DAY 1 / DUBROVNIK (CROATIA) / EMBARKATION

Embark in the early evening, settle into the ship, and enjoy a welcome dinner on board. Tonight, the ship sails for Split, Croatia. Night spent at sea.

DAY 2 / SPLIT

Arrive in Split, Croatia’s second-largest city, in the morning. Here, enjoy an optional walking tour, where you’ll get a glimpse of Dalmatian life. Visit Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 4th century, when it served as the imperial residence of the Roman emperor.

After a lunch aboard the ship, you may choose to travel to nearby Trogir, including a scenic ride along the Dalmatian Coast. In the late afternoon, the ship cruises to Rab, Croatia.

DAY 3 / RAB

Upon arrival in Rab in the morning, enjoy an optional walking tour of this charming historic town. Founded in Roman times, Rab was built along a narrow strip of land so that approaching seafarers could see it standing prominently at the head of the bay. Here, discover cultural and historical monuments including the Church of Justina, the Church of St. John the Baptist, and the Prince’s Palace. Later in the afternoon, the ship sails south, passing through the beautiful Kornati Islands to reach Sibenik. The night is spent at sea.

DAY 4 / SIBENIK

The ship passes through a spectacular fjord to Sibenik. Upon arrival, you may choose to join an all-day excursion to the Krka National Park. Krka s home to an abundance of indigenous flora and fauna, including over 200 bird species. Next, explore the seaside city of Primosten and Sibenik’s quaint old town. The ship moors overnight in port.

DAY 5 / HVAR / KORCULA

The ship sets sail in the early morning for Hvar, the longest of the Croatian isles. Here, set off on a guided walking tour to experience this island’s distinctive Venetian flavour. Discover a fascinating array of sights, including the baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with its treasury and bell tower, and the 17th-century Hvar Arsenal, which houses Europe’s oldest theatre. The ship cruises to Korčula in the early afternoon, arriving in the late evening to spend the night in port.

DAY 6 / KORČULA ISLAND

Today, embark on an optional excursion to see the town of Korčula and travel to Lumbarda Village for a tasting of this region’s renowned red or dry white wines. You’ll have the opportunity to stroll the Bire family vineyards before a tasting at the estate. Tonight, the ship sets sail for Kotor, Montenegro and spends the night at sea.

DAY 7 / KOTOR (MONTENEGRO)

Kotor is the deepest natural fjord in the Mediterranean. This morning, take in majestic views as the ship navigates the Bay of Kotor. Upon arrival in this Montenegrin coastal town, leave the ship for an optional excursion of Kotor’s fortified medieval old town, including its well-preserved 10th-century walls.

After lunch, enjoy the breathtaking Kotor Bay scenery as the ship sails through the fjord and stop for a refreshing swim. In the late evening, the ship moors in Dubrovnik.

DAY 8 / DUBROVNIK (CROATIA) / DISEMBARKATION

This incredible yacht cruise comes to an end in Dubrovnik, Croatia, where you’ll savour breakfast before disembarking and preparing for your onward journey.

• Accommodation in double or twin cabins with private SH/WC & air conditioning.
• Full-board: Buffet breakfast and two meals daily, including a Welcome Cocktail, a local themed Evening, fun BBQ, weather permitting) and Captain’s Dinner.
• Regular (filter) coffee, tea and drinking water free all day.
• Use of fishing and snorkelling equipment (subject to availability).
• English-Speaking Cruise Escort.

Travel Documents

Passport

Croatia: Croatia is not part of the European Schengen area. Canadian citizens should ensure that their passports are valid for 3 months after the last date of travel within the country.

Montenegro: Canadian citizens should ensure that their passports are valid for 6 months after the last date of travel within the country.

Citizens of other countries should consult with their travel agent or our office.

Visa

Canadian citizens are allowed entry into Croatia and Montenegro without tourist visas when visiting for less than 3 months (90 days).

Packing List

A handy checklist of what to bring on your trip can be downloaded here.

Insurance

We strongly recommend the purchase of appropriate travel insurance for any trip outside of Canada. Information on travel insurance options can be found here.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted indoors on the ship but there are designated areas on the outside decks where one can smoke. It’s also not permitted in Croatia to smoke in workplaces, public buildings, 100 meters around hospitals and schools. In Montenegro it is not permitted to smoke in public places.

Weather

June to August- Warm climate with temperatures in the mid to high 20’s.

