an overnight in port to enjoy dinner ashore at local restaurants (if not included on board) and then the ship sets sail the next morning to the next port of call. Each day, the Captain will try to find a suitable and safe spot for swimming (obviously subject to sea and weather conditions).

You will then arrive at your next port of call mid to late afternoon to enjoy an independent visit or a guided walking tour. Whilst this is the usual format of each day, it also varies depending on the itinerary as on some itineraries you may have a full day in port and on others you might have an extra port at lunchtime. This is what makes each of our yacht itineraries unique and individual!

The captain may also adapt the route between ports and islands along the coastline depending on the local conditions but will always aim to find the most suitable route and ports to ensure you have a comfortable sail on board and visit ashore.

Please be aware sometimes the order of the itinerary and location of swim stops may change to those advertised.

Will I experience sea sickness while sailing?

The ship will be moored in port overnight each night, so there will be minimal movement to allow for a restful night’s sleep. The majority of sailing will be during the day and ships may be cruising the coastline or in open water, therefore depending on weather conditions, it may be possible you will feel some movement on board.

If you are concerned, it is recommended to seek medical advice before travel as there are many treatments available such as travel sickness tablets and travel wristbands.

What happens in inclement weather?

In inclement weather, the Captain will endeavour to continue the itinerary as planned wherever possible, however there may occasionally be a change of course or port and/or swim stops may be omitted if it is deemed unsafe to anchor/moor.

There is always the possibility that itineraries may be changed to ensure a smooth sailing and for the safety of passengers.

The safety of our guests is our utmost priority and the Captain’s decision is final.