Hidden Gems of the Croatian Riviera
Hidden Gems of the Croatian Riviera
Cruise overview
Cruise ID
EMERALDE03D220826-2
Cruise Line
Cruise Type
Ocean
Ship
Duration
7 nights
Departure Port
Destination
Venice
Departure Date
22 Aug 26
From £4,733pp
Plus further substantial savings with
The Deluxe Cruises Bonus
WHY BOOK WITH US?
- ✔ The Deluxe Cruises’ team has extensive experience in ultra-luxury cruising.
- ✔ Call now to speak to our helpful and experienced Cruise Concierge team.
- ✔ Enjoy our Unique Deluxe Cruises Bonus for substantial savings.
- ✔ Our team will tailor your holiday to your exacting requirements.
- ✔ As agents, we work under the protection of each cruise lines ABTA / ATOL licences
Day 1
Dubrovnik (Croatia)
About Dubrovnik
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost
Day 2
Dubrovnik (Croatia)
About Dubrovnik
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost
Day 3
Split (Croatia)
About Split
Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
Day 4
Split (Croatia)
About Split
Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
Day 4
Zadar (Croatia)
About Zadar
Dalmatia's capital for more than 1,000 years, Zadar is all too often passed over by travelers on their way to Split or Dubrovnik. What they miss out on is a city of more than 73,000 that is remarkably lovely and lively despite—and, in some measure, because of—its tumultuous history. The Old Town, separated from the rest of the city on a peninsula some 4 km (2½ miles) long and just 1,640 feet wide, is bustling and beautiful: the marble pedestrian streets are replete with Roman ruins, medieval churches, palaces, museums, archives, and libraries. Parts of the new town are comparatively dreary, a testament to what a world war followed by decades of communism, not to mention a civil war, can do to the architecture of a city that is 3,000 years old. A settlement had already existed on the site of the present-day city for some 2,000 years when Rome finally conquered Zadar in the 1st century BC; the foundations of the forum can be seen today. Before the Romans came the Liburnians had made it a key center for trade with the Greeks and Romans for 800 years. In the 3rd century BC the Romans began to seriously pester the Liburnians, but required two centuries to bring the area under their control. During the Byzantine era, Zadar became the capital of Dalmatia, and this period saw the construction of its most famous church, the 9th-century St. Donat's Basilica. It remained the region's foremost city through the ensuing centuries. The city then experienced successive onslaughts and occupations—both long and short—by the Osogoths, the Croatian-Hungarian kings, the Venetians, the Turks, the Habsburgs, the French, the Habsburgs again, and finally the Italians before becoming part of Yugoslavia and, in 1991, the independent republic of Croatia. Zadar was for centuries an Italian-speaking city, and Italian is still spoken widely, especially by older people. Indeed, it was ceded to Italy in 1921 under the Treaty of Rapallo (and reverted to its Italian name of Zara). Its occupation by the Germans from 1943 led to intense bombing by the Allies during World War II, which left most of the city in ruins. Zadar became part of Tito's Yugoslavia in 1947, prompting many Italian residents to leave. Zadar's most recent ravages occurred during a three-month siege by Serb forces and months more of bombardment during the Croatian-Serbian war between 1991 and 1995. But you'd be hard-pressed to find outward signs of this today in what is a city to behold. There are helpful interpretive signs in English all around the Old Town, so you certainly won't feel lost when trying to make sense of the wide variety of architectural sites you might otherwise pass by with only a cursory look.
Day 5
Opatija (Croatia)
About Opatija
Stroll along Opatija’s seaside promenade, and soak up the splendour, as you enjoy fresh sea air, the sight of waving yacht masts, and the presence of grand ocean-facing buildings. Historically a fashionable destination for European aristocracy, the city is just as in-demand today - with palatial structures watching out over an inviting blue sea, and a border of lush green mountains stretching around the city. Vibrant gardens, glorious weather and endless seafront combine to ensure that Croatia’s original tourist destination remains one of the country’s finest.
Day 6
Piran (Slovenia)
About Piran
Day 7
Venice (Italy)
About Venice
Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading center between Europe and the Orient. Getting lost in the narrow alleyways is a quintessential part of exploring Venice, but at some point you'll almost surely end up in Piazza San Marco, where tourists and locals congregate for a coffee or an aperitif.
