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)

Morning departure towards the spectacular Plitvice Lakes National Park. The oldest Croatian national park consists of 16 lakes connected by cascading waterfalls. Enjoy a 3 to 4-hour walking tour strolling the wooden paths and nature trails surrounded by lush greenery and turquoise waters (minimum fitness level required). Continue to Split for overnight. (B)

Enjoy a guided tour of Split, the largest city in Dalmatia, with its rich cultural heritage and historical values dating back to Roman times. At the core of this sprawling cityscape is the palace the emperor Diocletian built for his golden years at the turn of the 4th century. To this day, the Palace remains one of the world’s best-preserved monuments of Roman architecture. After the walking tour, continue to your Croatia cruise in Split. (B)