Cruise in Croatia!

I was lucky to have the opportunity to head to Dubrovnik a few days before the cruise. I stayed at the Grand Hotel Park which was really well located. The drive from the airport to most places and hotels is about a half hour. The cruise company can arrange a private transfer for about 40 Euro (as of 2022) and the taxi ride was about the same price.
 
The Grand Hotel Park is close to a lot of fun things that are in walking distance. There is a boardwalk that is the length of the peninsula that has shops, restaurants, gelato, and swim stops along the way. As a single gal, I felt comfortable to walk any time of day or night on my own. The hotel had a pool and was also a 5 minute walk from Lapad Beach. This area had sun chairs and a pebbly beach that was perfect for swimming.

 
One of my favorite things about Croatia was the food. The first meal I had the evening I arrived was an octopus dish. You can find meals that are between 15-25 Euro, depending on the restaurant and what you order. I ate my weight in gelato and there were several places on the boardwalk. Some of the best restaurants in Dubrovnik were in Old Town which was about a 10 minute drive from the hotel and a 15 Euro cost. I had my first and best black risotto at the Jesuit Restaurant right at the steps of the Church of St Ignatius.

 
There are a few things to do in Dubrovnik, but not a whole lot to fill more than 2-3 full days. I enjoyed wandering through Old Town on my own (in the morning before the droves of people arrive by noon), reading a book on the beach, and walking the boardwalk at the sunset. If you want lots of tour options, you won’t find many. You can tour the walls of Old Town, go up the tram to get a view of the city, explore the museum at the top of the war that happened in 1991, or do a tour of Dubrovnik and Montenegro. I also saw a lot of people kayaking in  the areas near old town during the day and sunset. If I went back, I’d absolutely set up a kayak tour.
 

I discover many things when traveling alone and the biggest one is that people can take advantage of a solo lady. My biggest recommendation is to always find a taxi driver that will give you the price before you even enter the vehicle. Whether it’s a ride to a restaurant, tour, or the airport. I found that if a taxi driver did not give me the price in advance, they were not a legitimate taxi driver and could charge you whatever you want.

 
I made the mistake of getting in the car with a driver outside of the designated taxi zone with a couple of fellow travelers and this gentleman took us to the airport at the end of our trip in Split. My dad who was traveling with me went to the airport earlier that morning. The evening prior, he asked a bunch of drivers at the designated stand how much they would charge and they gave him a price upfront, around 40 Euro. The guy who convinced us to ride with him, started up a meter on his phone and I knew we were in trouble. The end price ended up being 70 Euro and we gave him 50. It was certainly awkward and I hope this word of advice helps you avoid this situation.

 
What I do recommend is spending at least a day or two before your cruise in Split or Dubrovnik. This helps you experience the city you’re exploring with the cruise on your own beforehand and will also help you get use to the time difference. I was able to work remotely while I was there the few days beforehand, but I was also able to allow my body to acclimate the the 8 hour time difference. Make sure you stay in a hotel that has fun things in walking distance (restaurants, activities, beaches). Let us know if you need recommendations!
 

I joined the 8-day tour on the MS Ambassador from Dubrovnik to Split. Each day was a little different, but I will walk you through a typical day onboard. The day started with a breakfast at 7:30 AM until 9 AM. By now, we have typically departed from the port we were at the night before and are heading to the next destination. Most mornings were sailing to the next spot and time was spent on the sun deck chatting with other travelers or reading a good book, and some days we had a mid-morning swim stop. Lunch was at 1 PM and a swim stop usually soon after around 2 PM. These swim stops in the morning and afternoon were about an hour on average.

 
We would usually arrive to port around 4 PM and then have an hour tour with all 40 passengers and our headsets. The guide was a local guide from that area and would usually have a great personal touch on the tour. While on the tour, a group of us would scout out a great place for dinner and make a reservation. After the tour, we were on our own to explore, shop, and enjoy a good meal with good friends. The evening was ours to head back to the boat when ready, settle in for a night cap and then head to bed. Early the next morning, we were off again for the next destination.

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive cruise, this is not a good fit for you. The best part of this cruise is the opportunity you have to experience what you want. From meals onboard to optional excursion, the world was your oyster. And sometimes literally.

 
For this specific cruise, there were two established optional tours. One was a tour of Ston, priced 30 Euro per person and needs a minimum of 18 people. The other was a tour of Vis and its history for 25 Euro per person. This also required a minimum of 15 people to sign up. Other things to budget for that aren’t included in tours are activities you can choose to do in your free time. In Dubrovnik, it cost about 30 Euro to get a ticket to the wall which is about an hour or so walk. Dad and I tried to squeeze it all in because we paid another 30 Euro to go up the cable car to a great city overlook and museum of the recent war of 1991. Other activities you can pay extra for throughout the tour include bikes for rides around town or the area, entrances to churches or museums, and local tours you might find.

 

In each port that we arrived in the early afternoon, we enjoyed a one hour tour from a local guide. The ship company provided a pack and ear set to each person onboard so they can hear the guide as the group is led through the city streets. This saved the guide’s voice and allowed us to spread out more and enjoy the scenery. Man of the streets we explored were narrow and the ability to continue to listen to the guide through the earbuds made it easy.

 
Each guide had local knowledge and connection to the city we explored. They shared the highlights of the area, the history, and what made that place special. These special features ranged from heartbreaking story of bombs being dropped on beautiful old town in Dubrovnik or Vis being famous for a location where Mama Mia 2 was filmed. The hour was a perfect amount of time to get a feel for the new port, get familiar with the area, and also find a place to make a reservation for that evening’s dinner.
 

The crew onboard the MS Ambassador was exceptional. Our Captain and his two sons – who were our sailors – did a great job of navigating the ports and tight places. Our captain was so talented, he would also find amazing swim stops and adeptly maneuver the ship into a protected cove that was our own to enjoy. We had friendly bartenders who all knew us by name within the first few days and a talented chef. Our beds were turned down each day by the ladies who kept everything beautifully clean and we were spoiled from start to finish. Our cruise director, Ksenjia, was just the cherry on top of the entire crew. She had a wonderfully thick Slavic accent and rocked the coolest mullet you will ever see. She kept us well informed of the changing schedule that was dictated by when we’d make it to the next port and had a great sense of humor. She was patient with our many questions, helped make reservations, and did her absolute best to make sure we all were enjoying ourselves.
 

I feel very lucky to have had the experience I did with the crew and passengers onboard. Croatia was a very special and fascinating place. I am eager to return in the future to see how they have integrated their history and discovered what makes their part of the world unique and special.