CRUISING THROUGH CROATIA!

OCTOBER 9 – 17, 2026

With musical guests Seth Glier, Sam Robbins, and Halley Neal

October is a perfect time to explore the spectacular coastline of Croatia! The crowds have thinned, the oppressive summer heat has subsided, yet the water is still warm enough for swimming. And what a better way to travel than on our very own chartered boat with exceptional musical talent provided by one of our stalwarts, Seth Glier, and his hand-picked collaborators, Sam Robbins and Halley Neal!

Join us for our inaugural journey to this land of stunning natural beauty and complicated history, cruising at a leisurely pace aboard an 18-cabin (all with private bath) passenger vessel, lushly appointed and perfectly set up for whatever type of trip you’d like it to be: adventurous exploration of historic ruins and hiking trails, deck lounging and daily dips in the Adriatic, poking around the remnants of Roman, Ottoman, Venetian, and Slavic cultures, with each night capped off by an unplugged and intimate concert on board with only 30 other music lovers. Most meals are included and freshly-prepared onboard, but there are also opportunities to get out and sample local cuisine. It’s going to be swell!

The trip begins and concludes in Split, which is easily reached via connections through most European airports (United is slated to launch non-stop Newark to Split service in April of 2026). We’ll be providing hotel accommodations on the first and last night of the trip, and the other nights will be spent on board. As always, we’re happy to arrange pre and post trip hotel nights for those wishing to extend their trips.

THE ITINERARY (subject to adjustment due to weather and other factors)

October 9: Arrival in Split (pre-trip hotel nights can be arranged). Early evening trip check-in and orientation.

October 10: There should be time for independent exploration of Split before we transfer to Marina Baotić (Trogir) to board our vessel. Departure is scheduled for 14:00h, with a relaxing cruise to Hvar, the longest and sunniest island in the Adriatic. Hvar is famed for its lavender fields, crystal-clear waters, and rich history. Discover Hvar’s Renaissance cathedral, its historic theatre, the oldest public theatre in Europe, founded in 1612—and hike up to the fortress for stunning panoramic views of the harbor and Pakleni Islands. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walking tour of this vibrant town, followed by a wine tasting at a local winery, where you’ll sample some of Hvar’s signature varietals. The evening is free to explore. Hvar buzzes with energy, offering a broad choice of excellent restaurants, lively bars, and charming cafés. Overnight in Hvar. Lunch and wine tasting included. Dinner is on your own.

Oct. 11: Sail early for the Pelješac Peninsula, renowned for its excellent red wines like Dingač and Postup. Enjoy a swim stop along the way and lunch onboard. Arrive in Trstenik in the afternoon, a quiet coastal village nestled at the foot of Pelješac’s vineyards. Head inland for a heritage dinner on a traditional family farm, featuring authentic Croatian delicacies made from locally grown produce. Late transfer back to the vessel. Overnight in Trstenik. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included on board.

Oct. 12: We sail south to the island of Mljet, one of Croatia’s greenest islands and home to Mljet National Park. Accompanied by the cruise manager, visit the saltwater lakes and take a boat ride to St. Mary’s Isle, where a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, church, and old abbey await. Return to the ship for lunch onboard, then sail toward Dubrovnik. In the late afternoon, enjoy a panoramic cruise along the imposing city walls before docking. Dinner onboard and overnight in Dubrovnik. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

October 13: After breakfast, we’ll take a guided walking tour of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then ride the cable car to Srđ Mountain (ticket included) for stunning views of the city, the walls, and the Elaphiti Islands. The afternoon is yours to explore: walk the 1,940-meter-long medieval walls (optional), discover the Rector’s Palace or Sponza Palace, sip a drink in a sunny piazza, or stroll down the famous Stradun promenade. Overnight in Dubrovnik. Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Oct. 14: In the morning, we depart from this uniquely beautiful town and cruise towards the island of Korčula, famously known as the birthplace of Marco Polo. En route, we’ll stop for lunch in a secluded bay, surrounded by crystal-clear waters. We arrive in Korčula Town in the early afternoon and head out on a guided walking tour of this enchanting medieval town, encircled by sturdy stone walls. We’ll explore its legend-filled streets, arranged in a clever herringbone pattern designed to protect against wind and sun. In the evening, we can enjoy the vibrant local scene—Korčula offers excellent restaurants for a memorable gourmet experience, as well as bars and lively nightspots for those looking to continue the adventure. Overnight in Korčula. Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner on your own.

