The Cruise

The Vessel- MS New Star

We set sail

DAY 1:     SPLIT   to   STARI GRAD            (Saturday 28 August 2021)

Our onboard “Check in” will commence at 12 noon in Split harbour. Once we are all aboard and settled our adventure will begin with our departure for Stari Grad our first port of call on the island of Hvar and on the way we will enjoy a relaxed welcome  lunch allowing  us some time to get to know one another.

After lunch we will be stopping at a local winery Hora situated not far from Stari Grad. Here we with be told all about the local winemaking and its history on the island and the region which goes back not hundreds but thousands of years…..and yes of course we will enjoy a little wine tasting ourselves.

Later, after enjoying one or two wines it’s back to the ship to head off to Stari Grad located  on the northern side of the island of Hvar and one of the oldest towns in Europe. Here,  we can revive the spirit of the past and tradition by discovering the maze of quaint picturesque streets, squares, medieval buildings including Temples and Cathedrals –  it’s quite amazing.

For the rest of the evening we are on our own to wander with our friends, the medieval streets and squares as well as visit some of the lovely old sites as well as listen to various folk singers during your wondering.

There are also plenty of restaurants with great food to choose from making it easy to find a cosy local restaurant (konoba) so you can relax with a lovely glass of local wine and a pleasant meal before returning to the ship to get a good night’s sleep ready for your adventure to the Blue Caves and Vis

DAY 2:    STARI GRAD   to   VIS  via  BIŠEVO & the Blue Caves         (Sunday 29 August 2021)

Early morning departure for Biševo the home of the famous Blue Caves. But first, we’ll stop at Pakleni Otoci island beach for those who want to take a swim. After lunch on board we will head off for our remarkable experience with a tour of the incredible “Blue caves”.  and an amazing tour of  caves, that are now famous all over the world for their extraordinary, magical, indescribable silver-blue light.

After our adventure at the Blue caves our voyage continues towards Vis, an island that the locals say is the most mysterious in all of Croatia. Why? Well one of the reasons is that for many years it was the military and naval headquarters for Tito’s partisan army and was closed to the public until 1989.

Though this was tough on the locals it did on the other hand help the town to escape large commercial developments, allowing it to retain its natural beauty and medieval charm.

For the rest of the evening we are on our own to wander with our friends, the medieval streets and squares as well as visit some of the lovely old sites as well as listen to various folk singers during your wondering.

Because of this Vis has becoming a world-famous destination for real nature lovers and people seeking new adventures. It’s certainly a lovely experience  wandering the streets of this feudal town as you will see so much of the old world has been preserved. Also, the local food is excellent and something you will enjoy as well as the local wine and the atmosphere of the restaurants. Then its back to the ship.

DAY 3:  VIS   to   KORCULA (Monday 30 August 2021)

This morning we set sail for the island of Korčula, rich in vineyards, olive groves and small villages numerous bays and coves. May be a  swim stop in one of the peaceful bays, perfect to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the unspoiled nature, lush vegetation and crystal clear sea.

After lunch onboard we will arrive at the lovely old of Korčula, known as the medieval ”little Dubrovnik” It is also said to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. The town has an ancient atmosphere which we will enjoy getting to know it during an interesting guided tour we will be taking along its winding streets and lovely Plazas.

After the tour, we can then make the best of some free time including a sip or two of the exhalent local wine and food particularly sea food which Korčula is well known for at one of the many beautiful  outdoor cafes. There we can enjoy the atmosphere this remarkable city has to offer then continue walking the streets enjoying its sights on our way back to the ship.

DAY 4: KORČULA   to   DUBROVNIK  via  ELAPHITI ISLANDS         (Tuesday 31 August 2021)

Breakfast, then another early morning departure, sailing towards amazing Dubrovnik with plenty of time for more swimming along the way as well as enjoy lunch while sailing alongside the incredible old city walls. This is also a perfect time to take some magnificent photos with memories that will last a lifetime.

After docking we head off on an interesting guided tour of this amazing Old Town, encircled with massive stone walls from the 16th century. Its well-preserved buildings range from baroque St. Blaise Church to Renaissance Sponza Palace and Gothic Rector’s Palace, now a history museum. The whole city is paved with limestone, with heaps of shops and restaurants.
After our tour you can experience the great things Dubrovnik has to offer with plenty of places to explore, shops to buy from and great restaurants and an amazing atmosphere.  Also, it’s a wonderful experience to take a walk around the ancient wall of the town, enjoying both views of the islands and sea as well as the town. Then relax and have dinner and maybe a wine or two then head back to the ship

DAY 5: DUBROVNIK  to  MLJET      (Wednesday 1 September 2021)

Enjoying our breakfast onboard we head off towards our next destination Mljet  said to be the most forested island in the Adriatic and one of the most beautiful pearls of the Mediterranean. Mljet is also well known for its two salted lakes – Veliko and Malo Jezero located at the north end of the island.

On arrive, we will have the opportunity of visiting the Benedictine monastery, situated on the island of St. Mary on Veliko Jezero and one of the most beautiful locations in the area.

Our cruise manager will be taking us on a pleasant guided walking tour where we will learn  why the Greek hero Ulysses considered it his favourite holiday spot. We will be taken to the Monastery by boat and spend a little time wandering around. There is a pleasant coffee shop to sit and relax  taking in the beauty of the area before heading back.
We will overnight at Port Pomena, enjoy dinner at  a local restaurant as well as one or two glasses  wine and then  return to the boat.   Then get a good night’s sleep to prepare ourselves for an incredible tomorrow where we will spend the day in Hvar which is another incredible island and town to visit.

DAY 6: MLJET  to  HVAR       (Thursday 2 September 2021)

Enjoy breakfast as we set sail for Hvar, the longest island in Croatia and apparently the sunniest in all of Europe  with 2724 sunny hours each year and considered to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. The voyage doesn’t take long and our arrival and docking in Hvar is quite spectacular.

Once we have docked in Hvar, we will set off on an a very interesting guided tour of this beautiful medieval town. Would you believe  it has the first theatre to be built in Europe (older than Shakespeare’s theatre in the UK) and is just one small reason it is so popular due to its rich cultural heritage.

For the remainder of  the day we have the opportunity to wander the beautiful alleys and ancient city streets. Then stopping to enjoy the surroundings while sitting in an outdoor cafe in a lovely plaza sipping a coffee or maybe a glass of the local wine.

There are plenty of shops to buy souvenirs  including lovely paintings and artefacts even fridge magnets. Then when it becomes time for dinner select one of the many delightful restaurants to sit down and enjoy a lovely local dish before heading back to the ship.

DAY 7: HVAR to SPLIT via BOL          (Friday 3 September 2021)

Early in the morning we set sail to Brač where plan to stop at Zlatni Rat beach for a swim and a short walk to its quaint township. Where we will be met by the New Star, re-board and head off  to our final port of call Split. Once we have docked, we will join an expert local guide and head off on a very interesting walking tour through this incredible 1700 year old town.

Our Guide will bring the past to life as well as what Split is all about today. We will stroll the streets and learn many interesting facts that make this unique town’s history full of intrigue.

The city of Split was founded by the Roman emperor Diocletian who chose it as his retirement residence where we will find out who he was and why he loved Dalmatia so much. We will also be visiting a number of famous places like the St Domnius Cathedral and the Diocletian Palace.

After our tour we will have time to wander the beautiful streets and lanes and really get a feeling  of the beauty of Split. Then return to the ship as tonight our captain will be hosting our farewell dinner and there will be a local band for us to enjoy and dance the night away

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