Abercrombie & Kent Adriatic Cruise: Croatia, Montenegro & Greece

We just returned from our 10-day Abercrombie & Kent Adriatic Sea cruise, and we had a wonderful time! But it didn’t begin exactly as planned.

From Travel Chaos to the Adriatic: Our Abercrombie & Kent Adventure

A journey through Venice, Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece—with a little help from fate

Sometimes the best travel stories begin with everything going wrong.

Ours certainly did.

Our much-anticipated journey to the Adriatic began with an Air France flight from Newark to Paris. We were looking forward to those lovely flat-bed seats and the excitement of finally heading off on our adventure.

Instead, Newark came to a standstill.

A ground stop caused by technical issues at the Philadelphia TRACON facility meant delays, uncertainty, and eventually the news no traveler wants to hear: our flight was canceled.

So, instead of waking up somewhere over Europe after a comfortable night in our Air France flat beds, we found ourselves checking into the JW Marriott Essex House in New York City.

Not exactly Paris.

But the beds were comfortable, the champagne was probably cheaper than a missed cruise, and we reminded ourselves that travel sometimes requires a sense of humor.

The next morning, we tried again.

Our new plan involved flying to Paris, making a very tight connection to Venice, arriving around 1:20 in the afternoon, getting through customs, and somehow making it to our ship before its scheduled 5:00 PM departure.

No pressure.

After the previous day’s adventure, getting to Venice and actually boarding our Abercrombie & Kent cruise felt like the first excursion of the trip.

And somehow, we made it.

Why We Chose an Abercrombie & Kent Small-Ship Cruise

For this journey, we chose an Abercrombie & Kent small-ship cruise, sailing aboard a PONANT-chartered ship. The combination was particularly appealing for an itinerary like this, where the experience is as much about the destinations and shore excursions as it is about the time spent onboard.

We liked the idea of traveling on a smaller ship, where the atmosphere is more intimate, and the experience feels less like a traditional large-ship cruise. With fewer passengers, there is a more personal feel onboard, while Abercrombie & Kent’s approach to travel puts a strong emphasis on curated experiences, local culture, food and excursions.

The itinerary was also a major draw.

Rather than simply visiting the major ports, the journey promised more immersive ways to experience the region—from exploring Game of Thrones filming locations and ancient Roman ruins to visiting local wineries, tasting oysters and mussels straight from the Adriatic, discovering small villages, and getting out on the water by speedboat.

Abercrombie & Kent chartered the ship from PONANT, giving us an interesting combination: the intimacy and small-ship experience we wanted, paired with A&K’s destination-focused travel style.

Of course, when we booked the trip, we didn’t expect our adventure to begin with a canceled flight and a race to Venice just to make the ship!

But perhaps that’s part of the fun of travel. You can plan the itinerary, choose the ship and book the excursions—but you never know exactly what story you’ll come home with.

Venice: Where the Adventure Finally Begins

Venice wasn’t really a destination for us this time—it was our gateway to the cruise.

After all the uncertainty, simply stepping aboard the ship felt like a victory.

Our Adriatic adventure was finally underway.

The beauty of cruising this part of the world is that every day brings a completely different experience. Ancient history, medieval cities, spectacular coastlines, local food and wine, Hollywood filming locations, and plenty of time on the water all became part of our journey.

And our first real stop did not disappoint.

Split, Croatia: Romans, Palaces and Game of Thrones

Our first Croatian adventure brought us to Split, where history is quite literally woven into the city.

We explored Diocletian’s Palace, the enormous Roman complex built for Emperor Diocletian in the fourth century. What makes Split so fascinating is that this isn’t simply an archaeological site sitting apart from modern life. The palace became the foundation for much of the historic city, with shops, restaurants, homes, and narrow streets incorporated into its ancient walls.

And then there was the other side of Split: Game of Thrones.

For fans of the series, walking through locations used in the filming of Game of Thrones adds another layer to an already fascinating city. Suddenly, ancient stone walls and narrow passageways aren’t just historic—they’re recognizable pieces of television history.

It was a wonderful introduction to Croatia: ancient history with a touch of Hollywood.

Dubrovnik and Mali Ston: From Westeros to the Dinner Table

If Split gave us a taste of Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik took it to another level.

Dubrovnik’s spectacular walls and stone streets provided the backdrop for even more filming locations from the series. Walking through the city, it was easy to understand why filmmakers were drawn to this extraordinary place.

But one of my favorite parts of this day happened away from the crowds.

We headed toward the Mali Ston area for an excursion that introduced us to one of the region’s great culinary traditions: mussels and oysters.

We visited a local shellfish farm, learned about cultivating these delicacies, and then enjoyed lunch in Mali Ston.

Fresh seafood, beautiful surroundings, and a connection to the local way of life made this feel like so much more than simply stopping at another port.

And then came wine.

A visit to a local winery gave us another taste of the region, followed by one of those experiences that stays with you long after the trip is over.

