Croatia is a country well known for its maritime and tourism industry, and when these two combine, a result is an interesting tourist offer.

In 2013, Croatia got its first boat hotel or simply botel, which is one of its kind on the whole of the Mediterranean. This charming and unique boat hotel is situated in the centre of the largest Croatian port - Rijeka.

After more than 70 years of navigation, the moored boat ''Marina'' was moved from its homeport on the island of Losinj to the port of Rijeka and was redecorated into the botel. Apart from the unique accommodation onboard Marina with 35 cabins and 112 beds with private bathrooms, there is also a restaurant with traditional Croatian cuisine and Mediterranean specialties as well as a charming coffee & wine bar.

It is interesting to note that a memorial room on the bridge, the former space that was restored, is available for guests on sightseeing, as well as the exhibition of a large number of items such as various drafts, diaries, and similar documents from the last century used during Marina's voyages.   
The Marina Botel was built in Frederikshavn, Denmark in 1936. Her godmother at launching was the Swedish princess, after whom she got her first name Kronprinsessan Ingrid. She was a very modern boat at the time, and she used to sail between the ports in Scandinavia.

In 1955, the new owner had changed her name into Christofer Pohlem, whilst in 1963 her next owner named her Marina. In 1969, the boat was purchased by the Croatian maritime company Losinjska plovidba. Marina had regularly sailed in the Adriatic between Zadar and Venice until 2005, when she became an attraction in Mali Losinj. In 2013, she was renovated into a botel in Rijeka with an investment of 2 million Euros.

                  Photo by http://www.botel-marina.com