Adriatic Cruise Venice & Dalmatian Coast

KORCULA

Categories Small Ship Cruises Mediterranean Cruises Adriatic Cruises Cruises

Images Enlarge Map Sailing Schedule Cruise Rates

This is the classic Dalmatian Coast cruise, with itinerary options tailored to your preference by those who know the Dalmatian Coast best. In a week's cruise in and out and among the wooded, walled, and fortified islands of the eastern Adriatic, we'll be able to see the great highlights of the region – Venice, Split, Dubrovnik, Korcula, and Zadar – and explore them with the depth, sensitivity, and cultural enthusiasm that you can only get from local insiders. Our departures round trip from Venice additionally feature the phenomenal Roman ruins of Pula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a massive amphitheater just steps from where the Monet docks. Alternatively, our one-way cruises from Venice to Dubrovnik, or in reverse from Dubrovnik to Venice, additionally feature the tiny, wooded island of Mljet, where you’ll have the beautiful sight of a medieval monastery upon a charming islet in the middle of a lake; as well as the graceful and historic Stari Most bridge at Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Itinerary

Embarkation 4:00 PM

Arrive in Venice and embark the Monet this afternoon, docked within walking distance of St. Mark’s Square.

The "Queen of the Adriatic," Venice occupies 117 islands in the azure waters of the Adriatic. This lagoon city is a watery labyrinth of canals, flanked by majestic palaces, merchants' mansions, and breathtaking baroque churches. On an optional tour, a walk through St. Mark's Square provides a wealth of sights from the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs to the Campanile and St. Mark's Cathedral.

Famed for its Roman antiquities, Pula's most notable monument is the beautifully preserved Amphitheater, close to our dock. Built in the 1st century B.C., it is the 6th-largest such arena in the world, with space for 22,000 spectators. We will visit it on an optional tour, as well as other sights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Hercules Gate, the Temple of Augustus, and the Temple of Jupier. Nearby is a vibrant market, full of interesting shops, fresh flowers, and handicrafts.

When the Emperor Diocletian retired in AD 305, he established a gargantuan retirement palace in Split. Improbably, the palace still exists – and forms the historic core of Split, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tremendous thrill here is to walk through an ancient edifice completely integrated with contemporary life, its chambers and porticos having become cafés, apartments, and storefronts. Our optional tour also includes a visit to the Ivan Mestrovic Gallery.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site entirely surrounded by massive grey walls of stone, Dubrovnik once competed with Venice for the riches of eastern trade, amassing pride and fortune enough to dapple its streets with world-class Romanesque-Gothic design. On an optional tour, explore the Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries, the Onofrio Fountain, the Rector's Palace, the Sponza Palace and numerous churches. We remain in port overnight so you can see the moonlight reflected upon Stradun, the Old Town's famous pedestrian promenade.

Sail from Dubrovnik this morning. In the classic Dalmatian town of Korcula, we visit the Cathedral of St. Mark, which contains a wealth of artistic masterworks including paintings by Tintoretto; the Treasury; and the Marco Polo House, all on an optional tour. Shop for handmade Croatian folk art near the City Gate, or relax at one of the picturesque waterfront cafés.

Zadar has the look and feel of an ancient Mediterranean city: the streets are paved with white stone, and the high protective walls have portions dating to the Roman and medieval times. On an optional tour, visit Zadar's 9th-century Church of St. Donatus, the ancient City Gates, the Franciscan Monastery and Church and the imposing 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral of St. Anastasia. Stroll along the harbor's tree-lined promenade, and be enchanted by the new "sea organ," whose 35 pipes produce otherworldly melodies from the sea waves.

Disembark following breakfast.

Notes