Slovenia and Croatia

Settle in at our hotel, then gather this evening with fellow travelers for a welcome reception.

This morning, set out on a walking tour of the car-free old town, visiting its sprawling Central Market and Preseren Square and crossing the famous Dragon Bridge with its four menacing copper dragons. Later ride the funicular to the top of Castle Hill to take in beautiful views of the city. Enjoy a welcome dinner later this evening at a local restaurant.

Venture to stunning, cobalt-blue Lake Bled in the Julian Alps. Take a private boat ride, stopping at a church-crowned islet. Next, explore Bled Castle, Slovenia’s oldest castle, dating from the 11th century and perched high above the lake. After a lakeside lunch, we visit a family-owned apiary and learn why UNESCO has recognized beekeeping in Slovenia as an intangible cultural heritage.

Bid farewell to Slovenia as we cross into Croatia. Upon arrival in Zagreb, take a walking tour of the Upper Town, stopping at the mosaic-roofed St. Mark’s Church, the Stone Gate, Strossmayer Promenade, and the 13th-century Lotrscak Tower, which has been firing its cannons at noon every day since 1877 to alert the city’s churches to ring their noontime bells.

Set out this morning for stunning Plitviče Lakes National Park, filled with beautiful lakes, caves, and waterfalls. Hike to the splashing cascades, which formed over thousands of years from water flowing over the limestone landscape and creating natural tufa dams. After lunch, continue to Zadar to embark the Queen Eleganza, our home for the next seven nights.

During a walking tour of Zadar's Old Town, we see the Forum and the Church of St. Donat. Reboard the Queen Eleganza and cruise to UNESCO-designated Trogir with its maze-like, narrow pedestrian streets and beautiful seafront promenade. Enjoy a traditional peka dinner of meat and potatoes slowly roasted over coals at a local tavern this evening.

On a walking tour of Trogir's Old Town, delve into the history of this medieval town with its Romanesque churches and Renaissance and Romanesque buildings from the Venetian period. Then reboard the Queen Eleganza for lunch as we cruise to Split, a Greek settlement that later served as an important seaport in the Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, and Austro-Hungarian empires. Visit the sprawling, fortress-like Diocletian’s Palace, considered one of the world’s best-preserved examples of Roman architecture. Enjoy an evening at leisure for independent dining along Split’s waterfront.

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Split. Return to the Queen Eleganza for lunch as we cruise to lovely, lavender-scented Hvar Island. Visit the elegant main square and stop in the local museum to marvel at lace that is made from delicate aloe threads by nuns at the Benedictine Monastery.

Spend the morning sailing Croatia’s scenic coastline as our lecture program continues, arriving this afternoon in Korčula, considered to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. Take a walking tour of the fortified Old Town with its narrow, stepped streets, taking in the ancient walls and massive entrance gates. Then, venture to the interior of the island for a wine tasting accompanied by local specialties. Enjoy free time for independent exploration and dinner on our own.

This morning, explore stunning Mljet National Park. Walk, e-bike, or travel by tuk tuk among the Aleppo pine forests and saltwater lakes. After lunch onboard, sail to the nearby island of Šipan where we anchor for the night.

Spend the morning cruising to Dubrovnik, considered the crown jewel of the Adriatic with its magnificent walls, marble streets and stunning baroque architecture that speaks to a rich artistic history. After visiting the city’s iconic sites, reboard the ship to toast our journey at the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner.

After breakfast, depart for the airport to catch flights home.