Croatia Cruises
Roman palaces, walled cities and island harbors along Croatia’s coast.
Get Croatia Cruise QuotesCroatia: The Heart of an Adriatic Cruise
Croatia’s coast and islands give Adriatic cruises most of their ports. Roman ruins, Venetian bell towers, pine-covered islands and clear water make it easy to see why.
| Port | Known for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik | Complete medieval city walls, the Stradun, Lokrum island, the cable car | Daily cruise calls are limited; ships use Gruž port, a short ride from the old town |
| Split | Diocletian’s Palace, a Roman emperor’s home that became a living town | Ships dock or anchor close to the palace walls |
| Zadar | The Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun, Roman forum | A gateway to Krka and Plitvice national parks on long tours |
| Šibenik | The UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St James, Krka waterfalls nearby | Visited mainly by smaller ships |
| Hvar | A Venetian-era harbor town, lavender fields, island beaches | Tender port; popular with small ships |
| Korčula | A compact walled town on a peninsula, said to be Marco Polo’s birthplace | Small-ship favorite |
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik’s walls run unbroken around its old town and give one of the great walks in Europe, with views over terracotta roofs to the sea. The city has worked hard to manage visitor numbers, including limits on how many cruise ships call each day. Walk the walls early, before the heat and the crowds, then explore the lanes off the Stradun or take the cable car up Mount Srđ.
Tour options are on Dubrovnik shore excursions.
Split and Central Dalmatia
Split grew inside the walls of a palace built for the Roman emperor Diocletian around the year 300, and people still live and shop within its ancient corridors. From Split, tours reach the Roman ruins of Salona, the town of Trogir and the Krka waterfalls, or you can simply walk the Riva and climb Marjan hill.
Split is also the usual start or finish for small-ship Croatia voyages. See Split shore excursions.
The Islands
Large ships call at only a few Croatian islands, but small ships can work their way through the archipelago: Hvar’s harbor town and lavender fields, Korčula’s walled old town, the national park on Mljet, Vis and Brač. Swim stops, local wine and long harbor-side dinners are part of the rhythm. If the islands are what draw you, read small-ship Adriatic cruises.
Croatia uses the euro and is part of the EU’s Schengen area, which simplifies travel between Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.
Croatia’s national parks are within reach of several ports on longer tours. The Krka waterfalls are close to Šibenik and reachable from Split, and the lakes of Plitvice, far inland, make a very long day from Zadar. Ask how much of the tour is spent on the road before you book.
Cruise the Croatian Coast
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