CRUISING THE ADRIATIC CROATIA & SLOVENIA
18 May - 12 June 2025
Join Sue, Russell and Alex on a 23-day trip of a lifetime through Croatia and Slovenia and to Venice, including a private chartered luxury, musical cruise stopping in historic towns and cruising the Adriatic.
Combining beautiful countryside, history and culture with great music events including La Traviata, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and more.
$22,995 per person twin share
Single Room Supplement Add $7395
Initial Deposit On Booking $3000
Second Deposit Due: 29 October 2024 $4000
Final Balance Due: 27 January 2025
Days
23 Days
Highlights
Private chartered boutique cruise in Croatia, our own music events, Slovenia, Venice, opera and song, folklore concerts
Group Size
30
Travellers
(we charter our
own boat)
Meals
All Breakfasts
9 Lunches
14 Dinners
Mobility
Active Tour
MAP GUIDE:
1. ZAGREB (1 night)
2. DUBROVNIK (4 nights)
3. AVANGARD CRUISE (7 nights)
4. SPLIT (2 nights)
5. ZADAR (1night)
6. OPATIJA (2 nights)
7. BLED (2 nights)
8. VENICE (3 nights)
SPECIAL FEATURES
• With sparkling seas of sapphire, rich coral buildings and a history steeped in both tragedy and triumph, we journey through Croatia by land and sea, Slovenia by land and complete our trip in Venice.
• Join Sue, Russell and Alex on a 23-day trip of a lifetime, including a private chartered luxury, musical cruise stopping in historic towns and cruising the Adriatic.
• We charter our own boat for 7 nights on the 5-star, small ship, Avangard, from Dubrovnik to Split cruising into small harbours inaccessible to larger vessels with a chance to swim off the boat in the clear, warm waters of the Adriatic.
• Rich with music, including our own concerts, La Traviata at a Venetian palazzo, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, classical concert in historic church in Dubrovnik, concerts on board our private cruise, folklore concerts, opera at Croatian National Theater Split (subject to final confirmation), music festival in Opatija, (subject to final confirmation) and local concerts in Opatija, Bled and Dubrovnik.
• We travel through beautiful countryside, magnificent lakes and mountains, experience glistening seas, wondrous castles, stunning churches and quaint, charming villages.
• So many special flavours including guided tours of Venice, Bled, Split, Dubrovnik, Trieste, Montenegro, Murano, Burano, all shore excursions, plus wine and chocolate.
• If this region is the ‘jewel in the crown of the Adriatic’, our tour is surely the finest white diamond!
TRIP ITINERARY
Experience the Exceptional:
SUNDAY 18 MAY 2025
Today we fly out of Auckland on our amazing journey to Croatia and Slovenia.
MONDAY 19 MAY 2025 (D) ZAGREB
Highlights Include:
• Arrival in Zagreb, transfer to the hotel.
• A light dinner tonight.
TUESDAY 20 MAY 2025 (B, D) ZAGREB - DUBROVNIK
Highlights Include:
• Dubrovnik’s proud and turbulent history goes back to the 6th century and this magnificent city is known as “the pearl of the Adriatic”.
• Today we fly to Dubrovnik and then transfer to the hotel with free time to settle in, swim and explore.
• Casual dinner this evening at our lovely hotel.
WEDNESDAY 21 MAY 2025 (B, D) DUBROVNIK
Highlights Include:
• Morning walking tour of Dubrovnik. Completed in the thirteenth century, the old city Dubrovnik has remained basically unchanged since. Its medieval ramparts encircle the Old Town which can be entered through one of the two gates. We will take the cable car to reach the mountain Srđ then some free time.
• Our gala welcome dinner in a restaurant with music.
THURSDAY 22 MAY 2025 (B, L)
DUBROVNIK - MONTENEGRO (PERAST-KOTOR) - DUBROVNIK
Highlights Include:
• Depart for Montenegro with our first stop in Perast, one of the strangest, and by its history one of the most beautiful places in Kotor Bay. Its narrow streets and numerous, mostly abandoned renaissance and baroque palaces, testify to the former richness of Kotor Bay, and the luxurious lives that were led.
