17-Day Adriatic Explorer: Albania, Montenegro, Croatia & Slovenia – Tirana, Budva, Dubrovnik, Split & Ljubljana

DAY 1 | Sunday – Depart for Albania

Begin your Adriatic adventure! Depart for Albania, a country of vibrant culture, stunning mountains, and a coastline dotted with charming towns.

DAY 2 | Monday – Arrive in Tirana

Arrive in Tirana, Albania’s dynamic capital. Transfer to your hotel and relax after your journey. At 6 PM, meet your Tour Manager for an orientation and welcome dinner.

Overnight: Tirana | Meals: Dinner

DAY 3 | Tuesday – Tirana City Tour

Embark on a guided city tour of Tirana:

• Skanderbeg Square, the heart of the city, with the statue of Albania’s national hero

• Et’hem Bey Mosque, symbol of Albania’s religious revival

• Palace of Culture, a Soviet-era landmark

• Bunk’Art 2, a Cold War museum inside a former nuclear bunker

Overnight: Tirana | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4 | Wednesday – Shkoder en route to Budva, Montenegro

Depart Tirana and stop in Shkoder, one of Albania’s oldest cities, nestled beside Lake Shkodra. Cross into Montenegro, a Mediterranean jewel with pristine beaches and fjords. Arrive in Budva for an orientation walk and dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Budva | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5 | Thursday – Kotor & Optional Our Lady of the Rocks & Blue Cave

Visit Kotor, a fortified medieval town with:

• Cathedral of St. Tryphon

• Maritime Museum

• Old Town Square & palaces

Optional afternoon excursion: Our Lady of the Rocks Church & Blue Cave. Sail across the Bay of Kotor, Southern Europe’s longest and deepest fjord, to the islet of Our Lady of the Rocks, then continue to the Blue Cave, where turquoise waters create an ethereal glow. Return to Budva for the evening.

Optional: Our Lady of the Rocks & Blue Cave by Boat | Overnight: Budva | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6 | Friday – Dubrovnik

Cross from Montenegro into Croatia and arrive in Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic. Afternoon at leisure, followed by dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: Dubrovnik | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7 | Saturday – Dubrovnik Walking Tour & Cruise Embarkation

Guided tour of Old Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site:

• Rector’s Palace, Gothic-Renaissance gem

• Sponza Palace

• Orlando Tower & City Bell Tower

• Dominican & Franciscan Monasteries

Board your cruise in the afternoon and enjoy your first dinner on board.

Overnight: Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 8 | Sunday – Silk Wonder & Old Mill Tour, Šipan Island

Visit Antonia Ruskovic Silk Gallery in Gruda and Ðivanovic Mill, Dalmatia’s last operational fulling mill. Cruise to Šipan Island, with fewer than 500 residents. Explore stone streets, terracotta rooftops, and enjoy lunch onboard. Evening at leisure.

Overnight: Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 9 | Monday – Mljet National Park & Korčula Walking Tour

Sail to Mljet Island and explore Mljet National Park, featuring two saltwater lakes and the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on Sveta Marija Island. Continue to Korčula, walking through the Old Town and visiting St. Mark’s Cathedral with its Tintoretto altarpiece. Free evening to explore local restaurants.

Overnight: Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 10 | Tuesday – Explore Hvar

Sail to Hvar, the sunniest Adriatic island. Take a walking tour of Hvar Town:

• Cobblestone streets & Venetian architecture

• Benedictine & Franciscan Monasteries
  Lunch onboard with panoramic sea views. Free evening to enjoy Hvar’s charming nightlife.

Overnight: Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11 | Wednesday – Bol & Split, Diocletian’s Palace Visit

Morning sail to Bol on Brač Island. After lunch onboard, arrive in Split and tour its Old Town:

• Diocletian’s Palace, the largest and best-preserved Roman palace

• Peristyle, Cathedral of St. Domnius, and Temple of Jupiter

Note: Split harbor construction may adjust the schedule.

Overnight: Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12 | Thursday – Trogir Walking Tour

Sail to Trogir, a UNESCO-protected medieval town. Guided walking tour of its Renaissance, Romanesque, and Baroque architecture, including medieval city walls. Free evening to enjoy the Adriatic ambiance.

Overnight: Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 13 | Friday – Sibenik

Sail to Šibenik and take a walking tour. Explore freely before enjoying your final cruise dinner with live music onboard.

Overnight: Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 14 | Saturday – Cruise Disembarkation & Plitvice Lakes National Park

Disembark and travel to Plitvice Lakes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring 16 terraced lakes linked by waterfalls. Continue to Ljubljana for overnight stay. Note: Active walking day; wear comfortable shoes.

Overnight: Ljubljana | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 15 | Sunday – Ljubljana City Tour

Guided tour of Ljubljana:

• Open-Air Market

• City Hall & Robba Fountain

• Triple Bridge & Parliament

Optional dinner tour to Radovljica, a medieval village known for traditional Slovenian cuisine and wine.

Optional: Radovljica Dinner | Overnight: Ljubljana | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 16 | Monday – Free Day in Ljubljana or Optional Lake Bled & Bled Castle Tour

Optional excursion to Lake Bled:

• Bled Castle, perched on a cliff overlooking the lake

• Pletna boat ride to Bled Island
  Return to Ljubljana for farewell dinner with your Tour Manager.

Optional: Lake Bled & Bled Castle Tour | Overnight: Ljubljana | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 17 | Tuesday – Depart Slovenia

Transfer to Ljubljana Airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Highlights

• Cruise the stunning Adriatic Coast with stops in Hvar, Korčula, Šipan, Bol, Trogir, and Sibenik

• Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Dubrovnik, Kotor, Plitvice Lakes, Trogir

• Explore Albania’s Tirana & Shkoder with rich history and culture

• Walk through Split Old Town & Diocletian’s Palace

• Optional excursions to Lake Bled & Bled Castle, Radovljica, Our Lady of the Rocks & Blue Cave

Package Includes

• Flights: New York–Tirana / Ljubljana–New York (other departures available)

• 15 nights First Class accommodations: 7 nights onboard MS Mama Marija, 3 nights Ljubljana, 2 nights Budva, 1 night Dubrovnik, 2 nights Tirana

• 26 meals: 15 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners

• Transfers, porterage, cruise port charges (€50 pp), sightseeing, entrance fees, English-speaking tour manager

• Wireless earphones for guided touring

Cruise Features & Amenities

• English-speaking cruise director

• Onboard bar & restaurant

• Beer & wine with dinner

• Sun deck with whirlpool