Split

Saranda, Albania

Your Cruise Includes:

• Accommodation in fully air-conditioned cabins with private facilities and satellite TV;
• All meals aboard ship, served at a single leisurely sitting, freshly prepared by professionally trained chefs. Wine and beer are included with lunch and dinner. Also included are afternoon tea service and late night snack. Coffee, tea and pastries are available 24 hours a day;
• On board musical entertainment and cultural lectures;
• Services of the ship's hospitality staff, including cruise director, hotel manager and receptionist;
• Captain's Welcome Aboard and farewell Reception and Dinner.

• Domestic and international airfare;
• Transfers to/from the ship;
• All shore excursions (available for purchase on board);
• Port charges;
• Meals ashore, gratuities, bar drinks, laundry , on board communications (telephone, email, fax);
• Cancellation, trip interruption insurance;
• Other items of a personal nature;

M.S. Andrea Cruise Ship Description
 

PORTS-OF-CALL

Venice
The magnificent “Queen of the Adriatic,” Venice occupies 117 islands in the azure waters of the Adriatic. This lagoon city is a watery maze of grand canals, 177 smaller canals, over 450 bridges and the world’s most famous sandbar, the Lido. Though thoroughly walkable, getting around Venice is a mesmerizing experience aboard the city’s variety of public transport boats, the vaporetti, motoscafi and the more expensive gondola ride, suggested more for a romantic interlude.
Venice’s enticing, exotic beauty—typified by the Byzantine architecture, enormous stained glass windows rising along the Grand Canal and Venetian Carnival masks with their wry, knowing smiles—attest to the city’s historic role as a great Eastern trader. Venice’s legendary maritime heroes, such as Marco Polo, plied the Levantine trading routes. The entire Mediterranean flowed through the Venetian Republic, adorning the city in the splendors that illuminate it today. A walk through Saint Mark’s Square provides a wealth of sights from the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs to the Campanile and St. Mark’s Cathedral.

Kopar, Slovenia
Kopar is located in the Istrian Peninsula’s northwest corner, where Slovenia has a modest coastline and access to the Adriatric. It is a typical coastal settlement of beautiful squares and Renaissance palaces. An optional excursion takes you through the karst region, an area of dry white limestone to Postojna Caverns, Europe’s largest subterranean network of galleries and chambers, adorned with colorful stalactites and stalagmites. A small underground train makes exploration of this well-lighted complex quite easy.

Zadar
Zadar’s Old Town is located on a narrow peninsula in northern Dalmatia. It has the look and feel of an ancient Mediterranean city: the streets are paved with gleaming white stone, and the high protective walls—with portions dating to Roman and early medieval times—run alongside the harbor. Zadar’s 9th-century Church of St. Donatus was built on the remains of a Roman Forum and is one of the region’s most famous monuments. Other sights include the ancient City Gates, the Franciscan Monastery and Church and the imposing 12th- century Romanesque Cathedral of St. Anastasia. Stroll along the harbor’s tree-lined promenade, enjoy the many outdoor cafés, and perhaps taste Zadar’s famous maraschino cherry liqueur.

Korcula
Ancient defensive walls surround Korcula Town, on the island of the same name. The Cathedral of St. Mark, the largest and most beautiful building in Korcula, contains a wealth of artistic masterworks including paintings by Tintoretto. Another highlight is the Treasury, located in the 14th-century Abbey Palace, with its eclectic collection of paintings, jewelry, fine furniture and historic documents. Charming views of the harbor greet visitors as they wend their way through the narrow alleyways. On one of these lanes, you’ll see the Marco Polo house, where the famous explorer is said to have been born in 1254. Shop for handmade Croatian folk art near the City Gate, or relax at one of the picturesque waterfront cafés, and enjoy the breezy resort atmosphere that prevails in this medieval town.

Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a breathtaking sight, entirely surrounded by massive gray walls of stone, interspersed with four gates, three forts, five bastions and 14 square towers. The “Pearl of the Adriatic” contains a treasure-trove of medieval art and architecture that has earned it a designation as a UN World Heritage Site. The Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries are beautiful examples of Romanesque–Gothic architecture, and other monuments of significance include the Onofrio Fountain, the Rector’s Palace, the Sponza Palace and several fine churches. A stroll along Stradun— the Old Town’s wide pedestrian promenade—allows you to discover Dubrovnik’s many fine shops, cafés and boutiques at leisure. Don’t miss a chance to take the walk at the top of the wall surrounding the city for beautiful panoramic views of this fascinating city on the Adriatic.

Vlora, Albania
Vlora is the gateway to the archaeological site of Apollonia, an ancient city founded by the Greeks in the fifth century B.C. that later became a Roman cultural center. Long forgotten, the town was “discovered” by 19th-century archaeologists, but many structures remain buried. With close trading ties to Italy, Vlora was the capital city of Albania until WWI.

Kotor, Montenegro
The approach to Kotor is through the Boka Kotorska, or Gulf of Kotor, perhaps the grandest natural feature on the Adriatic coastline. The deeply indented and irregularly shaped fjord surrounded by towering mountains provides an intense contrast of colors: azure waters, green vegetation at sea level and stark, rocky cliffs overhead. Historic sites and medieval fortifications within the town of Kotor have been remarkably restored from a devasting earthquake 25 years ago.

Split
Split is the second largest city in Croatia and a UN World Heritage Site. At the historical core of Split—and within walking distance of the ship—is the massive Palace of the Emperor Diocletian, dating from the end of the third century A.D., and one of the last palaces of the Roman Empire. Diocletian’s Mausoleum and the Temple of Jupiter are fully preserved, though in the Middle Ages they were converted to Christian edifices. The statue of Grgur Ninski, created by Croatia’s premier modern sculptor, Ivan Mestrovic, is situated in front of the Golden Gate. People who pass by rub the big toe for good luck. There are opportunities to visit Mestrovic’s handsome gallery and studio on the nearby Marjan Peninsula.

Sibenik
Approaching Sibenik from the sea, this 9th-century city seems like a vast amphitheater crowned with ancient fortifications. Its narrow streets encourage leisurely strolls to inspect the town’s churches, palaces and shops. Pre-eminent among these is the 15th-century St. Jacob’s Cathedral, designed by the most prolific stonemason and architect of the Dalmatian Renaissance, Juraj Dalmatinac. Outside the cathedral, look for the intriguing frieze of 71 stone heads, said to depict those who refused to help fund the construction. Outside the city, drive east along the Krka River to Krka National Park. The river forms a deep canyon through the limestone, with centuries of calcified moss and algae creating unusual barriers of travertine. The result is a dramatic series of waterfalls. In between, you’ll see peaceful pools—some ideal for swimming—and cultural landmarks such as the Orthodox monastery and watermills used for wheat production centuries ago.

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