Croatia Cruise: Kvarner Bay of Islands
A seven-night small-ship cruise through the islands of northern Croatia – from Opatija to Krk, Rab, Zadar, Ilovik, Mali Lošinj and Cres, and back. Booked and looked after by Vall Tours, a family-run Croatian travel agency.
The Kvarner Gulf sits at the very top of the Adriatic, where the Alps come down to meet the sea. It is the part of Croatia that Central Europeans have been holidaying in since the Habsburg era – and the part most international visitors sail straight past on their way south. That is precisely its appeal: the same clear water and stone-built island towns as Dalmatia, with a fraction of the crowds.
8 days / 7 nights
Opatija
Small ship, Premium Superior
In English
This is a small ship, not a cruise liner
If the word “cruise” brings to mind a floating resort with several thousand passengers, this is the opposite of that. These are small ships carrying a few dozen guests, closer in feel to a private yacht than to an ocean liner. There are no casinos, no theatres and no queues.
What that means in practice: the ship ties up in the middle of each town, not at an industrial terminal miles away. You step off the gangway and you are already in the old town. You swim straight off the back of the ship in the middle of the day. And by the third evening you know everyone on board by name.
Booked through a Croatian agency, not a booking engine
The ship is operated by a Croatian shipping company we have worked with for years. The booking, the advice and the support while you travel are ours. You are not dealing with a call centre or a web form – you are dealing with a licensed Croatian travel agency with an office, a name and a person who answers the phone.
For visitors flying in from the UK, the United States, South Africa or anywhere else, that difference is practical rather than sentimental. We know which airport actually makes sense for your connection, how long the transfer really takes, and what to do if your flight lands the night before. We arrange airport transfers and any hotel nights you need either side of the cruise, so the whole trip is handled by one company.
One person, start to finish
The same advisor handles your booking from the first email to the questions that come up the day before departure. No ticket numbers, no being passed around.
Licensed Croatian agency, 30 years old
Vall Tours has been operating since 1995 and is a registered Croatian destination management company, working under EU consumer protection rules.
Flights, transfers and hotels arranged
Tell us where you are flying from and we will tell you which airport to aim for, arrange the transfer to the ship and book a hotel night if your timings need one.
Straight answers about the ship
We only sell ships we have checked. Once your departure is confirmed we tell you exactly which vessel you are on, with deck plans and photographs.
Getting to Opatija
Opatija is on the Istrian side of the Kvarner Gulf, in the north-west corner of Croatia. Several airports serve it, and the closest is not always the best one for you – it depends entirely on where you are flying from.
| Airport | Approx. distance | Typically useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Rijeka (RJK) | ~25 km | Closest of all, but seasonal and limited routes |
| Pula (PUY) | ~60 km | Seasonal European connections |
| Trieste, Italy (TRS) | ~85 km | Italian and some European connections |
| Ljubljana, Slovenia (LJU) | ~100 km | Good year-round European connections |
| Zagreb (ZAG) | ~145 km | Croatia’s main hub, widest choice of connections |
| Venice, Italy (VCE) | ~155 km | Long-haul arrivals from North America and beyond |
2027 dates and prices
The shipping company has not yet released 2027 departure dates and prices for this route. We publish them here as soon as we have them. Until then we quote your preferred week on request, usually the same working day.
What to tell us in your enquiry
- the week or approximate dates that suit you
- how many travellers and how many cabins you need
- whether you want a lower deck or an upper / main deck cabin
- which airport you are flying into, if you would like us to arrange the transfer
We come back with availability, the exact price for that date and details of the ship.
Included in the price
- seven nights in your chosen cabin
- breakfast and lunch every day
- captain’s dinner
- olive oil and wine tasting on board
- afternoon tea and coffee
- free WiFi and drinking water on board
- English-speaking tour manager on board
- three guided walking tours
- daily cabin cleaning
Not included
- €60 per person in port fees and tourist tax, paid on board at the start of the cruise
- dinners ashore, except the captain’s dinner
- drinks other than the tastings, tea and coffee listed
- gratuities for the crew
- flights, transfers and hotel nights (we arrange these on request)
- travel insurance
Day by day
The pace is unhurried, with time to swim and walk in every port. We have added our own notes to each day – the sort of thing guests tell us afterwards they wish they had known beforehand.
Day 1 · Saturday – Opatija to the island of Krk
Boarding in Opatija and departure at 1 pm, with lunch already served on board. The afternoon is spent sailing and swimming, and the evening in the town of Krk on Croatia’s largest island.
Our note: if you are flying in on the day of departure, don’t. Arrive the night before – we can book the hotel. If a flight is delayed, guests can join the ship in Krk instead.
Day 2 · Sunday – Krk to the island of Rab
Sailing to Rab, an island recognisable from the sea by the four bell towers along its skyline. A guided walk through the medieval old town is included, as is a tasting of Rab cake, a local almond pastry made to a recipe several centuries old.
Our note: if you have an hour after the walk, climb to Komrčar park or towards Kamenjak hill. The sunset from there is the reason people come back to Rab.
