Cruise/Tour Combo: Delightful Balkan Tour & Cruise (Dubrovnik return Cruise) - 14nts (Sundays)

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Dubrovnik
Location: Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia
Duration: 15 days
Availability: SUNDAYS, May / Sep / Oct
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Dubrovnik
Location: Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia
Duration: 15 days
Availability: SUNDAYS, May / Sep / Oct
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

Fantastic Cruise/Tour Combo, truly the best of the Balkans!
Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik
National Museum in Tirana, St. Sofia, St. Clement and St. Naum in Ohrid
Church of Holy Savior and Monastery of St. Panteleimon in Skopje
Residence of King Nikola I Petrović in Cetinje
St. Triphun Cathedral in Kotor
Local guides for sightseeing tours of Dubrovnik, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje and Kotor
7 nights in hotels, 7 nights onboard your cruise ship

Book now (obligation free) pay later

15 days from Dubrovnik, Budva, Shkodra, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje, Kolasin, Cetinje, Kotor PLUS a 7 night cruise

Start and finish in gorgeous Dubrovnik.
This spectacular comprehensive Grand Balkan Tour/Cruise combo encompasses the entire Balkan region in one fabulous experience!
7 nights touring via air-conditioned motor-coach, then relax at sea for 7 nights on your comfortable cruise ship.
Half-board, transfers and sightseeing tours included.

Only 4 departures all year!

Itinerary

Open-age cruise/tour combo, though usually clients are mature couples or solo travellers or small groups ranging from 35-75yrs. Double/twin cabins on Main and Lower Deck. Most triple cabins are a queen bed and single bed and most are on the Lower Deck. Solo travellers must book a double/twin for solo use with a solo use supplement.

SHIP INFO AND PHOTOS:
https://discovercroatia.com.au/ships/premium-superior/princess-aloha/

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INCLUSIONS AND FULL ITINERARY:
15 days from Dubrovnik, Budva, Shkodra, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje, Kolasin, Cetinje, Kotor PLUS a 7 night cruise from Dubrovnik, Korčula, Pucisca, Split, Hvar Town, Stari Grad (tour), Mljet National Park and back to Dubrovnik

INCLUDED:
• Arrival shared transfer from Dubrovnik Airport to hotel and departure shared transfer from Dubrovnik harbor to Dubrovnik Airport on the first and the last days of the tour
• Shared transfer from the hotel to Dubrovnik harbor
• 7-night accommodation in 4star hotels on half board basis
• Air-conditioned motorcoach throughout
• English/Spanish-speaking Tour Escort throughout for land portion
• 7-night accommodation on board in a cabin with private bathroom, A/C and LCD TV
• Daily buffet breakfast
• 6 lunches all with 3 courses and salad bar during cruise
• Welcome Dinner and Captain’s Dinner during cruise
• Water dispenser during cruise
• Complimentary fresh fruits available daily during cruise
• Professional English-speaking Cruise Manager throughout
• Daily cabin servicing, fresh bed linen and towels midweek during cruise
• Free Wi-Fi on board

Sightseeing tours included:
• Local guides for sightseeing tours of Dubrovnik, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje, Kotor (English and Spanish), Korčula, Split and Hvar (English only)
• Entrance fees to Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik; National Museum in Tirana; St. Sofia, St. Clement and St. Naum in Ohrid; Church of Holy Savior and Monastery of St. Panteleimon in Skopje; Residence of King Nikola I Petrović in Cetinje; St. Triphun Cathedral in Kotor

Supplements (optional):
• Entrance to Mljet National Park: 20-25 EUR pp – to be paid at entrance. Guide free of charge.

NOT INCLUDED:
• All other entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
• Port tax € 35 per person to be paid on board in cash (obligatory)
• Drinks
• Meals not listed on the itinerary
• Tips/gratuities

ITINERARY:
Check-in to your room from 14.00hrs. Passengers who arrive earlier can leave their bags at Reception until their room is ready. Dinner and first overnight in hotel, so late arrivals are possible.

Day 1 Dubrovnik – arrival, Sunday
Upon arrival at Dubrovnik Airport, transfer to hotel. Meet the tour guide, dinner and overnight.

Day 2 Dubrovnik – Budva/Montenegro – Shkodra/Albania – Tirana, Monday
Morning sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, included in the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit Franciscan Monastery with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. Departure for Tirana; we drive inland via Budva, crossing the Albanian border at Shkodra, once the capital of the Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.). Dinner and overnight in Tirana.

