Dubrovnik Cruise Holidays
The Croatian city of Dubrovnik is one of the most historic destinations cruisers can visit whilst on a cruise of the Adriatic Sea.
That, along with warm weather and beautiful beaches, has helped the city to develop into one of eastern Europe’s leading holiday destinations that over the past decade or so, has really developed into one of the region’s top cruise ports.
Tourism in the city was given a huge boost in 1979 when it was granted World Heritage Site recognition by UNESCO thanks to its stunning medieval architecture and also for its iconic fortified old town.
The Dalmatian coast makes for a great place to spend a few days unwinding and taking in the views of the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea waters and that is something the port city has used to its advantage as it has become a popular Cruise and Stay destination.
Cruises To Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik Cruise Guide
This guide is for those who have already booked on a cruise that either visitors the city or that starts/ends in the city and who are wanting to make the most of their time onshore.
It is also for those who are still researching cruises of the region and who are trying to decide whether a Dubrovnik is right for them to visit or not.
Type of Cruises Available
Dubrovnik has a huge range of options for holidaymakers including Cruise and Stay getaways, round trips, repositioning cruises and it is also a popular port of call on cruises of the eastern med or Adriatic Sea.
For those who want to spend more time in the city and not only explore the ancient city streets of the old town but also spend time at the one of its beach resorts soaking in the warm Adriatic Sea waters, a Cruise and Stay holiday is perfect for you.
There are a number of lines that offer that option including all-inclusive lines that offer your flights, hotels, transfers and cruise in one package.
The next option is to take advantage of the numerous flights to the city and of the many itineraries offered out of its port that take you to destinations such as Italy, Slovenia, Montenegro and the Greek Islands.
If you would like to explore more of the region and even add a few days stay before and after your holiday exploring great tourist spots, a repositioning cruise is the option for you. These are cruise itineraries thar start (or end) in the port and then cruise around the region before ending in another port city, such as Barcelona, Rome or Athens.
The final option is to call into the port on a cruise starting and ending elsewhere where you get to explore all that city as to offer on your day ashore.
If you prefer not to fly, the great news is that it is possible to visit the city on a No Fly cruise directly from the United Kingdom, all these are offered only infrequently.
Dubrovnik Cruise Port Location
Unfortunately, if you want to stroll off your ship and head straight into the tightly packed old town to stroll around the iconic city walls, you simply cannot.
That is because there is little to no spare land around the old town and the city centre of Dubrovnik which has led to the cities cruise docks and terminals been built around 2 miles from the old town.
Port Gruz has 2 quays, one capable of welcoming 2 ships and the other 3 and sometimes smaller cruise ships find themselves dropping anchor near to Lokrum Island and tendering guests back to shore.
Dubrovnik Attractions
Although the city offers lots of attractions for visitors to enjoy, there is one that stands out as the most iconic and popular and that is the city’s historic walls.
These allow visitors to stroll around the old town with not only views of the incredible architecture but also out over the Adriatic Sea.
The walls have grown in popularity over the past few years thanks to appearing not only in numerous travel programmes but also in major tv programmes and films.
Once you have finished on the walls, make sure you also take the time to walk around the old time itself and the narrow streets bring you something new around every corner.
For an even better view of the city, we would recommend stepping onboard the cities cable car that takes you 412 metres above the town and to the over 2 centuries old fort.
Sitting just on the other side of the old town walls is the cities old harbour that still hosts privately owned boats/yachts and offer boat tours to tourists.
If you just want to sit, relax and make the most of the weather in the city, there are a number of beaches that can be visited just outside of the town centre and further to the south.
Dubrovnik Shorex
There are plenty of shore excursions offer by both cruise lines and also by local companies, with the most popular been tours of the city including walking tours of the old town.
The Adriatic is developing a reputation for the wines that it producers and visitors can now go on organised tours of nearby wineries in the Konavle Valley.
The Croatian coast is famed for the numerous islands that sit just off it and some of those can be reached onboard boat rides including to Lokrum Island.
Cavtat has developed into one of the regions seaside resorts and cruise guests can also spend time there enjoying it beaches, bars, cafes and shops.
Best Time To Visit Dubrovnik
The Adriatic cruising season is between April and October and although it makes for a great day of exploring no matter when you visit, we would recommend avoiding the first and last few weeks of the season.
That is because the weather can be indifferent during that time and can spoil your day.
Similarly, the main summer months see holidaymakers fly into to Dubrovnik from all over Europe and that makes it incredibly crowded to the point where visitor numbers into the old town are limited.
With all of that in mind, we would recommend visiting in May to early July or in September when the weather is warm and the streets less crowded.
Transport
If you would like to travel around the outskirts of town, you are limited to public buses and taxis but for those sticking to the main town centre, everything can be explored on foot after been dropped off by a shuttle bus from the port.
If you have mobility difficulties, there is a tour bus offered to take you to most of the town’s key sights and attractions.
Dubrovnik Cruises From UK
If you would like to visit Dubrovnik directly from the UK, you can! Unfortunately, there are only a few journeys offered each year and you will need to allow around 20-25 nights.
Dubrovnik Cruises From Southampton
To take advantage of any No Fly cruises, you will need to set sail from the port of Southampton as it is the UK’s leading cruise port that offers the vast majority of itineraries.
