Katarina Line announced that it will be introducing new, “more luxurious and modern” vessels for 2018 as part of a fleet-wide rebranding program that raises its category of ships to six from its current four-category designations of Deluxe, A+, A and B.

Beginning with the 2018 cruise season, the new categories will be Deluxe Superior, newer and larger ships that are a minimum of 154 feet long, built or updated within the past year; Deluxe, state-of-the-art ships between 137 to 154 feet long; Premium Superior, newer category A+ ships similar to the current Deluxe ships but a bit smaller in length; Premium, the smaller of Katarina’s spacious, steel-hulled ships.

The company said it is Croatia’s premier small ship company, operating over 50 ships seasonally from Croatian ports and carrying over 26,000 passengers.

Katarina Line’s more traditional wooden ships will be classified in two additional categories: Traditional Ensuite, featuring cabins with private shower/toilets; and Traditional, a smaller line of wooden ships with shared showers and toilets. Both categories will also feature air-conditioned salon.

“The popularity of small ship cruising on the Mediterranean has increased the demand for larger, more luxurious vessels that cater to the new generation of travelers. These travelers are seeking soft adventures ‘on the high seas’ with more lavish accommodation, gourmet dining and superior, personalized service,” said Daniel Hauptfeld, marketing director for Katarina Line.

He continued: “Katarina’s new, top-of-the-line Deluxe Superior vessels is in response to this demand. They are the most spacious in our fleet, constructed with the best material that includes solid wood, glass, marble, and stainless steel, with gourmet dining, on-board entertainment, and high service standards, as well as lavishly and thoughtfully designed en suite accommodation.”