Delights of Croatia & Slovenia Tour & Cruise

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 Small group
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Discover the history, nature, culture and wonderful cuisine of Croatia & Slovenia. Spend 7 unforgettable days touring the highlights on land followed by 8 days onboard a relaxing Deluxe Small Ship, cruising the gorgeous Adriatic coastline. All details of this itinerary have been carefully crafted to showcase the very best of these destinations.

Zagreb – Ljubljana – Bled – Radovljica – Ljubljana – Postojna Cave – Predjama – Momjan – Poreč – Motovun – Livade – Rovinj – Poreč – Pula – Vodnjan – Opatija – Rastoke – Plitvice Lakes NP – Zadar – Split – Korčula – Mljet NP – Dubrovnik – Elaphiti Islands – Slano – Ston – Prapratno – Trstenik – Hvar – Bol – Trogir – Split

ITINERARY

DAY 1 Zagreb
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. Free time before a welcome dinner at one of Zagreb’s most loved restaurants. (D)
DAY 2 Zagreb – Ljubljana
Zagreb is home to a mix of 18th and 19th century buildings with many charming parks, squares and city markets. Discover the city’s sights then continue to Ljubljana. The lively city features a gorgeous pedestrian only Baroque Old Town nestled at the foot of Castle Hill. Dinner at the hotel. (B, D)
DAY 3 Ljubljana – Bled – Radovljica – Ljubljana
Lake Bled ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts. Enjoy a Pletna boat ride to Bled Island. Continue to the medieval castle perched high on a cliff top for a memorable lunch. Stop in Radovljica for a stroll through this magical little town. Return to Ljubljana for an evening at leisure. (B, L)
DAY 4 Ljubljana – Postojna – Predjama – Momjan – Poreč
See the subterranean world of the Postojna Caves by train. Photo stop at Predjama Castle, followed by a wine tasting at one of Croatia’s best wineries. Arrive to Poreč, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Euphrasius Basilica from the 6th century AD. Dinner at the hotel this evening. (B, T, D)
DAY 5 Poreč – Motovun – Livade – Rovinj – Poreč
Visit the medieval hilltop town of Motovun followed by lunch in Livade where you will experience a tasting of local truffles. Proceed to the seaside town of Rovinj, one of the most romantic towns on the Mediterranean, with its cobbled streets, squares and picturesque buildings. Return to Poreč for an afternoon at leisure. (B, L/T)
DAY 6 Poreč – Pula – Vodnjan – Opatija – Rastoke – Plitvice Lakes
Depart for Plitvice, enroute see Pula and its impressive Roman Amphitheatre followed by a visit to a renowned family producer of olive oil. Continue to Opatija, the old playground of the Austro-Hungarian nobility. Photo stop in Rastoke. Overnight in Plitvice Lakes and enjoy dinner at the hotel. (B, T, D)
DAY 7 Plitvice Lakes – Zadar – Split
The beauty of the Plitvice Lakes lies in its 16 lakes inter-connected by a series of waterfalls. Discover the National Park and have picnic lunch before continuing to Zadar. Zadar dates back to Roman times, see its beautiful promenade Sea Organ & Greetings to the Sun. Overnight in Split this evening. Dinner is at the hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 8 Split
Check in from 1400HRS onwards. After settling, enjoy a guided tour of the city. Split is a historic town under UNESCO protection and a part of the world heritage. One will find an abundance of Roman architecture, of special interest is the magnificent Diocletian Palace, once inhabited by the Roman Emperor. After the tour of Split, return to your ship for a welcome cocktail and dinner. (B, D)
DAY 9 Split – Korčula
Early morning departure towards Korčula Island, best known as the birthplace of Marco Polo. Stop for lunch in one of the secluded bays enroute. Early afternoon arrival in Korčula, followed by a guided walking tour of this enchanting town with fortified walls. On this Island you can find more legends, tales and monuments than anywhere else while you wander along the herringbone pattern streets. Korčula has an abundant choice of restaurants where you can continue your gourmet experience and there are many bars and clubs for those looking for evening entertainment. Overnight in Korčula. (B, L)
DAY 10 Korčula – Mljet – Dubrovnik
This morning we head further south to the Island of Mljet. Join the Cruise Director for a stroll to the famous saltwater lakes in the Mljet National Park and enjoy the boat ride to the St Mary’s Isle, where you will visit an ancient Benedictine monastery, an old abbey and a church dating from the 12th century. Alternatively, you can rent kayaks, bicycles, scooters or convertible cars to roam around the National Park or the island on your own. Return to the ship for lunch, followed by departure towards Dubrovnik. Late afternoon arrival in Dubrovnik, but before we tie the ropes at Gruž Port, the captain will take you for an evening cruise alongside the Old Town walls while a buffet dinner is served on deck. Enjoy the spectacular views of this magnificent Old Town. Overnight in Dubrovnik. (B, L, D)
DAY 11 Dubrovnik
After breakfast, transfer to the Old Town for a guided walking tour of this magical town. You will have an opportunity to take the best photos of the town of Dubrovnik as we take the cable car from the Old Town to Mount Srđ to enjoy scenic views of the walls and Elaphiti Islands. Afternoon at leisure to find idyllic spots for lunch and dinner. For those of you with more enthusiasm, we recommend to walk the famous 1,940m-long city walls and take a stroll along ‘Stradun’, both a street and a square, a promenade inside the city walls. Overnight in Dubrovnik. (B)
DAY 12 Dubrovnik – Elaphiti – Slano – Ston – Prapratno – Trstenik
During breakfast take in the spectacular scenery, as the ship cruises to one of the Elaphiti Islands for a swim stop enroute to Slano, a peaceful fishermen’s village on the mainland. Slano is the starting point to Ston, a once fortified small town, famous for its medieval ramparts, saltworks and oysters. After exploring the town our coach excursion takes us to a family owned oyster farm for a special tasting and experience. Meet the ship again in the bay of Prapratno and continue cruising towards the village of Trstenik from where we move away from the shore inland to explore the rural areas of Pelješac Peninsula. Afternoon transfer to the village for a visit to a local farm where you will indulge in a typical village party with Croatian delicacies, an all-inclusive dinner with local dishes made from their own produce. Late transfer back to the ship in Trstenik for overnight. (B, T, D)
DAY 13 Trstenik – Hvar
Cruise towards Hvar, the longest and sunniest island in the Adriatic, with swim stop and lunch enroute. We explore Hvar’s old town and see the Renaissance cathedral with its original tower and the oldest community theatre in Europe. A private transfer takes us to a renowned family owned winery, where we learn about its history of wine making and sample the local Dalmatian wine. One last stop takes us to the must-see Spanish Fortress which offers incredibly scenic views of the town and Pakleni Islands. This evening experience the electric atmosphere of Hvar’s famous nightlife. Dine at a local restaurant or visit the bars and cafes which are open long into the night. (B, L, T)
DAY 14 Hvar – Bol – Trogir
Morning departure to Brač Island, where swimming is planned at the most famous beach in Dalmatia, Zlatni Rat near Bol. Bol is a typical fishermen’s town, converted into a popular tourist destination. Continue to Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage protected historic stone town, often described as an open-air museum. We explore the charming town with its narrow alleyways and view the Cathedral of St Lawrence and the magnificent Kamerlengo Tower. Return to the ship for your Captain’s Dinner with live entertainment to dance the night away. (B, L, D)
DAY 15 Trogir – Split
Early morning departure for Split and on arrival check out by 0900HRS with transfer to Split Airport. We are sure you will have made many friends and have a wealth of memories to treasure and take home with you. Sretan Put. (B)