• Lunch in Kotor.
• We take a boat ride to the islet Gospa od Skrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks). It is one of two islands in the Bay of Kotor, which are situated in the sea across Perast.
• Walking tour of the old town of Kotor, which has a great number of monuments of medieval architecture: churches, cathedrals, palaces, and museums.
• We return to Dubrovnik later in the afternoon.
FRIDAY 23 MAY 2025 (B, D) DUBROVNIK
Highlights Include:
• A day off for your own tours or activities. These may include enjoying the spa, swimming pool and beach by our hotel.
• This evening we enjoy a dinner in the hinterland of Dubrovnik with traditional local performance.
SATURDAY 24 MAY 2025 (B, D) DUBROVNIK - ON BOARD FOR OUR PRIVATE CRUISE AVANGARD (KATARINA LINE)
7-night Private Chartered Cruise
Avangard is a state of the art small ship with only 18 cabins and she is ours exclusively during our seven night cruise on the Adriatic Coast.
Highlights Include:
• Free time to enjoy our own walking and exploring of Dubrovnik until we transfer to the port for our embarkation on the ship.
• Meet the crew and enjoy cocktails and dinner on board as we toast to the upcoming cruise week ahead, then we stay overnight on board in Dubrovnik.
• We also enjoy a concert from the locals as well as music from our artists.
SUNDAY 25 MAY 2025 (B, L, T, CD)
DUBROVNIK – SLANO (STON)
Highlights Include:
• Departure to the small village of Slano on the mainland. We enjoy the magical scenery while cruising around Dubrovnik city walls before continuing to one of the Elaphiti Islands for a swim.
• Afternoon arrival in Slano, a peaceful fishermen’s village and our starting point to Ston, once a fortified small village, famous for its oysters.
• After exploring the town’s long medieval ramparts, we head to a small village nearby to learn more about oysters and we enjoy a special tasting of this delicacy.
• Time at leisure and return transfer to the vessel. Captain’s dinner with live entertainment onboard.
• Overnight in Slano.
MONDAY 26 MAY 2025(B, L, D) SLANO (STON) - MLJET
Highlights Include:
• In the morning, the cruise continues further north to the Island of Mljet.
• We join our guide for a stroll to the famous salt lakes in the Mljet National Park and enjoy the boat ride to St Mary Isle to visit an ancient Benedictine monastery, an old abbey and a Church dating back to the 12th Century.
• Dinner with entertainment from our artists.
• Overnight in Mljet.
TUESDAY 27 MAY 2025 MLJET - KORČULA (B, L, D)
Highlights Include:
• Early morning departure towards the island of Korčula best known as the birthplace of Marco Polo.
• We stop for lunch in one of the secluded bays en route.
• Afternoon arrival in Korčula Town followed by a guided walking tour of this enchanting place surrounded by walls and one of the best preserved medieval cities in the Mediterranean.
• Dinner this evening which is a special heritage dinner on the shore.
• Korčula has numerous bars for those looking for evening entertainment after dinner.
• Overnight in Korčula.
WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 2025 (B, L, T, D) KORČULA - VIS
Highlights Include:
• We continue to the island of Vis, which, in the 4th century BC, was one of the main Greek colonies. Vis is relatively under the radar for tourists. We can try some exquisite local wines.
• In our free time we can visit the remains of the Roman thermal place, city museum or simply take a walk enjoying the views of the beautiful rustic village situated along the waterfront.
• Dinner this evening on board and then we are off to see the movie Mamma Mia 2 at an open air theatre. Vis is the location where Mamma Mia 2 was filmed. (Subject to availability).
• Overnight in the port of Vis.
THURSDAY 29 MAY 2025 (B, L, D) VIS – BIŠEVO (BLUE CAVE)/HVAR
Highlights Include:
• Early in the morning, our cruising resumes towards the small island of Biševo to visit the Blue Cave, a magnificent natural phenomenon (weather dependent).
