Retro Med: Cruise Croatia - 2012

Vintage coastal trading boats once delivered supplies to the islands off Croatia’s 1,100-mile coastline. Repurposed to accommodate guests, these 20- to 40-passenger vessels now cruise Croatia at a more leisurely pace. Stop at medieval walled towns, orange-roofed fishing villages, vineyards, and pebbly white beaches or savor the classic Med scenery at anchor.      ~ National Geographic Traveler, Tours of Lifetime 2011

Hvar, Island of Hvar

Typical "A" category ships off the Golden Cape Beach at Bol, Island of Brac

Jacques Cousteau described the Adriatic as one of the cleanest seas on earth. It is flanked mostly on one side by scythe-shaped Croatia and Italy on the other. Turquoise waters are crystal-clear, so translucent you can see shoals of fish, while your vessel meanders past little harbors and secret coves swathed in pines and cypress trees, carpeted with wildflowers.

 

Weekly departures in the northern Adriatic start from Opatija, the heart of the Croatia’s Kvarner Riviera, the ever fashionable seaside resort since the Austro-Hungarian Empire, from Split in central Dalmatia -- from the pier located right in front of the 1,800-year-old Diocletian Palace -- and in the south from Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic. Direct daily flights are available from most major European gateways to all departure ports, as well as Zagreb, Capital city of Croatia.

Choose from our selection of Croatia Cruises

KL 1 - Tour and Cruise, 10 days: Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Opatija, Krk, Rab, Zadar, Molat, Ilovik, Losinj, Cres, Opatija - or Cruise Only, 7 days.     More info ... (5 pdf pages, 289 KB)

KL 4 - Cruise Only, 7 days: Split, Rogoznica or Primosten, Sibenik, Skradin or Zlarin, Kornati, Sali, Zadar, Vodice, Trogir, Split.     More info ... (3 pdf pages, 228 KB)

 

KL 2 - Tour and Cruise, 10 days: Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Split, Makarska, Mljet (Polace or Pomena), Dubrovnik, Sipan, Trstenik, Korcula, Hvar, Split - or Cruise Only, 7 days - More info ... (4 pdf pages, 207 KB)

Recommended: Combine the KL 2's old towns, history and culture with KL 4's natural wonders of Kornati Islands and Krka Waterfalls into a 14-day cruise or 17-day tour and cruise. Transfer between two ships is just a few steps away at the same terminal in Split. Special 17-day Tour-and-Cruise Croatia - Zagreb, Plitvice, Opatija to Dubrovnik and Split, June 27 - July 14, '12 Schedule and Fares - 2012 (4 pdf pages, 344 KB) Reservations

KL 3 - Cruise Only, 7 days: Split, Omis or Pucisca, Korcula, Lastovo (Ravnik, Green cave), Komiza or Vis (Bisevo, Blue Cave), Starigrad, Bol, Split.     More info ... (3 pdf pages, 231 KB)

 

KL 5 - Cruise Only, 7 days: Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar, Trstenik, Mljet, Sipan, Dubrovnik.     More info ... (3 pdf pages, 235 KB)

Ships and Accommodations "A" and "A+" category ships alongside in Dubrovnik's Gruz Harbor

As modern ferry boats arrived to connect the islands with mainland and provide transportation to commuters, cars and cargo, the older generation of wooden coastal traders have been refurbished and converted to cruisers (photos in the upper section), to offer services to the ever growing number of tourists.

Meantime a new generation of coastal cruisers have been designed and built of lighter materials. Thus the categorization "A" for the traditional, wooden ships and "A+" for the modern ones.

A typical "A+" category ship

The following types of cabins are available: Upper and double-lower bed (photo on the left), or just a double bed. Upper and lower bunk, mainly on "A" category ships, and twin bedded. (photos below)

Each cabin has a porthole and private facilities with shower, and those on "A+" category ships have air-conditioning. That difference, as well as the cabin location -- on, or under the deck -- and season, make the difference in price.

Cruise Croatia Schedule and Fares - 2012 (4 pdf pages, 344 KB) Reservations Maris Club offers discounts for groups of 12 and more, as well as specially designed itineraries.

For ages, Dalmatia has been a prized region along the eastern Adriatic. It is Croatia's jewel and seaside province. The area is comprised of more than one thousands islands along the sparkling Adriatic coast, touching the slopes of the steep Dinaric Alps.

