Pick up at the Tronchetto bus station or Venice airports (Marco Polo or Treviso). Transfer to Opatija, Croatia, a charming resort town on the Adriatic’s north coast. Overnight Opatija.

Enjoy a guided tour of Opatija, a coastal town on the picturesque Kvarner Bay and a cradle of Croatian tourism. It used to be the favorite spa resort of the Habsburgs, the European aristocracy, and the 19th-century elite Gustav Mahler and Isadora Duncan. Walking through the colorful Angiolina park and along the Lungomare sea promenade surrounded by charming Austro-Hungarian villas and residences, you can still feel the unique glamour of Opatija. Overnight in Opatija. (B)

Today it’s time to get to know the Istrian peninsula and visit the 2000-year-old roman Colosseum in Pula. Explore Rovinj, a charming coastal gem considered to be the most beautiful city in Istria and an inspiration to many artists. Time at leisure in Rovinj to stroll the cobbled streets, visit the art galleries or relax over a glass of cocktail in one of the cliffside bars. Return to Opatija for overnight. (B)

After breakfast, check out and transfer to your Croatia cruise in Opatija. (B)