• We continue towards the jet-set island of Hvar with a swimming stop and lunch on board at the Pakleni Islands. Hvar, the longest and sunniest island in the Adriatic is known for its glorious lavender fields and breathtaking beauty.
• A guided tour of Hvar - we visit the Renaissance Cathedral with its original tower, and the oldest community theatre in Europe. Walk up the zig-zag path to the town fort overlooking the harbour for scenic views of the vessel and the Pakleni Islands.
• Dinner onboard with entertainment from our artists.
• Overnight in the port.
FRIDAY 30 MAY 2025 (B, L) HVAR – (BOL) SPLIT
Split is a 1700-year-old city and a UNESCO world heritage site, with the magnificent Diocletian Palace, once inhabited by the Roman emperor.
Highlights Include:
• Morning departure to Brač island where swimming is planned at the most famous beach in Dalmatia – Zlatni Rat near Bol – whose shingle promontory shifts from side to side as the wind and waves constantly cause the shape to change. Bol is a typical fishermen’s village converted into a tourist destination retaining its charm.
• Continue to Split to enjoy a guided tour of the city in the early afternoon.
• This historical town under UNESCO world heritage protection will knock us off our feet with its abundance of things to see and do and with its unique lively atmosphere.
• We have given you free time tonight for your own dinner in Split - which offers numerous restaurants, bars and clubs, many open long into the night.
• Overnight onboard in Split.
SATURDAY 31 MAY 2025 (B) SPLIT
Highlights Include:
• This morning we leave the boat in Split, and enjoy a walking tour of this beautiful Dalmatian city including the famous Diocletian Palace (UNESCO heritage), a unique monument of Roman architecture from the 3rd century.
• In the afternoon we have free time before an evening opera or concert at the Croatian National Theater of Split (subject to final confirmation).
SUNDAY 1 JUNE 2025 (B, L) SPLIT - TROGIR - SPLIT
Highlights Include:
• In the morning we depart for Trogir a town museum (UNESCO-heritage), a remarkable example of urban continuity from the Hellenistic period.
• We enjoy a typical dalmatian lunch - “pašticada”.
• In the afternoon we return to Split with free time late afternoon and evening.
MONDAY 2 JUNE 2025 (B, D) SPLIT - ZADAR
Highlights Include:
• We depart for Zadar with a walking tour on arrival. The historic town of Zadar is rich in cultural and historical monuments. Here we can see The Roman Forum (1st century AD), the church of St. Donatus (9th century AD). Of special interest are the famous Zadar Sea Organs, one of a kind in the world.
• Afternoon free time.
TUESDAY 3 JUNE 2025 (B, MT) ZADAR - OPATIJA
An elegant tourist destination, lies at the foot of Učka mountain, with the longest tradition of tourism in Croatia.
Highlights Include:
• We depart for Opatija, meeting our local guide and enjoy a walking tour of a coastal town situated on the picturesque Kvarner Bay and a cradle of Croatian tourism. It used to be the favourite spa resort of the Habsburgs and the European aristocracy as well as the 19th century elite Gustav Mahler and Isadora Duncan.
• Then it’s chocolate tasting. Hurrah!
WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE 2025 (B, MT, L, D)
OPATIJA - PULA - ROVINJ - OPATIJA
Highlights Include:
• This morning we leave for the Istrian Peninsula. Our first visit will be Pula, with a walking tour and entrance to the Amphiteatre Arena.
• On the way to Rovinj we stop for an olive oil tasting, then a light lunch in one of the restaurants in the city centre.
• Walking tour of Rovinj, perhaps the most beautiful city in Istria with its unique location on a small peninsula with the St. Euphemia church dominating it. We will hear the legend of St. Euphemia, a young Christian girl from Constantinople, who refused to give up Christianity, and was thrown to the lions.
• In the evening we enjoy a folklore performance at the hotel with dinner included tonight.
