En route to Venice, Phoenicians, Greeks and all the maritime traders of the ancient world plied these waters, bringing wealth and culture to settlements all along the coast. A Croatia cruise greets you with palaces, towers, churches and mighty walls that bear testament to a memorable past, whilst the myriad lavender scented islands, pretty bays and secluded beaches make this the perfect cruising destination.
The best cruises in Croatia and the Adriatic
1. SeaDream Yacht Club
The intimate SeaDream I and II, each with just 114 fortunate guests on board, offer a laid back, al fresco and inclusive yacht experience on a number of Adriatic itineraries throughout the summer months. Their Croatia and Adriatic cruises often sell out, so book early to make sure you don't miss out.
2. Windstar Cruises
For some of the best cruising in Croatia, Windstar's magnificent five-masted flagship Wind Surf, with a complement of 342 guests, explores the Adriatic on an expanded programme of itineraries visiting Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Italy and Greece: relaxed and unpretentious, this is the perfect choice for easy-going exploration.
3. Ponant
Ponant's chic and elegant little Le Lyrial, with just 244 guests, brings a touch of ooh la la to the Dalmatian Coast on its Adriatic cruises. Various itineraries are on offer, and we particularly like the seven-night voyage beginning in Venice, with its itinerary including gems such as Rovinj and Kotor.
4. Silversea
One of Silversea's newest ships, Silver Ray, arrived in 2024, and the perfect opportunity to test her out will be on one of Silversea's cruises to Croatia during their August or September sailings, with lots of opportunity to explore ashore, and to get the measure of this lovely 728-guest vessel.
5. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
In 2022 Ritz-Carlton made its very first foray into cruising, bringing the same Ritz-Carlton land-based style to holidays at sea. Accommodating just 298 guests in spacious sea view suites, the intimate Evrima will be in the Adriatic next summer, the perfect combination of new ship and great itinerary.
6. Seabourn
Seabourn's sublime 604-guest Seabourn Encore sails between Athens and Venice on appealing seven-day and 14-day itineraries. The company's close ties with UNESCO will make visits to the World Heritage-listed sites along the way all the more exciting, and the ship itself is elegant, comfortable and relaxed.
7. Star Clippers
Romance abounds as you slide gracefully under full sail on the lovely 179-guest, four-masted Star Flyer on lovely seven- and 11-day Croatia, Greece and Montenegro itineraries. Pent-up demand means that voyages are filling up quickly, so book now for 2025.
8. Emerald Yacht Cruises
Emerald's stylish 100-guest yacht Emerald Azzurra offers a range of intriguing itineraries visiting the Dalmatian Coast, the Venetian lagoon and beautiful Istria, a top destination for foodies in search of the tastiest local produce.
