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About this trip
THIS FALL, leave right from Champaign and fly to Croatia with Larry and Alaina Kanfer.
Itinerary Summary
This unique package includes two nights in a hotel in Split, Croatia, before a seven-day small-ship cruise itinerary. We board our Sail Croatia yacht and enjoy the first two days spent on the exciting island of Hvar, exploring the traditional town of Stari Grad and the impressive, bustling town of Hvar.
Leaving Hvar behind, the cruise continues to the green island of Mljet before heading to the magical mainland city of Dubrovnik. The next two days are spent exploring the island of Korcula and the seaside town of Makarska before the cruise returns to Split for one final night. This star-studded itinerary covers the very best of the Dalmatian islands!
Our yacht cruise has only 38 berths and includes 16 meals, relaxing cruising, and lots of free time to explore in port—stay out as late as you want.
Advantages of a small yacht over huge ships
Large cruise ships with thousands of passengers often travel hundreds of miles out to sea, which can mean unpredictable weather and swell that can cause sea sickness. Our ships travel between the protected islands of Dalmatia, ensuring you aren’t in the open sea for long in the Adriatic. Another benefit of cruising in Dalmatia is that guests aren’t traveling across international borders, meaning any international ports, immigration wait times or paperwork. You won’t need to fetch your passport during the whole time.
On big cruises, small tenders ferry passengers from the ship to their destination for a few hours before rushing guests back into the ship and taking them to the next port. This is where a Sail Croatia Cruise is fundamentally different! Docking overnight in each destination brings you into the midst of each town's harbor. Our ships usually dock by mid-afternoon, ensuring guests have plenty of time to explore each destination at their leisure, participate in optional activities, or indulge in local cuisine in one of the restaurants that line the waterfront!
Highlights
• Experience the up-and-coming Mediterranean lifestyle destination, Croatia • Start with a hotel stay to get situated • Seven nights on a small yacht with most meals • Visit the bucket-list Dubrovnik, a walled city on the Adriatic Sea • Maximal free time in each port with the ship staying overnight • Tour manager on-board
You can choose from free time, some included tours or join others on optional excursions daily. You will have time to visit the old city Split at the beginning and end of the trip (the last night will be spent with the yacht docked there).
Details
• The document required is a valid passport valid through. • The tour operator is CHR Travel, and the cruise operator is Sail Croatia, who are disclosed principals. The deposit is $1500 per person. The balance is due 6/10/24.
• The document required is a valid passport valid through 1/10/25 with one blank page (no visa or shots are required now.). • Insurance coverage is included: AIG TravelGuard Vacation & Cruises Plan, click for coverage details, covering cancellation charges; other terms at steviejaytravel.com/terms are incorporated by reference. • We will dock in Port Gruz, just outside Dubrovnik Old Town. Either ride with Larry & Alaina or take public buses to Dubrovnik Old Town; buses are available for €2 per person, each way, payable locally). Price and details are subject to change. Discount codes: if no insurance coverage is desired, enter NO-INSUR $374; if no airfare, enter NO-AIR to save $1500; or if neither insurance nor airfare is desired, enter NO-AIR-INSUR for $1874 savings. • Get a €50/person Euro spiff when you pay your balance by e-cheque, or skip the spiff and pay by credit card. Call Bill Owen at 217-619-0202.
Accommodations (9) Nights
Split (2) Le Méridien Lav*
Yacht (7) MS Esperanza
*Sunset-facing beach resort. This hotel will provide a scenic and relaxing start after your flight. One can get a taxi and be in the old city of Split in 15 minutes.
Yacht Information
Video of the yacht, MS Esperanza, 1 min 49 sec
Built: 2016 • Length: 46m • Width: 8.6m • Hull: Steel • Capacity: 38 • Cabins: 19 • Above Deck: 11 • Lower Deck: 8 • Jacuzzi
Quality Score 9.5 of 10 from 2,218 client feedback reports. Crew 9.5 • Food 8.9 • Cabins 9.7 • Salon 9.8
Two Cabin Categories
All cabins have air conditioning, bathrooms, and WiFi. Both categories' view is above the waterline. See more photos in the Gallery for the Deck Plans.
