Croatia & Slovenia Express & Southern Highlights Deluxe Cruise

On arrival at Zagreb airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is free. Meet your fellow travellers tonight at Welcome reception. 

This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or take an optional excursion to see the countryside. (B)

After breakfast, head towards Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. See the most significant sites of the old city centre on a walking tour. Highlights include the picturesque open-air Central Market, the Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall, and Robba's Fountain. Then, continue to Bled. (B, D)

An Alpine Lake surrounded by high peaks, Bled was discovered by travellers in the middle of the 19th century. Since then, a small town of hotels, villas, and restaurants has developed around the lake, turning Bled into a lively, all-seasons resort. A sightseeing tour features the charming town, the lakeside, and visits the imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The balance of the day is at leisure. Perhaps join an optional excursion visiting Bled Island a small island in the middle of the lake, browse through the shops and boutiques, or simply relax and enjoy the enchanting scenery. (B)

The journey continues to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterwards, continue to the coast with a stop in Opatija.  Enjoy the walking tour of this fashionable resort of the 19th century, dotted with Habsburg era villas. After some free time, continue towards Plitvice Lakes. (B, D)

After breakfast, have your camera ready as you take a walking tour around the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of sixteen terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. After the tour, head to Split. Overnight in Split (B, D)

In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Then see the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. The rest of the day at leisure, to stroll through the beautiful streets of Split, or enjoy at the beach. (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Trogir port. Embarkation starts at 1400HRS. Get settled in your cabin before attending a Welcome Reception followed by dinner. (B, D)

Morning sail towards Bol on Brač Island, where you will discover one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Mediterranean – “Zlatni Rat” (the Golden Horn), which is constantly changing its shape due to the ocean currents. Swim stop if weather permits. Return to the ship for lunch and set sail for Hvar on the island of Hvar, a charming seaside town with 8 centuries of architecture, and a favourite holiday destination for international celebrities. During a walking tour, visit the many historical sights of the town, such as St. Stephen’s Square and Cathedral, the Arsenal with the theatre built on its first floor, the first municipal theatre in Europe. Above the town is the impressive fortress Fortica offering magnificent views over the bay and Pakleni islands. Your evening is free in Hvar. You can explore more and dine on your own in one of the many restaurants in town. (B, L)

Note: Due to the limited capacity of the Hvar harbor (during peak season) port of call can be substituted for Stari Grad. In that case transfer by bus will be organized to and from Hvar.

In the morning, head further south to the Island of Mljet. Mljet National Park encompasses five types of forest, many species of birds and two deep lakes, Veliko Jezero (Big Lake) and Malo Jezero (Small Lake). Take the boat ride to St. Mary Island and join the Cruise Manager for a stroll to the famous salt lakes in Mljet National Park. Alternatively, you can rent bicycles, scooters, or kayaks to explore the National Park or island on your own. Spend the night in Mljet. (B, L)

In the morning, sail to Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, a famous UNESCO World Heritage site. Upon arrival in Dubrovnik, you will enjoy a guided tour of the historical centre of Dubrovnik, walk through Stradun – both a street and a square, the most famous place inside the town walls, where your guide will show you the most interesting sights of Dubrovnik. After the city tour, you will be on your own to explore the city, visit City Walls, the Franciscan Monastery with Europe's second fortress Fortica offering magnificent views over the bay and Pakleni islands. Your evening is free in Hvar. You can explore more and dine on your own in one of the many restaurants in town. (B, L)

Early in the morning, we set sail for the island of Korčula. En-route enjoy a swim stop in one of the pristine bays with time to relax before lunch on board. Continue towards Korčula, an impressive medieval town, thought to be the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. On arrival, join a walking tour taking you through the town’s narrow and cobbled streets full of history and enjoy wine tasting in one of the local wine bars. Evening is free to explore the town. (B, L, T)

Our journey continues towards Pučišća. Lunch on board and enjoy a swim in one of Brač’s many lovely coves and bays. The town of Pučišća is situated on the island of Brač and is known as the village of stone sculpture. Option available to visit the impressive stonemason school . Enjoy Captain’s dinner on board and overnight in Pučišća. (B, L, D)

In the morning, we set sail to Split with a stop along the way to swim, cool off and relax followed by lunch on board. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a walking tour of the historic inner city that takes us to the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We see the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. After visiting Split, set sail to the UNESCO-listed city of Trogir. Trogir is often referred to as a ‘Mini-Venice’ or ‘Mini-Dubrovnik’ because of its ancient walls, as well as an ‘open-air museum’ due to its masterful architecture and Venetian palaces. Your time here is free to explore on your own. Overnight in Trogir. (B, L)

Note: Due to the limited capacity of the Split harbor (due to reconstruction) we will sail directly to the port of Trogir. In that case transfer by bus will be organized to and from Split town. 

After breakfast, it is time to disembark. You will be transferred to Split airport. (B)