DAY 1 / DUBROVNIK (CROATIA) / EMBARKATION 

Embark in the late afternoon. After settling into your cabin, enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. The ship moors overnight in Dubrovnik, at Croatia’s southernmost point.

DAY 2 / DUBROVNIK / KORČULA ISLAND (CROATIA)  

In the early hours of the morning, the ship follows the coast northwest to Korčula, an island off the southern coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea. Before arriving in port in the afternoon, relax and refresh during a swim stop. In the afternoon, you may choose to leave the ship for an optional excursion in the town of Korčula, including a visit to the village of Lumbarda for a tasting at a local winery.

The ship sets sail overnight for Bar, Montenegro.

DAY 3 / BAR (MONTENEGRO)

Enjoy a swim stop in the morning before the ship reaches Bar around midday. This small, coastal town in Montenegro is often used as a gateway to Budva, Montenegro’s most-visited destination for its impressive Old Town, splendid beaches, cultural heritage, and Venetian architecture. You’ll also see Cetinje, a museum town not far from the coast. After rejoining the ship, set sail for Paxi, Greece.

DAY 4 / PAXI (GREECE) 

In the morning, the ship makes a brief stop in Corfu for clearance, then continues onward to Paxi, a collection of islands within the Ionian Islands. Cruise to one of the islands’ many secluded bays for a relaxing swim off the ship and a barbeque lunch on the deck. This afternoon, arrive in the port of Paxos, Paxi’s largest island. The ship docks here overnight.

DAY 5 / PAXI / CORFU (GREECE) 

In the early hours of the morning, the ship sails to Corfu, the so-called “Grand Lady” of the Ionian Islands and the greenest island in all of Greece. Here, you might choose to set off on a full-day excursion to discover Corfu’s imperial past, including its impressive, UNESCO-listed town centre and Byzantine churches. Or, enjoy a relaxing scenic tour through the lush Corfiot countryside, passing hilltop villages. The ship moors in port tonight.

DAY 6 / CORFU / SARANDA (ALBANIA) 

In the morning the ship sails to the charming town of Saranda, which boasts the most attractive waterfront on the Albanian Riviera. Here, join an optional excursion to the nearby archaeological site of Butrint. In the afternoon, the ship cruises to Kotor, Montenegro, spending the night at sea.

DAY 7 / KOTOR (MONTENEGRO) 

In the morning, the ship navigates the Bay of Kotor, the deepest natural fjord in the Mediterranean. After mooring, recharge with a swim in the bay or join an optional excursion to Kotor’s well-preserved medieval Old Town. Mooring overnight.

DAY 8 / KOTOR / DUBROVNIK / DISEMBARKATION 

In the morning, the ship returns to Dubrovnik, Croatia. After breakfast, disembark the ship and prepare for the next step of your 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.

Greece: Greece is a European Schengen area country. Canadian citizens should ensure that their passports are valid for 3 months after the last date of travel in the Schengen area.

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

Albania: Canadian citizens should ensure that their passports are valid for 3 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, Montenegro, Albania and Greece 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 Greece to smoke in hotel guestrooms as well as 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. Smoking is not permitted in Albania in bars, clubs, restaurants, and most commercial indoor areas.

Weather

In both Croatia and Greece, the average temperatures in June to October are mid to high 20’s.

June to September- 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.

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

October- Warmer climate with temperatures in the low to 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.

In Albania the average temperatures in June to october are low 10’s to high 20’s.

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

September to November- Cooler climate with temperatures in the mid 10’s to low 20’s

Arrival / Departure

The closest airport to Dubrovnik is the Dubrovnik Airport, which is 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 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 Greece and Montenegro the official currency is the Euro.

In Albania the official currency is the Albanian lek.

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

All major credit cards and debit cards are accepted by larger shops and restaurants in Croatia and Greece. In Montenegro and Albania credit cards are mainly accepted in larger hotels and restaurants.  It is however recommended to carry enough of the local currencies 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 and Greece.  In Montenegro ATM’s can be found in larger cities/towns. In Albania ATM machines can be found in Saranda.

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 find an elegant dining room, 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. At some stops it may also be possible to organize diving excursions.

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 on sandy beaches. 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 high temperatures 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.

The contrast between Croatian and Greek dishes is something you’ll enjoy.

Peka is a typical Croatian dish that is a dome or bell-shaped terracotta or steel lid that you heat, by burning wood below it. You can cook any type of meat or fish using the peka.  Another famously mouth watering dish to keep an eye out for is the Skradinski Rizot. It may be eaten as a savoury or a dessert. The dessert is made of sweet potatoes and ripe plantain and may include breadfruit, cassava or corossol. It is boiled in coconut milk and nutmeg, sugar and vanilla are added. The dessert is creamy and soft.

Croatia is also known for their beer, (Karlovacko), wine (Grasevina) and spirits like sljivovica (plum brandy), travarica (herbal brandy) or lozovaca (grape brandy) as they are all homemade.

A 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.

The main meal of the Albanians is lunch, which usually consists of Gjellë (stew), the main dish of slowly cooked meat with various vegetables, and a salad of fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and olives. The salad is dressed with salt, olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice.

A special Greek dish that you have to try, is the Taramasalata (fish roe dip).  It is a mouth watering creamy blend of pink or white fish roe with either a potato or bread base is best with a drizzle of virgin olive oil or a squeeze of lemon.

If you feel like indulging yourself then go ahead and try Galaktoboureko, a sinful custard-filled pastry. Simply, pour a lovely dollop of local thyme honey over fresh Greek yogurt.

Greek Ouzo is considered the national drink of Greece. Apart from ouzo, Greece is known for these considerably stronger distilled local drinks, that are homemade from the grapes harvested in autumn.

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.

The official language in Albania is Albanian. Be sure to have an Albanian phrasebook when going sightseeing in Albania if your knowledge of the Albanian language is 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, Montenegro, Albania and Greece. 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,  in Montenegro during May to September, in Albania in touristy areas and in Athens, Greece.

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

www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/albania

www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/greece

Suggested Reading

A Taste of Croatia

Lonely Planet Croatia

Footprint Croatia

Bradt Guide Montenegro

Bradt Guide Albania

Greek, A Language Map

Eyewitness Guide Greek Islands

Fodor’s Greece: with Great Cruises & the Best Islands