Vantage World Travel

Slovenia and Adriatic Cruise - 14D/13N

Cruise along the coast of the Adriatic Sea aboard the M/V Arion.

Zardar is located in central Dalmatia and is one of the Adriatic’s most historically interesting towns with a wealth of sightseeing and exciting nightlife. Traveling to Zardar is like peeling back layers of time. This walled peninsula town contains Roman ruins from its days as a Roman colony, the Byzantine-style St. Donat Church and 16th century walls built by the Venetians after they subjugated the rebellious city. Zardar was founded by the Romans, attacked by the Turks, ruled by the Austrians, and made part of Italy until 1943 when the Germans moved in. Allied bombing destroyed most of the historic center which was rebuilt after the war only to suffer more attacks by Yugoslav forces in 1991. In recent years, Zardar has undergone a startling revival. Cafes and bars are filled, musems and churches have been restored and tourists pour in to take boats to nearby islands such as Pag, Dugi Otok, or Biograd. It makes a good base for exploring Paklenica National Park.

Dubrovnik has a remarkable history. As an independent merchant republic for 700 years, it traded with Turkey and India in the East and had trade reprisentatives in Africa. It even had diplomatic relations with the English cour in the middle ages. Its status was such that powerful and rich Venice was envious of this Croation-Slav city. The old town was completed in the 13th century and remains virtually unchanged to the present day. Tall ramparts surround it and there are only two entrances to the old town which lead to the Stradun, the city’s promenade. One of the greatest pleasures for visitors is to have a drink at one of the nearby cafes and watch the world go by.

Split is Croatia’s second largest city and remains one of the Adriatic’s most fascinating ports with a long and eventful history. It offers a wealth of museums and Roman ruins under a dramatic mountain backdrop and opens onto a vast expanse of sea. The town makes an excellent base for exploring the wonders of Split-Dalmatia country, not to mention the many islands that lie just offshore. Split’s Old Town is exhilarating with plenty of sights.

Included: First class hotels, rooms with private facilities. Service charges and hotel taxes. In hotels: breakfast daily and 2 dinners. Roundtrip airport transfers. Travel by modern air-conditioned motor-coach. Professional English speaking Cruise manager/ Tour Director. Luggage handling. 7 nights cruise aboard m/v Arion in inside cabins Cat. 1; upgrades to categories 2 - 6 are available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily onboard the ship. SIGHTSEEING TOURS INCLUDED: Ljubljana, Postojna cave and Predjama castle, Piran, Secovlje, Goriska Brda, Soca valley, Bled, Bohinj.

Not Included: Any meals not mentioned in the itinerary. Any airfare. Passport or visa fees. Any items of a personal nature.

Cruise Ship Cabin: Inside (Ocean/Main/Upper Deck); Outside port-hole (Ocean/Main Deck); Outside window (Upper/Promendade/Navigator Deck); Outside superior window (Navigator Deck).
Accommodations: Ljubljana: Hotel Central. Piran: Hotel Piran. Nova Gorica: Hotel Park. Bled: Hotel Golf / Park.

Departures: 2010: 10-May; 7-Jun; 21-Jun; 6-Sep; 20-Sep.

