Dive trip with Mama Marija - 7 nights

Boat

Completed in April 2018, M/S Mama Marija is a 47-metre steel small cruise ship, including her two-metre swimming platform, with an 8.70-metre beam. Two 386 hp engines provide a published cruising speed of 9 knots and a 12-knot maximum. The vessel carries three generators, 10,000 litres of fuel and 55,000 litres of fresh water. Its technical list records 18 guest cabins and seven crew members.

The vessel's scale is suited to Croatia's island harbours, narrow approaches and sheltered coves. Days combine coastal navigation with meals, swimming and guided heritage visits; nights are generally spent alongside, so guests can dine independently and explore historic centres on foot. Safety equipment published by the operator includes video surveillance, navigation systems, smoke and fire detection, life rafts, life jackets and an onboard announcement system.

Her upper-deck air-conditioned restaurant, bar and lounge open toward a covered aft terrace. High above, a partly shaded 390 m² sun deck offers loungers and a rooftop Jacuzzi with broad coastal views. The stern swimming platform has two handrail ladders and two deck showers, making scheduled swim stops simpler, while public toilets are positioned close to the bathing area.

Food service follows a small-ship rhythm: buffet breakfast every day, six three-course lunches, a welcome dinner and a Captain's Dinner on the standard weekly program. Menus mix Mediterranean, international and Croatian cooking. Dietary requirements should be declared before travel; the galley can make reasonable arrangements but cannot promise a completely allergen-free environment.

Cabin

The 18 guest cabins are arranged on standard and main decks, away from the crew quarters. Each has a private shower and toilet, individual air-conditioning and continuous fresh-air ventilation. Standard rooms use portholes; main-deck rooms pair a cabin window with a bathroom porthole. Double and twin requests should be made at booking, because exact layouts and any additional bed are tied to a specific cabin.

Published in-room equipment includes satellite LCD television, radio, safe, work surface, chair, mirror, bedside lights, hair dryer, 220 V outlets, wardrobe and under-bed luggage space. Each cabin also carries a life jacket and connects to the fire-alarm and cruise-manager announcement systems.

Daily cleaning is included. Bath towels are normally changed every second day and bed linen in the middle of the week. There is no passenger laundry service. Cabin size, stair access, window type, third-bed availability and solo-use supplement vary by category; confirm the exact room rather than relying on a generic photograph.

Diving and Water Activities

M/S Mama Marija is not a scuba-diving liveaboard. The operator does not advertise cylinders, compressors, a dive deck, equipment storage, dive guides, certification checks or organised dives. Scuba diving, rental equipment and dive insurance are therefore not included.

A certified guest who wants to dive would need to use an independent licensed shore centre during a sufficiently long port call. Transport, equipment and payment would be separate. Because weather, harbour congestion and the captain can change timing, no dive should be booked until Ambassador Travel confirms in writing that it fits the ship's schedule. The vessel will not wait for an unauthorised shore activity.

Guided snorkelling and loan equipment are not published inclusions either. Guests wishing to bring a mask and snorkel should ask about storage and local rules. The ship's tender is controlled by the crew and is not a general-purpose passenger boat.

The included marine activity is recreational swimming, when conditions permit. The captain selects safe bays and controls access from the stern platform and ladders. Deck showers allow guests to rinse afterward. Jumping overboard during navigation is prohibited. The Biševo Blue Cave visit uses a local excursion boat and is sightseeing—not cave diving or free swimming; entry can be cancelled by waves.

Other Information

The following separation reflects the operator's published 2026 vessel itineraries and general conditions. The confirmation for the selected sailing remains authoritative.

Published as included:

• Seven nights in the confirmed cabin category
• English-speaking cruise manager and the published crew complement
• Daily buffet breakfast, six three-course lunches, welcome dinner and Captain's Dinner
• Complimentary fresh fruit and a drinking-water dispenser; tea/coffee is included only where the final confirmation states it
• Guided English-language tours named in the final itinerary, with wireless headsets
• Mljet National Park and Biševo Blue Cave admission on the published 2026 program; cave admission is refunded when waves close it
• Daily cabin cleaning, bath-towel changes every second day, midweek linen change and a beach towel
• Wi-Fi, public decks, rooftop Jacuzzi and scheduled swim stops when conditions allow

Published as excluded or payable separately:

• Port and tourist taxes: the published 2026 amount is €50 per person per week, payable onboard in cash
• Optional Vis Island tour and, northbound, optional Ston excursion
• Private transfers unless a specific scheduled port connection is stated
• Flights, hotels, travel insurance and visas
• Most dinners, bar purchases and drinks outside the listed water or tea/coffee service
• Gratuities; the FAQ suggests 5–7% of fare for crew and 2–3% for the cruise manager
• Laundry, scuba diving, dive equipment, guided snorkelling and independent excursions
• Solo-use supplements, cabin upgrades and personal purchases

Practical booking notes:

• Published season: mainly April to October; weekly cruises normally depart on Saturday
• Duration: eight days/seven nights, one way rather than a return to the embarkation port
• Cabins: normally ready from 14:00; late arrival must be reported in advance
• Language: English is the official onboard and guiding language
• Wi-Fi: cellular and therefore variable between islands; not suitable for guaranteed streaming or remote work
• Food and drink: outside supplies are generally prohibited except authorised medical, infant or special-diet items
• Health: no onboard doctor or medical centre; travel and medical insurance are strongly recommended
• Accessibility: no adapted cabins; published terms say wheelchairs cannot embark and strollers are unsuitable
• Changes: route, port and even assigned vessel may change for weather, safety, port works or charter conditions