Croatia’s Top 3 Cruising Holidays

The Dalmatian coast is one of the most popular experiences in Europe. No wonder! It’s home to Roman ruins, spectacular beaches, old fishing ports, medieval architecture and historic cities, where you’ll walk along cobbled-stone streets that have been there for centuries. Just think of all the renowned feet that walked these streets as well. Are you feeling goosebumps of excitement yet?

One of the best ways to explore the beauty and mysteries of this world is on a cruise, visiting ports at Zadar, with its wealth of churches, majestic Dubrovnik, the cultural jewel of Croatia, Hvar and Korcula Islands, as well as stunning Miljet National Park, with a former Benedictine monastery, erected in the 12th century, smack dab right in the middle of the lake.

Our travellers love exploring the coast from the water, so we have a wide wide variety of Dalmatian coast cruising options available.

Sometimes it can be challenging to select the right one for you; that’s why we’ve put together travel logs of our 3 favourite Dalmatian coast water experiences we think you’ll love as well for you to choose from.

Here’s a recap of what you would experience if you were to cruise with us.

1. Adriatic Cruise from Croatia to Italy in 12 Days

This cruise starts on land, and here’s where the picture begins. Imagine yourself on a walking tour of Dubrovnik, which takes you to the Rector’s Palace and Franciscan Monastery’s Pharmacy before you return to the boat for a delicious lunch.

Sated, what a perfect time for an afternoon sail to Mljet Island. Mljet National Park is a living treasure with five different types of forest, many species of birds, and two deep lakes: Veliko Jezero (Big Lake) and Malo Jezero (Small Lake).

After some time indulging in the local natural beauty we continue cruising to Korcula, known as the birthplace of the explorer Marco Polo.

A walking tour of Korcula is a must. It’s a magical stroll through its narrow, cobbled streets leading to the majestic Gothic-Baroque Cathedral of St. Mark. Stunning!

After a long morning exploring, you board for lunch and have a swim stop as we continue our voyage to Hvar.

The Hvar sightseeing tour takes you to the first public theatre in Europe (older than Shakespeare’s theatre in the UK!), the Franciscan Monastery and much more. With some personal time in Hvar, you’re free to enjoy the rest of the evening exploring the old city and all its nooks and crannies.

Next day, we go to Bol – home of one of the best beaches in Croatia, the Golden Horn. This vast, golden pebble beach is unique in that it changes shape depending on the winds. This is a must see!

Once we’ve had enough of the sand fun, we head to Split, where the walking tour takes us to the historic inner city built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. See the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. Again, there’s the chance to enjoy the evening in Split at your own pace.

In the morning, we sail to UNESCO listed city, Trogir, with its medieval cathedral and city walls among Renaissance, baroque and Romanesque architecture, before sailing off to Sibenik, with a stop on the way for a swim, of course.

The Sibenik area is home to two National Parks, Krka, with its breathtaking waterfalls, and Kornati, comprised of more than 140 islands. The day is devoted to these scenic destinations before sailing to Sali.

The night after a long day of exploration is a very special one – and the gastronomic highlight of any cruise – the captain’s dinner on board!

The next day, we head to Zadar where a walking tour steeped in history awaits. We visit the historical center with the defensive walls built in 16th century, the ancient Port Gate where the Venetian lion still stands guard, the Square of the Five Wells, Church of St. Donat, Roman Forum (1st century BC) and the largest cathedral in Dalmatia, St. Anastasia.

After such an exciting day, we continue exploring this amazing country further. The journey takes us up to the north, Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Get your camera ready; the walking tour sees us enjoying the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder with its 16 terraced lakes surrounded by wooded mountains and lush vegetation.

And then we continue on to Opatija for a walk along the Lungo Mare, or Seaside Promenade, and see the city’s famous villas.

Next is Pula to explore the strategic port, and the Amphitheater, the sixth largest of its kind still in existence, before visiting the beautiful resort of Rovinj, with the narrow lanes of its old town. In Porec, we visit the Basilica of Euphrasius, a UNESCO World Heritage site and then return to Opatija for some well-deserved rest.

On the final day, we travel to Slovenia and visit the unique and beautiful Postojna Cave, one of the largest in Europe. We explore this fantastic subterranean world on a miniature electric train, before continuing on to Venice, with its idyllic setting on 119 islands.

Our walking tour of Venice begins in St. Mark’s Square, and covers the essentials, including St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Bell Tower and Bridge of Sighs, as well as a fascinating behind the scenes look at the traditional Venetian art of glassblowing.

The afternoon hours are free to explore, shop or even take a gondola ride through the canals of Venice, before the final highlight of the tour, gathering for a Farewell Dinner with new-found friends.

2. From Croatia to Montenegro and Beyond in 11 Days

Join us on a cruise of the spectacular sights of Dubrovnik to Mljet, Korcula, Hvar, Trstenik, Sipan, Montenegro and Mostar.

