Did you know that, with 2,760 hours of sunshine per year, Hvar boasts some of the sunniest weather in Europe? So, if you are a fan of vitamin D (as you should be), you should visit this Dalmatian gemstone. Hvar is one of the most stunning islands in Croatia; picturesque towns and villages, hillsides covered in lavender fields, pine forests, vineyards and olive groves – the scenery alone is reason enough to put Hvar on your bucket list.

If you’re dreaming of a magical place to swim and snorkel, Hvar has pristine beaches and translucent Mediterranean waters so clear that you can see right to the bottom.

Hvar is an island of wine, whose winemakers are producing some outstanding wines which can be tasted very diverse; in a Romanesque cellar in Jelsa, an underwater tasting in Sveta Nedjelja or the only cave winery accessible only by speedboat.

Hvar also has a rich historical heritage as an important trading hub for centuries due to its strategic location at the center of the Adriatic sailing routes. The Greeks, the Romans, the Venetians all left their mark on the island. Stari Grad, the oldest town in Croatia, when Hvar Island was colonized by the Greeks in 384 BC, was once called Pharos.

These are just a few crumbs about Hvar, and to find out more join us on a journey that will linger in your memory like a gentle Adriatic breeze.

Brac, Dalmatian island of silence, olive, stone, and wines is definitely worth visiting while your stay in Croatia. Their steep, sun-soaked slopes have the perfect conditions to produce some very interesting and high-quality sorts of grapes that make fantastic wines. The most common grape varieties planted on the island are Posip (white wine), and Plavac Mali (red wine). The island's wineries are located in spectacular locations, offering you quality wine and a very scenic excursion.

Brac also has the highest (2340 ft), and one of the best, viewpoints in all of the Croatian islands – Vidova Gora, where on a clear day, you can see Zlatni Rat, Bol, Hvar island, and the Croatian mainland.

The oldest settlement on the island, Skrip is simply a must-visit place. It's located inland, not far from Supetar. Skrip is rich in history and a great alternative to a hustle and bustle of coastline towns. Housed in a 16th century Radojkovic Tower, the Museum of Brac reveals the island's history, and you should also visit the Museum of Olive Oil dating back from 1864.

The white marble from Brac is world-renowned, and the only Stonemasonry School in Croatia can be found in Pucisca. The oldest quarry on the island – Rasohe is located in the vicinity of Skrip, and it dates back from Roman times. At the entrance of a quarry, carved in a cliff, is an ancient relief of Hercules, most likely dating back to the third century.

And while you are here, don’t miss your chance to sunbathe on one of most top beaches in all of Europe – Bol, famous for its Zlatni rat beach, a 1 km long beach, and swim in the crystalline turquoise sea. And if you're feeling adventurous you could try windsurfing and kiteboarding because Bol, due to a preferable west wind called Maestral with constant speeds of 15 to 25 knots, has perfect weather conditions for surf sports.

These are just a few crumbs about Brac, and to find out more join us on a journey that will linger in your memory like a gentle Adriatic breeze.

Lying in the heart of the Dalmatian coast, the city of Split is one of the Adriatic Sea’s destinations that have enchanted travelers for more than a millennium. Here you can walk in an emperor’s footsteps while discovering Roman Emperor Diocletian’s summer palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit the St Duje, a 4th-century cathedral featuring an Imperial Roman mausoleum and bell tower but also the intriguingly rich Jewish heritage that lies concealed within the palace walls of the city center – in the narrow alleys you will find one of Europe’s oldest synagogues.

Immerse yourself in the ancient atmosphere of the old town center, home to fashionable boutiques, galleries, and cafés or wander the city’s spectacular waterfront and shade yourself under the palm trees and enjoy a glass of wine and delicious local cuisine like black cuttlefish risotto, a traditional Croatian dish that’s made with cuttlefish ink.

Split is home to sandy and pebbly beaches, and during your stay, make sure you visit Bacvice, the most popular beach which takes about a 20-minute walk from Split Kastelet. If you don’t feel like swimming, Bacvice has beachfront bars too where you can sit and relax in a shade.

Aboard our privately owned, 50-passenger small ship luxury designed and constructed for a small group of travelers you will not only discover the Dalmatian Coast’s iconic city of Split but also travel off the beaten path to smaller ports, like Stari Grad, Bol, and Vis.

So, join us on a journey that will linger in your memory like a gentle Adriatic breeze.

