Ivan Rakuljić, captain and owner of the luxury yacht Freedom, embodies the centuries-old tradition of Kriljan shipowners, adapted to the modern demands of nautical tourism. His yacht, which can accommodate up to 20 passengers, is not a classic mini-cruiser but an exclusive charter vessel, equipped with a swimming pool, jacuzzi, cinema hall, sauna and massage room. Freedom is a symbol of luxury and innovation in Croatian nautical tourism.
Ivan has been at sea since he was 12 years old, and he inherited his love for ships from his father, who, back in the 1970s, was engaged in extracting sand needed for construction work at the time. At that time, the Kriljan trabakuli supplied Dalmatia with the famous Cetina sand, which was indispensable for building houses on the coast and islands. The sand was transported by ships that had their permanent place in ports along the coast, and the name Kriljan was synonymous with reliability and diligence. The typicality of the Kriljan people is precisely their centuries-old focus on trabakuli, and in the 19th century they even had a steamship line! But we will tell that story another time.
As times changed, the Kriljan boatmen adapted their business. Already in the late 1970s, they began to convert their ships, which they used to transport sand in the winter, into comfortable boats for day trips in the summer. Sand mining ceased completely in the mid-1990s due to stricter regulations and increasingly better ferry connections to the islands.
The family remained faithful to the sea and tourism
The ship with which the Rakuljić family engaged in sand extraction for 33 years, from 1965 to 1998, was called Kupinova after the beautiful bay on the island of Brač. In 1998, they decided to reconstruct that ship and start offering day trips. The boat could accommodate 130 guests, who were most often taken to the waterfalls of the Krka and Kornati rivers. “Kupinova was a symbol of a time and our beginning in tourism,” Ivan recalled. They worked with that ship for 10 years, after which they decided to sell Kupinova and build Eden.
After five successful seasons with Eden, they expanded their fleet with two more ships – Desire and Paradise, classic mini-cruisers. The latest addition to their fleet is the luxury yacht Freedom. “With Freedom, we wanted to offer something truly special,” Ivan explained. “I noticed a gap in the offering between smaller sailing yachts and large motor yachts, so I decided to combine the best elements of both worlds.”
Freedom offers a unique experience that includes top-notch service from a 12-member crew, locally inspired cuisine, and a tour of the most beautiful destinations in the Adriatic. “For first-time visitors, I recommend Split, Vis, Hvar, Korčula, and Dubrovnik,” says Ivan. “And for returnees, hidden gems like Kornati or Sušac.”
Ivan also emphasizes the importance of a personalized approach to guests: “Every guest has their own desires and expectations, and our goal is to exceed them. From waking up in the most beautiful bays to enjoying top-notch food – every detail has to be perfect.” On Freedom, guests can enjoy a variety of water sports such as jet skiing or paddleboarding.
“Freedom is not just a yacht, it is the realization of our family’s dream,” says Ivan with pride. He runs the business with great love and effort, investing in maintaining tradition and quality of service, and along with his wife Marijana, there are Maja, Sara, Lea, Marin and Toni, whose parents hope will take over the helm of the family business and continue the story that has been going on for generations. “This is not just a job, this is a way of life,” concludes Ivan.