The 7-night cruise includes half board service (breakfast and lunch) on board an A+ category ship, a highlight Captain’s dinner and 3 overnights with breakfast in 4 star hotel in Dubrovnik. Transfers and cities guides are of course included. The entire package is a really good start to an adventurous voyage.

The journey starts in Dubrovnik, with the ship crew preparing for dinner upon arrival. In the morning, we start our way to the national park Mljet with a delicious lunch on board and a whole free day at the Salt Lakes in the National Park. Do not miss the amazing sunset on this peaceful island!

Bicycles, scooters or buggies are available for hire to explore the island.

When we arrive in Korcula, there’s free time to explore the island’s legends, tales and monuments. After satisfying your hunger for culture and history, there’s the option of wine and appetiser tasting at a local winery before dining in one of the numerous seafront restaurants or konobas. If you’re unsure of what local delicacy to try, ask our onboard crew – they always know the best of the area.

The next day there’s an early morning trip to the little island Scedro to relax and refresh in the clean, crystal blue sea, followed by a trip to Hvar after lunch. Hvar is the longest island in the Adriatic. This is a magical place with its Renaissance cathedral and the oldest community theatre in Europe, which was founded back in 1612.

After some time in Hvar, the cruise continues towards the little village Trstenik on Peljesac peninsula. Ohh, the nature here is something! The coastline along the town and the neighboring inlets is covered by groves of pine – what an ambience for swimming. Here, you can also visit a local winery before returning to the ship for the highly anticipated Captain’s dinner party.

Of course, we don’t party too much, as early the next morning we’re off to the Elafiti islands. These are a group of islands (Sipan, Lopud and Kolocep) in the Adriatic Sea west of Dubrovnik. We’ll cruise by one of the smallest islands here for some swimming and lunch. The night is spent at the largest sibling island – Sipan, and it’s a magical night.

Then there’s one of the highlights of the journey; a bus trip to visit Montenegro – a small country with magnificent mountains rising above the Adriatic Sea, filled with natural beauty, clear lakes, fast rivers and serene beaches. Travellers love visiting this distant world and often come back here to explore further on their next trip.

Mostar is the next stop; a town of contrasts, culture, color and cuisine, it’s divided not only by the Neretva River that flows through it but also by religion and culture from one bank to the other. Mostar, in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, is where east meets west. It’s an exciting and rich world. We stay here overnight so you can enjoy a sunset and the nightlife.

3. Kvarner Bay of Islands in 8 Days

This is a cruise of a lifetime! This exciting journey starts from a swim in the crystal clear sea on route to Krk island – the largest of the Croatian islands.

This voyage takes us to Rab island, known as the island of love. The town is encircled by medieval walls, Romanesque church towers, churches and palaces, stone streets and ancient facades. Stunning!

Next morning we’ll be cruising away from Rab along the Pag island with a swim stop, of course, near the tiny Maun island, finally moving towards Zadar. Zadar is rich monumental heritage of world importance visible at every step. There is so much to explore: the Roman forum dated to the 1st century AD, the church of St. Donatus dated to the 9th century AD – the most famous Medieval basilica and the symbol of the city, the mighty city walls with representative Port and Land gates from the 16th century AD, and numerous palaces, villas.

What our travellers particularly love here are the famous Zadar Sea Organs, which are one of a kind in the world and The Greeting to the Sun installation.

In the morning we explore Molat or Olib island, which are situated in the northern part of Zadar’s archipelago. Upon arrival back on the boat, the captain’s dinner party welcomes the guests, followed by an overnight in the port of Molat or Olib.

After a well-rested night and morning swim, we cruise towards Ilovik, the island of flowers, then on to Losinj island, one of the most popular islands on the northern Adriatic due to the abundance of pine trees and clear waters. We spend the day here exploring the natural beauty of the island. Make sure to charge your camera – there is plenty to capture here!

After another refreshing morning swim we leave for the Cres island, a long and narrow island covered with oak, beach and pine forests as well as vineyards and olive tree plantations. Cres and Mali Losinj used to be one island but a channel dug by the Romans separated them. We spend the night in the harbour for a medieval city experience.

The next morning we visit Opatija. Cruising along, we enjoy the beautiful views of the famous Opatija Riviera. Upon arrival, take a stroll along the famous Franz Joseph promenade – Lungo Mare to the numerous cafes and restaurants in Opatija or nearby fishermen’s village Volosko – well known for excellent seafood restaurants, the best in the region, as well as among the best in Croatia. For the last night on board we recommend a farewell party on the ship; it’s a great opportunity for exchanging addresses with other travellers on board – as you’ll all be close friend by now no doubt!

If one of these sound like a cruise for you or you have any questions, our team will be happy to assist you – just give us a call on 1800 242 353.