In the early spring and the late fall when cool mornings lead to warm afternoons and life's pace along the Dalmatian coast is noticeably slower. The crowds of tourists are nowhere to be found. Twice as long as the classic eight-day cruise, this program's extra week affords more time in cities like Venice, Dubrovnik and Split. The benefit is more flexibility in departure and arrival times, and opportunities in port for local experts, invited aboard for informal lectures and discussions about an area's natural and political history, art and cultural heritage.
It also allows us to add new places that immerse you in the diversity of the Adriatic and the thousand islands that stretch from the Istrian Peninsula to southern Dalmatia. For example, from Kopar—a typical Slovenian coastal settlement of beautiful squares and Renaissance palaces—we'll drive inland to the Postojna Caves, the most impressive limestone caverns in Europe.  Corridors and huge galleries extend for an incredible 12 miles, with floors, walls and ceilings thick with stalactites and stalagmites. In Mali Losinj, where elegant sea captains' houses reflect the harbor town's importance as a 19th-century shipbuilding center, drive to the connecting island of Cres. This second largest island in the Adriatic is home to several natural reserves for Eurasian Griffons. In the company of an expert ornithologist, observe these magnificent carnivores, which can attain a lifespan of 60 years and a wingspan of up to nine feet.
Extra time in Split allows for an exploration of the nearby old Roman towns of Solin and Trogir, some of the most important archaeological sites in Croatia. Solin was a cult center for early Christians, while Trogir—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—has a marvelously preserved medieval quarter, with many 15th-century houses still inhabited by locals. While in Dubrovnik, enjoy a full-day excursion south to Kotor, Montenegro and the Boka Kotorska, perhaps the grandest natural feature on the Adriatic coast. This 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.
 

Click here for M.S. Monet cruise ship description

Itinerary April 1, November 4 2009 departures