Planning Adriatic sea cruises? Compare ports, costs, ship types and the best time to go in one handy guide before you book a trip.
I‘d admit:. When I first began research on Adriatic sea cruises independently, I shut my laptop down, a bit frightened. Croatia. Montenegro. Italy. Greece. Albania. Cruises aboard ships. Sailing boat cruises .Gulet cruises
Seven days. Ten days. Fourteen days. As if one were trying to read a menu translated into four languages.
If all this reading has you feeling stuck in the middle, take a deep breath. I’ve been there, done thattwice. I’ve spent a sun-soaked week on a small boat and have another slightly wild week ahead on a big ship. This is all I wish someone handed me before booking my first trip. If you are searching for Where to Travel in Summer: Top Destinations, the Adriatic is one of the best picks.
Just..an Adriatic Cruise?
The Adriatic comprises the deep, much-cherished arm of the Mediterranean and lies between the eastern coasts of Italy and the Balkan peninsula. It is as if one of the driftways between Italy (studded with breathtaking sites, ancient lands) was on its way.
An Adriatic cruise typically sails through some combination of:
- Italy: Venice, Trieste, Bari, Ravenna
- Slovenia: Koper ( A narrow strip of coast, but also an advantageous port)
- Croatia: Split, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Korčula, Zadar, and hundreds of islands
- Montenegro: Kotor
- Albania: Sarandë, Durrës
- Greece. Corfu. or usually Athens or Katakolon if the routes are longer.
An example of this would be for most itineraries will select a few of the designated ports and do them in series. The analogy of walking down a hallway is quite accurate here, because that is exactly what you are doing each day the ships just walk down the corridor and place you in a new “room. Basically, that is how most Adriatic cruises work.
Quick Reference: Adriatic Cruises at a Glance
| Details | |
| Best time to go. | The two best seasons to visit Japan are spring[2] and fall months; Since the weather is warm and seldom tourist come to Japan. From March until May for all daytime and from September until November for chilly[3] conditions, are the optimum. Both are nice activity either all the cherry blossom the in spring or flamboyance of changeable acorns in fall are infrequent events, both of which are happy experiences. Between late May and June, and again from September to early October |
| Time: | other researchers would take part in the analysis and would increase the duration of the analysis. 7 nights (10 to 14 for longer routes). |
| Common departure ports | Venice, Trieste, Split, Dubrovnik, Athens |
| Most visited ports. | Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, Hvar, Corfu |
| Cost, more or less as a broad ballpark figure you can gauge to be:. Cost is. | Mainstream 100 to 250 Small vessel or yacht 200 to 500 Upscale 400 and above |
| Currency | Italy, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro use the euro ; Albanian unit is the lek. |
Prices will vary enormously depending on season, cabin and inclusions so please use these as a guide only and always check sailing schedules before booking.
My maiden voyage along the Adriatic (and the gaffe I committed on it)
…so if I talk about that first trip, then I believe that is pretty much bang on everything else I want to suggest.
On a medium-sized boat from Venice to Dubrovnik with a return journey. Venice almost took my breath away I promise it was hell. A small cheat to exit the lagoon in the evening with a few drinks …Ouch!.
We docked in Dubrovnik, and I got some pretty silly ideas in my head. This was my chance, I thought, to simply leave the ship and walk around the city walls whenever I felt like it. Yeah, well, several thousand other people thought exactly the same thing. By about ten-thirty the walls were one long conga of people in a very very hot oven.
What I Learned About Dubrovnik’s Crowds
Lesson learned: in the busiest ports you want to be the first one on or off. head early, purchase your tickets ahead of time or go against the crowd and visit late in the afternoon when the coach tours have departed. that‘s what I did on my second trip and it was a completely different city, golden atmosphere, cool material and room to breathe.
Choosing the Right Style for Adriatic Sea Cruises
If you‘ve decided to go on a cruise, then the next thing you want to think about is what type of cruise do you want to do. Big ship, small ship or a yacht.
Big Ship, Small Ship or Yacht: The Decision That Matters Most
Most likely, this is the single most critical decision you will need to make in order to book the Adriatic Sea cruises as it is the decision that made your trip before it ever happened. The short and straightforward explanation is.
