Magic of Italy & Croatia Cruise Tour

Upon arrival at Venice Marco Polo Airport, you’ll be welcomed by our driver who will provide a private transfer to your Venice hotel. You’ll have easy access to water taxis while St. Mark’s Square can be reached in a little over five minutes on foot. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours. Get settled in then perhaps take a relaxed stroll through this atmospheric city. You’ll get an in-depth tour tomorrow but it’s always fun to wander with surprises around nearly every corner. Perhaps find an enticing café to unwind with a glass of wine while watching the world go by.

• Excursions Included N/A
• Preferred Hotel Hotel Ai Cavalieri di Venezia

Join your guide for a private two-hour “Taste of Venice” tour that will bring you to many of the highlights. You’ll meet at St. Mark’s Square with iconic landmarks like St. Mark’s Basilica, the Torre dell ’Orologio (clock tower), and Doge’s Palace, a masterpiece of gothic architecture built in 1340. See the Bridge of Sighs that’s connected to the palace stretching over Rio di Palazzo and visit the oldest part of Venice, the Rialto area, including the Grand Canal and the lively historic market where many Venetians do their shopping. Fishmongers hawk their fresh seafood catches while colorful seasonal fruits and vegetables fill the stalls.

• Excursions Included Private guided Taste of Venice tour
• Preferred Hotel Hotel Ai Cavalieri di Venezia

It’s time to head to your next destination, Florence. You’ll travel by water taxi, with assistance provided, traveling to the train station to hop on the train to Florence, premium class tickets included. Upon arrival, take a private transfer to your hotel with time to settle in and refresh before joining a local guide for a walking tour. You’ll visit Santa Croce Church, the burial place for Italian greats, including Michelangelo and Galileo. Marvel at the town hall, Pallazo Vecchio, and Florence Cathedral too. The highlight of your tour is the Academia Gallery which includes Michelangelo’s original statue of David with its remarkable life-like details.

• Excursions Included Private Florence with the Academia Gallery walking tour
• Preferred Hotel Hotel Balestri

Heading outside of the city this morning, you’ll enjoy a full-day trip with your private driver/guide to San Gimignano and Siena, both hilltop towns. You notice San Gimignano right away with its skyline that includes 14 towers dating to the 11th century. After exploring you’ll visit a farmhouse for a typical local meal and then continue to your next stop, Siena. Meet our local guide for a tour, with a focus on Piazza del Campo, best known for its biannual II Palio horse race. It’s also the main square and hub of local life, with a soaring bell tower and 13th-century City Hall.

• Excursions Included San Gimignano & Siena guided day trip
• Preferred Hotel Hotel Balestri

It’s time to travel to your next destination, taking a private transfer to the Florence train station where you’ll catch the train to Rome, premium class tickets included. Upon arrival to the Eternal City, another driver will be waiting to bring you to your hotel in Rome’s historic center. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps an easy stroll to the Spanish Steps which ascend a steep slope between Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top. You’ll find many shops to browse, cafes for an espresso pick-me-up, and eateries serving tasty cuisine.

• Excursions Included N/A
• Preferred Hotel Hotel Artemide

Join your private driver/guide for a half-day tour of Vatican City. It’s located in Rome, but it’s an independent state with its own coins, flag, and militia to protect the pope. You’ll explore its massive museum complex to see one of the world’s most extensive collection of Renaissance art, visit the Gallery of Geographical Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s famous frescoes and St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church on Earth. The basilica’s elaborate dome stands out in Rome’s skyline, providing a compass for all who roam the city streets. Completed in the early 17th century, it includes Michelangelo’s Pieta.

• Excursions Included Half-day tour of Vatican City
• Preferred Hotel Hotel Artemide

A half-day tour with your private guide will bring you to explore the Roman Colosseum and Roman Forum, the heart of Ancient Rome, for an immersion into the history of the Roman Empire. The latter is the most recognizable symbol of the Eternal City, inaugurated in the 1st century AD. It once sat over 50,000 in its perfectly arranged stands, with spectators coming to watch famous battle re-enactments and gladiator games that included brutal fights between man and beast. The Forum was the center of life, playing host to rituals, festivals, celebrations, and funerals, dating all the way back to 500 BC.

• Excursions Included Half-day tour of Ancient Rome
• Preferred Hotel Hotel Artemide

It’s time to begin the second portion of your tour by taking a private transfer to the airport in Rome to catch your flight to Split, Croatia. Another driver will meet you upon arrival, providing a transfer to your ship in the harbor. After check-in, you’ll meet our local guide for a tour that includes the remarkable 4th-century Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace which covers much of the historic center. Stroll the ancient streets and alleyways, gazing up at some of the world’s most well-preserved Roman architecture before returning to the ship to prepare for this evening’s welcome dinner that will begin with introductions to the captain and crew.