Deck - Window - Size - Stairs*
Above Deck - Square - Smaller - One
Lower Deck - Porthole - Larger - Two
*Flight of stairs to the Salon (for meals), with Sun Deck one flight above that.
Note: Above Deck (AD) cabins are smaller because one enters from the open deck on either side of the ship. Lower Deck (LD) cabins are larger because one enters by way of an internal stairway. Lower Deck cabins only have double bed. Above Deck cabins have either a double bed or two twin beds,
Excursions
We have two included excursions: walking tours in Dubrovnik and Split. On both days, there are optional alternatives: a Game of Thrones walking tour in Dubrovnik (€25) and River Rafting in Split (€55).
Other options at other ports include Mljet bike rental (€15), Korcula Buggy Safari (€60), and Makarska Skywalk (€50). As usual, Larry and Alaina will have some surprise features later.
Click green Select button, to book
Book securely online 24/7* by clicking the green button, calling Bill Owen at 217 619-0202, or mailing a deposit check to Stevie Jay Travel, 4413 Trostshire Cir, Champaign, IL 61820. Get a €50/person Euro spiff when you pay your balance by e-cheque, or skip the spiff and pay by credit card (okay to pay deposit by credit card).
*Credit cards or "e-checks" from a checking account are welcomed and entered securely on WeTravel.
What’s included
- Round trip motor coachChampaign to Chicago
- Round trip flightsfrom Chicago/O'Hare to Split
- Round trip motor coachfrom airport to hotel, to ship, and to airport
- 18 Meals9 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, and 2 Dinners
- Welcome aboard reception
- All tipsfor drivers, tour manager, and cruise staff
- All current taxes & fees(subject to change)
- Travel InsuranceAIG Travel Guard Vacation and Cruises Plan
- €50 Spiffwhen you pay the balance by e-cheque (credit card okay for deposit)
- Two walking toursDubrovnik and Split
What’s not included
- Airline bag check-in(currently at no extra charge)
- Unlisted meals2 Lunches and 7 Dinners during the free time in Split and other ports
- Free time activitiesand souvenirs
Available Packages
A room for two people in the same booking, with a double bed*, a window, and a little less room than cabins on the Lower Deck. All cabins have air conditioning, a bathroom, and Wi-Fi.
*See Lower Deck for the shared package below for a room with two beds, traveling together but booking separately.
A room for two people in the same booking*, with a porthole and a little more room than cabins on the Above Deck. All cabins have air conditioning, a bathroom, and Wi-Fi. We have one cabin with one double bed, and another with two beds.
*See the LD cabin shared package below for two singles traveling together but booking separately.
AD cabins with two beds are sold out, but LD still has cabins with two beds. This cabin with one Double Bed has a window and a little less room than cabins on the Lower Deck. All cabins have air conditioning, a bathroom, and Wi-Fi.
Two singles booking separately should book this to share a cabin with two beds, OR if willing to share with a new roommate.* This cabin has a window and a little more room than cabins on the Above Deck. All cabins have air conditioning, a bathroom, and Wi-Fi.
*If neither you nor we can find a roommate, we will fully refund your deposit.
This is a room for 3 people with one double bed and one rollaway bed. All cabins have air conditioning, a bathroom, and Wi-Fi. There are no triples on the Above Deck.
As all "AD" single cabins are sold out, either book on a "will share" basis or find a roommate to share a twin room with. Either way, book the "shared" cabin package. Or can book as a single in an "LD" single cabin (below). A room for 1 person. All cabins have air conditioning, a bathroom & WiFi.
A room for 1 person. All cabins have air conditioning, a bathroom & WiFi.
A room for a second person in the same Above Deck cabin with a double bed*, a window, and a little less room than cabins on the Lower Deck. All cabins have air conditioning, a bathroom, and Wi-Fi. You can pay in full on booking $5979, or make a credit card deposit of $1500 now and the balance by e-check by July 12 ($4479).
Available options
Net cost $855 per person. Total air tickets cost $5695.70 + $420 for specific seat assignments = $6115.70. $420 to be refunded to your card shortly.
The extra $62 per person to cover the additional Premium Economy airfare upgrade.
Itinerary
Larry and Alaina Kanfer welcomes you aboard our private coach to Chicago where we board our flight to Europe.