SUMMER SAILING IN THE CROATIAN ISLANDS Island Hopping aboard the Queen Eleganza 23rd June to 1st July; 16th to 24th July; 24th July to 1st August & 1st to 9th August 2019 ven the most jaded of travellers cannot fail to be won over by the beauty of Opatija Ethe Adriatic Coast. The sea is an intense blue and the islands are amazingly picturesque. Mountains sweep down to the sea, islands lace the coast creating Rab Pag endless inviting waterways and channels and on shore there are great historic CROATIA villages, towns and cities. Whilst Croatia itself is no longer a secret, this unique Zadar cruise steers clear of the well-trodden tourist trail and instead heads to some of the Kornati Islands Zlarin quieter spots and out-of-the way beaches and islands which the Croats themselves Hvar Bisevo Korcula escape to; places where you can wander the streets away from crowds and where Vis Jakljan nightlife means a nightcap by the harbour. As we make our way along the coast we Mljet Dubrovnik will witness a range of scenic delights from the world-famous Kornati Islands to Mljet where we explore the National Park including its beautiful lakes, and the delightful islands of Rab, Hvar and Korcula. In addition to our included guided excursions, we have allowed ample time at leisure and there will also be opportunities to swim from the ship as we call into secluded bays and hidden coves and, taking advantage of our central moorings to dine ashore and experience the atmospheric ports in their evening splendour. THE ITINERARY 23RD JUNE, 16TH JULY & 1ST AUGUST 2019 DEPARTURES Day 1 London Gatwick to cruise routes. Enjoy the opportunity Dubrovnik, Croatia. Fly by to dine ashore. scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the Queen Eleganza and enjoy Day 4 Vis, Bisevo & Hvar. One of dinner on board as we moor the furthest of the main Croatian overnight. Islands from the coast, in recent years Vis was used as a military Day 2 Jakljan & Mljet. We sail base for the Yugoslav army and only this morning towards Mljet and if opened up to tourism in 1989. From weather permits will make our first the port of Komiza we will board swimming stop at the uninhabited local boats to the neighbouring island of Jakljan in the Elafiti island of Bisevo where we will Islands. We will find a suitable visit the Blue Grotto. This coastal Vis anchorage for a relaxing morning cave shines an amazing blue when before continuing our journey over the sun’s rays pass through an lunch arriving in Mljet in the early underwater opening. Should sea Day 6 Kornati Islands & Zadar. and if weather allows we will drop afternoon. This is one of the few conditions not allow for this visit, Spend the day amongst the 140 the anchor and stop for a swim Dalmatian islands that was never an alternative tour of the beautiful islands that make up the Kornati from the ship as we pass the island ruled by Venice, which is apparent island of Vis will be arranged. We archipelago a wonder of natural of Pag on our way to the island of in the architecture and the absence return to the ship for lunch and sail beauty, coves and clear blue Rab. This evening we will enjoy of any sizeable historic town. What to Hvar this afternoon where we waters. George Bernard Shaw some time to meander through it lacks in terms of great architecture enjoy dinner on board as we moor fell in love with the islands saying the narrow old alleys of the it more than makes up for in natural overnight. “On the last day of Creation God picturesque Old Town, a perfectly beauty as we will see on our tour desired to crown His work, and preserved late Medieval Adriatic to the National Park including its Day 5 Hvar & Zlarin. From our thus created the Kornati Islands out settlement. Tonight is free to dine beautiful lakes. Moor overnight in berth in Stari Grad we take a short of tears, stars and breath.” Today ashore. the small port of Pomena and dine coach ride across the island to the we will cruise around the islands in one of the local restaurants. attractive Old Town of Hvar for a and will find a location to swim Day 8 Opatija. Our final day begins guided walk. We begin in the main from the ship. We will sail to Zadar with a cruise to Opatija. We hope Day 3 Korcula & Vis. Spend the square which is the largest piazza for an overnight mooring and the to enjoy one final opportunity to morning cruising to Korcula arriving in Dalmatia, see the cathedral, opportunity to dine ashore. swim from the ship before arriving in in the late morning. If weather and the Franciscan Monastery and Opatija in the early