Day 8
Venice (Italy)
About Venice
Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading center between Europe and the Orient. Getting lost in the narrow alleyways is a quintessential part of exploring Venice, but at some point you'll almost surely end up in Piazza San Marco, where tourists and locals congregate for a coffee or an aperitif.
Owner's Suite
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
The even larger Owner's Suites, at 1,407 sq. ft, now feature a Spa Pool a deux on the private terrace.
Deluxe Balcony Suite
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
More information coming soon.
Yacht Suite
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
Now even more spacious, at 879 sq. ft, including a wraparound terrace.
Balcony Suite
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
More information coming soon.
Oceanview Stateroom
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
More information coming soon.
Emerald Kaia
Meet Emerald Kaia
A new chapter in Emerald Cruises' journey begins with our next-generation superyacht, Emerald Kaia. Our third innovative luxury yacht builds on the spectacular success of the first two and retains the ethos of luxury small-ship cruising.
Starting in early 2026, she will welcome you on board to sail from the coastlines of the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Adriatic Seas, to the Seychelles.
Ship Facts
| Speed | N/A | ||||||||
| Width | N/A | ||||||||
| Length | 120 | ||||||||
| Capacity | 128 | ||||||||
| Currency | EUR | ||||||||
| Language | en | ||||||||
| Crew Count | 92 | ||||||||
| Deck Count | 6 | ||||||||
| Refit Year | |||||||||
| Cabin Count | 64 | ||||||||
| Launch Year | 2026 | ||||||||
| Gross Tonnage | N/A | ||||||||
| Electrical Plugs |
|
||||||||
| Large Cabin Count | N/A | ||||||||
| Wheelchair Cabin Count | N/A |
Sky Deck
- Spa Pool (1)
- Sky Bar (2)
- Elevators (3)
- Sky Deck Cabanas (4)
Pool Deck
- Elevators (3)
- Aqua Café (5)
- Aqua Pool (6)
- Owner's Suite
- Balcony Suite
- Deluxe Balcony Suite
Panorama Deck
- Elevators (3)
- Life Boats (8)
- Navigation Bridge (7)
- Balcony Suite
- Terrace Suite
Observation Deck
- Elevators (3)
- Life Boats (8)
- Spa Pool (9)
- Observation Sun Deck (10)
- Observation Lounge (11)
- Self-Service Laundry (12)
- Yacht Suite
- Balcony Suite
Emerald Deck
- Elevators (3)
- Amici Bar & Lounge (13)
- Reception (14)
- Boutique (15)
- Night Market Grill (16)
- La Cucina Terrace (17)
- Oceanview Stateroom
Wellness Deck
- Elevators (3)
- Medical Center (19)
- Elements Spa (20)
- Sauna (21)
- Infrared Sauna (22)
- Hairdresser (23)
- Tender Boat (24)
- Zodiac (25)
- Gym (26)
- Marina Lounge (27)
- Marina Deck (28)
Experience à la carte and fine dining on board our yachts. No matter which ocean you’re sailing on, you’ll find delectable meals on board, prepared using fresh, local ingredients.
With a selection of wines, beers, and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner, there's always a delightful pairing for your meals. Or, if you’d like to extend your selection of beverages, there’s a range of drinks packages to choose form^.
^Available at an additional cost.
Night Market Grill
Experience: complimentary
Food: asian
This new Asian-Style, private dining experience on Emerald Kaia is exclusive to just eight guests.
La Cucina
Experience: complimentary
Food: regional
Our signature restaurant serves gourmet dinners and mouthwatering breakfast and lunch. Emerald Kaia features an open kitchen with views of the chefs in action.
Take in stunning vistas from the Observation Deck. Swim under the sun in the infinity-style Aqua Pool or take a leisurely dip in the Spa Pool. Unwind in the innovative infrared sauna and, on selected days, enjoy swim stops off the Marina Platform.
From the chilled and relaxed vibe of the Amici Bar & Lounge to the open-air surrounds of the Pool Deck and the serene Observation Lounge, you’ll find plenty of spaces on board to enjoy the company of new-found friends or to take a moment for yourself.
Marina Lounge
Relax with refreshments in the Marina Lounge.
Sky Bar
Enjoy sunsets while relaxing in a cabana with a delicious cocktail in hand.
Observation Sun Deck
An inviting venue at the bow, now with sun beds and Spa Pool - always with spectacular views.
Aqua Pool and Café
After a dip in the Aqua Pool, enjoy al fresco light refreshments at the Aqua Café while taking in the expansive views.