ITINERARY
ITINERARY
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
Ancient city walls. Higgledy-piggledy red rooftops. Cobbled streets worn by time. That’s Dubrovnik, a heart-stealing city that you just know you’re going to love themoment…
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Bar, Montenegro
The Adriatic Sea and a blue-hued mountain range sandwich southerly Bar. The town itself is dominated by a working waterfront. Just up the road lies picturesque StariBar.…
Time in port: 08:00 - 17:00Show Top Things to Do
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Old Bar & Bar Walking Tour
Bar’s homonymous old town is spotlighted on this day out. After a drive through the rolling countryside, towards the foothills of the Rumija Mountain, you’ll land in Stari Bar. The old town is a living museum, and highlights include the ruined castle of King Nikola, and the crumbling remains of a 14th-century church. Later on, you’ll drive towards Bar’s famous olive tree, which has been standing for more than 2,000 years. A call-in at a museum housed in the palace of King Nikola is on the cards, too. Step inside, and you’ll spot the Montenegrin crown jewels, as well as weapons, photos, and a library of 10,000 rare books collected by the king during his reign in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Podgorica - Montenegrin Capital & Wine Heritage
Today’s tour twins a trip to the capital city of Montenegro with a lesson in the production of the wine that this region is known for. You’ll stop off at a winery that belongs to Montenegro’s biggest producer of plonk, where you’ll spot some of the 11 million grapevines that are weaved throughout its 2,310 hectares. Delving down to the cellar, 100 feet underground, you’ll sample some local nibbles and a trio of the vineyard’s famous wines. Afterwards, it’s on to the country’s capital, Podgorica. Here, the tour turns towards the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. Only finished in 2013, this huge holy site is famed for its stunning architectural design and artistic interiors.
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Sights of Stari Bar – Montenegro
You’ll see two sides to Bar on this trip – both the old and the new. While the new town has a fairly modern feel to it, the people of Stari Bar live among remnants of the past, like Turkish baths, Roman aqueducts, and a citadel where the first stones were laid over 1,000 years ago. On your walking tour around Stari Bar, you’ll spot things like mosques and Ottoman-esque buildings as you potter along the streets. You’ll then head even further back in time to the old olive tree – it’s the oldest tree in Europe and has stood in the same position for over 2,000 years. The final stop is King Nikola’s Palace. It housed the Montenegrin royal family for over 50 years, and is now a museum. You’ll get a guided tour of some of the exhibitions, which feature artwork, rare books, folk costumes, and the country’s crown jewels. There are also reconstructions of the interiors of the palace, so you can see how the rooms would’ve looked. You’ll have some time to wander around the museum before heading back to the ship.
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Trieste, Italy
This Italian city showcases cobbled, café-lined piazzas, Baroque churches and an old town that’s packed with pastel-coloured buildings. It’s a great jumping-off point…
Time in port: 07:00 - 19:00Show Top Things to Do
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A Taste of Trieste
This day out pairs a sightseeing tour of Trieste with a taste of the olive oil and wine produced in the area. From the port, you’ll take a short stroll into the heart of Trieste, through the cobbled, café-lined squares this part of Italy does best. After you’ve got a feel for the city’s piazzas and cathedrals, you’ll hop onboard a bus for a drive through the Carso district. This region of picturesque highland extends across the border into Slovenia, and is separated from the sea by huge white cliffs. Thanks to its position on the globe, the area has a microclimate that lets plant and animal life thrive, creating a lovely contrast to the ruggedness of its coastline. Later on, you’ll visit a nearby factory that uses locally-sourced produce to bottle their own wines and olive oils, which you’ll get to sample alongside some tasty breads and cheeses.
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Aquileia & Wine Tasting
Travel back to toga-wearing days in Aquileia, an Ancient Roman town that dates back to 181 BC. Your guide will show you all the star sights of this riverside settlement, the highlight of which has to be the cathedral. Built in a Romanesque-Gothic style, it’s an unmissable landmark that comes wallpapered and carpeted with beautifully-preserved mosaics. You’ll also see open-air Roman ruins, believed to be the largest Roman city to be fully excavated. It’s then on to a local vineyard, where you’ll have a chance to try some of the region’s superb red and whites.
Trieste Walking Tour
This walking tour’s a great way to see Trieste's galaxy of sights. Some of the best bits can be seen from Capitol Hill, like the San Giusto Castle and the Roman theatre. But nothing beats getting up close. You'll wander the narrow alleyways of the old town and the wide avenues of the new town, seeking out all of Trieste's must-sees. There's the town's main square, Piazza dell'Unita, on the old harbour. The grandiose Neo-classical contours of the Old Exchange. The great curve of the Roman ampitheatre. And the Canal Grande, a waterway that echoes the shape of its Venetian sibling. Not to mention a clutch of religious buildings that would make even the most church-laden Italian town green with envy. Think Serb-Orthodox chapels, Greek-Orthodox sanctuaries, and a Catholic Cathedral - to name but a few.