Itinerary

• Day 01: Arrive in Venice or Ljubljana, Monday - Transfer to your hotel in Ljubljana. The rest of the day is free to relax. This evening, meet your fellow travelers for welcome orientation meeting including welcome drink. Overnight in Ljubljana.
• Day 02: Postojna and Lipica, Tuesday - The day is reserved for the Karst region. Visit Postojna Cave and continue to Predjama medieval castle perched in the middle of a cliff. Drive to Slovenian coast. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Piran. (B,D)
• Day 03: Piran, Portoroz & Goriska Brda, Wednesday - Morning tour of Piran followed with the visit of Portoroz, popular tourist resort and then continue to Secovlje Salt -pans. We will turn inland and travel to Nova Gorica. Rest of the day at leisure or you can take a part in an optional tour to the vineyard region of Goriska Brda where you will have the possibility to taste local cuisine and wines. Overnight in Nova Gorica. (B)
• Day 04: Soca Valley, Thursday - Morning drive upstream the emerald green Soca river, through Kobarid (mentioned in Hemmingway’s Farewell to Arms) and visit of the FWW1 museum. After the visit you will travel to Bled and end the day in this peaceful town beautifully situated in the Alps. Overnight in Bled (B)
• Day 05: Bled, Friday - A sightseeing tour of Bled features the charming town with the lakeshore, and imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The rest of the day is at leisure or you can take an optional tour to Skofja Loka – the medieval town with castle that rises above the confluence of the two Sora rivers. Overnight in Bled. (B)
• Day 06: Bled and Bohinj, Saturday - Day at leisure in Bled. Possibility to join the optional tour to the other Alpine beauty – lake Bohinj. You will visit the Sheppard’s museum and taste the best Slovenian cheese. Return to Bled. Tonight enjoy dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Bled. (B,D)
• Day 07: Bled to Koper, Sunday - Breakfast. Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to Koper port for embarkation between 4 PM and 10 PM. Late evening departure towards Zadar (overnight sailing). (B,D)
• Day 08: Zadar, Monday - Monday morning arrival in Zadar, the oldest Slavic city on the Adriatic, once famed cultural center. Optional tour to Plitvice National Park with breathtaking scenery of 16 terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation, also listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage list Optional tour of Zadar includes the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Anastasia, the Church of St. Donat, the Church of St. Mary and Benedictine Convent. Depart Zadar at 8 PM sailing to Ploce. (B,L,D)



• Day 09: Ploce, Tuesday morning - Morning arrival in Ploce, a large commercial port located in Central Dalmatia. Optional tour to Mostar, a famous old city in Bosnia and Herzegovina) where you will see the reconstructed old bridge built by the occupying Turkish forces some 500 years ago. Depart Ploce at 2:30 PM sailing to Korcula. Korcula, Tuesday afternoon - Arrive in Korcula, birth place of Marco Polo, on Tuesday afternoon. You can visit the main square and see the Cathedral Square and nearby Marco Polo’s family house. In the evening enjoy optional performance of Moreska, the island’s unique version of Morris Dance. Depart Korucla at 11 PM. (B,L,D)
• Day 10: Kotor, Wednesday - Morning arrival in Kotor, Montenegro. The Bay of Kotor and the old town of Kotor are both on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Bay of Kotor is actually the largest European Fjord outside of Norway. Optional tour to the former capital city of Cetinje or Montenegro’s Grand Tour of the Riviera. Leave Kotor towards Albania at 10:30 PM (B,L,D)
• Day 11 : Durres, Thursday - Morning arrival in the port of Durres, the most important maritime gate of Albania, also well known for its nice Riviera. Optional tour to Tirana, the country’s capital city, only 40 kilometers away. Spend a full day discovering the city, including typical lunch in a local restaurant. At 10:00 start sailing towards Dubrovnik. (B,L,D)
• Day 12: Dubrovnik, Friday - Arrive Dubrovnik in the morning. Entering the gates of this over 1000 years old architectural marvel is like a step back in time. Optional tour: City tour includes the Rector’s Palace, Bell Tower clock, Orlando’s Column and the Sponza Palace. Also see the Dominican’s Monastery and Franciscan Monastery housing one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. Optional Folklore Performance. (B,L,D)
• Day 13: Split, Saturday - Morning arrival in Split. Optional tour of Split features the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO world heritage sight. See the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, it’s Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle and the Cathedral. Optional tour to nearby Trogir, the center of artistic activities. Scholars from around the world gather to study and paint here. In the afternoon sail back to Koper. (B,L,D)
• Day 14: Disembark, Sunday - Disembark after breakfast (9 AM). Transfer to Venice or Ljubljana airport for your flight home.

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