Inclusions

Tour & Cruise Includes

  • 7 Nights in 4-5* hotels
  • Tour Director
  • All transfers as per itinerary
  • 14 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 9 Dinners (B, L, D)
  • Modern A/C motor coach or minivan
  • Service charges & hotel taxes
  • Cruise Director
  • Authentic Food & Wine Experiences (T)
  • 7 Nights on Luxury Small Ship
  • Ship Welcome Reception & Cocktail
  • Daily cabin service
  • Free WiFi on ship (restrictions may apply)
  • Visitor taxes & port fees
  • Headsets
  • Porterage

Highlights

  • Authentic dining experiences at local restaurants
  • Unique stays in centrally located hotels
  • Wine Tasting at an award-winning winery in Istria
  • Truffle Tasting Lunch in Istria
  • Olive Oil Tasting at a family owned estate in Vodnjan
  • Visit & Tasting at Ston Oyster Farm
  • Croatian Village Dinner Party on Pelješac Peninsula
  • Wine Tasting in Hvar
  • Captain’s Dinner with live entertainment
  • Cable car ride in Dubrovnik with sensational views of the Old Town

Sightseeing with Local Guides

  • Zagreb
  • Ljubljana
  • Bled
  • Poreč
  • Motovun
  • Rovinj
  • Pula
  • Plitvice NP
  • Zadar
  • Split
  • Korčula
  • Dubrovnik
  • Hvar
  • Trogir

Entrance Fees

  • Zagreb – Funicular
  • Bled – Castle, Pletna Boat, Church
  • Postojna – Cave
  • Poreč – Euphrasius Basilica
  • Motovun – Shuttle Bus, Town Walls
  • Pula – Amphitheatre Arena
  • Plitvice Lakes – National Park
  • Split – Diocletian Palace Cellars
  • Mljet – National Park
  • Dubrovnik – Cable Car
  • Hvar – Spanish Fortress

Cruise Information
VIP Cabins are on the Upper Deck. Upper Deck Cabins are above the Main Deck. Lower Deck Cabins are in the hull of the ship, below the Main Deck. All cabins are allocated according to availability. Most port arrivals are in the late afternoon. Cruising time is approximately 4-5 hours a day. Guests are obliged to follow ship rules. Due to specific mooring conditions and requirements in some Croatian Ports, ships are moored side by side. This makes it necessary to cross from one ship to the other where there are gaps in between each ship. Special care must be taken at all times when crossing between the vessels and guests do this at their own risk. Crew assistance will be given to those needing and requesting it. Cruises are not recommended for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.

Images courtesy of Croatia Times Travel 

 

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