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Koper, Slovenia
Set along a wide horseshoe-shaped bay, Koper's a Medieval town where old and new go hand-in-hand. Lose yourself in the maze of streets, passing historical sights andbrowsing…
Time in port: 08:00 - 18:00Show Top Things to Do
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Caves & Castles
Explore the world famous Postojna Caves. Enter the mysterious world of underground caves and echoing halls. And be mesmerised by disappearing rivers and babbling brooks. A train will take you through the halls and corridors chiselled by the Pivka River. The remarkable ‘brilliant’ stalagmite, and the ‘spaghetti’ and ‘congress’ halls will take your breath away. Not to mention the artificial pool with the mysterious ‘human-fish’ in it. Continue on for a beautiful photo stop and some free time at Predjama Castle. Perched high up in the cliff, this Renaissance castle dates back to the 16th century, but some features of the old cave castle from past centuries still survives today.
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Piran & Portoroz - Little Italy
Piran’s a quaint town bursting with Italian charm. The whole place is one big attraction as it’s barely changed in 400 years. The old seaport of Piran lies at the end of the Piran peninsula, which gradually narrows between the bays of Strunjan and Piran. The peninsula reaches Cape Madona, ending with the Savrini hills. So needless to say, the setting’s really something. You'll experience a 60-minute walking tour around the town's Medieval layout, with winding streets and higgledy-piggledy houses rising in steps from the coast up into the hills. This will stand you in a good stead to explore Piran on your own during the extra 60-minutes of free time. Next, you will head over to the nearby Portoroz. This is the place to be if you want to kick back and relax. Use your 45-minute free time to visit the Blue Flag beach - the only natural sandy swathe in Slovenia. Or uncover the town's cultural attractions and a selection of Slovenian cafes and restaurants.
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Slovenia Off-road
You’ll discover a different side of Slovenia today – a part that coaches can’t reach. You’ll leave Koper port and head into the countryside, before jumping aboard a comfortable 4x4. Your driver doubles as your guide, and they’ll share knowledge on local specialties, while driving along forgotten country lanes between remote, picturesque villages. You’ll take in unforgettable viewpoints that can only be accessed using these smaller vehicles. This tour has limited spaces due to the amount of vehicles available.
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Ravenna (For Bologna), Italy
The city of Ravenna serves up historical sights and ancient artwork in droves. It’s the gateway to Bologna – one of Italy’s prettiest cities. Bologna gets its good looks…
Time in port: 08:00 - 18:00Show Top Things to Do
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Bologna and Ravenna
You get two cities for one on this excursion, which takes you on walking tours of Bologna and Ravenna. Things start off in Bologna, where you’ll stroll from piazza to palazzo in the terracotta-topped city centre. Gothic Italian architecture is on show at the Basilica of San Petronio, and you’ll have time to grab a bowl of signature Bolognese ragu from a restaurant. Next, you’ll head back towards the coast to the city of Ravenna. There’s more old-school architecture on the cards here, as you embark on a walking tour past the Basilica of San Vitale and the Church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo – famous for its Byzantine mosaics. You’re close to the port here, so the drive back to the ship won’t take long.
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Split, Croatia
Over the past few years, Split has been staking its claim on the city-break map of Europe. Right in the heart of the Dalmatia region, this heart-stealer of a city has…
Time in port: 09:00 - 18:00Show Top Things to Do
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Walking Split
What better way to explore the picturesque city of Split than on foot! Split, Dalmatia’s largest city, has a lot to offer the visitor, from cultural and historical monuments to a rich choice of shops and elegant sea-front cafes. You will walk with your guide from the pier towards the old part of Split, where you will find the impressive 3rd century Diocletian’s Palace. Here you will visit the cellars, the Peristyle, the Golden and Silver Gates, the Cathedral (Mausoleum of Emperor Diocletian), the Temple of Jupiter and other interesting and historic sights. Following that you will walk around the ‘heart’ of the Old Town and finally you will be given free time to shop and take pictures. Just so you know... At the end of your tour you can choose to stay in the city centre if you wish to do so OR walk back to the ship with your guide.
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Salona & Trogir
If you have been to Split before, why not venture out of the city and see other places of interest the beautiful Croatian coast has to offer? On this lovely tour you will discover the Roman settlement of Salona, which supported a population of 60,000 in ancient times. Here you will walk with your guide around the ruins and take in the stunning views of the surrounding area before proceeding to Trogir. Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an impressive, fortified, Medieval town, built on an island, connected to the mainland by a bridge. You will be given free time to explore on your own, wander around the quaint, narrow streets, view the fashionable and very picturesque marina or do some shopping in the many souvenir shops!
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Best of Split & its Countryside
You’ll get up close and personal with Croatia’s second-largest city on this day out. It begins with a walk around the old town, and you’ll take in the well-preserved cellars beneath the Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO-listed fortress from the Roman times. Gothic cathedrals, cobbled squares, and ancient city gates are all on the itinerary, too. Afterwards, you’ll take a drive along the coast into the mountains to visit Omiš, a small town on the banks of the Centina River. You’ll climb aboard a boat to set sail through the canyon, and head to a local restaurant where you'll get to sample local smoked ham, cheese and olives.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Ancient city walls. Higgledy-piggledy red rooftops. Cobbled streets worn by time. That’s Dubrovnik, a heart-stealing city that you just know you’re going to love themoment…
Arrives: 04:00
