Saturday. Opatija – Krk. Welcome to Croatia and welcome aboard! Nestled into a bay along the Gulf of Kvarner, lies the quaint seaside resort town of Opatija. Surrounded by beautiful woods of laurel, the entire maritime coast to the north and south of Opatija is rocky and picturesque. The oceanfront promenade is lined with grand buildings in the Austro-Hungarian style (a reference to the history of this region), an illuminated 12-km-long coastal promenade, well-kept beaches, restaurants, cafes, bars and shops make Opatija a real northern drawcard.

Don’t miss the boat! YOUR CRUISE DEPARTS FROM OPATIJA HARBOUR AT 13:00. Be sure to arrive in plenty of time for the Saturday afternoon departure from Opatija harbour; we are able to arrange a pre nights accommodation in a local hotel should you require.

Early afternoon we set sail for the island of Krk. Under Venetian rule from 1480 to 1797, today the island is still loaded with Venetian architecture and charm. Directly opposite the waterfront is the gorgeous old city (also referred to as Krk) complete with defensive city wall, cobbled streets, town hall, cathedral and market square. There are plenty of hidden alleys filled with trinket shops to explore, numerous bars, pizza restaurants and café shops to take respite, whilst watching the sunset and listening to outdoor musicians play their tunes. Overnight - onboard (L)

Krk – Rab – Zadar. Known as the ‘island of love’ the small town of Rab is encircled by medieval walls with church towers, cobbled streets and ancient facades. Often, local painters exhibit on the small streets. On day 3, we sail to the small islands of Pag and Maun, where there will be time for swimming, before sailing onward to Zadar. Zadar has a rich monumental heritage dating from Roman occupation in the 1st century AD. There are numerous monuments, city gates, villas and palaces to be explored as well as a lively cafe and bar scene. Overnight - onboard (B:2, L:2)

Zadar – Molat or Olib. Anchors away as we cruise to the blissfully underdeveloped island of Molat or Olib. Whether it is Molat or Olib, will be dependent upon where we secure a mooring, such is the compactness of both islands and the pleasingly underdeveloped infrastructure. A stop in either Molat or Oilb will be far from the maddening crowds, a rare thing these days. Overnight - onboard (B, L)

Molat or Olib – Ilovik – Mali Losinj. Cruising via the island of Ilovik we enjoy a swim and snorkel, before continuing to the island of Mali Losinj. With its clear waters, pine-scented air and old city, Mali Losinj is a popular stop in the northern Adriatic. The nightlife is always good along the harbour edge with an abundance of fresh seafood local wine and golden coloured Zlahtina (aniseed spirit) from the Vrbnik region if you feel like a tipple. Overnight - onboard (B, L)

Mali – Losinj – Cres. Long and narrow, the island of Cres is carpeted with oak trees, pine forest, olive groves and grape vines. Cres and Mali Losinj used to be one island but a channel dug by the Romans separates them! Overnight - onboard (B, L)

Cres – Opatija. Taking in the views of the Kvarner region as we cruise back to Opatija. Overnight - onboard (B, L)

Saturday – Opatija. Our perfect week of sailing concludes after breakfast. (B)