Ship: Andrea

Itinerary: Lands of the Adriatic 2009

Sailing into Montenegro

cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials

Day 1 :	Venice, Italy / Embark
Day 2 :	Venice
Day 3 :	Koper, Slovenia
Day 4 :	Zadar, Croatia
Day 5 :	Split, Croatia
Day 6 :	Ploce (Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina) / Korcula, Croatia
Day 7 :	Korcula, Croatia
Day 8 :	Sarandia, Albania / Butrint
Day 9 :	Kotor, Montenegro / Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 10 :	Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 11 :	Dubrovnik / Disembark / Return Home
	Click for full itinerary

Book this Cruise Contact Us Print Itinerary E-mail a friend

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Inside	Outside	Deluxe	Master	Suite	Std Single	Sup Single
11	Aug 7, 2009 Aug 17, 2009 * Aug 27, 2009 Sep 6, 2009 * Sep 26, 2009 * Oct 6, 2009	$3,495	$4,695	$6,195	$7,395	$8,795	$5,095	$5,795
		Port charges: $110 * Itinerary operates in reverse
Destinations : Albania, Croatia, Europe, Italy, Mediterranean, Montenegro, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia Activities : Ancient Ruins, Cultural Activities, Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography

t's pretty close to heaven. There's a sunny Mediterranean climate, but with deep woods and soaring mountains. Venetian architecture, but a culture from the heartland of Europe. Medieval alleys, but the pleasures of island life. These are our 10-night cruises to the lands bordering the Adriatic Sea, providing a comprehensive overview of the region. You will have ample time to admire the unmissable highlights – Croatia’s Zadar (recently the subject of an ecstatic article in the New York Times travel section), Split, and Dubrovnik. We go further, though, and take you beyond the Dalmatian coastal tour: to the atmospheric, old Venetian streets of Slovenia’s Koper; to Mostar's lovely, graceful Stari Most in Bosnia and Herzegovina; to Montenegro’s Kotor, accessed by a voyage through a rapturously beautiful southern fjord; and to the ruins of ancient Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in rarely visited Albania.

Day 1 : Venice, Italy / Embark

Arrive in Venice, the magnificent "Queen of the Adriatic," and embark MS Andrea. Remain in port overnight.

Day 2 : Venice

Venice occupies 117 islands in the azure waters of the Adriatic. This lagoon city is a labyrinth of canals, flanked by majestic palaces, merchants' mansions, and breathtaking baroque churches. Venice's legendary maritime heroes, such as Marco Polo, plied the Levantine trading routes. The wealth of the entire Mediterranean flowed through the Venetian Republic, adorning the city in the splendors that illuminate it today. An optional tour including St. 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.

Day 3 : Koper, Slovenia

Originally an ancient Roman town, Koper allied itself with Venice in 1278, then became part of Yugoslavia after World War II. The Venetian Old City remains intact, with piazze and palazzi crumbling with authentic medieval charm. An optional excursion takes you through the karst region, an area of dry white limestone, to the Postojna Caverns, an astonishing netherworld of stalactites and stalagmites that is Europe's largest.

Day 4 : Zadar, Croatia

Zadar 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. Join us for an optional walking tour including Zadar's 9th-century Church of St. Donatus built on the remains of a Roman Forum and 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, and be enchanted by the new "sea organ," whose 35 pipes produce otherworldly melodies from the sea winds. Arrive in Split this evening and remain overnight.

Day 5 : Split, Croatia

The Emperor Diocletian had a rough time maintaining order in the late Roman Empire. So when he retired in AD 305, he established a gargantuan palace in Split to live out his golden years. Improbably, the palace still exists – and forms the historic core of Split, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An optional tour of Split includes Diocletian's Mausoleum and the Temple of Jupiter, both fully preserved though converted to Christian uses during the Middle Ages; but the tremendous thrill here is to walk through an ancient edifice completely integrated with contemporary life, its chambers and porticos having become cafés, apartments, and storefronts. We also visit sculptor Ivan Mestrovic's handsome gallery and studio on the nearby Marjan Peninsula.

Day 6 : Ploce (Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina) / Korcula, Croatia

Located on the banks of the Neretva River, the imposing city of Mostar achieved renown under the reign of the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century. Damaged during the hostilities of the 1990s, Mostar has recently been restored to its original splendor by UNESCO, which has declared it a World Heritage Site. Our optional excursion will include visits to the legendary Stari Most (old bridge), the Tabacica Mosque, and the city’s bazaar, featuring extraordinary works of silver and copper. Lunch will be offered in a local restaurant, followed by free time before returning to the ship. Arrive in Korcula this evening and remain overnight.

Day 7 : Korcula, Croatia

Charming views of Korcula’s harbor greet visitors as they wend their way through the city’s narrow alleyways to the Marco Polo House, where the famous explorer is said to have been born in 1254. Our optional tour includes the Cathedral of St. Mark, the largest and most beautiful building in Korcula, which contains a wealth of artistic masterworks including paintings by Tintoretto. Another highlight is the Treasury, with its eclectic collection of paintings, jewelry, fine furniture and historic documents. Shop for handmade Croatian folk art near the City Gate, or relax at one of the picturesque waterfront cafés.