Adriatic Cruise Styles Compared
| Style | Physiotherapy which is mostly suitable for | Pros | Cons |
| Larges ship and Mid size ship. | First by, families with could survive but if they are planning on staying longterm investors are needed. First time users, families did not need facilities. | Lower price per night, entertainment, lots of eating options | The fewer small Harbours, a rather ludicrous and mass crowd in the port, 2012 |
| Small ships (< ~300 guests) | Those who want to take a snail‘s roll out of the responsibility; | Smaller(closer, more romantic, always open) Ports | Provoke consideration of the more expensive and less activities on board. |
| YACHTS and GULET (Typically 10 40 people) | Island hoppers; couples; groups of friends/ family/ lovers’ terminology collected together; water, a…igniter; a Glen; a… | Based on camping either in tranquil bays, swim stops or varied routes. | Less time in the water, less use of Pedal, rougher water. |
| Luxury lines1. businesses (world wide) for luxury lines of products such as diamond jewellery, designer roller shoes, objets de sorts2 and watches3. For example, such as ‘Ballotin Coffret’ and ‘Precious Mother‘s Ring’. Marked sales of this product as sellers price them at a premium. | Individuals who seek shine and spit. | Delicious food, all inclusive activities, amazing sightseeing. | Premium pricing. If enteralian costs are high then, in the absence of protective barriers over factors of production, products at premium prices are likely to give a positional advantage. |
Authentic ships: the “water-front” resort option.
I look at this as a package holiday. You arrive once, and the destination comes to you, is what I am saying. If you averse to logistics then this is a real winner, just remember that the large ships don‘t dock in all the ports, and if there are a few arriving simultaneously there is a effect on the entire destination. Not really surprising, but the destination has thought about this and now set maximum limits on the number of ships arriving at one time (and you know this when you book).
Small ships.the bit I love the most:
My next cruise was on a small boat and it spoilt me rotten. We went into Hvar and Korculo-two islands that the large cruises couldn‘t, and we just ‘jumped’ off the boat into the harbor and we sat in a coffee shop watching the yachts before all the day-trippers arrived. If you can afford it-this is the way to cruise.
Yachts and gulets of the “friends-on-a-boat” sort
Whether we do the gulet again, I don t know, there certainly are gulets and then there are gulets. An old traditional wooden sailing boat, an average week on one is not Moore ‘luxury cruise’ experience but Moore ‘floaty house party with a skipper’ experience. Jump off the stern, eat fresh fish, Anchor at the most beautiful looking (or in our case, mangrove infested) place. It s not cruise ship luxury. My cabin was as big as a big wardrobe but I have never slept better with the sea gently rocking me and the odd splash, splosh from the prow.
Sample Adriatic Cruise Itineraries
We take three circuits, which can model the variety of Adriatic cruises, of course, where the most people don’t even have the slightest idea of the structure of Adriatic cruises, per contra their form is of the many odd and singular shapes.
Itinerary 1: The Classic(7 nights Venice to Dubrovnik)
- 1 st day): Venice: departure.
- Day 2 : Sea day or excursion to Koper or Trieste Italy.
- Day 3: Split, Croatia
- Day 4: Hvar or Korčula
- Day 5: Kotor, Montenegro
- Day 6: Dubrovnik
- 7th day: return to Corfu for the last time or spend the last days in some sight-seeing tour in the close by.
- 8 th day: to return (to home country)/to leave (ship, aircraft etc.)after a stay.
This is one to recommend to most first timers. It is a fantastic tour taking you to a fantastic journey. In combining together, it is the city, island and the awesome beauty fjord type bay.
Itinerary 2 Croatian Islands by Small Ship or Gulet (Split to Split, 7 nights)
- Split, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, Mljet, Brač, back to Split
Want to spend your entire day doing nothing? In the hot sun and visiting enormous tourist attractions? Long, lazily empty afternoons and sunbathing by design rather than by default been sounding a little too tempting? Well then, this is your destination.
Route 3:The Grand Route(Athens to Venice; 10-14 nights)
Designed to take you through the length of 1 continent and across many countries from Athens to Venice.
