jewels of the adriatic northbound...trip notes jewels of the adriatic northbound 8 days | dubrovnik...

TRIP NOTES

Jewels of the Adriatic Northbound8 days | Dubrovnik to Split

Jewels of the Adriatic Northbound - 8 days updated on 10-12-2018

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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Set sail on a beautiful Adriatic

adventure onboard a deluxe

ship. From Dubrovnik explore the

beautiful islands of Mljet, Korcula,

Vis and Hvar before finishing in

Split on the mainland. Take in

guided walking tours along the

way as well as lots of local produce

sampling.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Dubrovnik - relive history in the awe-

inspiring, UNESCO-listed Old Town withmarble streets and Baroque buildings

• Ston – follow the defensive walls anddiscover the oyster farms

• Slano - admire the small village located on a2km-long sandy bay with ancient ruins

• Mljet - explore a stunning island coveredwith verdant vegetation and vineyards

• Korcula - discover a coastal citadel rich inRenaissance and Gothic architecture

• Vis - enjoy the tranquility of a secluded islewhere Croatia's first urban settlement oncestood

• Hvar - soak up the sunniest island in Croatiawith a buzzing and beautiful medieval town

• Brac - relax on the beach in this home ofZlatni Rat and the historic town of Bol

• Split - wander through an ancient port citywith magnificent Roman monuments

What's Included• 7 nights deluxe accommodation onboard

the air-conditioned M/V Infinity or similarmotor boat

• 6 days sailing off the Dalmatian coast in theAdriatic Sea

• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners (includinga Captain's Dinner)

• Welcome cocktail reception• Complimentary 1 litre of water, a drink with

lunch as well as fresh fruit throughout theday

• Airport arrival and departure transfers ondays 1 and 8

• Most port taxes & visitor fees• Guided walking tours of Dubrovnik, Hvar,

Korcula, and Split• Entrance fees for Mljet National Park, walls &

saltworks of Ston, and Dubrovnik Cable Car• Wine tasting in Vis and oyster tasting in

Ston• Opportunities to swim, soak up the sun,

hike and bike ride• Services of onboard captain, tour manager,

and crew• Linen and bedding• Free WiFi onboard

What's Not Included• International flights and visa

• Tips for the crew are not included and atyour own discretion. As a guideline wesuggest EUR 3–5 per person per day

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : Dubrovnik

Saturday. Transfer from Dubrovnik airport tothe Dubrovnik Gruž harbor for check in from14.00h onwards. After settling, transfer to citygates for a guided tour of the city. Thespecial charm of this ancient town are thebuildings that have remained from the timeof the old Dubrovnik Republic. A larger partof the monuments belonging to the modestRenaissance architecture with some traces ofthe Gothic style. Take the cable car from theOld Town to Srđ mountain to enjoy scenic viewsof the Walls and Elaphiti Islands. After the tour,return transfer to the ship for a welcome meet& greet cocktail reception on board Overnight- Dubrovnik

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Day 2 : Ston

Dubrovnik - Slano - Ston. Departure to a smallvillage called Slano on the mainland. Enjoythe magic scenery as the ship cruises aroundDubrovnik city walls before continuing to one ofthe Elaphiti islands for a swim stop. Afternoonarrival in Slano, a peaceful fishermen's villageand our starting point to Ston, once fortifiedsmall village famous for its oysters. Afterexploring the town’s medieval ramparts weleave to small nearby village to learn more aboutoysters and tasting this delicious treat. Returntransfer to ship, dinner on board and overnight.Overnight - Ston (B, L, D)

Day 3 : Mljet Island

Ston - Mljet - Pomena. Next morning we headfurther north to the Island of Mljet. The legendsays Greek hero Odysseus spent years on thisisland when he was captured by the nymphCalypso. Join the cruise manager for a strollto the famous salt lakes in the Mljet NationalPark and enjoy the boat ride to the St MaryIsle to visit an ancient Benedictine monastery,an old abbey and a Church dating back to the12th Century. Alternatively, you can rent kayaks,bicycles, scooters or convertible cars to roamaround the National Park or island on your own,but beware of the nymphs. Time at leisure fordinner and overnight. Overnight - Pomena (B,L, D)

