Experience "The Pearl of the Adriatic" on a Dubrovnik Cruise

In the late 19th century, Dubrovnik began to develop its tourist industry. Many well-known literary luminaries such as Lord Byron, Agatha Christie and George Bernard Shaw were astounded by its gleaming marble streets, which are lined with baroque buildings and magnificently sculpted Renaissance facades and fountains.

As a popular Adriatic destination, the city attracts many Dubrovnik cruise ships, but few of them spend much time here, or provide the range of shore excursions offered by ElegantCruises. We believe that smaller, nimble cruise vessels like our m/s Andrea and m/s Monet make visiting Dubrovnik and the surrounding countryside and islands easier and more convenient.

Our Dubrovnik Cruise Vessels are Well-Suited for Exploring Croatia
Our handsome m/s Andrea began her cruise career as the popular Harald Jarl, where she developed quite a following over the years while cruising the Norwegian coastline and fjords. Now, after a multi-million dollar renovation in 2003, Andrea provides a delightful classic nautical experience often found lacking in larger Dubrovnik cruise ships.

Since 2000 our other Dubrovnik cruise vessel, the m/s Monet, has been offering cultural cruises for the discriminating traveler. All of her crew is Croatian, with many hailing from the Dubrovnik area. The Monet, carrying just 62 passengers, is the ship of choice among American museum groups, alumni associations of prestigious universities, and other cultural organizations. Like the Andrea, the Monet provides comfortable, comprehensive accommodations with private baths, outside views and thoughtful amenities that make your Dubrovnik cruise so memorable

ElegantCruises Has Enriching Dubrovnik Cruise Itineraries
Elegant Cruises offers a variety of enriching Dubrovnik cruise itineraries that sail along the crystal waters of the Adriatic Sea exploring Croatia from the Istrian Peninsula in the north to Dubrovnik in the south. Of course, Dubrovnik is the centerpiece for our entire Adriatic cruises, and your Dubrovnik cruise will certainly include time in this beautiful medieval city. Elegant cruises has created a number of insightful Dubrovnik cruise programs that aren’t available from any other cruise or tour company. 

As you approach from the sea, Dubrovnik, entirely surrounded by massive gray walls of stone, interspersed with four gates, three forts, five bastions and 14 square towers, is a breathtaking vision. The "Pearl of the Adriatic", as Bernard Shaw described the city, contains a treasure trove of medieval art and architecture that has earned it a designation as a UN World Heritage Site. The Franciscan Monastery with the restored sculpture of the Pieta over the entrance door, and the Dominican Monastery are beautiful examples of Romanesque–Gothic architecture. Other monuments of significance include the Onofrio Fountain, the Rector’s Palace whose interior has been turned into a fascinating museum with renovated rooms, furnishings and art from Dubrovnik's glorious past and the extraordinary Sponza Palace. You have the opportunity to explore these architectural treasures and more during your Elegant cruises Dubrovnik cruise. In addition, an easy stroll along the Stradun, the Old Town’s wide pedestrian promenade, allows you to discover Dubrovnik’s many fine shops, cafés and boutiques at leisure. With many of our Dubrovnik cruise programs, you will enjoy a full day motor coach excursion south to Kotor, Montenegro and the Boka Kotorska, perhaps the grandest natural feature on the Adriatic coast. This deeply indented and irregularly shaped fjord surrounded by towering mountains provides an intense contrast of colors with its azure waters, green vegetation at sea level and stark, rocky cliffs.

In creating our Dubrovnik cruise itineraries, Elegant cruises seeks out lesser-known places in this region of natural beauty, quiet charm and historical significance. For example, some of our Dubrovnik cruise programs stop in Ston, an enchanting nearby neighbor of Dubrovnik that was a critical fortress town in the 14th century guarding the Republic’s northern frontier. The town is framed by dramatic walls of almost six kilometers that extend up to the hilltop Pozvizd Fortress and follow the line of the Ston isthmus meeting up with the walls of Mali Ston a kilometer away. Fortified with ten round and thirty rectangular towers, these walls sit high above Ston’s Renaissance and Gothic-style houses and are an amazing sight. From Ston, a full-day motor coach excursion takes you to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovnia, an important Muslim community since the Ottomans conquered it in the 15th century. Another highlight of this Dubrovnik cruise is the Stari Most, or Old Bridge, which spans the River Neretva. Designed by the Ottoman architect Mirmir Hayruddin it is constructed completely of stone. This impressive engineering feat was completed in 1566 and stood for 429 years until it was destroyed in the 1993 war. Rebuilt and reopened by the Prince of Wales in July 2004, UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site.

On another of our Dubrovnik cruise programs, Elegant cruises takes you to the island of Mljet, an unspoiled green, forested place with few residents, no large towns and only one major road. Larger Dubrovnik cruise vessels simply can’t dock here, but our smaller ships can. According to lore, Odysseus lingered here for some time with the nymph Calypso. Locals also claim that their island is the biblical Melita, where St. Paul ran aground on his way to Italy. Half of the island is an unspoiled national park where you may leisurely wander visiting its two unusual salt-water lakes for a refreshing swim or just enjoying the ancient forests. Time magazine ranked the island of Mljet among the 10 most beautiful islands of the world. 
If you are lucky enough to be in Dubrovnik on a Sunday, Elegant cruises will take you to Cilipi, hometown of the president of Elegant cruises, Capt. Mato Stanovic. During the summer months, the town hosts a Sunday morning folklore show. On a Dubrovnik cruise created by Elegant cruises, you’ll be immersed in the culture, history, the architecture, and food that make travel such an enriching experience. 

Air Ticketing to Your Dubrovnik Cruise
Our Dubrovnik cruise usually begins and ends in fabulous Venice. Although we do not include airfare in our Dubrovnik cruise rates, we do recognize the importance of this component in the overall convenience and ultimate enjoyment of your Dubrovnik cruise. Elegant cruises has established excellent relationships with several reputable travel partners that specialize in finding the best air routing and rates so that you may enjoy your Dubrovnik cruise with us. If you would like assistance in air ticketing, or even pre-cruise hotel accommodations in the city or town where you will begin your outstanding Dubrovnik cruise, please let us know when you make a reservation with ElegantCruises.com.

The Simple Pleasures of a Dubrovnik Cruise
One of the simple pleasures of a Dubrovnik cruise is that you need to unpack your luggage just once. No repacking as you visit multiple islands and coastal ports during your stay with Elegant cruises Wake up each morning in a new destination, refreshed and eager for the day to unfold. Because of the smaller size of our Dubrovnik cruise ships we often are able to dock close to the center of the historic quarters as well as close by to other notable sights thus avoiding the highways and suburban traffic that motor coach tours suffer with. As you step off our ship, imagine you are one of the ancient seafarers from centuries ago when vessels were the primary means of transport around the Mediterranean. We feel that they still remain the best means for you to explore Dubrovnik and its environs!

Our Dubrovnik cruise programs are designed to accommodate the varied needs of our passengers. We offer many optional shore excursions as well as plenty of time to allow you to explore on your own. Note that our 15-day “Natural Wonders” Dubrovnik cruise programs include shore excursions in the cruise rate. Although we invite you to look around at other Dubrovnik cruise vessels both large and small before you make your decision, we believe that ElegantCruises.com offers many benefits and great value and you will have a memorable trip with us.