- Athens, Katakolon, Corfu, Sarandë, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Venice
This one is for the ones who want history of every era. All together in one round, Ancient Greece, Romans, Venetians it goes to take more and it costs more but his choices are fabulous.
The Ports Worth Your Time
Here let me take you through the stops I would actually design around.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
And this is how the “Pearl of the Adriatic” came to be. Limestone pavements, terracota roofs, the stones that surrounded all like a stone necklace. Yes its busy and yes you will want to go. Top Tip: Take a walk around the walls early morning then take a wander down the side streets. Its amazing how quickly they empty. For Game of Thrones fans half of this will look familiar!
Kotor, Montenegro
Nothing prepared me for the Bay of Kotor. The forrest of black rock peaks unbelievably sharp and high out of the bay and swell and unstoppable dark blue, like it was trying to scare us away before we had arrived. The boat fought its way into the bay as if it was new territory and, as we entered into the narrowmouth of the bay, the old town stood beautiful and faded like its been there for hundreds of years and away from the modern world (and was saffron colored too). The walk to the fortress is hard on the knees and you may be upset about it (1,350 steps or so), but the view is fantastic. Do it first thing, at a slow pace and drink plenty of Water… I didn‘t and was always miserable…
Split, Croatia
Split is the only place I‘ve been where you can sit inside a furniture shop in a former Roman Emperor‘s Palace. I love Diocletian‘s Palace but it is not just a museum full of glass walls. It is a real city centre where residents have built shops, apartments and bars into the old walls. It’s absolutely wild. And so walkable.
Hvar and Korčula, Croatia
Hvar: lavender laden and smack in the middle of a glamorous port. Even smaller once again is the walled city of Korcula, ‘supposedly’ Marco Polo‘s hometown (the Genoese and Venetians always contested the latter‘s birth) Go there as often as you can find a place to put the anchor down. That is the breathe of the tour.
Venice, Italy
If only the embarkation port then make sure to give yourself some leeway until your cruise departs. Venice at the crack of dawn before the day-trippers turn up is so serene and surreal. (Remember to check which departure port your cruise will leave from as the massive cruise ships are no longer able to cruise through the center Giudecca Canal).
Corfu, Greece
Corfu was clearly a love-child of the Italy and Greece beautiful Venetian buildings, Greek canel, Olives plantations and beaches in each corner.
Would it be better to die before setting sail on your Adriatic cruise?
There is much at stake for everyone more than most realize so I am going to try to help you from falling into the same traps.
- Late may to June: The best time weather warm, sunny days, long days with sunlight, you can bathe in the sea not crowded so much.
- July & August: Intensely warm and busy. Best time for a tan but cities can be very searing and the calling ports are likely to be crowded.
- The best season. From September to beginning of October the sea is still warm and beautiful, the light is golden and the places just a little quieter. There is also a tendency for them to be bit more affordable.
- For example. november – march: hardly any cruises available and few interesting coastal resorts open during their low season.
For the most flexibility, just be shoulder-season going both ways. Each direction will have a sweet spot of good weather and cool crowds. This is actually an underrated benefit of Adriatic cruises.
Price level of an Adriatic cruise. A typical price of an Adriatic cruise…
Here‘s the most truthful answer I can give: it depends. And it really does quite a bit.
A normal cruise would range from around $100 to $250 a day, but this is a bare minimum. You then need to add everything else such as luxury items, shore excursions, drinks and tips. You can book cheaper cruises but the price rises once you add everything else such as flights and tipping. Smaller ships and boats can work out to be more expensive but generally all inclusive, meaning the price included food and drink.
A few ways I‘ve kept costs sensible:
- Get in early, or search out a shoulder-season deal. Either one can cut costs significantly.
- Make your own excursions an example might be one hour boat trip in Split or Dubrovnik, which is very easy and a nice and convenient option. The only drawback is that it‘s a little bit more expensive.
- See what is included in the deal. An “cheap” or “bargin” cruise can make a luxurious cruise look costly once you account for drinks and tips.
- Arrive 1 flight in advance. You‘re only losing one night in a B & B and not missing the boat, which would really suck.