Day 4 : Korcula

Pomena - Korcula. Early morning departuretowards the Korčula island best known as thebirthplace of Marco Polo. Stop for lunch in oneof the secluded bays en route. Afternoon arrivalin Korčula followed by a guided walking tourof this enchanting town surrounded by wallsand one of the best preserved medieval citiesin the Mediterranean. Fish bone street patternwas used in Korcula Old Town design to reduceeffects of wind and sun and provide citizens withsheltered and comfortable accommodation.Korčula has an abundant choice of restaurantsto enjoy a gourmet experience and numerousbars and clubs for those looking for eveningentertainment. Optional excursion to smallvillage near Korčula for typical Dalmatian dinnerand to learn about the history and traditionalway of living. Overnight - Korcula (B, L, D)

Day 5 : Vis

Korcula - Vis. Continue to the island of Vis, oncea strategic naval Yugoslav base and closed tothe public. Due to this isolation, Vis has a specialcharm – “the Mediterranean as it once was”making it really interesting to visit. Vis town,situated on the northern side of the island,has developed near the remains of the ancientIssa, first urban center in Croatia. Try someexquisite wine sorts in one of the Vis traditionalwineries. If interested, visit the remains of theRoman thermal place, City museum or simplytake a walk enjoying the views of the beautiful

Villae Rusticae situated along the waterfront.Overnight - Vis (B, L, D)

Day 6 : Hvar

Vis - Hvar. Early in the morning cruise towardssmall island Biševo to visit the Blue cave, amagnificent natural phenomenon (entrancesto be paid on the spot – approx. 7 EUR).As sometimes weather conditions can be veryunpredictable, the possibility of our visit willdepend on those conditions, however you willbe notified of this on time. Continue towards thejet-set island Hvar with a swim stop and lunchon board at the Pakleni Islands. Hvar, the longestand sunniest island in the Adriatic is knownfor lavish lavender fields and breathtakingbeauty. Afternoon arrival followed by a shortpresentation of lavender products and a tourof the town - the Renaissance cathedral withits original tower, and the oldest communitytheatre in Europe founded in 1612. Hike upto the town fort overlooking the harbour toget some lovely scenic views of your ship andthe Pakleni islands. In the evening Hvar offersan abundance of entertainment - numerousrestaurants, bars and cafes are open long intothe night. Tonight we'll enjoy a scrumptiousCaptain's Dinner. Overnight - Hvar (B, L, D)

Day 7 : Zlatni Rat

Hvar - Bol - Split. Morning departure to Bračisland where swimming is planned at themost famous beach in Dalmatia – Zlatni Rat

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near Bol – whose gravel promontory shiftsfrom side to side as the wind and wavesconstantly change in shape. Bol is a typicalfishermen’s village converted into a populartourist destination. Continue to Split to enjoy aguided tour of the city upon arrival, a historicaltown under UNESCO protection and as it is apart of the world heritage. One will find anabundance of Roman architecture – of specialinterest is the magnificent Diocletian palace,once inhabited by the Roman emperor. After thetour of Split, return to the ship for the farewellCaptain’s dinner with live entertainment onboard. Overnight - Split (B, L, D)

Day 8 : Split

Breakfast and time to say goodbye to the crewand all your new friends! Check out by 9.00 amand transfer to Split airport.(B)

Local OperatorThis sailing holiday is operated by Katarina Line.

Optional ExcursionsBelow are some optional extras and toursavailable locally (booked and paid locally inCroatia Kuna only). There are many others andthe full list is available on board your ship.

UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TOUR ON VIS - 1.5hrsEUR30 (minimum 6 passengers required)This excursion visits military tunnels from the'Cold War' used for the submarines and gunbattery in the past.Included: Guided tour of the tunnels and returntransfer

GAME OF THRONES TOUR IN DUBROVNIK - 2hours EUR27On this tour, you will be taken through all theparts of the Old City where some of the mostmemorable scenes from the ongoing culturalphenomenon were filmed.

Pre-Tour AccommodationOn our Group Sailing holidays we are able tooffer pre/post tour accommodation for thoselooking at spend additional time in Split,Dubrovnik or perhaps Opatija before or aftertheir cruise.

The hotels we’ve selected for pre/post touraccommodation factor in comfort and traveller’sneeds - such as proximity to local transport,restaurants, shops and attractions. On all ourprograms, we utilise superior tourist class hotels(locally rated as 3 - 4 star) with the emphasison accommodating you in well-managed hotelsthat factor in comfort, cleanliness and a modestrange of guest facilities rather than puttingon the Ritz. All guest rooms offer an en suitebathroom, a television and occasionally a fridge.Most of our Croatian hotels offer a range ofguest facilities such as a restaurant or coffeeshop and sometimes-additional facilities such asa bar, shops, and currency exchange.

