Wonderful Adriatic Cruise: Dubrovnik to Zadar

You will be transferred from the airport or from your hotel in Dubrovnik to Gruz Harbor, where embarkation begins at noon. Later, join your fellow travelers and your cruise manager for an onboard welcome reception with dinner. This evening, you can relax on board, or take a stroll through Dubrovnik's Old Town.

We start the day with breakfast and a walking tour of Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of Adriatic" and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We visit the Rector's Palace and the Franciscan Monastery's Pharmacy before returning to the ship. While we set sail for Mljet Island, lunch is served. Mljet National Park features five types of forest, many species of birds, and two deep lakes: Veliko Jezero (Big Lake) and Malo Jezero (Small Lake). Spectacular scenery accompanies us all the way to Korcula, believed to be the birthplace of the explorer Marco Polo. Dinner tonight is on board.

This morning, after breakfast, we take a walking tour through the narrow, cobble-stone streets of Korcula town. Our visit includes a visit to the majestic Gothic-Baroque Cathedral of St. Mark. Afterward, we board our ship again and ejoy lunch. We stop for a swim en route to Hvar where we arrive late afternoon. There, during our sightseeing tour, we see the first public theatre in Europe, the Franciscan Monastery and much more. Our evening is free in Hvar so you can explore even more and dine on your own at one of the many restaurants in town. (B, L)

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.

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. During lunch on board, we sail to Split. Here, a walking tour shows off the historic inner city, built around 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. The evening is free to discover more of Split.

In the morning, we sail to the UNESCO-listed city of Trogir. Our time here is free to explore on your own. Back on board, enjoy lunch as we cruise to Sibenik, with a stop for a swim on the way. In Sibenik, a walking tour shows us the highlights of the city, then our evening is at leisure.

The Sibenik area is home to two National Parks: Krka, with its breathtaking waterfalls, and Kornati, comprised of more than 140 islands with numerous coves and crystal-clear water. The day is devoted to tour these scenic destinations before we sail to Sali. Tonight, aboard our ship, enjoy the Captain's dinner with live entertainment and a glass of wine.

As we cruise this morning, and weather permitting, we stop for a swim. After lunch, we arrive in Zadar. 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. The evening is free in Zadar.

Disembark after breakfast. Transfer to Zadar or Split airport for your flight home or you might want to join a post cruise trip to Italy.