Practical Tips Nobody Told Me
- Passports and visas– With reference to entry to the diverse countries, Crotia (as the lesser isolated states also) is in the Schengean Area but Montenegro and Albania are not. Nevertheless, at various times and for the majority citizens (including of US, UK, and EU), most of the isles and the continental states are usually reachable without visas. Verify your citizenship status before you set out.
- Nice well used shoes! Cannot really describe how miserable the roads in Old-Town are, polished stones just asking to be slippy. I learnt from my mistakes! With a fabulous display in Kotor!
- Travel with cash/credit cards. Cash will be rare since people use credit cards so extensively. A couple of small cafés and market stalls will take cash payments.
- Sun plan. As the town gets older the shadow will be less. Never go anywhere without a hat or sun blocker or sun cream and carry on a refillable water bottle.
- Don‘t make it too tight. One is fine for each port. The best part is not having a set plan and be free a little to walk around.
Are you interested in cruising the Adriatic?
Ok. Let‘s go one step further. If a cruise is comparable to a buffet, then the Adriatic is the one where you want to get everything on your plate. History, cuisine, scenery and beaches. And where you can do this with the minimum of repacking and relaying.
It‘s a great fit if you:
- Fall has the intention to visit certain countries in a casual manner.
- Charming oldtown of Ache, beautiful beaches and delicious fish28.
- It‘s like you have a mixture of moving and relaxing.
- Are a first time cruiser in search of a destination that does the meat and potatoes for you.
Probably not so good if you want short, detailed dissections of one city. cruise stops are just one day, not one week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exactly how long is a good Adriatic cruise?
For most, a seven night cruise will be just right. It is enough time to see everything you want to, but not at such a frantic pace that you feel rushed. For cruises where you can go from Greece to Venice, the length of the cruise is ten and fourteen nights respectively.
What is the destination of Adriatic cruises?
They tend to include somewhere between Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Sloveina, and Albania. Croatia is a definite, as all ships include at least a visit there.
Which Adriatic port is most suitable for a beginner?
Lots of people say Dubrovnik and Kotor, but the third probably would be Split.
Is it suitable for families with children?
Yes – on the larger ships, notably those with kids club. And you‘ll learn from the guides that you‘ve got quite a lot of walking and stairs to negotiate in the old towns.
Final comparison to consider: are Adriatic cruises superior to Greek Islands cruises?
Answer, they’re very distinctly different. In the Adriatic you get a lot of of city, many walled you-envision-Venice again. A closer-up feeling of “coast,” more time to chill, albeit with craggy, rocky bluffs; then in the Greek Islands you get more sand beach, whiterwashed-village feel of towns and a walk back and forth to the boat (and maybe a shot of something…); from the Historic-Opulence-Intensive 14 everythings a…
28 Sep 00PM ocean cruise ship 060SE 00PM US virgin islands cruises…Go to UKS # 029007 shopTHE page back ship travels cruising 14 00PM cruise aloha…Our 14-day cruise to the Greek Islands and Adriatic from $7159 per person Nature Collection NCF/5All NOV 6 MAR 7 OAS 29 Southampton Embark Check out all Alaska Haven cruisesOcean CruisesSpecializing in USA cruise deals Free consultation, lowest prices Custom built cruises to all…Over the course of a 14-day cruise, we would fly North from the Vineyard to the great city of Boston, then west to Portland, days to leisure on the Isle of Portland, then south and…
Final Thoughts: Just Pick a Route and Go
All I hope you’ll take away from my drivel, is this: don’t fixate on trying to find the perfect cruise. Just find a cruise you’re comfortable with if that’s what you’re after. Big cruise ship or regular gulet, Venice or Split: the Adriatic ocean suits voyagers.
In fact I had only just returned home from my first trip when I was already planning my second without even having unpacked my suitcase. That‘s the highest praise I can give to a holiday. Adriatic cruises certainly leave a deep impression.
Set your style your season and go ahead the water is calling.
Helpful Resources
If you want to dig deeper before booking, these are the sources I‘d start with:
- Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor: Overviews of the Bay of Kotor and of its historic towns.
- Venice’s Large Cruise Ship Ban: Venice introduced a ban on cruise ships going in. What‘s the story?