Captain's CallThe Captain has the right to change thescheduled route at any point in time to ensurethe safety of all travellers and to ensure thecruiser stays on schedule. Changes may becomenecessary due to weather, sea conditions, portregulations or any other reason.

Life OnboardLuggageYou will need to use a large holdall or rucksackrather than a suitcase due to limited space in thecabins.

What will I eat?Aboard the cruise, breakfast and lunch isprovided. The cooked breakfast includes eggsand bacon, in addition to tea or coffee, fruitjuice, bread, butter and preserves. Lunch willinclude a starter of home made soup orpasta and a main course comprising eitherfish, meat or chicken with a minimum of twosides (potatoes, cabbage, other vegetables) andside salad and dessert. Dessert will be eitherseasonal fruits or perhaps pancakes. All menusare designed and cooked by the onboard cook.

Is there a bar onboard?A bar operates on board all boats. Prices are inline with those one will pay in port at bars/cafes

for beers, wines, basic spirits, mixers, soft drinksand bottled mineral water. Since there is a baraboard, it is not possible to consume personalsupplies of alcohol or beverages not purchasedaboard. If you were found to be flouting this rule,you would be asked to consume such personalsupplies when ashore. The same would happenif you were drinking BYO drinks in a hotel lobby!You’d be asked to consume the drink(s) beyondthe confines of the hotel!

Can I smoke onboard?Smoking is restricted to outside only – On deck.

Should I book an ‘on deck’ or ‘below deck’ cabin?There are small differences between ‘abovedeck’ and ‘below deck’ cabins. ‘Above deck’cabins are arranged on the main or top deckof the boat and have windows allowing freshair and views. Whilst ‘below deck’ cabins arearranged within the hull of the boat below themain deck. ‘Below deck’ cabins may have portholes, but these will not necessarily open.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

VisasPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Croatia.

UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USApassport holders don’t require a visa for a stay ofless than 90 days.

South African passport holders REQUIRE a visa(issued before departure). Requirements for theprocurement of a Croatian visa are subject tochange but application requirements includethe need to show proof of sufficient fundsto cover duration of stay, proof of pre-paidaccommodation or documentation regardingthe purpose and means of travel (such asa return or onward ticket, details of holidayarrangement etc).

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Health RequirementsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Croatia from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guideDiphtheria, Hepatitis A and Tetanus is stronglyrecommended. The tap water in Croatia isgenerally considered safe to drink, but as aprecaution against stomach upsets you maywant to drink bottled mineral water, whichis readily available from shops, hotels andrestaurants.

Holiday MoneyThe official currency in Croatia is the CroatianKuna.

Any money paid locally for optional excursionsthat you may wish to partake in can be paid inlocal currency only - Kuna.

If travelling with Euro, British Pounds, USDollars and other major currencies these can beexchanged locally or in advance of departure.Internationally recognized debit/credit card canbe used for cash machine withdrawals (availablein all bigger towns). It's advisable to requestbank notes in smaller denominations, as it cansometimes be hard to get change from largenotes and smaller notes are handy for smallerpurchases and gratuities. Traveller's Chequesare not recommended as they're often difficultto exchange and incur high fees.

Time & VoltageCroatia is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Meantime(GMT). From the last Sunday in March to the lastSunday in October, Croatia observes DaylightSaving and is 2 hours ahead of GMT. Standardvoltage is 220 volts, AC 50Hz. Primary socketsgenerally require European plugs, of the tworound pin variety. We recommend that youpack a universal travel adaptor. You will need avoltage converter, and plug adaptor in order touse U.S. appliances.

ClimateCroatia is a northern hemisphere destinationwith Mediterranean and continental climaticconditions. The continental climate ispredominant with hot summers and coldwinters. Along the Adriatic coast, dry summersare experienced with mild winters. Our cruises

operate during the Croatian summer, whentemperatures are generally high (particularlyfrom June through September), so packsunscreen and a hat, as the sun can be strong.

