We Love —
- Cruising the Adriatic Coast of Croatia and experiencing dazzling landscapes, pristine water and glorious National Parks.
- The choice of opting for a Walking Tour add-on and guided tours of your destinations to immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this region.
- Relaxing in style on your Cruise with a choice between three Cabin types and delicious Half Board dining included in your trip.
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Embark on an 11-day journey through the Western Balkans and experience an ideal combination of natural beauty, culture and history. You'll start inland and continue on a cruise to visit the coast and some islands.
Your itinerary:
Day 1: Zagreb
Day 2: Zagreb - Bled
Day 3: Bled - Ljubljana - Plitvice
Day 4: Plitvice - Zadar - Split
Day 5: Split - Sibenik - Excursion to Trogir and Skradin
Day 6: Sibenik - Vis
Day 7: Vis - Hvar - Pučišća
Day 8: Pučišća - Korčula
Day 9: Korčula - Mljet - Slano
Day 10: Slano - Dubrovnik
Day 11: Dubrovnik - Return
Your Itinerary In Detail —
DAY 1 (Wednesday) ZAGREB
Welcome to Croatia! Your trip begins with an included airport transfer to your accommodation, the rest of the day is at your leisure to settle in and enjoy the hotel facilities. Dinner is included this evening. Overnight in Zagreb/Zagreb area.
DAY 2 (Thursday) ZAGREB – BLED
Fuel up with breakfast included at your hotel. The morning kick-starts with a sightseeing tour of Zagreb, the Croatian capital city, giving you the opportunity to see the fortified Upper Town, the city’s historical centre, St Mark’s church with its multicoloured roof, the Cathedral, Croatian National Theatre and the University. Through the carved facades of buildings and baroque churches, you will pass many green spaces and cafe terraces where the locals like to gather.
Your departure to Bled is arranged for early afternoon. Bled is a small town in the Julian Alps that could be a setting for a classic fairy tale: immense natural beauty with mountains and forest surrounding an emerald glacial lake, an island in the middle of the lake with a church steeple and its wishing bell, a cliff-top castle with picturesque views, and a well-known sweet treat! Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts and is renowned also for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water. Dinner is included at your hotel. Overnight in Bled/Bled area.
DAY 3 (Friday) BLED – LJUBLJANA - PLITVICE
After breakfast, depart for Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital, where you will have a guided tour of the most significant sights of its old centre: the picturesque Central open-air Market and the Three Bridges, the Baroque Town Hall and Robba’s Fountain.
After Ljubljana, continue your journey to Plitvice lakes, a well-known UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering stunning natural beauty of the 16 crystal-blue lakes cascading into 92 spectacular waterfalls. Walk on the wooden promenades with magnificent views of the waters, where every turn leads to breathtaking scenery and yet another waterfall. Surrounded by dense woodland, Plitvice lakes are a natural phenomenon of rare and unique beauty. Dinner and overnight in Plitvice area.
DAY 4 (Saturday) PLITVICE – ZADAR – SPLIT
After breakfast, you will depart for Zadar, whereupon arrival you'll be met by a guide for your walking tour! Stroll through the Roman Forum from the 2nd century BC, passing by the 9th century pre-Romanesque church of St. Donatus as well as St. Anastasia church. After your tour, depart for Split. In the afternoon (about 3pm) board your ship to begin your Highlights of South Adriatic Cruise. Dinner and overnight Split.
DAY 5 (Sunday) SPLIT – SIBENIK – excursion Trogir and Skradin
When sailing along the Croatian coast, surpassing the surrounding beauty may seem like an impossible task. Perhaps so, but there are sites on the Croatian mainland that surely parallel it, such as the Krka River and its stunning estuary. A coach trip brings you to the small town of Skradin, the guardian of the mouth of River Krka, and the gateway to its National park. The place where wild waterfalls inspire serene lakes, the park is definitely worth a visit.
After returning to the seaside, visit Trogir, a petite island bridged to the mainland. A showcase of stunning architecture founded upon Greek and Roman heritage, Trogir is protected by UNESCO, just like the Cathedral of St. James at your next stop, Šibenik. Rolling down the hill slopes towered by the immense fortress of St. Michael, Šibenik is a sight to behold from every perspective. An optional walking tour* will introduce you to Šibenik’s great claim to Renaissance – both the one centuries ago, when the town’s Cathedral of St. James, and the present day, and how the town has become known as one of Croatia’s upcoming gems. Experience its stone alleys and great cuisine in an evening at your own leisure. Overnight in Šibenik.
*Sibenik Walking tour – optional walking tour package.
DAY 6 (Monday) SIBENIK – VIS
Enjoy the stunning waterfront of Šibenik as you navigate down the narrow channel of St. Anthony out to the open seas. Today you will sail to the island of Vis. You’ll recognize its main settlement, the town of Vis, by numerous masts criss-crossed over the image of its seafront facades. Comprised of the newer, 19th-century harbour area, and the historic, medieval corner, the past of Vis spans over two millennia, hence the colourful array of heritage in this small settlement ranges from a Greek cemetery and Roman baths to an English fort and Yugoslav militia tributes. Join an optional guided tour* to get an insight into the tumultuous history of Vis and listen to your guide for some recommendations on what to do that evening. Overnight in Vis.
*Optional excursion: Island of Vis.
