Venice & the Dalmatian Coast
Walk with us to places immortalized with local color, sip and savor wines masterfully crafted, toast traditions and tales fondly shared, and become part of the stories, past and present, that make your vacation memories last lifetimes. Guided visits and shore excursions choices include six UNESCO World Heritage sites as you cruise between Venice, the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro. Discover the architectural masterpiece that is Venice… the Gothic Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik… the ancient Roman Palace of Diocletian in Split… the walled city of Dubrovnik, renowned for its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque monasteries, palaces, fountains, and churches… the stunning harbor town of Kotor… and the lavender-scented island of Hvar, where Stari Grad Plain astounds with its intact ancient Greek land system. Le Lyrial, perfectly sized and ideally suited for island exploration where the bigger ships can’t go, charts a course for destinations of scenic serenity like the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, where private shore excursions reveal maritime treasures and seaside settlements worthy of leisurely discovery. Two nights at a premier hotel in Venice brings the aura of daily life amidst architectural masterpieces, ancient squares and the ever-present lacework of canals.
Only With Tauck
In-depth shore excursion choices including visits to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Venice, Dubrovnik, Sibenik’s Cathedral, the walled city of Kotor, and Diocletian’s Palace in Split.
Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and cruise ship accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, sightseeing, special dinners, porterage, and the services of the Tauck Directors, hotel and ship staff, and local guides and drivers are included. Bar & restaurant beverages are included throughout the day aboard ship, including house wine & spirits. Guests with a pre-stay will have transportation from Marco Polo Airport Venice or Santa Lucia Train Station to the hotel is included, regardless of the time you check in to the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least three weeks before the start of the tour. Transportation from Marco Polo Airport Venice or Santa Lucia Train Station to Le Lyrial is also included for those arriving on Day one of the tour. On the last day of the tour, transportation from Le Lyrial to Marco Polo Airport Venice or Santa Lucia Train Station will be included as well. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.
Rates and schedules are not guaranteed until booked and will vary based on departure date.
Tour begins: 5:00 PM. A transfer from Venice Marco Polo Airport directly to your innovative yacht, Le Lyrial, is included
upon your arrival. Join us for the captain’s welcome, then sip cocktails on deck as the ship departs from Venice for the Dalmatian Coast; your first port of call is the island of Korcula in Croatia.
Meals – Dinner
Sail to Korcula, birthplace of explorer Marco Polo. You have a choice of four sightseeing excursions today – a guided walking tour that highlights the variety of architectural styles seen in Korcula, including the Rector’s Palace, the City Museum, the Museum of Icons in the church, the Gothic-Renaissance Cathedral of St. Marco, and the House of Marco Polo (viewed from the outside); “A Taste of Korcula,” where you’ll visit a family estate to sample the hospitality and lifestyle of local residents; an opportunity to do some kayaking among some of the 20 small islands of the Korcula archipelago; and a hike along scenic pathways through fields and country lanes on Korcula. Late afternoon, everyone attends a private Moreska dance presentation of a Moroccan folk story, performed only on this island. Enjoy free time this evening to explore on your own, before returning to the ship for the captain’s welcome reception and dinner.
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Taste of Korcula
Le Lyrial arrives in Sibenik, Croatia, where you’ll have an opportunity to choose morning and afternoon sightseeing excursions. Morning choices include a walking tour of Sibenik and a visit to a local Dalmatian village; visits to the medieval town of Trogir (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and a local Dalmatian village; or a scenic coastal drive along the Adriatic that takes you to Krka National Park for walks and swimming. Everyone arrives in Split, Croatia’s second-largest city, for afternoon exploring that includes a choice between a “Historic Split Walking Tour” showcasing the remains of Diocletian’s Palace, built between the 3rd and 4th centuries; “The Best of Split and a Cetina Rivercruise” featuring the highlights of Split on a guided walk, including Diocletian’s Palace, and a riverboat cruise on one of Croatia’s most scenic rivers; a guided bicycle tour of Split plus a visit to Diocletian’s Palace; a “Taste of Split” countryside tour; and sea kayaking. Board Le Lyrial late afternoon for cocktails and dinner.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Split plus Cetina River Cruise
Arrive in Dubrovnik; the day begins with a private lecture, by a former officer in the Croatian Army, on the country’s formative war in the 1990s. Experience Dubrovnik one of six different ways: a cable car transports you upward for a panoramic view of Dubrovnik followed by a walking tour with a local guide of Dubrovnik’s magnificent Old Town; a guided walking tour of the City Walls of Dubrovnik, including a climb to the top of the walls and a visit to the Maritime Museum; a wine tasting at a family- owned winery, with a scenic drive along the Croatian Riviera; a panoramic drive to visit a pair of typical Croatian villages in the Konavle Valley, followed by a return to Dubrovnik for a walking tour of its historic Old Town; a sea kayaking adventure in the Adriatic; or a drive along the Dubrovnik Rivera with a taste of local specialties, a visit to the seaside resort of Cavtat, and a tour of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The afternoon is yours to spend as you please in Dubrovnik.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Sea Kayaking in Dubrovnik