Day 3 · Monday – Rab to Zadar
A morning at sea past the island of Pag, whose bare, wind-scoured landscape looks more lunar than Mediterranean, with a swimming stop near the islet of Maun. Zadar in the afternoon, with a guided walk taking in the Roman forum, the ninth-century church of St Donatus and the city walls.
Our note: save the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation for just before sunset. Arrive half an hour early, sit on the steps and let the sea play the pipes. It is the moment guests mention most often afterwards.
Day 4 · Tuesday – Zadar to the island of Molat or Olib
An early start towards the northern end of the Zadar archipelago. Molat or Olib, depending on available berths – both are quiet, small and almost entirely free of summer bustle. The captain’s dinner is served on board that evening.
Our note: this is the day with the least on the schedule, and for most guests it becomes the favourite. Bring a book and plan nothing.
Day 5 · Wednesday – Molat / Olib to Ilovik and Mali Lošinj
A short stop at Ilovik, an island of a few hundred residents and bays where you can see the bottom from the deck. On to Mali Lošinj, known for its pine woods, aromatic herbs and unusually mild climate.
Our note: the Apoxyomenos museum is worth an hour even if museums are not usually your thing – it houses a single ancient Greek bronze recovered from the seabed, displayed in a way you rarely see.
Day 6 · Thursday – Mali Lošinj to the island of Cres
After a morning swim, on to Cres – a long, narrow island of olive groves, vineyards and dry-stone walls. Cres and Lošinj were a single island until the Romans cut a channel between them at Osor, which is still crossed by a small swing bridge.
Our note: Cres lamb and Cres olive oil are what the island is known for. Ask the tour manager which konoba is good this season – the answer changes from year to year.
Day 7 · Friday – Cres to Opatija
Back towards Opatija, with the Opatija Riviera seen the way it was meant to be – from the water. A guided walk through Opatija is included in the afternoon. The town was the Habsburg empire’s first seaside resort, and the villas along the front still look the part.
Our note: walk the Lungomare seafront promenade as far as Volosko, the old fishing village at its northern end. The fish restaurants there are better and cheaper than those in the centre.
Day 8 · Saturday – Opatija
A final breakfast on board and disembarkation in Opatija. If you would like to stay on in Croatia afterwards – Istria, the Plitvice lakes or a few days in Zagreb – tell us in advance and we will put it together.
Other Adriatic cruises
Alongside this northern route we also offer two cruises in southern Croatia, both on boutique ships and both with the same support from our agency – from booking and transfers through to the journey home.
Southern Explorer – luxury southern Adriatic cruise
A higher-category cruise for guests who want a more luxurious ship and a higher standard of service along the southern Dalmatian coast.
Croatian Wilderness – southern Adriatic cruise
A route built around unspoilt nature, hidden coves and the less-visited islands of the southern Adriatic.
Enquire about this cruise
Send us your preferred dates, the number of travellers and the cabin category you have in mind. Tell us where you are flying from and we will advise on the airport, arrange the transfer and book any hotel nights you need either side of the cruise.
Send enquiryFrequently asked questions
Where exactly is the Kvarner Gulf?
It is the northernmost part of the Croatian Adriatic, between the Istrian peninsula and the mainland, roughly two hours by road from Zagreb and three from Venice. Opatija, where the cruise begins, sits on its western shore.
Which airport should I fly into?
Rijeka is closest at around 25 km, but has limited seasonal routes. For long-haul travellers, Zagreb and Venice usually give the best connections, and Ljubljana or Trieste are good alternatives. Send us your departure city and we will advise, then arrange the transfer.
Is the tour conducted in English?
Yes. The tour manager on board and the guided walks ashore are in English, and all correspondence with our agency is in English.
How big is the ship?
These are small ships carrying a few dozen guests, not large cruise liners. The ship moors in the centre of each town rather than at a commercial port, and you can swim directly from the deck.
Which ship will I be on?
The cruise operates on Premium Superior category vessels. The specific ship depends on the departure date and fleet schedule, so we confirm it when you book – along with a description, deck plan and photographs.
What is the difference between the upper and lower deck cabins?
Upper and main deck cabins sit higher, have better views and cost more. Lower deck cabins have the same fittings at a lower price. All cabins are en suite and air-conditioned.
Are there any extra costs on arrival?
One: €60 per person in port fees and tourist tax, paid on board at the start of the cruise. Dinners ashore, drinks and crew gratuities are also not included. There are no other compulsory charges.
When is the best time to sail this route?
Late May and June bring long days and comfortable temperatures, while September offers the warmest sea and quieter towns. July and August are hottest and busiest ashore.
Who operates the cruise?
The ship is operated by an established Croatian shipping company we have worked with for years. Vall Tours handles your booking, advice and support throughout, as your travel agency.
Can you arrange transfers and hotels as well?
Yes. We arrange airport transfers from Zagreb, Rijeka, Pula, Ljubljana, Trieste and Venice, hotel nights before or after the cruise, and onward travel elsewhere in Croatia.