THURSDAY 5 JUNE 2025 (B) OPATIJA - POSTOJNA CAVE - PREDJAMA CASTLE - BLED
Bled, a Slovenian resort town in the foothills of the Julian Alps, is set along the glacial Lake Bled.
Highlights Include:
• We depart for Slovenia and visit the Postojna Caves, the longest underground cave system in Europe. The tour of the magnificent caves is presented by a local guide and takes place on foot and also on a train, which offers an incredible experience. The fantastic web of tunnels, passages, galleries and halls, the astonishing diversity of Karst features, as well as easy access, are certainly the main reasons for such popularity of the cave.
• After the tour, we continue to Predjama castle. This picturesque, magnificent, mysterious and impregnable castle has been perched up in the middle of a vertical 123-metre high cliff for more than 700 years.
• Then it’s off to Bled.
FRIDAY 6 JUNE 2025 (B, T, D) BLED
Highlights Include:
• We take a ride on a typical wooden boat “Pletne” to St Mary’s Island to visit the Assumption of Mary Church.
• We return to the mainland and visit the Castle of Bled.
Afterwards we enjoy cream cakes “Kremšnita”, known to Bled for decades and they are in fact a symbol of Bled.
• We have time this afternoon to rest before meeting for dinner and entertainment tonight with a traditional Slovenian evening.
SATURDAY 7 JUNE 2025 (B) BLED - VENICE
Venice - the city of love, iconic buildings, San Marco Square, palazzi and canals.
Highlights Include:
• We transfer to Tronchetto (Venice) and then enjoy a private transfer on our boat as we take in the sights of this amazing romantic city.
• After check in, we meet our local guide and it’s off sightseeing in Venice with entrance to the Basilica San Marco and Doges Palace.
• Free time later this afternoon to wander and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city.
• We will enjoy La Traviata this evening in a special performance at the private Palazzo. Each act is set in a different room so we will go from room to room to witness the tragedy unfold in this spectacular venue.
SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2025 (B)
BURANO & MURANO EXCURSION
Highlights Include:
• We depart on a private boat to visit the islands of Murano and Burano.
• Murano is the island famous for its glassmaking, a traditional activity that still preserves the ancient techniques of the past. We will admire the glass masters at work while producing the beautiful objects which have made them famous all over the world and visit the Museum of Glass.
• Then it’s off to Burano, famous for the many colours and the colourful houses that are reflected into the green waters of channels, by the leaning bell tower, by the tranquility and the calmness with which the elderly ladies embroider original Burano lace.
• Burano is the most cheerful and one of the most populous of the lagoon islands. Its brightly painted houses give it the air of an Italian opera set, while the success of its most important industries, lace making, fishing and boat building, accounts for the well-being of its people.
• We return to Venice with time for dinner before we experience Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at a historic church. This performance is such a high standard that it was one of our most memorable concerts last year in Italy.
MONDAY 9 JUNE 2025 (B, D) VENICE
Highlights Include:
• Today we have free time to explore Venice on our own.
• Final gala dinner with music from our hosts this evening. What a way to end our incredible trip!
TUESDAY 10 JUNE 2025 (B)
Today we have some free time to enjoy Venice before we are transferred to the airport by private boat and board our flight home.
WEDNESDAY 11 JUNE 2025 - IN FLIGHT
THURSDAY 12 JUNE 2025
Today we arrive home filled with the wonder of this most beautiful part of the world and our extraordinary trip!
PLACES WE STAY
Avangard, Katarina Line (7 nights)
is a 5-star small ship with only 18 cabins. Her maiden voyage was in May 2017, so she is still very new! Avangard is ours exclusively for our 7-night cruise down the Adriatic Coast. This allows us to enjoy our own special flavour, our own destinations and include several themed concerts from Cameron, Isaac and Alex. Being a small ship, it also allows us to enjoy the smaller ports and coastal villages.
Mövenpick Hotel, Zagreb (1 night)
This premium hotel is located near the Museum of Contemporary Art, Bundek Park, city centre and the international airport, where we will stay for 1 night and then take our flight the next morning to Dubrovnik.
