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Peregrine Travel Centre

Balkan Odyssey

Balkan Odyssey

From £3,895 GBP

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Description

Despite its often turbulent past, cultural and natural wonders abound in the Balkans and the region offers so much for the genuine traveller. At the crossroads of east and west and with a history forged over the centuries and influenced by so many, there are a wealth of cultural sights to discover during our voyage from Medieval towns and cities, impressive monasteries and UNESCO World Heritage Sites to remnants of the more recent communist past. In addition the coastal scenery is amongst the most beautiful Europe has to offer with mountains that sweep down to the sea covered in rich vegetation and islands that lace the coast creating endless inviting waterways perfect for small ship cruising.

Trip Name
Balkan Odyssey
Days
11
Overview
Vessel Type: Small Ship Length: 87 metres Passenger Capacity: 107 (from Dec 2018 - 95) Built / refurbished: 1960 / 2013 / 2018 We are delighted to have had the MS Serenissima on long term charter since 2013. There are so few ships of her generation still cruising and the fact that she is is a great testament to her owners who invest considerable sums to keep her in top form. In December 2018, the vessel will once again undergo a significant refurbishment after which she will accommodate a maximum of just 95 guests. MS Serenissima is a charming vessel and one of her best known and loved features of this vessel is its unique style. During a major refit the then owners commissioned Swedish interior designers to create a Gustavian style interior. This bright Swedish 18th century influenced, country house style works particularly well on a vessel of this vintage, providing intimacy and classic nautical sensibility often lacking in larger vessels. The vessel is equipped with a fleet of Zodiac landing craft allowing us to visit remote places where normal tender arrangements are not possible. The European Captain, Officers, Expedition Staff, and crew offer a first class service and have been selected for their professionalism and caring attitudes. The atmosphere on board is warm and welcoming and dedicated to discovery and relaxation. AIR-CONDITIONING The ship is air conditioned throughout. Please note that only the Serenissima Suites have individually controlled air-conditioning. DAILY PROGRAMME A Daily Programme, detailing the following day’s arrangements as well as any specific information about the day’s activities is produced onboard and delivered to your cabin each evening during the turn down service. DINING, DRINKING AND DIETARY REQUIREMENTS The Venice Restaurant onboard serves international cuisine and accommodates all guests at a single open seating. Tables seat 4 to 10 diners. In addition, there is an outside dining area for when the weather and itinerary permit. Breakfast and lunch are both buffet style, dinner is waiter service only. Complimentary (red and white) house wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner. Bar drinks and other beverages with meals are not included; these may be purchased onboard and paid for at the end of your cruise. Complimentary tea and coffee are available between 07:00 hours and 23:00 hours at the tea and coffee station located in the Andrea lounge. Please advise of any special dietary requests in advance. DISABLED FACILITIES The ship can accommodate passengers with mobility restrictions and wheelchair dependent passengers in cabin 407, which has a wider door and no step into/out of the bathroom and shower area. There is a lift serving decks 3 to 6, but there is no stair lift. DOCTOR A medical doctor is available on board 24 hours a day. A fee is charged for any consultations and medication prescribed. Please ensure you carry adequate supplies of any regular medications you may require.  ELECTRICITY The electrical outlets in the cabins and public areas are 220V and take a two-round-pin plug (as in continental Europe). There is a 110/220V, 60Hz outlet for electric shavers in the bathroom. We recommend that you bring an international adaptor. GRATUITIES Gratuities to crew and whilst on excursions are included in the cost of your holiday. INTERNET The onboard library has a computer equipped for email/internet access and Wi-Fi access is available in public areas, although you will require your own laptop, tablet or smartphone, and charges apply – 100mb for €15 Euros, or 500mb for €25 Euros. Please note that connection is dependent on weather conditions and location. LANGUAGE All members of the crew speak English. MONEY The following payment methods are accepted for settlement of shipboard accounts: Cash (Euros or British Pounds), Credit Card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express), Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa). Please note that personal cheques and Travellers’ Cheques are not accepted. PUBLIC AREAS • Andrea Lounge (on Deck 5). The bar is open from 11.00 until 24.00. • Harald Jarl Lounge (on Deck 5). There is a small library here with books and games. There is also a computer for public use (charges apply for internet access) • Lido area (on Deck 5) with a Jacuzzi and fitness room with two running machines • Observation Deck (access from Deck 5 lido area) • Deck 5 and Deck 6 outside seating areas SNORKELLING Snorkelling equipment is kept onboard. Please note that there is no snorkelling from Zodiacs. All snorkelling stops will operate from a beach.  TELEVISION The ship is equipped with a satellite TV system which receives 15 channels. TV reception depends on the satellite dish and on occasion it may not be possible to receive a signal. There is one central video channel on which it is possible to listen to the lectures delivered in the Andrea Lounge. There is also a channel for the ship’s camera located in front of the ship. ZODIACS Some destinations may require the use of Zodiacs to go ashore. These are usually on expedition cruises though may sometimes be used on destination cruises. 

