Skip to Main Content
Road Scholar logo
Four smiling senior travelers pose in a narrow, sunlit stone alleyway during a Voyage Through History tour of the Adriatic.
whole ship icon
Italy/Croatia

Voyage Through History: Discover the Adriatic on Sea Cloud II

Program No. 25379RJ
See More Photos
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
22 meals ( 8B, 6L, 8D )
6 expert-led lectures
6 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Expand All
Activity Note
Remember to bring your nametag (you will receive this in the mail prior to your program).
Morning:
Ride from the airport to Venice San Basilio terminal. Here, staff will collect and store your bags, and your group leaders will introduce themselves and lead you a short walk away to a private lecture hall, where you can enjoy refreshments and relax, or venture out to explore the winding, characteristic streets and canals of Venice.
Lunch:
On your own in Venice. Take the opportunity, if you desire, to indulge in a classic Italian pizza, or explore Venetian specialties such as seafood pasta or squid ink risotto.
Afternoon:
Return to the lecture hall for an Orientation meeting. Your Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Next, join our program lecturer for an engaging exclusive introduction to Venice in the present day. Learn about the struggles facing the famous "floating city" and the city's efforts to overcome them, and gaze into the future to consider some of the possible directions the city may take. A short walk brings us back to the ship for embarkation. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to unpack, freshen up, relax, and start becoming familiar with the ship. There will be a mandatory passenger briefing and safety drill.
Dinner:
Welcome dinner aboard the ship.
Evening:
At leisure aboard the ship or in Venice. Please note that your departure is part of our Floating Campus programs. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice. Aboard the ship, we will learn from a lecturer. In ports, field trips will be led by local experts. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motor coach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances or current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 2-4 steps up/down. Walking distances up to 3 miles on uneven terrain and cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will step off the ship and explore St. Mark’s Square with a local expert. The largest public space in the city, St. Mark's square was called the “drawing room of Europe” in the 19th century. It is one of the most impressive public squares anywhere, with the Basilica di San Marco (Basilica of St. Mark), Campanile (bell tower), and Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace). Please note that we will be viewing these locations from the outside only, not touring them from inside.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to enjoy the amenities onboard the ship. The ship is scheduled to depart Venice at 1:30 p.m. on our journey to Ravenna. Join our photography instructor on deck to soak in the inspiring scenery from the ship as we sail away from Venice along the Giudecca Canal. Our program lecturer will also provide insights and commentary on this unique view of the city, which only select vessels are permitted to traverse.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard the ship, and spend time getting to know fellow Road Scholars.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 2-4 steps up/down. Walking distances up to 3 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach and head out to explore Ravenna with a local expert. Ravenna, once a lagoon city and important naval base, is now located about 5.5 miles inland from the Adriatic Sea. Its main heyday was between the 5th and 7th centuries when it was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. It was during this period when the most important early Christian and Byzantine religious buildings were constructed. Discover the spectacular mosaics of Basilica of San Vitale, a UNESCO World Heritage site considered to be one of the most important monuments of early Christian art in Italy.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to explore Ravenna on your own. Later in the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars. The ship is scheduled to depart Ravenna at 7:00 p.m. on our journey to Zadar, Croatia.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will gather with our lecturer for a lecture about the artistic and literary scope of the ports we are visiting. Later, meet the Sea Cloud crew on deck to learn all about the ship's characteristic masts and billowing white sails, and discover the work, commitment and passion it takes to operate a tall ship in the 21st century.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. Later in the afternoon, we will gather with our lecturer to hear about topics relevant to our program, and hold a Book Club session to discuss our selected novel as it pertains to the places we've visited.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking distances up to 3 miles, standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will board our motor coach for a short drive to Zadar. Upon arrival, we will begin our walking tour of Zadar with a local expert. The historical quarter is separated from the new town on a peninsula in the blue of the Adriatic Sea. Step through one of the Venetian gates, and enjoy a walk right through the 3,000-year history of the old fortified city. Passing the Square of the Five Fountains and the Roman Forum, we will reach the landmark of Zadar, the Donatus Church with its pre-Romanesque and Byzantine elements. We will end our walk at the sea organ and the installation, Greetings to the Sun, before reboarding our coach to return to the ship.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to enjoy the amenities onboard the ship. The ship is scheduled to depart Zadar at 1:30 p.m. on our journey to Split. Later in the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 2-4 steps up/down. Walking distances up to 3 miles, standing up to 2 hours. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will head of on a walking discovery of Split, beginning at Diocletian’s Palace, a palace and fortress built by Roman Emperor Diocletian shortly after abdicating his throne at the turn of the 4th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, this palace is considered one of the most significant monuments of the Roman Era. Its remains lie on what is considered the old town of Split. After our visit, we will continue our exploration of the old town by visiting the Peristyle, the Cathedral, and some of the majestic statues of Ivan Mestrovic, the greatest Croatian sculptor of the 20th century.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to explore Split on your own. Later in the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to depart Split at 7:00 p.m. on our journey to Hvar, Croatia.
Activity Note
Walking distances up to 3 miles; standing up to 2 hours. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Following the decline of the Roman Empire, Hvar Town — a center of Adriatic civilization and trade for thousands of years — was besieged by pirates. Hvar’s people sought protection from the Venetians, resulting in a new era of prosperity that enriched its cultural heritage. Today, we will see ancient walls, Gothic palaces, and stone paved streets. Led by a local expert, we will walk to the Arsenal – described by the Venetians as “the most beautiful and the most useful building in the whole of Dalmatia” – that includes the first theater in the western world open to all classes (built in 1612). We’ll continue across the old town square, the largest in Dalmatia, to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, completed in the 18th Century on a 6th Century church site, followed by the Franciscan monastery.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to explore Hvar on your own.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars. The ship is scheduled to depart Hvar at 7:00 p.m. on our journey to Dubrovnik Croatia. Prepare for disembarkation from the ship tomorrow.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 2-4 steps up/down. Walking distances up to 3 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will disembark the ship and take a short drive to the Old Town of Dubrovnik for a walking field trip with a local expert. Surrounded by its famous city walls, Dubrovnik is a city where culture and history thrive harmoniously with modern life. Originally known as Ragusa, the city dates back to the 7th century when it was founded by refugees from Epidaurum (modern day Cavtat). During its long history, the town has been under the control or influence of multiple empires, and even ruled itself as a free state between the 14th and 19th centuries. The city has always been associated to prosperity and affluence due to its role in maritime trade and is also considered a cradle of diplomacy and Croatian literature.
Lunch:
On your own to explore the local cuisine. Dubrovnik offers a magnificent blend of Adriatic seafood, classic Dalmatian dishes, and fine dining.
Afternoon:
We will board our motorcoach and ride to the hotel to check in. Free time to enjoy the hotel and its surroundings for the rest of the afternoon. Prior to dinner, we will gather for a farewell meeting at the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!