Arrive in Dubrovnik and embark on Sea Cloud II in the late afternoon.

Gather on deck for a play-by-play description of the crew in the rigging and the action of setting square sails, staysails, and jibs as Sea Cloud II shows its full glory. Relax with a book on deck, and enjoy delicious meals and complimentary drinks. Anchor at the island port of Korčula, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in the Balkans. Visit the town’s sites and see the house some believe is Marco Polo’s birthplace. Later, take some time to enjoy the waterfront. After exploring Korčula, enjoy the captain’s welcome evening as Sea Cloud II makes its way to Split.

Delve into the bustling port city of Split this morning, and discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Diocletian’s Palace, more a small city than a single palace. Built by Emperor Diocletian as a sumptuous place to retire, this site is now a beguiling maze of marble streets, churches, and fortifications that tell the history of the city from the Romans and Byzantines to the modern day. It maintains a lively pulse of shops and street merchants to this day. An afternoon drive takes you along the Dalmatian coastline to medieval Trogir, a small island town also designated a UNESCO site, whose main square, cathedral, streets, and alleyways invite exploration. Return to Sea Cloud II, docked in Split, for an overnight sail to Hvar.

At the height of Venetian rule, Hvar was the region’s most prosperous center. Set off on a walking tour along the waterfront and inside the delightful walled city. Visit the 15th-century Franciscan monastery, the arsenal, and Croatia’s oldest active theater. If you choose, hike up to the citadel for spectacular views of the island and the azure Adriatic beyond. This afternoon, sail to Vis Island.

One of the outermost of Croatia’s many islands, Vis was ruled successively by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Austrians, and Italians. It became a central Yugoslav military base during World War II, and only opened to tourists in the 1990s, making it less developed and less populated than many of its neighbors. Set out on a walking tour of the fishing town of Komiža, and see the traditional sailing vessels called falkušas, which have been used here since the 16th century. Hear about age-old regattas originally designed to keep pirates at bay, take in expansive views from the rugged interior, and visit a family-owned winery for a tasting and traditional peka lunch. See the extensive tunnels where Yugoslav resistance leader Josip Broz Tito hid troops and weapons at the end of World War II and into the Cold War and ventured to hillside barracks and hidden bunkers.

Weather permitting, spend the morning with sails unfurled in the Adriatic, sailing along Croatia’s Kornati National Park, an archipelago of more than 80 rugged islands. Head toward Zadar, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. Explore its defensive walls, gates, and bastions, developed during the 16th century to thwart Ottoman incursions. Stroll the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum and visit St. Mary’s Church, a Benedictine convent dating back to the 11th century. Here,  meet some of the resident nuns who serve as caretakers of the church and the adjoining treasury, which houses priceless ecclesiastical artifacts of Byzantine and Venetian craftsmanship and an extension collection of relics.

A day at sea presents another opportunity to witness Sea Cloud II’s sails aloft. Admire the passing scenery, and sip on complimentary drinks as you catch up on reading, sort photos, and learn from expedition staff presentations.

Anchor off the gem-like harbor town of Piran, and drive through the tranquil countryside to charming Ljubljana. Architect Jože Plečnik designed the city center when Ljubljana suddenly became a capital city after World War I, and his harmonious blending of old and new, linked by waterways and green spaces, recently earned the city designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. On a walking tour, see the 15th-century town hall, admire the diverse architectural styles of Prešernov Trg square, and more. Cross Triple Bridge and stroll along the café-lined Ljubljanica River before a lunch of Slovenian specialties. En route back to the ship, stop for a visit to the 800-year-old Predjama Castle, nestled high on a cliffside. As the sun sets, cast off for Rovinj and the ancient land of the Illyrians.

Go ashore in Rovinj, once one of the most important cities in the Venetian Empire. Venture into Rovinj’s charming old town set on a tiny peninsula that was an island until 1763. Walk the cobbled streets, peruse the local open-air market, and see sites that illustrate the city’s close ties with Venice. Drive through olive groves and vineyards to the Meneghetti Wine Hotel and Winery, sample award-winning vintages, and hear tales of when the region was ruled by the Austro-Hungarian empire. Enjoy time at sea this afternoon as Sea Cloud II makes way for Venice.

Arrive in Venice this morning. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight home.