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Elegant Cruises & Tours
Natural Wonders & Artistic Heritage of the Adriatic
In 2006, Elegant Cruises & Tours, Inc. celebrates 17 years in business by introducing exceptional, all-new deluxe small ship cruise programs in the Adriatic, Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Their small ships are the ideal means to explore the diversity of these regions, without the crowds found on larger vessels. Unpack just once, as we visit not only the Adriatic's major coastal towns—Venice, Dubrovnik, Split and Kotor—but also take you to the less frequented islands like Hvar, Mljet, Cres and Krk. No need to figure out the local ferry schedules to visit these wonderful isles that have a beauty and relaxed pace all their own. Whether you choose our yacht-like Monet or our 105-passenger Andrea, you'll enjoy deluxe accommodations, fine dining and friendly service.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Venice, Italy
Day 2 - Venice
Day 3 - Venice
Day 4 - Kopar, Slovenia
Day 5 - Mali Losinj / Cres, Croatia
Day 6 - Zadar, Croatia
Day 7 - Zadar and Split, Croatia
Day 8 - Split
Day 9 - Split and Korcula, Croatia
Day 10 - Korcula and Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 11 - Dubrovnik
Day 12 - Dubrovnik
Day 13 - Sibenik, Croatia
Day 14 - Sibenik
Day 15 - Venice, Italy - Disembark
Details
This popular program is offered in the early spring and late fall, when cool mornings lead to warm afternoons and life's pace along the Dalmatian coast is noticeably slower. The crowds of tourists are nowhere to be found. Twice as long as our classic eight-day cruise, this program's extra week affords more time in cities like Venice, Dubrovnik and Split. The benefit is more flexibility in departure and arrival times, and opportunities in port for local experts, invited aboard for informal lectures and discussions about an area's natural and political history, art and cultural heritage.
It also allows us to add new places that immerse you in the diversity of the Adriatic and the thousand islands that stretch from the Istrian Peninsula to southern Dalmatia. For example, from Kopar—a typical Slovenian coastal settlement of beautiful squares and Renaissance palaces—we'll drive inland to the Postojna Caves, the most impressive limestone caverns in Europe. Corridors and huge galleries extend for an incredible 12 miles, with floors, walls and ceilings thick with stalactites and stalagmites.
In Mali Losinj, where elegant sea captains' houses reflect the harbor town's importance as a 19th-century shipbuilding center, drive to the connecting island of Cres. This second largest island in the Adriatic is home to several natural reserves for Eurasian Griffons. In the company of an expert ornithologist, observe these magnificent carnivores, which can attain a lifespan of 60 years and a wingspan of up to nine feet.
Extra time in Split allows for an exploration of the nearby old Roman towns of Solin and Trogir, some of the most important archaeological sites in Croatia. Solin was a cult center for early Christians, while Trogir—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—has a marvelously preserved medieval quarter, with many 15th-century houses still inhabited by locals.
While in Dubrovnik, enjoy a full-day excursion south to Kotor, Montenegro and the Boka Kotorska, perhaps the grandest natural feature on the Adriatic coast. This deeply indented and irregularly shaped fjord surrounded by towering mountains provides an intense contrast of colors: azure waters, green vegetation at sea level and stark, rocky cliffs overhead.
Cost of This Itinerary
14 Night Trip:
The least expensive cabin costs:
$231 per person per night in low season and
$256 pp pn in high season
The most expensive stateroom costs:
$485 per person per night in low season and
$534 pp pn in high season
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