July- Hottest month of the year with temperatures in the high 20’s to low 30’s, so make sure you protect yourself from the sun.

September- Warm climate with temperatures in the low to mid 20’s.

August- Average temperature of the sea is mid 20’s.

Rainfall between June and September will vary, but it is not typically very wet.

In Montenegro, the average temperature in June to October is low 20’s to low 30’s.

November- Wettest month of the year, with temperatures in low to high 10’s.

Arrival / Departure

The closest airport to Dubrovnik is the Dubrovnik Airport,also referred to as Čilipi Airport, which is about a 25 minute drive from the port area.

Once you have booked your trip, we will provide detailed instructions on where in Dubrovnik, Croatia to check-in for your cruise.

There are a lot of fascinating tourist attractions and activities in Dubrovnik, we highly recommend a stay here before or after your voyage. Have a look at some of our Pre and Post Tours.

The ship will not be ready for check-in before midday (unless otherwise stipulated in the itinerary). If you have any luggage that you need to have booked in so you can enjoy some free time in port, the purser may be able to accommodate you provided we know in advance.

The cruise will finish in the morning on the final day. It is necessary to have settled your onboard account and to have disembarked by this time as instructed by the cruise director on the day before.

Money

In Croatia, the official currency is the Croatian Kuna. However, the Euro is accepted by some merchants in the country as well.

In Montenegro the official currency is the Euro.

All major credit cards and debit cards are accepted by larger shops and restaurants in Croatia. In Montenegro credit cards are mainly accepted in larger hotels. It is however recommended to carry enough of the local currency for the day and charge what you can to your credit cards.

ATM’s accepting most international debit and credit cards can be found in Croatia.  In Montenegro ATM’s can be found in larger cities/towns.

Gratuities (Tipping)

The gratuity suggested by the cruise line is USD 13 – 16 per guest per day.

Of course, gratuities are always at your discretion and the above recommendations are assuming you are thoroughly pleased with services rendered. All gratuities will be equally divided amongst the entire crew.

Laundry

Laundry service is available for a small fee. Unfortunately, dry cleaning is not available.

Services & Activities On board

Aboard your yacht you will receive a Welcome Cocktail as a welcome gift. You’ll find an elegant dining room, restaurant, spacious sun decks and comfortable lounges. No pools are on board as it is common for our guests to swim off our ships or for passengers to reach beaches by tender.  

There are fins, masks and snorkels available on board for use during the swim stops which are subject to availability. You can also find a small borrowing library as well as board games and playing cards for your amusement. Movies are often shown in the vessels’ Lounges, so please check in the Daily Program for show times.

Sports activities: Swimming off the ships is possible as well as snorkeling.  

Excursions

Shore excursions will be offered on board but are always subject to weather and docking conditions and a minimum number of participants. They can be purchased on board at an extra cost.

Excursions will usually involve a fair amount of walking. If you have difficulty walking any distances, please let us know in advance and we will advise you on the best way that we can accommodate you.

Please refer to our website or consult the purser on board for additional information.

Regrettably, most of our excursions are not suitable for guests in a wheelchair.

Activity Level / Strenuousness

Light to Moderate – At most, participation in the shore excursions requires the ability to walk reasonable distances.

Note that the warm temperatures in summer may make participation on this trip more strenuous than you may be accustomed to compared to the climate at home.

Food and Beverages

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your voyage. All drinks on board (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks) are subject to extra charges.

Peka is a famous Dalmatian dish which consists of vegetables and meat or seafood—lamb and octopus are favorites. Ingredients are placed in a covered pan and roasted in an open fire. This traditional method of cooking is referred to as cripnja (“under the bell”) because the pan’s lid is often bell-shaped. Another famous dish in Dubrovnik is “dirty pasta”. The sauce comprises beef chunks and a blend of special spices, and has a sweet cinnamon flavor. In the olden days, the nobles were served their portions first; they took the lion’s share of the meat sauce, and only “dirty pasta” was leftover.

Most Croatian coastal dishes include grilled ligne (squid) or local Adriatic white fish accompanied by blitva, a signature Dalmatian dish of boiled potatoes and Swiss chard (mangold). Seafood is simply prepared with local olive oil and parsley. Throughout Dalmatia, you’ll find green tagliatelle with shrimp or other seafood on most konoba (tavern) menus. Tagliatelle, derived from the Italian tagliare, meaning “to cut,” is a traditional type of pasta from the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions of Italy—which are located directly across the Adriatic Sea from Dalmatia. This pasta sauce from the island of Korčula was sweetened with prošek, a sweet dessert wine.

