• Activity Level:  1
  • Comfort:  5
  • Departs From: Dubrovnik
  • Location: Dubrovnik, Corfu, Saranda, Vlore, Durres, Bar
  • Duration: 8 days
  • Availability: 4th October 2023 only
  • CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

  • Visit 4 countries
  • Shore excursions with wireless audio system
  • Unlimited complimentary onboard beverages, including beer, fine wine, spirits, mineral bottled water, soft drinks specialty coffees and tea.
  • All meals onboard for Superb French Cuisine
  • Farewell Gala dinner
  • Captain Welcome Cocktail Reception
  • Assistance from our onboard multi-lingual host/hostess
  • Entertainment : On board professional entertainment & Crew Team show
  • Dazzling landscapes
Book now (obligation free) pay later

8 days from Dubrovnik, Corfu, Saranda, Vlore, Durres, Bar and back to Dubrovnik

Embark on a breath-taking cruise through four countries in the Adriatic Sea! Between Croatia and Montenegro via Greece and Albania, between beautiful cities and archaeological remains, wild beauty and unusual landscapes. Discover Dubrovnik, the pearl of the Adriatic, Tirana, the Albanian capital, but also Corfu in Greece, or the ancient city of Bar in Montenegro.

Deluxe Cruise Ship: MS La Belle L'Adriatique (200 passengers)

2023: 4Oct only

Itinerary

8 days from Dubrovnik, Corfu, Saranda, Vlore, Durres, Bar and back to Dubrovnik

https://discovercroatia.com.au/ships/deluxe-ships/la-belle-de-ladriatique/

Similar cruise: https://discovercroatia.com.au/details/11511/80/la-belle-ladriatique-deluxe-cruise-from-dubrovnik/

ITINERARY:

Day 1, Dubrovnik, Thursday
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 5:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail and have dinner on board. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please.
Meals: Dinner

Day 2, Dubrovnik, Friday
Join us for an optional visit of Dubrovnik, which captivates tourists by its beauty and sublime views. We'll spend the afternoon cruising alongside the Albanian and Montenegrin coastline. Join us for an evening of entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 3, Corfu, Saturday
We'll spend the morning cruising to the splendid island of Corfu. According to Homer's poems, Ulysses made a final stop here before returning to Ithaca. This afternoon, we'll enjoy an optional tour of the old city. Today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the origins of the old city date back to the 8th century BC, but what we see today is approximately 500 years old, built mostly by the Venetians. And we'll visit the Achilleion, the island's emblematic palace built by the beloved Empress Sissi. Join us for an evening of dinner and dancing.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4, Corfu - Saranda (Albania), Sunday
We'll cruise to Saranda in the early morning. When we arrive, join us for an optional visit to the Butrint ruins (an approx. 4-hour tour, including over 90 minutes of driving). These ancient ruins are famed for their size, beauty, and tranquility. They're in a fantastic natural setting and span 2,500 years. The top of the hill is where the acropolis once was; the views give you a good idea of the city's layout, and you can see the Vivari Channel connecting Lake Butrint to the Straits of Corfu in the distance.
This afternoon, we'll set out on an optional tour of Gjirokastër (an approx. 5-hour tour, including 3 hours of driving). Historic Gjirokastër is one of Albania's three UNESCO sites. Described as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town,” the city is dominated by Gjirokastër Fortress. Gjirokastër contains several remarkable examples of houses with turrets, which date from the 17th century, but also more elaborate examples dating from the early 19th century. The Gjirokastër Bazaar is known for handmade wood pieces, handwoven rugs, and crafts such as delicate lace items. We'll enjoy a tasting of local products at the end of our tour. Join us for an evening of entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5, Vlore, Monday
Join us for a full-day, included tour of Apollonia and Berat (lunch included - approx. 10.5 hours long, including 4.5 hours of driving). Our first stop will be Berat. In 2008, the village was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town. We'll then continue on to the largest archaeological site in Albania: Apollonia. Set on rolling hills among olive groves, with impressive views all around, Apollonia was founded by Greeks from Corinth and Corfu in 588 BC. While the ruins are minimal, the onsite Apollonia Museum complex is excellent to experience. We'll return on board. Tonight's festivities will have an Albanian flair!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6, Durres, Tuesday
This morning, we'll visit Tirana and its Natural History Museum (free excursion, approx. 5 hours long, including 2 hours of driving). Tirana, the capital and largest city, is the heart of Albania's cultural, economic, and governmental activity. We'll visit the National History Museum, which takes you chronologically from ancient Illyria to the post-communist era. We'll also see Skanderbeg Square, the city center surrounded by important government buildings, as well as the historic Et'hem Bey Mosque (the mosque is closed during prayers - please wear appropriate clothing: your legs and shoulders must be covered; women need scarves for their hair).
We'll spend the afternoon cruising. Join us for an evening of dinner and dancing.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7, Bar (Montenegro), Wednesday
We'll spend the morning on an optional visit to Stari Bar. Enjoy a guided tour of this old urban settlement in the mountains above the city of Bar. The tranquil feel of this place will make you fall in love with the whole country. Together with the stronghold towers, city gates, gun powder room, Prince's Palace, and Bishop's Palace, one can imagine the impressive town that it used to be.
We'll spend the afternoon cruising alongside Montenegrin coastline and through the Bay of Kotor.
Tonight is our festive gala evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8, Dubrovnik, Thursday
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.
Meals: Breakfast

Rates include:
• All meals from dinner the first evening to breakfast on the final day
• Onboard drinks included (except for drinks from our special lists)
• Accommodations in double-occupancy cabin with shower in private bathroom
• Welcome cocktail
• Gala evening
• Assistance from our onboard, multi-lingual host/hostess
• Travel assistance/repatriation insurance
• All port fees.

Formalities:
Valid national identity card or passport compulsory. Non-EU nationals are requested to consult their embassy or consulate.

Rates do not include:
• Transfers
• Drinks from our special lists, or drinks ordered during excursions or transfers
• Optional excursions (must be reserved and paid for on board or at travel agency)
• Cancellation and baggage insurance.
• Tips

Inclusions

  • • All meals from dinner the first evening to breakfast on the final day
  • • Onboard drinks included (except for drinks from our special lists)
  • • Accommodations in double-occupancy cabin with shower in private bathroom
  • • Welcome cocktail
  • • Gala evening
  • • Assistance from our onboard, multi-lingual host/hostess
  • • Travel assistance/repatriation insurance
  • • All port fees.

Exclusions

  • • Transfers
  • • Drinks from our special lists, or drinks ordered during excursions or transfers
  • • Optional excursions (must be reserved and paid for on board or at travel agency)
  • • Cancellation and baggage insurance.

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]

 

 

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Itinerary

  • Day 1, Dubrovnik, Thursday
  • Day 2, Dubrovnik, Friday
  • Day 3, Corfu, Saturday
  • Day 4, Corfu - Saranda (Albania), Sunday
  • Day 5, Vlore, Monday
  • Day 6, Durres, Tuesday
  • Day 7, Bar (Montenegro), Wednesday
  • Day 8, Dubrovnik, Thursday