DAY 7 (Tuesday) VIS – HVAR – PUČIŠĆA
Enjoy a breakfast with a view and a morning sail to Hvar, officially the sunniest of 1200 Croatian islands. This jet-set favourite is also the island with the most UNESCO-listed heritage in the entire world, so consider joining the optional guided tour*.
Later, you will be able to compare this beauty with the lovely island of Brač, the homeland of ‘the Croatian marble’. You’ve probably seen this ultra-quality limestone already, perhaps on the front of the White House in Washington DC or Bundestag in Berlin, but the optional tour* to the still-operating stonemasonry school in Pučišća brings a chance to learn more about shaping this stone for eternity. Overnight Pučišća.
*Hvar Walking tour – optional walking tour package; *Stonemasonry School in Pucisca – optional walking tour package.
DAY 8 (Wednesday) PUČIŠĆA – KORČULA
Hop over to Korčula Island, one of the largest islands in the Adriatic, known for its signature lush dark forests. You’ll know Korčula was a Venetian stronghold as soon as you lay your eyes on the many lion statues which lurk at the town’s facades and gates, intertwined with some of the most outstanding stonework you will get see anywhere on the Adriatic coast. The alleged home of the world-renowned traveller, Marco Polo, is bound to charm you whether you explore it on your own or in an optional walking tour*. Overnight in Korčula.
*Korčula Walking tour – optional walking tour package.
DAY 9 (Thursday) KORČULA – MLJET – SLANO (Captain's dinner)
Continue to another green island, this time Mljet. The national park on the island is the home of two salty lakes connected to the sea via a narrow canal. Nature lovers will get a thrill from hiking or cycling here, possibly even kayaking to the small inlet in the centre of the lake, charming with its 12th-century Monastery of St. Mary. Alternatively, join our optional excursion** – but whatever you do, do not pass on setting foot on Mljet! Enjoy a refreshing dip before setting sail back to the mainland and the small settlement of Slano.
In the vicinity of Slano, the petite town of Ston claims its fame for many things gourmand: potent wines, ancient salt production and succulent oysters and mussels. Consider joining an optional tour of the Taste of Dalmatia*, highlighting all these treasures, but you can also just relax in Slano, where you are docked overnight.
*Optional excursion: Mljet National Park; **Optional excursion: Taste of Dalmatia.
DAY 10 (Friday) SLANO – DUBROVNIK
Take in the last of the Slano cool over breakfast. Just thereafter, you will set sail to Croatia’s southernmost gem and the renowned hotspot, Dubrovnik. Glimpse at its beauty sailing beneath the mighty City Walls, much in the same way its enemies and allies used to, before dropping anchor in the port of Gruž. The optional walking tour* of Dubrovnik Old Town takes you by the world-famous landmarks, strolling down the same streets as the cast and crews of Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Robin Hood. Whatever you might consider to be the town’s main drawcard, Dubrovnik’s city walls and its courteous spirit will swiftly transport you back in time to when this was an independent republic that successfully rivalled the Venetian Republic. Enjoy an evening of romance, glitz and glam, as you will be staying in Dubrovnik overnight.
*Dubrovnik town tour with a coach transfer – optional walking tour package.
DAY 11 (Saturday) DEPARTURE
Enjoy one last sea view breakfast before disembarking the ship by 9:00 AM.
Your Hotels —
HAND-PICKED JUST FOR YOU
Maximum room capacity
For your trip we have selected the following hotels for you:
- In Zagreb: Hotel Astoria 4* (or similar)
- In Bled/Ljubljana: Hotel Kompas 4* (or similar)
- In the Plitvice Lakes area: Hotel Jezero 3* (or similar)
- During your cruise: Cabin on the lower, main or upper deck of the MS Liberty, MS Providenca (or similar)
Your Cruise:
Cabin furnishings include a cupboard, a cabinet and a window or a porthole. All cabins are equipped with power plugs, LCD TV, safe box and hairdryer. Bathrooms are fully equipped with a shower, toilette and vanity with a sink.
On the main deck and the upper deck, there is one bathroom with showers. Upper deck houses a fully air-conditioned salon-restaurant that sits all guests at the same time, with a fully equipped bar and LCD TV. At the rear of the boat, you can find a shaded lounge area with club tables and comfortable sofas. Top deck, also called the 'sun deck' offers 145 m2 of space and is equipped with sun tanning chairs, and a jacuzzi. Wi-Fi is available free of charge in the salon and in the rear part of the boat.
Your Dining Choices
Both your hotel accommodation and cruise is based on a Half Board stay (breakfast and either lunch or evening meal according to the program). Please note: - Not all food and beverage outlets may be applicable to your Half Board basis and may be available at selected times only. - Drinks are not included. On the cruise, guests will be expected to follow the ship rules with regard to bringing drinks on board.
For a seamlessly relaxing stay, choose to upgrade to Full Board (breakfast, lunch, and evening meal served in the main restaurant - excludes drinks) at the next stage of the booking process for an additional fee. Please note, not all hotel food and beverage outlets may be applicable to your Full Board basis and may be available at selected times only.
Your Optional Excursions —
Optional Walking Tour Package
Opt to add a guided walking tour at your destinations and make the most of your trip! Explore Šibenik, Dubrovnik (includes a coach transfer), Korčula, Split, Hvar, and a visit to Pucisca Stonemasonry School including your guide and entrance fee.
Your Journey —
Flights:
You may choose from Economy, Premium or Business class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process. The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