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 - London to Bari, Italy.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Serenissima and sail this evening.
Day 2 - Day 2 - Sazan Island, Albania.
Located around ten miles from the port of Vlore, Sazan is Albania’s largest island albeit at only 2.2 square miles. Due to its strategic location It has been under Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman control and it was occupied by the Italians in 1914 only to be returned to Albania in 1947. During the Cold War the Russians built a submarine base and the Albanian Communist regime built a military base complete with bunkers and tunnels which could withstand a nuclear attack or western invasion. Since 1992, following the end of communism, the island has fallen into disrepair but we are able to explore this derelict base, the ruined buildings which still contain original furniture and the tunnels. We return to the MS Serenissima for lunch and Kotor Bay this afternoon explore the rest of the island which is situated in the Karaburan-Sazan National Marine Park.
Day 3 - Day 3 - Durres.
From our berth in Durres we embark on a full day tour to include the Albanian capital of Tirana. Here we will see the fascinating nuclear bunker built by the dictator Enver Hoxha in the 1970’s and only opened to the public in 2014. This five storey underground building is packed with original artefacts from the communist period. We continue to the National Museum where we will learn of Albanian history from ancient to modern before walking through the city centre to see the Mosque, Clock Tower and the “Bloku” area of the city. It is here where the politburo officers once lived, an area forbidden to ordinary Albanian citizens. We will enjoy lunch in the city before returning to Durres which was colonized by the Greeks in 627B.C. and still has the remains of a 15,000 seat amphitheatre, the second largest in the Balkans. We will explore the Medieval city before returning to the MS Serenissima this afternoon.
Day 4 - Day 4 - Shkodra, Albania & Kotor, Montenegro.
There will be a choice of activities today including a full day tour visiting the town of Shkodra followed by a drive to Kotor through the Montenegro countryside. Shkodra was founded in the 4th century B.C. and has been occupied by the Romans, Serbians and Venetians. Here we will visit the Rozafa Castle, which rises majestically on a rocky hill just outside the city, and explore the museum within the walls. After our visit we will cross the border into Montenegro and enjoy lunch before joining the MS Serenissima in Kotor. Alternatively, you may prefer to stay on board and enjoy a day cruising along the coastline before entering the Kotor fjord in the early afternoon.
Day 5 - Day 5 - Kotor.
This morning we explore the Medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor. This really is an extraordinary place full of marvellous architecture and pretty town squares. Our morning guided walk will include the 12th century Cathedral of St Tryphon, the ancient town gates, the Maritime Museum and Romanesque churches including St Luke’s. The more active amongst us may wish to climb to the Castle of San Giovanni which offers wonderful views over the bay and town below. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy the afternoon cruising through the bay towards Dubrovnik where we will arrive in the early evening and moor overnight.
Day 6 - Day 6 - Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Dubrovnik is a breathtaking sight and its many historic and cultural treasures have earned it the designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded by the Romans in the 7th century, it eventually came under the influence of the Byzantine Empire, then Venice, Hungary and finally Turkey. This morning our local guides will lead us through the bustling old town taking in the beautiful civic buildings, the Rector’s Palace, the Romanesque-Gothic Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries and the Sponza Palace. We will also hear of the siege of Dubrovnik, in the early 1990’s, where Serbian forces blockaded the city for three months and the bullet-marked buildings seen today bear testimony to this dreadful period of Balkan history. This afternoon is free to explore independently and perhaps enjoy a walk on the city walls.
Day 7 - Day 7 - Mljet & Korcula.
