The Sunny Adriatic...the Heart of Elegant's Small Ship Cruises

From the legendary Renaissance splendors of Venice in the north to the less-frequented gems of Montenegro's Gulf of Kotor and Albania's ancient ruins of Apollonia and Butrint in the south, the Adriatic is a microcosm of 3,000 years of Mediterranean history. The Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Habsburgs have all had their turn molding this remarkable region, with many reminders of their successive dominations.

Along the Adriatic's eastern coast, Croatia, with 1,200 miles of rocky, indented shore and more than 1,000 islands boasts some of the most dramatic and scenic stretches of coastline that Europe has to offer. After seeing the stunning archipelago that lies off Croatia, George Bernard Shaw famously wrote, "On the last day of Creation, God desired to crown His work, and thus created the Kornati Islands out of tears, stars and breath."

The best way to explore the Adriatic's coastal towns and islands - particularly Croatia and its dazzling Dalmatian Archipelago is aboard the small ship of Elegant Cruises and Tours, the m/s Monet. You'll visit the "undiscovered treasures," places not typically available on large cruise ships and packaged motor coach tours. While our carefully designed itineraries don't avoid celebrated cities like Venice, Split, Dubrovnik, we make an effort to seek out lesser known ports recognized by insiders for their natural beauty, historic or cultural significance, and quiet charm.