Hotel Rixos, Dubrovnik (4 nights)
is a 5-star landmark hotel of exceptional beauty on the waterfront. It combines panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea with great facilities. We enjoy sea view rooms in this lovely hotel.
Hotel Bled Rose, Bled (2 nights)
We experience the relaxed atmosphere and comfort of a 4-star hotel on the unique location by the shore of Lake Bled, just behind a park.
Cornaro Hotel, Split (2 nights)
is a 5-star, award-winning hotel, which enjoys an excellent central city location complimenting its ancient history surroundings and interior elegance.
Heritage Hotel Imperial, Opatija (2 nights)
is a historical building constructed in 1885 that was originally named after the Belgian princess and Austrian crown princess Stephanie. It is situated near the main city beach and promenade.
Hotel Amare, Zadar (1 night)
is a small well-located hotel, perfect for a stop off on the way to Opatija, located in Zadar and with Maestrala Beach reachable within 1.5 km.
Hotel Ca’dei Conti, Venice (3 nights)
is a romantic, elegant hotel set in the heart of Venice, built in the 18th century and situated around the corner from St Marks Square.
This Trip Includes:
• Return economy airfares, Auckland - Zagreb via Dubai// Venice - Auckland via Dubai on Emirates, plus internal flight Zagreb - Dubrovnik including all taxes.
• Join Sue, Russell and Alex on a 23-day trip of a lifetime through Croatia and Slovenia and to Venice, including a private chartered luxury, musical cruise stopping in historic towns and cruising the Adriatic.
• 7 nights exclusive charter on the 5-star small ship Avangard, from Dubrovnik to Split, including music and special events. This means it is only us on board!
• Travel with our own exclusive guide and our great hosts throughout plus local guides.
• Musical content includes private concerts from our hosts on board our chartered luxury ship, La Traviata at a private palazzo in Venice, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, classical concert in historic church in Dubrovnik, opera at Croatian National Theater Split (subject to final confirmation), music festival in Opatija, (subject to final confirmation), local concerts in Opatija, Bled and Dubrovnik.
• Accommodation in 4 or 5-star hotels in Zagreb (1 night), Dubrovnik (4 nights), Split (2 nights), Opatija (2 nights), Zadar (1 night), Bled (2 nights), Venice (3 nights).
• Numerous tours with special flavours including guided tours of Venice, Bled, Split, Dubrovnik, Trieste, Montenegro, plus all shore excursions on cruise, church tours, castles, wine, chocolate, custard and olive oil tastings, and tours to Murano and Burano.
• All entrances, tours, boat cruises, coach transfers included as listed on itinerary plus reserved entrance and entrance fees to all sights and sites as listed in itinerary.
• All breakfasts, 9 lunches and 14 dinners, listed morning and afternoon teas, tips, porterage and taxes.
Important Information
• All itinerary details are subject to change, but changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option.
• Initial & Second deposits are fully refundable up until final balance due date, minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs.
• All monies are non-refundable at final balance due date. This becomes an insurance claim.
• Bank transfer payments incur no surcharge. Credit card payments incur surcharge of 1.5%.
• Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
• Bookings will only be accepted with initial deposit & booking form.
• All travellers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for international travel and insurance for domestic travel is recommended.
• Please refer to our terms and conditions on booking form.
Mobility - Active Tour
All our trips are specifically designed for our core market, but this trip does contain travel challenges, either because of the region visited or the walking distances or uneven surfaces that arise at some sites. We do advise that you evaluate your level of fitness with your doctor before you consider booking this tour. This is still a moderately paced tour, but you will be required to walk longer distances, walk on cobblestones and ancient ruins and stand in museums. To really get the best out of this tour you need to be able to stand or walk for a couple of hours comfortably, be it at a leisurely pace. You also need to be able to climb up to three flights of stairs at a leisurely pace. If you are unsure, please ring the office to discuss your suitability for our tours.