Arrive this morning at the idyllic island of Mljet. This is one of the few Dalmatian islands that was never ruled by Venice and this is apparent in the architecture and the absence of any sizeable historic town. What it lacks in great architecture it more than makes up for in natural beauty and there will be a tour to the National Park including its beautiful lakes. Over lunch we sail to Korcula, the reputed birthplace of Marco Polo, and enjoy a walking tour to see the crooked Medieval streets and elegant squares which are flanked with palaces of the old nobility.
Day 8 - Day 8 - Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
From our berth in Ploce we will embark on an excursion to Mostar which in the 15th century became a thriving centre on the banks of the emerald Neretva River under the Ottoman Turks. Damaged by the military conflict in the 1990’s, the town has been carefully restored by UNESCO and declared a World Heritage Site. Admire the ethereally graceful Stari Most (“The Old Bridge”), originally built in 1566, the nearby Tabacica Mosque and an old Turkish house, among other sites. After lunch at a local restaurant there will be time to explore the old bazaar independently, a haven for the city’s artists and craftsmen, before returning to the ship.
Day 9 - Day 9 - Split, Croatia.
Enjoy a full day in Split. Our morning walking tour will include The Diocletian Palace, St Dulmus Cathedral and the treasury and the Diocletian’s cellars. Split, the second largest city in Croatia and “the capital of Dalmatia”, had gradually developed around the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian which was built more than 1700 years ago by the emperor as his retirement villa. Much of this large building is well preserved and the palace contains Split’s old town within its walls, making it the only Roman palace that has been continuously inhabited since Roman times. This afternoon is free to explore independently or join a tour to ancient Solin, the archaeological site of the ancient Roman settlement of Salona whose excavations have revealed temples, an amphitheatre, early Christian churches and Roman baths, illustrating centuries of both war and peace as well as great prosperity.
Day 10 - Day 10 - Rab.
Perched on a sloping peninsula overlooking a spacious bay, Rab, the only town on the small island by the same name, is one of the most beautiful towns along Croatia’s coast. Four graceful belfries pointing to the sky dominate the unspoiled Medieval town, with its narrow streets that are lined with stately mansions and other buildings. The Cathedral of Sveta Marija Velika (Saint Mary the Great), consecrated in 1177, is an excellent example of a Romanesque basilica, while its magnificent Bell Tower is a masterpiece of 12th century architecture. Our walking tour of this lovely town will include all its landmark sites. This afternoon there will be a chance to explore the town further before we set sail.
Day 11 - Day 11 - Venice, Italy to London.
Arrive this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
11-10-201721-10-2017£5,595Owners Suite
11-10-201721-10-2017£3,895Inside Single
11-10-201721-10-2017£5,195Standard Stateroom Plus Sole
11-10-201721-10-2017£5,095Standard Stateroom Sole
11-10-201721-10-2017£5,595Executive Suite
11-10-201721-10-2017£4,395Superior Stateroom
11-10-201721-10-2017£4,595Deluxe Stateroom
11-10-201721-10-2017£4,095Standard Stateroom
11-10-201721-10-2017£3,895Inside Cabin
11-10-201721-10-2017£5,295Junior Suite
11-10-201721-10-2017£4,095Standard Single
11-10-201721-10-2017£4,195Standard Stateroom Plus

Inclusions

    • Enjoy a full day tour of the Albanian capital of Tirana. Here we will see the fascinating nuclear bunker built by the dictator Enver Hoxha in the 1970’s, the National Museum, the Mosque, Clock Tower and the “Bloku” area of the city.
    • Explore the Medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor.
    • Visit Dubrovnik
    • a breathtaking sight and its many historic and cultural treasures have earned it the designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    • Sail to Korcula, the reputed birthplace of Marco Polo, and enjoy a walking tour to see the crooked Medieval streets and elegant squares which are flanked with palaces of the old nobility.
    • Enjoy a full day in Split.

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