By Coastal Angler Staff
The resurgence of Croatia is one of the great stories in global travel today. The war that tore apart the Balkans in the early 1990’s is now but a distant memory in Croatia. The country is thriving thanks to European travelers who have long enjoyed the beauty of this exotic seaside land which sits along the Adriatic Coast.
But Croatia is Europe’s travel secret no longer thanks to Boston based Vantage Deluxe World Travel, which is now among the first travel companies in the United States to offer passengers a complete land tour of this uniquely beautiful country steeped in history, tradition and some of the finest cuisine the world has to offer.
Vantage Deluxe World Travel is now offering customers the opportunity to explore all that Croatia has to offer during a 14 day cruise aboard the La Perla, its refurbished Five-star luxury yacht which carries only 27 passengers.
The intimacy of this boutique “small ship” experience makes for a one of a kind travel memory says Vantage founder and CEO Hank Lewis. “My wife Tricia and I and a few of our friends (including Regan Communications President George Regan, real estate developer Jim Kelleher and Maurice Plourde, touring manager for U2) finally got the chance to cruise aboard La Perla,” Lewis says. “It was one of the most extraordinary travel experiences of our lives, to a destination that offers everything: scenic beauty, a living sense of history, lots to do, fabulous food, and friendly, generous people.”
The trip’s highlights included dining aboard the ship while moored in Dubrovnik’s Old Harbor, with the city lights reflecting off the water and the massive honey-colored walls rising from the sea just a few yards away. Passengers also had the opportunity to stroll Old Town Dubrovnik’s ancient stone streets after the daytime tourists returned to their hotels outside the city walls.
“Staying aboard La Perla, we felt like we were in our own private hotel right next to Old Town,” Lewis says.
While many travelers know Dubrovnik, the city of Split is also a “must see”. In Split, travelers can tour the Diocletian’s Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built at the turn of the 4th Century AD, the palace is a sprawling mini-city with a monumental court, massive gates and watchtowers. The Diocletian’s Palace can also be seen on HBO’s hit dramatic series Game of Thrones. Today, the massive ruins and the Old City of Split are essentially one and the same, with markets, churches, cafés, restaurants, and apartments built in, on, and around the remains of the palace.
Following recommendations by Cruise Director Matija Radic, Lewis and his guests dined at several restaurants during the cruise where they enjoyed succulent lamb paired with excellent wines from the Peljasac peninsula at the Lesic Dimitri Palace in Korcula and on an amazing seafood selection at Gariful on the island of Hvar, one of Croatia’s best-known sea food restaurants. Both attract an international clientele. Ivan Gospodnetic, owner of Gariful, in fact told the group that in just the past year he’s hosted Bill Gates, Beyoncé, and the family of Steve Jobs. While in Hvar, Lewis and his guests followed the cobbled streets and stairways to the top of the Napoleonic fortress to enjoy the sunset, one of the most breathtaking in all of Europe.
Meals served aboard La Perla rivaled any of the 5 Star restaurants found on land. Passengers enjoyed a varied, delicious menu every day, prepared by Chef Rudolf Brecic and his award winning staff, which was always happy to accommodate vegetarian and other special requests.
The ship itself is a true work of art. Passengers aboard La Perla marvel at the superb workmanship with exquisite detail, and the elegant furnishings of what essentially is your own private yacht.
“It all starts with the superb service,” says Lewis. “From Captain Matko Pejkovic and his crew to butler and hostess Ivana Kristic and the excellent drinks served up by bartender Nenad Sredojevic, right on to the dining room staff and the people who keep everything spotless and shipshape.”
Adding to the luxurious touch, La Perla is also equipped with a private high-speed tender to go ashore or back to the ship at anytime, without having to wait for a local tender.
In addition to guided tours, Vantage Deluxe World Travel passengers can go ashore to visit the beautiful beaches, stop into town after dinner to stroll around and have a drink, head out on sunrise fishing trips, and take scenic cruises around smaller islands.
There are now three optional tours included in the price of the trip – tours of scenic Istrian Peninsula and the cities of Pula and Rovinj, the remarkable walled island city of Trogir, which was founded more than 2,000 years ago, and the ancient landscapes of Hvar Island. Both Trogir and Stari Grad Plain on Hvar are designated as World Heritage Sites.
Vantage Deluxe World Travel’s deluxe 14-day cruise tour to Croatia and the Adriatic Coast is priced at just $3,699 per person. The full itinerary can be found on their website at www. vantagetravel.com/lpc16. You can also call 1-800-322-6677.