Croatia Country Guide

Croatia: Fact FileOfficial Name: Republic of CroatiaCapital: ZagrebPopulation: 4.5 millionTotal Area: 56,542 square kilometresOfficial Languages: Croatian (others Serbian,Italian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Czech) English iswidely spoken in the main cities, If you tour alsospends time in smaller towns and villages youmay wish to bring along a phrasebook to helpyou pick up a few words of the local language.Religion: Roman Catholic 88%, Orthodox 4.4%,Muslim 1.3%Voltage: 220-240V. Sockets are of European twopronged round pin variety.Time Difference: GMT/UTC + 1. For all timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Croatia: Brief HistoryCroatia was part of the Austro-HungarianEmpire until the end of World War I. In 1918, theCroats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdomknown as Yugoslavia. Following World WarII, Yugoslavia became a federal independentCommunist state under the strong hand ofMarshal TITO. Although Croatia declared itsindependence from Yugoslavia in 1991, ittook four years of sporadic, but often bitter,fighting before occupying Serb armies weremostly cleared from Croatian lands. UnderUN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave ineastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in1998.

Croatia: Geography andweatherCroatia is situated in southeastern Europe,bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosniaand Herzegovina and Slovenia. Geographicallydiverse, the country has flat plains alongthe Hungarian border, low mountains andhighlands near Adriatic coastline and islands.The climate is predominantly continental withhot summers and cold winters, although the

coast is more Mediterranean with mild wintersand dry summers.

Croatia: VisasMany nationalities (including citizens of the UK,Australia, Canada, the US and EU citizens) donot need a visa to enter Croatia or Slovenia.However, visitors must hold an onward ticket, alldocuments required for their next destinationand sufficient funds. If your nationality is notlisted please consult your nearest Croatianconsulate before you travel.

Croatia: MoneyCroatia: MoneyPrices quoted in this country dossier are in eurosunless otherwise specified.ALL prices mentioned are for guidance only andare subject to change.

Local currencyThe monetary unit in Croatia is the kuna (HRK).For up to date exchange rates with your owncurrency visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.You might find kuna difficult to obtain overseas,however it should be no problem to changecurrency on arrival

Changing money, credit cards & ATMsThe easiest way to obtain money in Croatia isto draw it out of an ATM (cash machine) on acredit or debit card (e.g. visa or cirrus). ATMs arewidely available throughout Croatia and creditcards are accepted in many restaurants andshops. Another option is to bring cash, in eitherUS dollars or euros (pounds sterling and othercurrencies cannot always be easily changed) butwe advise against bringing all your money inthis form, in case of theft. In all of the cities thatwe visit there are many places to change moneyand your tour leader will be able to show youwhere to get the best rates of exchange.

TippingIn a restaurant, round up the bill unless a servicecharge has already been added or the servicewas not up to standard. You should also roundup bar bills and taxi fares.

Croatia: Optional excursionsA full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found in the dailyitinerary on these trip notes. All prices given are

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approximate and are subject to change due tolocal inflation or exchange rates.

Croatia: SecurityMost people find Croatia a very friendly and safeand feel quite comfortable wandering aroundalone during the day. However, as with anyarea you are not familiar with (particularly inthe capital cities) it is recommended that youexercise more caution at night especially if youare a lone female.

Croatia: Local food and drinkSome breakfasts are included in your tour.Breakfasts can be basic so if you tend to gethungry it may be a good idea to buy some fruitor snacks to eat during the day. All other meals,extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at yourown expense.

Ask your tour leader if they can recommendany restaurants in the area to suit your taste orbudget or have fun exploring independently.

FoodCroatian specialities include Dalmatian or Istrianprosciutto, Pag or Lika cheese, sheep's cheese,Slavonian paprika-flavoured salami ("kulen"and Samobor or Zagorje garlic sausages("èešnjovka"). There is also a wide selection ofmeat dishes, including turkey with a specialpasta known as "mlinci", roast lamb, roastsuckling pig, and boiled or baked "štrukli" (pastawith cheese). Croatian vineyards producereasonable wine – particularly red and you willalmost certainly come across plum brandy, anational favourite.

DrinkAll drinks such as bottled water or soft drinks areat your own expense at all times and are fairlyinexpensive. Alcoholic drinks vary in price, withwine and beer generally being the cheapestoptions.Croatia: National holidays1 January - New Year’s Day6 January - Epiphany; Easter Sunday & EasterMonday1 May - Labour Day; Corpus Christi22 June - Anti-Fascist Resistance Day25 June - Statehood Day5 August - Victory Day and NationalThanksgiving Day

15 August - Assumption Day8 October- Independence Day1 November - All Saints' Day25-26 December - Christmas Holidays

jewels of the adriatic northbound...trip notes jewels of the adriatic northbound 8 days | dubrovnik...

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