• Excursions Included Guided tour of Split
• Meals Included Breakfast and Welcome Dinner

While our destination this evening is medieval Trogir, with its walled Old Town that’s like an open-air museum, after departing Split you’ll enjoy a swim stop in a beautiful hidden bay. Once in Trogir, you’ll enjoy time to explore the historic center, including its most imposing monument, the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, one of the finest examples of sacral architecture in Croatia. There are many other impressive landmarks to marvel at as well, including the Kamerlengo castle/fortress, which can be viewed from the promenade. Built in the mid-15th century as part of an expansion of Veriga Tower, it hosts performances in the summer.

• Excursions Included Guided tour of Trogir
• Meals Included Breakfast and Lunch

On route to our next destination, Hvar, we’ll enjoy an especially memorable swim stop: Zlatni Rat beach. Located near the town of Bol on Brac Island, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, jutting out into calm, pale turquoise waters that surround it on three sides. Lunch will be served on board as we continue to Hvar. Upon arrival, we’ll head to the small town of Jelsa to visit one of the most sought-after wineries for a tasting. This evening, you can take advantage of the many delights in Hvar Town, including the world-class restaurants and buzzing nightlife that draw many international jet setters. 

• Excursions Included Wine tasting in Hvar
• Meals Included Breakfast and Lunch

Today we sail to the peaceful island of Vis, famed for its seclusion and isolation. To get to Vis we sail through the beautiful Pakleni island archipelago which is known for its stunning secluded bays with crystal clear water. Our captain will dock in one of these bays giving the guests an extended swim stop and time to snorkel or use the various water toys on the yacht. After lunch, we continue to sail to Vis to experience the ‘Mediterranean as it once was,’ having been virtually cut off from civilization for four decades as an important Yugoslav military base. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to meander through its tranquil streets.

• Meals Included Breakfast and Lunch

The Blue Cave on Bisevo Island is just a short sail from Vis and this morning, if conditions are right, an optional boat excursion can bring you inside to marvel at a remarkable phenomenon of Mother Nature that occurs, illuminating the interior in blue. Once we’re all back on board, we’ll cruise to Korcula Island, anchoring near Old Town Korcula so you can join our local guide for a tour. Sometimes referred to as a “mini-Dubrovnik,” it’s surrounded by 13th-century stone walls with gates, towers, and bastions. You’ll see lots of influence from its Venetian past, including St. Mark’s Cathedral with its lion figures.

• Excursions Included Entrance to the Blue Cave (entrance fee payable locally) & Guided tour of Korcula
• Meals Included Breakfast and Lunch

Our final island stop brings us to Mljet Island is home to one of southern Dalmatia’s most important protected areas. Mljet National Park covers a significant portion, boasting stunning emerald lakes surrounded by lush greenery, one that includes an islet with a 12th-century Benedictine monastery. Your cruise manager will lead you on a short walk to visit the lakes and if you’d like you can take the short boat ride to visit the monastery. Afterward, we’ll continue to Slano where we’ll walk along the coast to visit an oyster farm in Ston for a fresh tasting. This evening, enjoy the Captain’s Dinner with live music.

• Excursions Included Admission fees to Mljet National Park, Oyster farm tour in Ston, including a fresh oyster and mussel tasting
• Meals Included Breakfast, Lunch and Captain's Dinner

We’ll depart early this morning for Dubrovnik and as we approach, the captain will cruise around the imposing Old City walls, providing a great photo-op. Soon you’ll join our local guide for a walking tour of the historic center, strolling the limestone-paved streets to view fine examples of Gothic-Renaissance architecture, including 16th-century Sponza Palace, while learning about the history behind the landmarks. After your tour, you’ll have time to explore on your own. There are many shops and galleries to browse, or you might take a walk atop the walls followed by dinner with a sea and sunset view in a rooftop eatery.

• Excursions Included Guided tour of Dubrovnik
• Meals Included Breakfast and Lunch

After 14 nights of traveling through Italy and Croatia, the departure time will soon be here. You’ll have breakfast and time for goodbyes to the captain, crew, and your fellow passengers, many of whom are likely to be new friends. Upon disembarkation, you’ll be met by your driver for a private transfer to Dubrovnik’s airport to catch your flight home, or to your local Dubrovnik hotel if you’ve decided to extend your stay. Whatever your plans, we’re always here to assist you, and hope to see you again on another unforgettable trip.

• Excursions Included N/A
• Meals Included Breakfast