We visited a farmstead where we enjoyed traditional Croatian cuisine and were entertained by the owner with music and dancing in traditional Croatian costumes.

Something wonderfully personal about the experience. It wasn’t just about seeing Croatia—it was about being welcomed into a little piece of Croatian life.

That is the kind of travel experience I treasure most.

Kotor, Montenegro: Blue Caves and a Day on the Water

Then came a complete change of pace.

In Kotor, Montenegro, we traded historic streets and archaeological sites for a speedboat adventure.

We headed out along the spectacular coastline, with scenery that makes you want to put your camera down for a moment and simply take it all in.

And then we jumped into the sea. Or at least my husband did!

There’s something wonderfully liberating about jumping off a boat into the clear Adriatic waters in the middle of a cruise. It was one of those moments when you realize that this isn’t just a sightseeing trip—you are actually experiencing the destination.

We also explored submarine hideouts, a fascinating reminder of the region’s more recent military history.

Then we headed to the Blue Cave, where the light and water create that unforgettable blue glow that makes the place seem almost unreal.

After all that adventure, we finished the day with lunch at a beach club.

Swim. Explore. Eat. Repeat.

Not a bad way to spend a day in Montenegro.

Corfu, Greece: A Walk Through History

Our journey continued to Greece with a stop in Corfu.

Here, we slowed things down with a walking tour through the panoramic Old Town.

Corfu has a distinctive character shaped by centuries of different cultural influences, and wandering through its historic streets gave us time to appreciate the architecture and atmosphere.

The island also has a royal connection: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born in Corfu.

After the excitement of Kotor, Corfu offered a more leisurely opportunity to simply walk, explore, and soak up the character of a beautiful Greek island.

Cephalonia: Monasteries and a Picture-Perfect Village

Next came Cephalonia, where our day took us from a place of faith to one of the island’s most picturesque villages.

We visited the Monastery of St. Gerasimos, dedicated to the patron saint of Cephalonia.

The monastery offered a quieter and more reflective experience, followed by a visit to Assos.

 

Assos is the kind of place that seems designed to make you stop taking pictures every few seconds—and then take another one anyway.

The colorful buildings, beautiful setting, and relaxed atmosphere gave us a glimpse of another side of Greek island life.

It was one of those days where the beauty wasn’t just in the big attractions. It was in the little streets, the scenery, and the feeling of being somewhere very different from home.

Itea and Delphi: The Center of the Ancient World

Our next stop was Itea, the gateway to one of the journey’s most extraordinary historical sites: Delphi.

To the ancient Greeks, Delphi was the center of the world, and standing among the ruins makes it easy to see why this place mattered so much.

We visited the Delphi Archaeological Museum, where artifacts from the sanctuary help bring the ancient site to life.

Then came the ruins themselves, including the Temple of Apollo.

There is something humbling about standing among ruins that have been here for thousands of years. After days of exploring medieval cities and beautiful islands, Delphi reminded us just how deep the history of this part of the world really is.

One Last Swim Before the Journey Home

Before leaving Itea, we had one of those wonderfully spontaneous cruise moments that you don’t plan for.

The captain lowered the ship’s dock, and suddenly guests had the opportunity to jump right into the water.

Of course, people took advantage of it.

 

Many of us enjoyed one last swim before the ship headed toward Athens. Even our captain jumped in.

After all the sightseeing, excursions, historic sites, and long days of exploring, it was the perfect way to say goodbye to the Greek islands.

Then we headed toward the Corinth Canal.

Cruising through the canal was an experience in itself. Watching the ship make its way through the narrow passage felt like the final dramatic scene of our voyage.

And then came our farewell dinner with the captain.

It was a fitting way to celebrate the people, places, and experiences that had filled the journey.

Athens… or Almost

And then, just like that, our voyage came to an end.

We arrived in Athens.

But here’s the funny part:

We never actually saw Athens.

Athens was where our voyage ended, not a destination we explored.

And somehow, that seems fitting.

This trip wasn’t really about checking cities off a list. It was about the unexpected moments along the way—the frantic race to make it to Venice, the ancient stones of Split, Game of Thrones locations in Croatia, oysters and mussels in Mali Ston, dancing at a Croatian farmstead, jumping into the Adriatic from a speedboat, the glow of the Blue Cave, wandering through Greek villages, standing among the ruins of Delphi and taking one last swim before sailing through the Corinth Canal.

We started the trip wondering if we would even make it onto the ship.

We ended it having made memories all along the Adriatic and Ionian coastlines.

And perhaps the biggest lesson was the one we reminded ourselves of on that first chaotic travel day:

If something doesn’t go according to plan, keep going.

Sometimes the detour becomes part of the adventure.

And sometimes, if you don’t make it to Athens…

Well, maybe it was meant to be.

Up next: what I wore on the cruise.

Until next time!

XXOOXX