Head to the observation deck as Le Lyrial sails into Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, Europe’s southernmost fjord – the view is inspiring and unforgettable. Morning shore excursion choices include a guided walking tour of Kotor, a visit to the small village of Perast and a private boat trip on the Bay of Kotor including a visit to Our Lady of the Rocks Church; a journey to Lovcen Mountain for culinary tasting and a guided walking tour in Kotor; a boat trip across the stunning Boka Bay to the seaside town of Prcnj, whose prosperity of the 17th and 18th centuries is evident in its architecture to this day; a drive to an olive grove and olive oil mill on the the Lustica Peninsula for a look at Montenegro’s traditional methods of olive oil production; a gastronomic experience on a visit to a private home and a local market in Kotor; and a rib boat adventure to the renowned Blue Cave and other destinations along the Bay of Kotor. Everyone spends the afternoon as they please in Kotor, returning to the ship for an evening sail for Hvar.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Blue Cave & Rib Boat Adventure
Experience the island of Hvar; sightseeing here offers a number of choices: traveling to Stari Grad, dating back thousands of years, for a walking tour that includes a visit to the Dominican Monastery followed by a scenic drive to Vrisnik for a special wine tasting; a visit to the well-known beaches of Hvar on a cruise to the Pakleni Islands archipelago, a maze of small islands that offer perfect bays for swimming and snorkeling; a hiking adventure that takes you through local villages with lunch in a small tavern in the picturesque, hidden village of Malo Grablje; a half-day off-road excursion offering a unique perspective of Hvar and villages like Velo Grablje and Roskarnica; or a sea kayaking excursion. Everyone returns to Hvar midday; spend the afternoon in Hvar Town. Tonight, a private cocktail party for Tauck guests only prior to the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner at leisure.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Sea Kayaking in Hvar
Dock in Pula, where you can choose between a walking tour to visit Pula’s 1st-century Roman amphitheatre (arena) along with other ancient Roman structures; or a tour visiting the Pula amphitheatre and the nearby village of Vodnjan for olive oil tasting at an award-winning family-owned establishment. This afternoon the ship arrives in one of the most picturesque and romantic little towns in the world, Rovinj. Sightseeing opportunities here include a walking tour of Rovinj; an excursion to the town of Porec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a sparkling wine tasting at a renowned countryside wine cellar; a visit to the medieval town of Labin for a visit to the Labin National Museum and an artists workshop where local artisans display their craft; or an Istrian truffle experience in the village of Livade, with a visit to the ancient hilltop town of Motovun. Back aboard ship, join us for farewell cocktails and dinner as Le Lyrial returns to Venice.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Istrian Truffle Tasting
Sail back to remarkable Venice today, where you’ll disembark Le Lyrial and take a walking tour of Venice’s San Rocco district. Then board a boat for an excursion among the picturesque islands of the Venetian Lagoon – part of the region’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, along with the city of Venice – and stop for a visit to Murano, famous for glass production since medieval times. See how artisans still craft their signature glass in the traditional way at a glassblowing demonstration at a Murano studio. Return to Venice for an evening spent as you please.
Meals – Breakfast
Lodging – Hotel Danieli
Lodging – The St. Regis Venice
You’ll get a taste of how opulent life was for the ruling elite of medieval Venice at the richly decorated Doge’s Palace; it served as the official residence of the Venetian Republic’s rulers through the Renaissance and beyond. There’s nothing quite like getting to know a new destination through the eyes – and the experiences – of a local expert… and you’ll do just that in Venice today when you join a resident guide in this city of canals for a tour of Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), the center of Venetian life and home to dramatic St. Mark’s Basilica. After some first-class people-watching (not to mention pigeon-watching) in one of the most recognizable public squares on Earth, go inside the Basilica, a magnificent blend of Eastern and Western influences, for a close-up look at its gleaming mosaics and other priceless treasures including statues, icons and its famous horses (day of visit may vary). Following an afternoon spent as you wish in Venice, please join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel.
Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging – Hotel Danieli
Lodging – The St. Regis Venice
Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Danieli or the Westin Europa & Regina to Marco
Polo Airport or the Venice Train Station. Allow 3 hours for check-in at the airport.
Meals – Breakfast