afternoon. Here sea conditions allow we hope to the Benedictine Nunnery, where Day 7 Zadar, Pag & Rab. Once we will enjoy a guided walk through stop at the island of Badija for a we hear about the aloe lace still a dominant city on the Adriatic the town and some time at leisure swim on the way. Korcula boasts produced today by the nuns. After Coast rivalling Venice, Zadar is before returning to the ship for the crooked Medieval streets and some free time, return to the ship today a treasured city which has Captain’s Farewell Dinner. elegant squares. Enjoy free time and enjoy lunch on board as we sail preserved its historical core. Enjoy to explore before returning to the arriving at the small island of Zlarin a morning tour, strolling around the Day 9 Opatija to London ship for lunch. In the early evening this afternoon where we can enjoy old town with its Roman columns Heathrow. Disembark this morning we arrive at the beautiful island of a swim in the clear waters. Tonight and portals, Romanesque churches and transfer to Zagreb airport for Vis which sits far out in the Adriatic, we will dine on board the Queen and Renaissance and Baroque our scheduled flight to London well away from the conventional Eleganza. palaces. Sail in the late morning Heathrow. www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Kornati Islands Rab Mljet Korcula THE ITINERARY – 24TH JULY 2019 DEPARTURE Day 1 London Heathrow to Day 4 Kornati Islands. Spend the we will board local boats to the we continue our journey to Mljet Opatija, Croatia. Fly by scheduled day amongst the 140 islands that neighbouring island of Bisevo where we moor overnight and will flight to Zagreb. On arrival transfer make up the Kornati archipelago where we visit the Blue Grotto. have the chance to dine ashore. to the Queen Eleganza moored in a wonder of natural beauty, coves This coastal cave shines an amazing Opatija. Enjoy dinner on board and and clear blue waters. George blue when the sun’s rays pass Day 8 Mljet, Jakljan & perhaps an after dinner stroll as we Bernard Shaw fell in love with the through an underwater opening. Dubrovnik. Mljet is one of the few moor overnight. islands saying “On the last day of Should sea conditions not allow Dalmatian islands that was never Creation God desired to crown for this visit, an alternative tour of ruled by Venice and this is apparent Day 2 Opatija & Rab. After His work, and thus created the the beautiful island of Vis will be in the architecture and the absence breakfast we will enjoy a guided Kornati Islands out of tears, stars arranged. We return to the ship of any sizeable historic town. What walk through the town before and breath.” Today we will cruise for lunch and sail to Korcula this it lacks in great architecture it more sailing in the late morning. We around the islands and will find afternoon where we enjoy dinner than makes up for in natural beauty hope to find an opportunity to a location to swim from the ship. on board as we moor overnight. and there will be a tour to the swim from the ship before arriving This afternoon we continue to Hvar National Park including its beautiful in the late afternoon at the island where we have dinner on board as Day 7 Korcula, Badija & Mljet. lakes. We will sail over lunch and of Rab. This evening we will enjoy we moor overnight. Spend the morning on Korcula hope to stop for a swim on the some time to meander through the walking along the crooked island of Jakljan before arriving in narrow old alleys of the picturesque Day 5 Hvar & Vis. From our berth Medieval streets to the elegant Dubrovnik this afternoon. Enjoy Old Town, a perfectly preserved in Stari Grad we take a short squares which are flanked with dinner on board this evening. late Medieval Adriatic settlement coach ride across the island to the palaces of the old nobility arriving. squeezed into a slender peninsula attractive Old Town of Hvar for a We sail in the late morning and if Day 9 Dubrovnik to London along which are dotted a sequence guided walk. We begin in the main weather and sea conditions allow Gatwick. Disembark this morning of Romanesque campaniles. square which is the largest piazza we hope to stop at the island of and transfer to the airport for our Tonight is free to dine ashore. in Dalmatia, see the cathedral, Badija for a swim. This afternoon scheduled flight to London. the Franciscan Monastery and Day 3 Rab, Pag & Zadar. Sail from the Benedictine Nunnery, where Rab over breakfast and if weather we hear about the aloe lace still allows we will drop the anchor produced today by the nuns.