MS Stella Maris Deluxe Croatia Cruise Ship

Deluxe Superior Cruise Split, Mostar, Kotor and to Dubrovnik on MS Stella Maris 7nts (Saturdays)

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 5
Departs From: Split
Location: Split, Hvar, Korcula, Mostar, Kotor, Dubrovnik
Duration: 8 days (Sat-Sat)
Availability: SATURDAY only, fortnightly departures
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 5
Departs From: Split
Location: Split, Hvar, Korcula, Mostar, Kotor, Dubrovnik
Duration: 8 days (Sat-Sat)
Availability: SATURDAY only, fortnightly departures
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

Discover the charming Croatian coastline and islands at a relaxed pace with a small group
Indulge all your senses, see inspiring destinations and small fishermen’s villages
Explore cosy restaurants on shore in the evenings for tasting local Mediterranean cuisine
Breakfast and lunch included
Captain's Dinner included
Fully air-conditioned, spacious ensuite cabins
Deluxe ship with jacuzzi on the sundeck
Sightseeing includes Dubrovnik, Kotor, Mostar, Korcula, Hvar, Split
Visit Mljet National Park

Book now (obligation free) pay later

8 days from Split, Hvar, Ploce (Mostar), Korcula, Mljet, Budva/Kotor (Montenegro) and to Dubrovnik

New in 2024!
One of the few cruises that visits Montenegro!
Cruise the Adriatic on this superb one-way cruise for 7 fabulous nights
Relax on board in the jacuzzi in the morning and enjoy local tours in the afternoons
Our one-way island hopping cruise showcases the best of the Dalmatian Coast
Enjoy the rich cultural history of the region with sightseeing excursions
Breakfast and lunch included! Dine on shore in the evenings

Itinerary

One of the few cruises to overnight in Montenegro! June and September departures only!

Open age cruise. Double/twin cabins on Main and Lower Deck. No triple cabins on this ship. Solo travellers must book a double/twin for solo use with a solo use supplement.

For this trip all you will need is a few T-shirts and a swimming costume to spend seven unforgettable days sailing on the southern Adriatic Sea from one island to another. Relax and let the Captain and his crew take care of you. During the day you can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and explore the underworld of the Adriatic Sea. The evenings you have free to find a good restaurant or discover historical monuments.

SHIP INFO AND PHOTOS:
https://discovercroatia.com.au/ships/deluxe-superior/stella-maris/

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INCLUSIONS AND FULL ITINERARY:
8 days from Split, Hvar, Ploce (Mostar), Korcula, Mljet, Budva/Kotor (Montenegro) and to Dubrovnik

INCLUDED:
• 7 nights cruise from Split to Dubrovnik in a cabin with private ensuite and airconditioning
• Arrival airport transfer to cruise port (shared)
• Departure transfer from cruise port to airport (shared)
• Professional Cruise Manager throughout
• Luggage handling
• Daily cabin servicing
• Whisper technology enhanced touring
• Free Wi-Fi on board

Meals Included:
• Welcome Dinner
• Captain’s Dinner
• Dinner in Kotor and Mostar
• Buffet breakfast daily
• 6 lunches, all with 3 courses and salad bar
• Complimentary drinking water dispenser
• Complimentary regular coffee and tea
• Complimentary fresh fruits available daily

Sightseeing Tours Included:
• City tours of Split, Hvar, Korčula, Kotor, and Dubrovnik
• Excursion and City tour of Mostar (with dinner)
• Entrance fees to the Franciscan Monastery’s Pharmacy, and St Tryphon’s Cathedral
• Lovćen/Njeguši/Budva Excursion – ride by bus, snack in Njeguši (smoked ham and cheese, brandy, and wine)
• Professional English-speaking Local Guide for city tours

NOT INCLUDED:
• Port Tax €60 pp - obligatory (pay onboard)
• Entrance fees other than listed
• Dubrovnik cable car or city walls
• Drinks on board, extra meals
• Specialty coffee or tea
• Transfers to/from accommodation

#Optional Supplements:
•

ITINERARY:
Embarkation from 14.00hrs. Passengers who arrive earlier can leave their bags on board until their cabin is ready. Overnight in port, late arrivals possible.

Day 1 SPLIT ARRIVAL, Saturday (WR, D)
You will be transferred from Split Airport to the port. Embarkation starts at 14:00h. Get settled in your cabin before attending a Welcome reception followed by dinner this evening.