Kornati Archipelago

Sibenik (photo below) is located at the confluence of the Krka river and the Adriatic Sea, where beautiful waterfalls are formed. Unlike many other Adriatic cities, Sibenik was not founded by ancient Romans, but was established in the10th century under the Croatian King Petar Kresimir IV, who built a strong maritime fleet that ruled the Adriatic for a time.

On the photo in the foreground is Sibenik’s St James’s Cathedral, a unique example of church architecture built in stone and no other structural materials. The cathedral is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. In the background lies the Kornati archipelago.

“On the last day of Creation, God desired to crown his work and thus created the Kornati Islands out of tears, stars and breath”, wrote Irish writer George Bernard Shaw. The beautiful nature, landscape, big and small islands (the old folk saying goes: One island for every day of the year) and the magnificent sea, all make the Kornati Islands a unique paradise. This is the largest cluster of islands, islets and rocks in the Adriatic. The area stretches between the islands of Dugi Otok and Pasman on the northwest to Zirje and Zlarin on the southeast. The ships sail the entire length of the Kornati Islands and make stops in the coves along the way. .

A monumental court, called the Peristyle, and the Cathedral of St. Domnius - a tourist attraction

Split is the economic and administrative hub of Dalmatia, with about 200,000 inhabitants. The importance of Diocletian’s Palace far transcends its local significance because of the extent of its preservation as well as the buildings of successive historical periods constructed within its walls, which today form the very heart of the old city.

Many of Split’s historical and cultural buildings can be found within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. In addition, numerous museums, the National Theatre, old churches and other archaeological sites in the Split region make it an important cultural attraction.

The old-walled city of Dubrovnik is a world treasure, a time capsule offering its visitors an unparalleled glimpse of life in a medieval maritime city-state. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, the beauty of the old city is matched by the traditional hospitality of its residents.

No one should miss the opportunity to explore the medieval forts and ramparts that encircle the city, visit its many shops, or taste local specialties as well as the finest wines of the region. Dubrovnik, like so many of Croatia’s historic cities, can be easily explored on foot. Few urban experiences match strolling down the centuries-old promenade known as Stradun. More than an avenue, it is the city’s main artery, lined with graceful stone palazzos where people work as well as live. Guided sightseeing tours of this fascinating city and its rich history and culture are highly recommended. Highlights include the Rector’s Palace, the historic seat of government in medieval Dubrovnik; the Church of St. Blaise; the Franciscan Monastery with its 14th century pharmacy; the Dominican Monastery and the city’s walls and gates.

“We had a couple of rainy, windy days on the northern leg of the trip, and a lady we met in one of the markets said she had lived in Split for sixty years, and had never seen bad weather in September! It's easy to get spoiled on the Dalmatian coast. The sky, in the summer and early fall, is almost always clear azure, matching the color of the sea. I swear (well, maybe not on the Bible) that you can see a dime on the bottom in 40 feet, and tell whether it's heads or tails.

On both the northern and southern legs of the cruise, calls into the little ports on the coast were magical mountains running down to a fabulous seacoast. Sail, anchor, swim during the day, and pull into port in plenty of time for exploration. The food on the boat was excellent, not to speak of the fare in the local restaurants we found every night when we pulled into port -- sophisticated or simple, your choice.

All of Croatia seemed to us to be a land of lavender and honey, wine and olives and the bounty of the sea. It reminded me, honestly, of when I was a young Navy Ensign on the Cote d’Azure fifty years ago. The cities -- even sizable ones like Split and Dubrovnik -- are small enough so that a vigorous walk can provide many delightful memories: these are beautiful, modern, accessible cities set within, or surrounding, a fascinating history in which Romans, Greeks, Venetians and Turks all played a part. Where else can you find marble sidewalks, and buildings of pure white stone? Only, I guess, where the mountains are made of marble and pure white stone -- the same stone, we were told, that was imported when the White House was built in Washington, DC.

Mrs. Heidi Bathon, on arrival at Korcula

What we will remember, in the end, are the people that we met. The other passengers -- Aussies, Kiwis, English, and a small German contingent -- were the best company possible.

Before we boarded the boat in Split, while we were having breakfast on the terrace, the owner of the Hotel Peristil would show up every morning with a big smile, carrying a huge fish fresh from the local market, so we knew what we would be eating that night. We came home with many memories of kindly and gracious treatment by people in all the places we visited”.     ~ Heidi and Greg Bathon of Baltimore, MD

Reservations

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