We have always prioritized your safety, and now even more as a proud partner of the Safe stay program, a national designation of security protocols in tourism and hospitality awarded by the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sport. That means that we have taken the extra mile to keep you and your loved ones safe while onboard with us.
We have rigorous health and safety protocols that keep our guests and crew safe and healthy:

• Guest experiencing symptoms such as fever (<37.5 C / 99.5 F), cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle/body aches, headache, sore throat, and loss of taste/smell within 14 days of embarkation will be denied boarding
• Elevated Cleanliness and Sanitation with hospital-grade disinfectants and hand sanitizers throughout the ship
• Wearing protective masks in all common areas of a ship and maintaining a minimum distance of 1.5 m between persons
• The use of a jacuzzi or hot tub is limited to a maximum of two people at a time (if they are a couple or family members)
• We’re working with local destinations so that the enhanced health and safety measures onboard are maintained ashore
• Enhanced medical services: to allow a safe return home to our guests in compliance with national regulations Zantium Travel has organized the possibility for its guests to purchase and perform CLINITEST® Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test

We continue to work with the Croatian Institute of Public Health to keep the above requirements up to date and to give you information and confidence to book your next cruise.

”Can you please tell me a little more about this main deck cabin?”

”Why does a main deck cabin cost more?”

”Do you suggest booking a main deck or a lower deck cabin?”

”Balcony deck? What do you mean?”

"Hello and welcome to I am going to explain the difference in cabin types onboard our cruisers."

MAIN DECK AND LOWER DECK CABINS

One of the most frequent questions I have come across is the question about the differences in cabin types and their price. As one can tell, all of the ships are very similar in size and in shape, therefor this can be applied to most of our soon-to-be passengers.
Let's talk about the ”levels” (decks) of the ship – there are four decks located on every ship starting from the lower deck, moving up to the main deck, further is the upper deck and lastly the sun deck.

Every vessel will have a number of cabins located in the lower deck – these cabins are completley the same as any other cabin onboard in size and shape, storage etc. The only difference is the location of the cabin and the fact that the lower deck cabins do not have windows but portholes which can not be opened. Usually, there are much cooler and quieter in comparison to other cabins onboard. The downside to a cabin in the lower deck is the accessibility – there will always be a staircase leading to the lower deck and in that note, cabins in the main deck are reccomended for anyone with walking difficulties.

The rest of the cabins onboard are located usually on the main deck. The main deck is the entry level of the ship, a deck also known as ”the ground floor”. Not every ship has cabins located in the main deck. The reason for this is either the location of the restaurant or any other ”public” area onboard that could take up that much space. If you come across a ship with cabins on the main deck, have in mind that these are normal, reasonably sized cabins with a window instead of a porthole and they offer a view. All of the cabins on the main deck are located in side corridors which means that sometimes a little bit of noise is expected due to other people passing by or any outside noise.

BALCONY DECK

Newer ships will often provide cabins in the upper deck, also know as the balcony deck. These are located one level above the main deck and one level below the sundeck. Each cabin located in this area has a private balcony. The cabins are again the same in size and in shape, but also provide a balcony. This means that people can open the doors and let fresh air in, but are harder to cool completley because of the sunlight and high temperatures during summer. One downside to having a balcony cabin actually depends on the way ships are moored in ports. But we will talk about mooring next time.

For the purpose of illustrating these different types of cabins I had to emphasize the differences and simillarities. I was very honest about the downsides, but only because those are inveitable – I hope all of you, our future guests, are aware of different types of situations that are likely to happen on bord. Have in mind that as much as we are a floating, travelling hotel, we are not at all a floating, travelling hotel. And that is why we are unique.

Anyhow, I hope I have made things a little bit more clear now.

Write to you soon,

N.

"Hello and welcome to the boarders are closed due to the pandemic but I still want to travel and enjoy places."

This time, I chose Istria – a county in Croatia situated on the ”far” west, bordering with Slovenia and Italy. Why Istria? Well, come and see for yourself because what I am about to tell you is just a tiny piece of what this region has to offer.

The main destination was a town called Rovigno – one of the most famous places to visit when in Istria, but it is not the biggest one. Naturally, I would write about how I spent three wonderful sunny but cold days in Rovigno and how amazing the experience was, but…
I mean, I did spend three beautiful days in Rovigno, but this time I will share bits of what I captured considering the fact that my options for exploring, learning and experiencing were limited.

I live in the capital of Croatia, so it took me about three hours to reach Rovigno from Zagreb and let me tell you I really did enjoy the drive – about two hours from home I reached the county of Istria and immediately I could tell this is a whole different feeling, atmosphere and vibe. First, driving up and down the hills, then along side a river, after that next to the forest full of truffles gave me an immediate taste of where I came – well, I came to a heavenly place full of color, life and tradition. Once I reached Rovigno, the weekend get-away officially had begun. My moto for this weekend was ”a little bit of everything”, so the first day was just a relaxing and spa day, basically re-charging for the next day. And then the next day came.

