Med Cruise: Dubrovnik
In this seventh post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Dubrovnik, Croatia on her Mediterranean Cruise on Crystal.
I am exploring parts of the Mediterranean on my inaugural cruise on Crystal. The 7-night cruise on Crystal Symphony kicks off in Istanbul, Turkey and wraps up in Venice, Italy. Join me as I explore the many wonderful ports in Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and Italy along the way!
Crystal Mediterranean Cruise Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about my time in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- Pre-Cruise – September 6-8: Istanbul, Turkey
- Cruise Day 1 – September 9: At Sea
- Cruise Day 2 – September 10: Kusadasi, Turkey
- Cruise Day 3 – September 11: At Sea
- Cruise Day 4 – September 12: Katakolon, Greece
- Cruise Day 5 – September 13: Corfu, Greece
- Cruise Day 6 – September 14: Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Post-Cruise – September 15: Venice, Italy
Cruise Day 6: Dubrovnik
Dobro jutro (good morning!) from Dubrovnik, Croatia! I took a quick selfie with my country #34 flag and soaked in the beautiful views of the walled city in the distance from the spot where my ship was anchored in the harbor.
I then headed back to The Marketplace for yet another fabulous breakfast out on the patio. The sun was rising as I enjoyed my light breakfast.
Arriving in Dubrovnik
After breakfast I headed out to my excursion, a walking tour of Dubrovnik. We arrived in the walled city by the ship’s tender boat. Then we walked briefly through part of the town to get a quick bus ride up to a panoramic view of the city.
Panoramic Views
The short bus ride took us to a spot with truly breathtaking views of Dubrovnik. It was great to get such a panoramic view of the city! As with all other stops on this trip, I also spotted a few cats here as well! Apparently, they enjoy lovely views as well.
After taking a few photos and soaking in the views from the panoramic viewing point, we returned to the Old City. We stopped to see the pretty little marina area just outside of the main city entrance.
Exploring the Walled City
Next up, we returned to the walled area of the city and continued the walking tour. There are several gates around the city that allow pedestrian access into the Old City itself. Walking through the Pile Gate and entering the walled city is truly like stepping back into history.
Franciscan Church and Monastery
We stopped to visit the first of two monasteries on our tour. The Franciscan Church and Monastery has a friary, a church, a library, and a pharmacy. It dates back to 1317, but it has been rebuilt many times since. Fun fact: the pharmacy here is the oldest still-functioning pharmacy in Europe, and the third oldest in the world!
Stradun (Placa)
We then continued the walking tour through Dubrovnik. The heart of the walled city is the Stradun (Placa), which is the main street of the Old Town. It has many historic buildings, shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes lining the beautiful limestone sidewalks. At the far end of Stradun is Luža Square, Sponza Palace, and the iconic Dubrovnik Bell Tower. Sponza Palace dates back to the 16th century, and the bell tower is even older, constructed in 1444.
Leading off of the Stradun are dozens of small alleyways. Like the main Stradun, these are also lined with shops and restaurants. They typically end with a steep staircase to get up to the higher levels of the city.
Dominican Church and Monastery
Our next stop was the Dominican Church and Monastery. This gorgeous 13th century monastery has a Gothic cloister, lush gardens, and a beautiful church. The church itself is currently being restored so we could not go inside, but wandering around the gardens was very pleasant.
We also got to go inside the museum here, which has a wonderful collection of religious art, artifacts, and jewelry.
Dubrovnik Cathedral
The last place we visited on the walking tour was the Dubrovnik Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin. While the actual date is unknown, varying accounts date this cathedral back to the 6th or 7th century. In a word, this cathedral is stunning!
Last Views of Dubrovnik
We ended our walking tour at the Jesuit Staircase. I’ll admit…I am one of the few people on this planet who has not watched Game of Thrones, so this was one of many spots on the tour that others had great interest in, but I didn’t “get” the GOT references. To me, this is a gorgeous spot in a glorious city. But for those who may recognize it from GOT…enjoy!
I spent some free time after the tour wandering through the city and doing some shopping. Our ship was scheduled to set sail at 1:00pm, so it was a short but fantastic visit. I hopped back onto a tender boat after a wonderful morning in Dubrovnik. Wonderful views of the walled city passed by as we headed back to the ship.
Delicious Meals and Treats
More delicious bites awaited me back on the ship this afternoon. For lunch, I enjoyed a wonderful cooked-to-order lobster pasta. A scoop of pistachio gelato hit the spot as I relaxed on the pool deck after lunch. Later in the afternoon I got to enjoy my last tray of canapes for this cruise…it was yet another delicious sampling of a few goodies.
Departing Dubrovnik
The ship set sail from Dubrovnik on schedule at 1:00pm. The sun started peeking out as we sailed away, providing some final glorious views of the city.
Tonight’s Decadent Dinner
I had the pleasure of enjoying one last, fabulous dinner in the main dining room, Waterside, this evening. I once again had a pleasant window seat so I could enjoy watching the sun set. Tonight’s meal included:
- Appetizer: Roasted baby beets with pickled berries, goat cheese cream, and honey
- Soup: Cream soup of selected Italian mushrooms, served in an oregano bread bowl (this is a well-loved Crystal tradition, and it was so very good!)
- Main Course: Pan-fried Turbot, butter-poached lobster, smashed chive potatoes, and caviar veloute
- Dessert: “Peanut Butter Jelly Time,” which is peanut butter parfait, raspberry gelee, soft meringue, and caramelized banana
Conclusion
Dubrovnik definitely did not disappoint! I was completely captivated by this city from start to finish. The architecture is amazing. It really does feel like stepping back in time and living in history while within the walls of this city. I was sad that I only had the morning to spend here, as I could have easily spent a few days here.
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
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