Day 8 : Sarandia, Albania / Butrint

On today’s optional tour, drive the short distance to Butrint, a beautiful place with an intriguing past. Its history as a Greek colony, Roman city and bishopric was followed by turbulent times involving the Byzantines, Normans, Angevins, Venetians and Ottoman Turks. The Butrint Foundation was set up by Lord Rothschild and Lord Sainsbury in 1993 as a charitable trust. Its principle objective is to restore and preserve the Butrint site in southern Albania for the benefit of all.

Day 9 : Kotor, Montenegro / Dubrovnik, Croatia

We approach Kotor via the Boka Kotorska, or Gulf of Kotor, the only fjord in southern Europe. It's an astonishing sight – the deep blue waters of the gulf, a strip of subtropical Mediterranean vegetation, then the bold, rocky cliffs and mountains towering overhead. Fortified since the Middle Ages, Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval town center and the 12th-century Cathedral of St. Tryphon. Our morning walking tour of the town is optional. Arrive in Dubrovnik this evening and remain overnight.

Day 10 : Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is a breathtaking sight, entirely surrounded by massive grey walls of stone, interspersed with four gates, three forts, five bastions and 14 square towers. Known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic," this grand UNESCO World Heritage Site once competed with Venice for the riches of eastern trade, amassing pride and fortune enough to dapple its streets with world-class Romanesque-Gothic design. Our optional city tour includes the Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries, the Onofrio Fountain, the Rector's Palace, the Sponza Palace and the cathedral. 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. Remain in port overnight.

Day 11 : Dubrovnik / Disembark / Return Home

Disembark MS Andrea after breakfast and transfer to the airport for flights home.

-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy unless noted as a single cabin category.
-Category 7 & 8 cabins are single cabins for solo travelers. Triple occupancy cabins are available - 15% discount on double occupancy rates for all 3 travelers in Category 1 & 2 cabins.
- Add $12 / per night fuel surcharge for 2009 departures

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

Ship Description: Andrea

click to enlarge
Andrea | slide show

MS Andrea at Night

This rugged vessel began her career in the 1960s as the Norwegian coastal cruiser Harald Jarl. Following a $20 million-plus conversion in 2003, she now offers a high degree of comfort and service on any expedition cruise in Antarctica, South and Central America and Europe.

Andrea carries a fleet of Zodiac landing craft, ready to take her passengers on a moment's notice for close-up explorations of Antarctica's otherwise inaccessible beaches, rocky outcroppings and shallow streams where wildlife thrives. Her conversion included construction of a large observation platform on the forward deck, and there is ample outside and sheltered teak deck areas for viewing the passing environs.

Passengers are welcome on the bridge, which is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communications equipment. The Andrea is classified as an ice strengthened cruise ship worldwide by Det Norshe Veritas, and meets all SOLAS and IMF safety at sea requirements. She is equipped with bilge-keel stabilizers. Ice masters, officers and crew are European, and a knowledgeable expedition team from both sides of the Atlantic coordinates Zodiac forays ashore, lectures and other activities that engage and enlighten guests during their Antarctica travel.

She features 57 mostly outside cabins, with lower beds, private bath facilities, individual climate control, satellite TV, telephone and safe. There are five single cabins. Distinctive 18th-century Gustavian-style furnishings and decor are seen in the cabins and public areas, creating an intimate, club-like atmosphere on your Antarctica cruise. The Shearwater Restaurant accommodates all passengers in one leisurely seating, offering fine continental cuisine prepared by Andrea's master chefs. The Kittiwake Lounge/Bar doubles as an on board lecture venue. The Cormorant Lounge offers forward-viewing observation windows, a small library and internet/e-mail access for guests. Andrea also has a fitness room for guests to utilize during their travels to Antarctica. An elevator is available for passenger use.

Inside Inside cabin with two twin beds (34, 36, 37, 38) or double bed (33), private bath with shower, TV, desk, located on Atlantic Deck.	Outside Outside cabin with twin (401, 403, 411, 412, 414, 417, 419, 420, 422, 302, 303, 309, 319) or double (310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316) beds, private bath with shower, TV, desk, porthole or picture windows.
Deluxe Deluxe stateroom with twin beds, private bath with shower, TV, desk, porthole or picture windows. One also has a sofa bed. Cabins 404, 405, 406, 408, 409, 410, 418, 305, 306, 307, 308, 320, 321, 322.	Master Master staterooms with twin (702, 605, 503, 505, 507, 407, 318) or double (603, 604) beds, private bath with shower and/or tub, TV, desk, picture windows or portholes. Some also have sofa beds.
Suite Presidential and Owner\\\'s Suites with double bed, private bath with tub, TV, desk, picture windows. 601, 602.	Std Single Standard singles with private bath with shower. Porthole windows. TV, desk. 421, 424, 304.
Sup Single Superior singles with private baths with showers. Porthole or picture windows. TV, desk. 501, 402, 317.