Unbelievably, but everything went according to my initial plan that day – I woke up rather early this time, had a lovely breakfast on a sunny terrace of the hotel and started my day by walking from the hotel to the old town. I will admit, the walk was longer than what I expected, but I didn’t mind it since I got to enjoy the scenery even more. 2 kilometers after, I finally reached the old town of Rovigno – a small port surrounded with local houses, homes and closed bars and restaurants. The initial feeling was: ”this would look much more lively if the terraces were open people got to enjoy a cup of coffee on a sunny day”. For anyone who doesn’t know – a culture of drinking coffee in a coffee shop is stronger in Croatia than in any other country, that is why this was my first notice.

Rovigno – old town, February 2021.

Moving on from the old town, my next point of interest was to reach the church of St. Euphemia – in order for me to get there, I obviously needed to a walk a little bit more. The walk from the center up to the top of the hill was not very steep, it was a moderate up-the-hill walk, but the surrounding was charming. I could not get enough of the colorful houses, flower boxes, fences and other external décor that made this area so picturesque.

Town houses in Rovigno on the way to St. Euphemia, February 2021.

Walking through the narrow streets full of color and romance, I kind of had a feeling I was somewhere in Amalfi Coast, but a lot cheaper and local version. Since the entire county is geographically very close to Italy, Istria gives out this Italian influence – in dialect, architecture, gastronomy, even mindset. But, besides the colorful houses, I got to enjoy some beautiful views of the Adriatic sea, too. These beautiful views of the Adriatic sea and its island is just one part and one of the characteristics of the beauty of this small town on the coast. There is only so much I can write about, only so much words to describe this feeling, but you have to come and see this for yourself – I can not explain what it means to stroll through such a lovely town, in a winter jacket, listening to the sound of waves and enjoying the sun.

Coast of Rovigno and the Adriatic sea, February 2021.

Unfortunate for me, once I finally reached the top I had something to see – the church of St. Euphemia was closed due to construction and renovation. In the end, I didn’t mind the church being closed because just walking and wandering was enough for me to tell you how beautiful it is. I did capture a couple of shots of the church which I find very interesting and I hope to visit again soon when the church will be open for visitors.

Church of St. Euphemia, February 2021.

After spending some time there just enjoying the view, I headed back down to the center of Rovigno – I decided to take a different way so I could see more. I know I couldn’t expect anything less than what I already saw, so here are a couple of places that caught my attention.

Narrow street in Rovigno, February 2021.

Street in Rovigno, February 2021.

Coast of Rovigno, February 2021.

After taking a proper walk around the entire town of Rovigno, I headed back to the hotel and called it a day. The next morning was also my last morning in paradise so I just spent some time in the sun, having the famous coffee.

I hope to visit Istria again soon, I really love it so far.

Write to you soon,

N.

Please welcome our latest member of the fleet – bigger, newer, better –Symphony.

Symphony is a newborn, built in the winter 2020, waiting to take its first ever voyage through the Adriatic sea in summer of 2021 – she is both – the beauty and the beast.

WHY A BEAUTY, ONE MIGHT ASK?

Luxurious design and new modern equipment combined with the perfect touch of great taste offers 18 spacious cabins holding up to 36 persons. Each cabin includes a private bathroom, a TV set, a safe deposit box, hairdryer and most importantly, it provides a clean and a safe environment.

It is important that the vessel is adjusted to one’s needs and wants – that is why 12 of the cabins are located in the lower deck of the ship, providing amore peaceful and quiet atmosphere, whereas the other 6 cabins find their place on the upper deck, each with a private balcony.

But besides the cabins, what passengers enjoy are the restaurant, the lounge area and the sundeck – all on board Symphony.

Top deck of the vessel is called a sundeck, and honestly it is the most visited and most enjoyed part of any mini-cruise ship. It offers a comfy sunbed foreach passenger, a hot tub and the perfect combination of chiaroscuro – sun and shade.

The beastly features of Symphony are the length of over 50 meters, width of 8 and height of 15. Aside from this, Symphony is not only impressive in size and appearance, but also in strength and comfort. The maximum speed that this beauty can reach is 20 knots, but regardless of that, the average sailing speed is around 8 knots, primarily because we strive to provide, above all, a safe and comfortable journey.

She is currently at stage 2 of the process – the core is ready and the vessel is waiting to be fully furnished and decorated. Final touches are to be made in spring of 2021 – stay tuned for more.

Symphony’s owners, a family from the town of Zadar, carefully handed her into Zantium’s safe hands, to love and to hold for the upcoming season. Zantium Travel plans on taking great care of her and even greater care for the safety and comfort of our passengers-to-be.

Join us.