Rožata is a traditional Croatian custard pudding from the Dubrovnik region, similar to flan and crème brûlée. Its name comes from rozalin (rose liqueur), which gives the dessert its unique flavor and aroma.

Croatia is known for their beer, (Karlovacko), wine (Grasevina), Malvasia (white wine) and spirits like Sljivovica (plum brandy), Travarica (herbal brandy) or Lozovaca (grape brandy) as they are all homemade.

Kacamak is a traditional dish in Montenegro. It is a mushy, strong meal which made of wheat, buckwheat, barley, or corn flour and which is being served with cheese and sour milk. Wet “kacamak” is called the one to which the cheese is added, or “kajmak” and which is being stirred for a long time with a special wooden spoon. The taste is even better, and people in the villages prefer it because it gives them the energy which they are using in hard labor. It is found in the offer of every national restaurant. Kacamak made of potato is maybe to most interesting variant of this meal.

Another Montenegrin dish that you really should try is “Japraci”, it is an extremely rich and nourishing meal. In a kilo of “rastan” and half a kilo of young cow’s meet rice, pepper, and even dry meat are added. With cooking the grease is being released, and the meal gets the right flavor. Other dishes you should try are Sarma, stuffed peppers, stew, pilaf.

Language

The language spoken on board is primarily English. In general, there is a multilingual environment and you will have a chance to mix with a variety of nationalities. Excursions and public announcements are always in English.

While English is widely spoken in the major ports visited, as you venture away from more touristy areas, you may find communication somewhat more challenging.

In Montenegro the official language is Montenegrin. A traveler’s phrasebook would undoubtedly be helpful if your Montenegrin language skills are limited.

Medical Facilities

There are no medical personnel on board the ship. However, crew members are trained in first aid and the purser can contact onshore medical people for emergency and nonemergency situations and evacuation can be facilitated in the most urgent cases.

Cabin Amenities

All cabins have private, nicely appointed bathrooms fitted with showers. All cabins are air-conditioned and connected to a central music system. There is a telephone for intra ship communication. Our ship contains in lounge TV’s with satellite channels with at least a few English speaking programs. There are hairdryers in each cabin, flat-screen TV’s, public address system, safe boxes, mini-fridges and DVD players in the cabins.

The ship’s generator provides an electric voltage of 220V. Cabins are fitted with European type plugs so please remember to bring an adaptor if necessary.

For more details, please visit the Ships section on our website.

Phone & Internet

There is a phone in each cabin. Outgoing call rates are very high as a satellite connection is the only one possible.

WIFI is available in certain areas of the ship at a modest charge. As it is a satellite connection, internet speed will be very slow and we suggest it be used for urgent matters only.

If you would like to have regular data and phone connection while on land, we suggest either arranging an overseas roaming plan with your mobile operator, or pick up a local SIM card if you have an unlocked phone.

Children

Aboard the M/S Panorama there are no recreational facilities for children and reservations for those under the age of eleven are not advised. However, should you choose to bring children along please take into consideration that children onboard are their parents’/guardians sole responsibility.

Health / Vaccinations

There are no vaccinations required to travel to Croatia and Montenegro. However, we suggest you consult your physician with any specific personal requirements for this program.

As always, we recommend being in good health prior to any long distance travel.

Safety & Security

Despite recent events in Europe it is considered a safe and secure place to visit. Croatia like any place in the world is generally but not completely safe. Being tourists in the city, security measures should be taken. Late night strolls alone are not advisable. When going out it’s recommended not to take any valuables or travel documents along to reduce the chances of having an unfortunate incident. Petty crime including pickpocketing and bag snatching may occur in Croatia along the Adriatic coast and in Montenegro during May to September.

Jewelry, money, documents, etc., should be placed in your individual safe deposit boxes or given to the captain who will deposit the items in the ship’s safe boxes free of charge.

More information on this from the Canadian government can be obtained at:

www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/croatia

www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/montenegro

Suggested Reading

DK Eyewitness Top Ten Dubrovnik & Dalmatian Coast

Fodor’s Croatia, with a Side Trip to Montenegro

The Islands of Croatia, 30 Walks on 14 Adriatic Islands

Bradt Guide Montenegro

Lonely Planet Montenegro