Day 3 Tirana – Ohrid/North Macedonia, Tuesday
Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, including Skender Bey Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey and a visit to the National Museum representing the flow of Albanian history and housing the finds from archeological sites across the country. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the North Macedonian border at Cafasan. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

Day 4 Ohrid, Wednesday
Full day in the lakeside resort of Ohrid, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site. Through the activity of St. Clement and St. Naum of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous “Ohrid Literary School” was founded here. Morning sightseeing tour includes the church of St. Sofia (11th century=, the most eminent mediaeval monument in North Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St. Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. In the afternoon a short drive to visit St. Naum Monastery built on the shores of Ohrid Lake in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Dinner in a local restaurant. Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 5 Ohrid – Skopje, Thursday
Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, the Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas, one of the finest samples of traditional walnut woodcarving, Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of the Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St. Pateleimon with its 12th century iconostas and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art of this period. Dinner and overnight in Skopje.

Day 6 Skopje – Kolašin/Montenegro, Friday
Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Peć and Berane and along the impressive Morača River Canyon. Afternoon arrival at Kolašin, spreading on the left bank of the river Tara, situated at the altitude of 954m. The whole are is surrounded by the thick pine forest of the Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular skiing and air spa resort. Dinner and overnight in Kolašin.

Day 7 Kolašin – Cetinje – Kotor – Dubrovnik, Saturday
Morning departure for Cetinje where we visit King Nikola’s Museum, once the residence of the Montenegrin King Nikola I Petrović. Continuation to Kotor, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site, where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to St. Triphun, the city’s patron saint. We continue to Dubrovnik driving along the picturesque Bay of Kotor. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 8 Dubrovnik – embarkation, Sunday
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Gruž harbor and embarkation. Meet your fellow travelers and your Cruise Manager during the Welcome reception followed by dinner.

Day 9 Dubrovnik – Korčula, Monday
Early in the morning we set sail for the island of Korčula, with swimming stop, if weather permits, in one of pristine bays, time to relax and lunch on board. Continue towards Korčula, the most preserved medieval town, thought to be the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. We will spend the night here. Take a walking tour of Korčula which takes you through its narrow, cobbled streets full of history. Evening is free to explore the town on your own.

Day 10 Korčula – Pučišća, Tuesday
Our journey then continues towards Pučišća, situated on the island of Brač, village of the stone sculpture, where you can visit amazing stonemason school (optional). Lunch on board before arrival in Pučišća, enjoy a swim in one of Brač’s many lovely coves and bays, if weather permits. Enjoy Captain’s dinner on board and overnight in Pučišća.

Day 11 Pučišća –Split, Wednesday
After breakfast we set sail to Split with a stop along the way to swim and relax, if weather permits, with lunch on board. In the late afternoon we arrive at Split to spend the night. Arriving in Split, join a guided tour of the city, visit the seafront promenade and Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace. The historical center of the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your evening is free in Split.

Day 12 Split – Stari Grad, Thursday
Morning sail towards Stari Grad, swimming stop and lunch on board. Stari Grad is one of the oldest towns in Europe with many friendly and affordable konobas and restaurants in the backstreets of the old town. The Stari Grad Plain and the old town centre of Stari Grad have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2008. Your evening is free to explore Stari Grad on your own.

Day 13 Stari Grad – Hvar – Mljet, Friday
Departing from Stari Grad in the morning, we sail to Hvar for a sightseeing tour. Hvar town shows you the first public theatre in Europe (older than Shakespeare’s theatre in the UK) and many more historical sites. Afterwards come back for lunch on board and sail towards Mljet. Croatian “Greenest Island” will hypnotize you with its beautiful, untouched nature and its cultural heritage. We arrive in the heart of Mljet National Park which encompasses five types of forests, many species of birds and two deep lakes. If you want to visit Mljet National Park, walk to the entrance where you can purchase the ticket to walk around the Veliko Jezero (Big Lake) and the Malo Jezero (Small Lake) and join the boat ride to St. Mary Island. Spend the night in Mljet.

Day 14 Mljet – Dubrovnik, Saturday
In the morning we continue our adventure by sailing back to Dubrovnik with lunch on board with stop for swimming. Upon arrival in Dubrovnik, you will enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent Old Town with a panoramic bus ride above the Old Town. After the panoramic view, we will arrive at the historical centre of Dubrovnik, walk through STRADUN – both a street and a square, the most famous place inside the town walls, the famous city enlisted as UNESCO’s World Heritage site, where your guide will show you the most interesting sights of Dubrovnik. After city tour, you will be left on your own to explore the city, visit City Walls, the Franciscan Monastery with Europe's second oldest pharmacy, the Rector's Palace and the Cathedral, take a boat ride to Lokrum island or take the cable car to the top of the Mount Srđ. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 15 Dubrovnik – departure, Sunday
After breakfast it’s time to disembark. You will be transferred to Dubrovnik Airport or your Dubrovnik hotel.

B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
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Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Before Your Cruise - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Before Your Island Hopping Tour - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]