Considering various Croatia travel options?

Your search for "Croatia travel" brings you to ElegantCruises.com, a general agent, wholesaler and cruise ship operator for the leisure travel industry. ElegantCruises.com offers a multitude of small ship Croatia travel cruises that explore Croatia's extraordinary Dalmatian Coast.

Research Your Croatia Travel Adventure
With its sublime coastline and picturesque villages and towns, Croatia has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Although a relatively small country, because of its location Croatia defies generalized categorization. The diverse cultural influences, both Mediterranean and European, resulted in not only its distinctive architecture, but also a rich blend of traditions. As you learn more about this fascinating country in preparation for your Croatia travel adventure, you’ll find that much of its history, geography, culture and cuisine are defined by the beautiful Adriatic Sea. This former republic of Yugoslavia boasts 1,200 miles of impressive rocky, indented shore and more than 1,000 islands. Interestingly, nine-tenths of the Adriatic coast previously designated as "Yugoslavia" lies within the borders of Croatia.

Aside from its bustling inland capital of Zagreb with its charming medieval quarter, Croatia travel in many respects means an exploration of the beautiful coast and outlying islands, from the Istrian Peninsula in the north to Dubrovnik and its Dalmatian environs in the south. Not surprisingly, 80 percent of Croatia travel undertaken by foreign guests is focused on its coastline. It is truly a dramatic seascape with few rivals in Europe for natural beauty and a fascinating maritime history.

After seeing the multitude of islands comprising the Dalmatian archipelago, George Bernard Shaw wrote to his friends, "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 Croatia travel experience is aboard a small ship that visits these "undiscovered treasures" of the Adriatic Sea, places not typically available on many large cruise ships and many simply not accessible on packaged motor coach tours.

Fabulous Croatia Travel Aboard Ideal Cruise Vessels
Elegant Cruises' 60-passenger m/s Monet and 104-passenger m/s Andrea are the ideal means to explore the diversity of this region, without the crowds found on larger vessels and run-of-the-mill Croatia travel packages. An advantage of a Croatia travel cruise is that you need to unpack just once as we visit to not only the major coastal towns--Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Pula and Sibenik--but also to the less frequented islands like Hvar, Mljet, Cres and Krk. No need to figure out the local ferry schedules to visit these wonderful isles that have a beauty and relaxed pace all their own. Aboard our vessels, your Croatia travel is easy, carefree and very comfortable.

Wake up each morning in a new destination--usually in the center of the historic quarter or "Old Town" close to notable sights--and avoid the highways and suburban traffic encountered on motor coach Croatia travel tours. In many ways, your first impressions of our Croatia travel destinations will be much like those that ancient seafarers experienced centuries ago, as vessels were the primary means of transport around the Adriatic.
On our various Croatia travel programs, you'll have the option of how you spend your time. Passengers usually enjoy shore excursions, arranged through experienced local companies with knowledgeable English-speaking guides. Or for those guests who would prefer to explore on their own, seeking out a museum or historic attraction that they have read about, there is ample opportunity. You may opt for shopping for locally produced crafts, jewelry and artwork, or simply sitting at a sidewalk cafe soaking up the atmosphere. Our Croatia travel programs are designed to accommodate the varied expectations of our passengers.

Croatia Travel Options Galore
No other cruise operator offers as many Croatia travel options as Elegant cruises'! The eight-day "Venice & The Dalmatian Coast" cruise, our "classic" exploration of this beautiful region of the Adriatic, grows more popular each year since its introduction in 2000. Departures are available from mid-April through the end of October, with convenient embarkation and disembarkation from sublime Venice on Wednesdays. Traveling from Venice, you will cross the Adriatic for Pula, with its remarkable Roman arena, estimated to have seated 23,000 spectators. The next destination on your Croatia travel cruise is  Split, where you can explore the massive palace of Diocletian, a city within a city built by a Roman emperor. Onto the fashionable resort island of Hvar which has more than a hint of Venice architectural influence in the sculpted stone facades of its buildings. Enclosed in a magnificent circle of walls bordering the Adriatic, Dubrovnik, the UNESCO gem of your Croatia travel cruise is filled with magnificent Renaissance sculpture and architecture. Explore the island paradise of Mljet with its pristine national parkland two inland saltwater lakes connected to the sea by a narrow canal. It is the perfect place to explore far away from the bustling crowds of visitors. Like a miniature Dubrovnik, the town of Korcula on Korcula Island, home of Marco Polo, is a walled city with enchanting views. Your Croatia travel adventure finally reaches the walled peninsula-town of Zadar, shaded by medieval walls and stately trees along the harbor's promenade. Please click on the appropriate Croatia travel link at the left, and select a departure date that fits your schedule.

Elegant cruises' 60-passenger Monet is used for Croatia travel more often than any other cruise vessel by leading museums, cultural organizations and alumni associations. When you look for a departure date, you may occasionally see gaps in our schedule, notably in the spring and fall when these organizations charter the entire vessel. Our advice is to reserve your place on published "Venice & The Dalmatian Coast" dates as early as possible; a good selection is available. This attractive weeklong itinerary is also available aboard our 104-passenger m/s Andrea in 2008 during the prime Croatia travel month of September.

The Classic Croatia Travel Cruise
Growing in popularity since its inception in 2005, our leisurely paced 15-day "Natural Wonders and Artistic Heritage of the Adriatic" cruise is offered during the shoulder seasons of March, April and November through January. This in-depth Croatia travel program offer many advantages: more ports-of-call, more time in major destinations like Split, Dubrovnik and Venice, and more value, since all shore excursions are included and cruise rates are adjusted from our regular cruises. On the Holiday departures and the January 2008 Cultural Cruise, we even offer an open bar throughout the cruise. Many passengers prefer "Natural Wonders" precisely because it is offered when the large crowds of Adriatic tourists are not around. Please review Elegant cruises' various Croatia travel itineraries carefully, as some departures include visits to Montenegro, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina...places that other cruise vessels simply do not go!

In September and October, you may want to consider joining our Croatia travel program that takes in a broader spectrum of cultures encompassing this historic sea--our 11-day "Lands of the Adriatic" cruise. This itinerary is offered aboard the m/s Andrea, and has been completely sold-out every departure the past two years. Embarking and disembarking in Venice, this adventure includes Slovenia, multiple ports in Croatia, the awesome Gulf of Kotor in Montenegro, and Albania. On this Croatia travel program, you will gaze upon many artifacts of this region's successive civilizations from Venetian campanili, Ottoman mosques, medieval stonewall and bridges, to Hapsburg townscapes and post-Stalinist architecture.
In addition, we occasionally offer unique, one-of-a-kind itineraries that begin in Greece, Italy or Spain and include several days of Croatia travel. Please go to our Adriatic Cruises page, which will further direct you to these Croatia travel programs.

Getting to a Place is as Important as Being There
Our Croatia travel programs begin and end in well-known destinations that offer good air connections. While we do not include airfare in our cruise rates, we do recognize the importance of this component in the overall convenience of your Croatia travel experience. Elegant cruises' has established good relationships with reputable travel partners that specialize in finding you the best air routing and rates. When you make a reservation with ElegantCruises.com, please let us know if you would like assistance in air ticketing, or even pre-cruise hotel accommodations in the city or town where you begin your Croatia travel adventure. We will be happy to provide some recommendations.