Croatia cruise itineraries

Day 1. Dubrovnik to Sipan

Check-in is at 04:00 PM in Zaton, a small, pretty port just 8 km north of Dubrovnik. After embarkation you`ll have enough time to make yourself at home and meet the other guests and a crew. Before departure you will be served with a traditional welcome drink. After a short sail we'll arrive at the island of Sipan, where the chef will prepare you a fabulous Croatian dinner, and where you will spend your first night aboard.

Sipan is one of a small group of islands called the Elaphiti, not far from Dubrovnik. Although it`s only 16 square kilometers, Sipan is the biggest island in the group with two small ports, Sipanska Luka on the west and Sudurad on the east side of the island. It flourished during the Dubrovnik Republic, a period when the most important commerce was shipbuilding, shipping, olive growing, fishing and wine growing. Today, on this small area, there are 42 old summer residences and 34 churches; proof that this oasis of peace and beauty was recognized as a place of relaxation by Dubrovniks' high society. The imposing castle of the family of Vice Stjepovic-Skocibuha is currently being renovated and should be open for visits by the 2015 season. As well as many other Renaissance features, the castle has the only preserved wooden balcony in the Mediterranean from the 16th century.

Day 2. Sipan to Mljet National Park

After breakfast we continue our cruise towards Mljet island National Park, where you`ll spend the day exploring, fishing, swimming or sunbathing. After lunch you`ll have a chance to visit the National Park (tickets are not included in the cruise price and are between 10 to 15 EUROS depending on your age). The north-west part of the island was declared a national park in 1960 and today covers the area of 5,375 hectares of protected land plus the surrounding sea. In the center of the park is a lake with a small island with a monastry, still in use today. Cars are not allowed on the island, so the only way to get around is either on foot ot by bike, which you can hire at the park entrances. Kayaks can also be rented for exploring the lake and the monastry.

We`re spending the night on in either Polace or Pomena (which port depends on the weather conditions), where you can enjoy the extraordinary gastronomic offers in restaurants ashore. We especially recommend lobster, which you can personally choose before they are cooked. Polace (which means palace) is the site of a Roman villa, of which some vestiges remain.

Day 3. Mljet to Korcula

We continue our cruise towards the island of Korcula to the famous peninsula town of the same name. The island was inhabited in prehistory, with archaeological finds in Vela Spila representing the first evidence of Palaeolithic ceramic art at the end of the last Ice Age. According to a legend the island was also home to the Trojan hero Antenor in the 12th century BC, who is also known as the founder of Padua in Italy. The island of Korcula has been ruled over by the Greeks, the Illyrians, the Romans and from the 10th century by the Venetians, who have left us the bulk of architecture that you can see in the town today. The town is probably most famous for being the birthplace of Marco Polo, who, it is said, was born there in 1254. Reminders of him can be found in every part of the town, including the extremely interesting museum of Marco Polo.

Breakfast and lunch will be served on board and you will spend the night in Korcula harbour. In the evening you can explore the town and enjoy the gastronomic specialties offered in many quality restaurants ashore.

Day 4. Korcula to Hvar

After breakfast we continue our cruise towards Pakleni Otoci. In Croatian this means 'The Hell Islands', but don't worry, this does not describe them very well, as they are one of the most recognised sites of natural beauty in Croatia. Lunch will be served aboard while moored off the islands, and in the afternoon (or in the evening, depending on your preferences) you'll be taken over to the city of Hvar on the boat's tender. A taxi-boat in the harbour will get take you back to the boat at whatever time you want to return.

Hvar is a beautiful Dalmatian town with a good nightlife and numerous excellent restaurants specialising in local cuisine (Pasarola, Luna, etc.), as well as exotic specialties (Sushi, Pasta, etc.). The town has become to be known as the St. Tropez of the Adriatic, with many bars and cafés, regularly visited by the rich and famous. The town is also steeped in history, and you can take a visit around its castle ruins and other historic buildings. The night will be spent moored off the Pakleni islands.

Day 5. Hvar to Vis

After breakfast we set sail for Vis, the furthest island of the Dalmatian archipelago. It is especially well known for its cultural and historical heritage, but also for its natural beauty. In his scripts, the Greek writer Agatharchides praised the wines from Vis, saying they were the best he had ever tasted. Their most famous wine is Vugava, which you can try in numerous restaurants and cellars all around the island. Vis was known as 'the forbidden islands' during the communist era, as it was the base for the Yugoslav navy and therefore was forbidden to tourists. Even today there are many hidden tunnels all around the island that testify to that fact. Some of them are tourist attractions now and others are used by the Croatian navy. We will spend the night in the port of Vis.

Day 6. Vis to Brac

After breakfast we sail for the island of Brac, the biggest island in Central Dalmatia. On our way we`ll stop for a swim in an isolated cove, where we will also have lunch on board. This night is dedicated to our captain and in his name you`re going to be served a special Captain`s dinner of traditional Dalmatian dishes.

Day 7. Brac to Solta

After breakfast we continue our cruise towards our final destination - Split. Depending on your return flights, we can spend our last night on board on the island of Solta, or in Stobrec.

Day 8. Stobrec (near Split)

Our last breakfast together will be served on board, after which we have to say goodbye to this fabulous gulet, the crew and, hopefully, new friends that you have acquainted in the last 7 days. Check-out is by 9:00 AM.

If you can, we recommend staying an extra day in Split, so you can make the most of its magnificent ancient city center, which is comprised mainly of the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, still stslanong and lived in 1,700 years after it was built. Other buildings in the center are from the Venetian era, which makes for a very attractive combination of architecture. Not be missed also is the archaeological museum just outside the city center (within walking distance), which is jam packed full of Roman tombs, statues, jewelry and many other archaeological finds. Split is a very lively town with a fish market, numerous restaurants and a sea front promenade lined with cafés and bars.

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