Wonderful Adriatic Cruise: Zadar to Dubrovnik

You will be transferred from the airport or from your hotel in Zadar to the port for embarkation. Later join your fellow travelers and your cruise manager for an onboard welcome reception and dinner.

We start the day with breakfast followed by a walking tour of Zadar's historical center. The city's compact pedestrian zone is perfect to explore on foot. We admire the 16th century walls built by the Venetians as a defense against the Turks. We also see the Port Gate where the Venetian lion still guards the entrance, the Square of the Five Wells, the Church of St. Donat, the Roman Forum, and the largest cathedral in Dalmatia, St. Anastasia. After the tour, we stop for a tasting of traditional Maraschino liqueur. While we set sail for Sali, lunch is served. Later in the day, we explore Sali. Dinner is on your own in one of the local restaurants.

After breakfast, we take in the scenic wonderlands of two National Parks in the Sibenik area: Krka, with its breathtaking waterfalls, and Kornati, comprised of more than 140 islands with numerous coves and crystal-clear waters. The day is devoted to tour these scenic destinations. After our visit here, the evening is at leisure in Sibenik.

In the morning there is time for a swim before we continue sailing. After lunch, we arrive in the UNESCO-listed city of Trogir. Our time here is at leisure until we set course for Split. Here, a walking tour of the historic inner city takes us to the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We see the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral.

We sail to Bol, home of the Golden Horn, one of the most breathtaking beaches in Croatia. This vast, golden pebble beach is unique in that it changes shape and position depending on the direction of the winds. Before lunch, there is time for a swim in the clear blue waters. Later, we sail to the island of Hvar where we enjoy a sightseeing tour that includes the first public theatre in Europe, the Franciscan Monastery, and many more historic sights. The evening is free to explore Hvar and to dine on your own in one of the excellent restaurants.

Note: Due to the limited capacity of the Hvar harbor (during peak season in July and August) the port of call can be substituted for Stari Grad/Jelsa. In that case transfers by bus will be organized to and from Hvar.

After breakfast we depart for Korcula, where we arrive in the early afternoon. Korcula town is thought to be the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. Our walking tour through its narrow, cobble-stone streets includes a visit of the majestic Gothic-Baroque Cathedral of St. Mark. We continue our cruise to the island of Mljet, where we enjoy an afternoon tour of Mljet National Park, which features five types of forest, many species of birds, and two deep lakes: Veliko Jezero (Big Lake) and Malo Jezero (Small Lake). This spectacular island was supposedly a favorite holiday spot for the Greek hero Ulysses! Tonight, on board our ship, we enjoy the Captain's dinner with live entertainment and a glass of wine.

In the morning we sail to Dubrovnik, the so called "Pearl of Adriatic," and a UNESCO World Heritage site. While in Dubrovnik, we take a walking tour of the old town and visit the Rector's Palace and the Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy. The remainder of the day is free to discover even more of this amazing city.

Disembark after breakfast. You will be transferred to Dubrovnik airport for your flight home.