Our last few hours in Dubrovnik were spent using our Dubrovnik 24hr Card visiting the Mamad Art Gallery, and the Natural History Museum. We collected our cases from the apartment and walked to the pickup point for our Croatia Cruise. Checked into our cabin on the MS Markan. A brand new, Deluxe cruise boat launched in September 2018. We then joined our cruise group for a tour of the city with a tour guide who was very informative about the history of this beautiful city. Most interesting.
Mamad Art Gallery
Dubrovnik ‘Old Town Wall’ from the water
Luxury Afloat…. It was then back to the boat for the welcome dinner, an opportunity to meet the Captain, crew and other passengers followed by a welcome dinner. Next morning, we departed and cruised past Dubrovnik ‘Old Town’ which gave a different perspective of this beautiful city.
MS Markan – Dalmatia Deluxe Cruise. Launched September 2018
After 3 hours of cruising we stopped in a small bay at Otok Jakljan for a swim for an hour. Crystal clear water and not cold.
Swimming off the back of the cruise boat
We then headed to Slano to pick up a bus that took us to Ston for a short city tour, learn about sea salt production and to walk the 14th century old city wall. The wall is nearly 6 km long and was built to protect the salt production from invaders because back in medieval times salt was considered white gold. Our short walk of the wall was only 800 meters but also a steep climb with 800 steps. All this in 34oC temperatures. What a contrast to England.
Ston City Wall
Oyster, Mussel and Wine Tasting…. Back on the bus to Mali Ston where we boarded a boat that took us to a remote peninsula for Oysters, Mussels, Wine and Grappa tasting. Fresh oysters 15 minutes out of the Adriatic Sea, mussels cooked in wine and garlic and very nice local wine. After an hour everyone was very happy but once back on the bus many soon fell asleep. I wonder why.
Oyster, Mussel and Wine tasting
That night was the Captains Dinner with a Croatian duo providing the music. A formal event by Croatian standards; long pants, no flip flops and the men were asked to shave. This is as formal as it gets on this cruise.
Entertainment at the Captain’s Dinner
How Embarrassing…. Next morning, we were on the way at 8:00 AM, having breakfast, when all of a sudden, the boat turns around and goes back to Slano. A passenger was off walking and missed the boat. A very sheepish American guest boarded the boat on our return to port. 2 ½ hours of cruising on water that looks like a mirror before a stop for a swim in the warm and inviting Adriatic Sea. Lunch on board whilst heading towards our next destination, Mljet National Park.
Swimming in the Adriatic Sea
More Exercise…. A nice lunch was enjoyed before walking 2 km to a large inland lake where we boarded a small boat that took us to a Benedictine Monastery on a tiny island, St Mary’s Island, in the middle of the lake. It was a 30 minute stop here then back to the mainland to rent bikes with friends from the boat and proceeded to ride around the lake, a distance of 12 km. Back to our starting point, into the bathers for a swim in the lake with a very rocky bottom. That is when we realised, we needed the aqua shoes we purchased in the UK. An exhausting uphill walk took us back to the boat.
Bike riding around the lake at Mljet National Park
A Very Nice Dinner…. That night out for dinner at one of the local restaurants serving fresh seafood, with a group of friends from Perth and Zimbabwe. A fun night but I think we were all ready for bed when we had finished the meal with wine and beer to wash it all down.
Dinner with Chris, Carole, Karen, Nicola, Dino, Rob & Liz
A Refreshing Ale and the local wine Grk…. On Saturday, a later departure than usual at 9:00 AM to the small township of Lombarda where we had the opportunity to walk the town then spend a pleasant hour having a drink in a beach bar with a group from the cruise boat.
Beach Bar in Lombarda
And On To Korcula…. Back on board for lunch whilst cruising to our next overnight stop of Korcula. A walking tour with a local guide was interesting and fun as she had a wicked sense of humour.
Walking into the ‘Old Town’ of Korcula – Our favourite small village
Following the tour, we wandered the town and found a bar in the tower which led to climbing many steps to see a very steep ladder in front of us leading to the very top. We all climbed the ladder through a small manhole of rock to discover they don’t sell beer. We called it “a pub with no beer”!! How disappointing, so down the ladder again before settling at a nice bar on the esplanade for drinks and pizza with the group from the ship. We are overdue for an AFD but this will have to wait till Helsinki.
Dinner in Korcula
Now We are Cruising…. Next morning, we departed at 8:00 AM whilst having breakfast for a 5 hour cruise to our next destination, the island of Vis. It was nice to have some free time whilst cruising as the last 4 days had been hectic and energetic. You need to be fit if you wish to participate in all the activities. The 5 hour trip was mostly in open ocean with a reasonable breeze so the ship was heading directly into the swell which was a problem for some passengers. When we were having lunch our guide advised the waves were 1.5 meters and they can get up to 5 meters as the wind increases. Wow!
1.5 meter swell. Imagine the 5 meter swell
A Swim and Wine Tasting…. We arrived in the village of Vis and walked to the local pebbly beach for a swim. Thank goodness for the aqua shoes which we remembered to take with us. Very relaxing. We returned to the boat and then went on a wine tasting excursion. An uphill walk of about 1.5 km to a local winery. Enjoyed three wines with the shiraz style wine winning hands down
Swimming in crystal clear water in Vis
And Yes, Another Dinner…. Out for dinner that night, a group of 9 of us, that have bonded well. The dinner was in a local restaurant recommended by a friend of Carole’s. VIP treatment and a free entrée. If the trip was any longer than 8 days, I think we would all have ended up as alcoholics. We are committed to at least two AFD’s in Split, or maybe Helsinki or maybe when we get home.
Another great dinner – Liz, Rob, Nicola, Karen, Dino, Peter, Ellen, Carole and Chris
The Famous Blue Cave…. After an overnight stop in Vis we departed early for the island of Bisevo and its famous Blue Cave. Boats and people everywhere as this tourist attraction is really popular. It was a 2 hour wait, before we departed on a small boat with 12 people on board to the Blue Cave. The cave was spectacular as once you entered the cave the sun reflected off the white sand on the cave floor and lit up the dark cave with a rich blue colour. After 5 minutes in the cave we were dropped off at our cruise boat.
The famous Blue Cave. A natural wonder
Hvar, The Party Island…. We then headed to Hvar, the party island, and arrived mid afternoon and were escorted on a guided tour of this beautiful town. We then wandered the town taking in the abundance of clothes and gift shops before settling into a bar in a shady spot for a nice drink before heading to a restaurant for dinner. A great night was had by 11 of us from Australia, New Zealand and Zinbabwe. We were anchored right on the esplanade with restaurants and night clubs galore, so we watched the passing crowd from our balcony before heading to bed after an exhausting day.
Hvar from the Fort overlooking the town
We Head for Split, Our Final Destination…. For our final day on the boat we departed Hvar to the island of Brac for a swim from the famous beach, Zlatni Rat, near the town of Bol. A stony beach but crystal clear water greeted us. Thank goodness for our aqua shoes again, well worth the money.
Zlatni Rat Beach
After an hour swimming, back on the boat for lunch and off to Split for our final night on the boat. A quick walk around Split, to a bar for a quick drink and then out for our final dinner with our friends, Carole & Chris from Perth and Karen, Dino and Nicola from Zimbabwe. A fabulous but exhausting 8 days on the brand new cruise boat, MS Markan.
Approaching Split Harbour – Our final destination 
Fireworks for our last night on the cruise boat