Day 2 SPLIT – HVAR, Sunday (B, L)
A morning guided walking tour of Split shows us the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. See the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. Set sail towards the town of Hvar on the island of Hvar a favorite vacation destination of world celebrities, but also a charming seaside town with 8th-century architecture. Before lunch, there is time for a swim stop in the clear blue sea. Upon arrival in Hvar, you will enjoy visiting the many historical sights of the town, such as St Stephen’s Square and Cathedral, the Arsenal with the theatre built on its first floor, and the first municipal theatre in Europe. Above Hvar Town is the impressive fortress Fortica offering magnificent views over the bay and Pakleni islands. Your evening is free in Hvar.

Day 3 HVAR – PLOČE (MOSTAR Excursion), Monday (B, L, D)
Early in the morning sail to Ploče with a stop along the way to swim and relax, if weather permits, with lunch on board. Take the coach for an excursion to Mostar with dinner included. Mostar is the city where East and West meet. Built alongside the Neretva River is known by all thanks to the image of its beautiful “Old Bridge" (Stari Most) which is the heart and symbol of the city. Since 2005 the “Old Bridge", as well as the old city of Mostar have been inscribed as a World Heritage by UNESCO. Walk through the streets, and visit the Turkish house and the mosque. Overnight in Ploče.

Day 4 PLOČE – KORČULA (Wine tasting), Tuesday (B, L, T)
Leaving Ploče, we will have an early morning cruise towards the island of Korčula, with a swim stop, if weather permits, in one of the pristine bays, time to relax and lunch on board. Continue towards Korčula, the most preserved medieval town, thought to be the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. Take a walking tour of Korčula which takes you through its narrow, cobbled streets full of history, and enjoy wine tasting in one of the local wine bars. Your evening is free to discover the town and enjoy dinner on your own at one of many local restaurants. Overnight in Korčula

Day 5 KORČULA – MLJET National Park – SLANO, Wednesday (B, L, CD)
In the morning head further south to the Island of Mljet, with a swim stop, weather permitting, in one of the pristine bays, time to relax and lunch on board. Join the Cruise Manager for a stroll to the famous salt lakes in the Mljet National Park. Alternatively, you can rent bicycles, scooters, or kayaks to explore the National Park or island on your own. Lunch on board and departure for a small village called Slano on the mainland. Slano is a peaceful fishermen’s village, and the starting point to Ston, situated on the Pelješac peninsula, a fortified small village famous for its oysters. Pelješac peninsula is known as one of the best wine-producing regions in Croatia. Tonight, enjoy Captain’s dinner and overnight in Slano.

Day 6 SLANO – KOTOR (Montenegro), Thursday (B, L, T)
In the morning we set sail to Kotor. After lunch on board, we are going to visit Lovćen Mountain, Njeguši Village, and Budva. Encounter Montenegro’s rich culture, historical heritage, and natural beauty as you travel by bus up the serpentine Lovćen Hills. A beautiful view of Kotor Bay and lovely mountain scenery accompany you en route to Njeguši, where you will visit the village smokehouse. Stop for a snack of smoked ham and cheese, brandy, and wine—all local specialties. Then, head down the mountains towards the city of Budva—believed to be one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast. It is more than 2,000 years old. After a panoramic stop above Budva, you will drive back to Kotor to explore the city that is known as the jewel of Montenegro. Your guide will take you on a walking tour that will include a visit to St Tryphon’s Cathedral, and you will see the Orthodox Church of St Luka from the outside. Your evening is free in Kotor.

Day 7 KOTOR – DUBROVNIK, Friday (B, L)
Morning departure for Dubrovnik with lunch on board. Upon arrival in Dubrovnik the “Pearl of Adriatic”, you will enjoy a guided tour of the historical center of Dubrovnik, walk through STRADUN – both a street and 3 a square, the most famous place inside the town walls, the famous city enlisted as UNESCO’s World Heritage site, where your guide will show you the most interesting sights of Dubrovnik and you will visit the Franciscan Monastery with the second oldest pharmacy in Europe. After the city tour, you will be left on your own to explore the city, visit City Walls, the Rector's Palace, and the Cathedral, take a boat ride to Lokrum island, or take the cable car to the top of Mount Srđ. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 8 DUBROVNIK departure, Saturday (B)
After breakfast, it’s time to disembark. You will be transferred to Dubrovnik airport.

B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner, CD-Captain's Dinner, WR-Welcome Reception, T-Tasting
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Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Before Your Cruise - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Before Your Island Hopping Tour - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]