Oct. 15: We’ll have an early morning departure from Korčula, followed by a refreshing swim stop in a beautiful bay. After lunch on board the cruise continues towards the island of Brač. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive in the charming town of Pučišća, often described as one of the prettiest villages in Europe. Nestled in a deep natural bay, Pučišća is renowned for its white limestone, used in iconic buildings such as the White House, and is home to a famous stonemasonry school, the only one of its kind in Croatia. We’ll have time to explore the town, stroll along the quaint waterfront, or simply unwind and soak up the atmosphere. In the evening, we’ll have a festive Captain’s Dinner on board. Overnight in Pučišća. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Oct. 16: Our last day on the boat begins with an early departure, followed by a swim stop in a peaceful bay and lunch onboard. In the early afternoon, we’ll arrive at Marina Baotić, near Trogir, and transfer to the Old Town for a guided walking tour. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trogir is a delightful coastal town celebrated for its well-preserved medieval architecture, narrow cobbled streets, and a rich blend of Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque influences. Set on a small island between the mainland and Čiovo, Trogir is a true architectural gem. Enjoy the evening at leisure to soak in the atmosphere or indulge in a final seaside dinner. Overnight in Marina Baotić (Trogir). Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner is on your own.

Oct. 17: Following our last breakfast on board, we’ll disembark and transfer to our hotel in Split. There should be ample time for some independent exploring and a final night out on the town. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Oct. 18: We bid you all a fond farewell as you head out on your next adventures!

Pricing:
All cabins on board the boat are double-occupancy, with the exception of 4 single-occupancy cabins, offered at a premium. All solo travelers will be paired with a similarly-gendered roommate.

$4889 per person. Shared occupancy

$5889 per person. Solo occupancy

Prices include most meals onboard boat (as noted in itinerary). 2 nights hotel in Split, all excursions/admissions (as noted in itinerary), evening music events, and transfer to and from Split hotel to boat.

Payment links:

Pay it all at once (shared occupancy) for 5% discount: $4644.55

Pay it all at once (solo cabin) for 5% discount: $5594.55

Pay $500 per person (shared occupancy) deposit, then opt in to a monthly credit card draw through September 2026

Pay $500 per person (solo cabin) deposit, then opt in to a monthly credit card draw through September 2026

Cancellation policy: Deposits, whether paid separately or as part of a full payment up front, are non-refundable. Outside of deposit and credit card fees, full refund will be given up until 90 days prior to start of trip. 50% refund 60-89 days. No refund less than 60 days prior to start of trip. Reservations are fully transferable to another person. The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Since the advent of Covid-19, and its impact upon travel, we feel purchasing travel insurance has gone from wise precaution to fiscal necessity. Going forward, we are strongly suggesting that all patrons carry trip insurance that provides, at a minimum, coverage for the following:

- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Cancel for Medical Reasons
- Emergency medical care
- Medical Evacuation

You may purchase travel insurance through any company you choose, and we advise checking the coverage on the credit card you used to secure your booking with us -- often there are travel protections built in to your user agreement. If you're unclear on where to begin your travel insurance search, we can suggest looking at products such as AXA USA Assistance Silver or Nationwide Essential which provide robust coverage for all those items at a very fair price. Both of those products (and many more) can be purchased through our affiliate, Squaremouth. Because travel insurance is such a highly personalized product, when you click on the link and are directed to the Squaremouth landing page and the "Compare and Buy Travel Insurance" calculator, you’ll have to enter your own demographic information – age, state of residence etc. -- after which you'll be presented with a number of options to consider. Among them will be the AXA and the Nationwide products. You are certainly not limited to those two products – we are merely outlining the elements of coverage that we are strongly suggesting going forward and a convenient way to access them. If you purchase the policy through that link to Squaremouth it does not cost you anything more than purchasing the product directly from the vendor, but we do receive a small commission.

THE FINE PRINT

Our customers are extremely important to us, and when travel disruptions occur, we are committed to working with you to minimize the financial impact. In the event that you need to cancel a trip for whatever reason, we will work with you to try and find a buyer for the space you are needing to give up. Often this works out well for all: the person needing to cancel recovers most, if not all, of their investment, and a person who might have been on a waiting list gets to go on the trip - however, there are no guarantees.

We understand that the new realities of travel are such that we need to be more flexible than ever before. We are also an extremely small business with many fixed costs that can't always be recovered if a trip needs to be postponed or cancelled due to health and safety concerns. We will be completely transparent if a scheduled trip looks like it needs to be adjusted in any way that might impact your enjoyment of the experience. Please read through our cancellation policy carefully and feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

EXPECTATIONS

Roots, Rails, and Rambles LLC is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming travel community free from violence, harassment and discrimination. All participants are expected to treat each other with respect and dignity, and to create a safe and respectful environment for everyone.

We will not tolerate verbal or physical conduct toward others that is non-consensual, intimidating, hostile, or offensive including offenses based on an individual's race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or other protected characteristic. Such behavior may result in immediate removal from the trip.

If you experience or witness concerning behaviors, harassment, or discrimination please report it immediately to your Trip Leader. Your report will be kept confidential to the extent possible.

Roots, Rails, and Rambles shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Roots, Rails, and Rambles acts only as agent. Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. Roots, Rails, and Rambles shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property.

Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers.

Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time. Roots, Rails, and Rambles reserves the right to refuse service to anyone whom it considers incompatible with the best interests of its services or its guests.