Opatija, Croatia

Cruise to the Pearl of the Adriatic

In its early heyday, Opatija was like the Saint-Tropez of Croatia, the place to be and be seen for kings, queens, and other nobility from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. So not surprisingly, there remains to this day an aristocratic charm about “The Old Dame”.

And while Opatija may have garnered a number of other nicknames over the centuries, including “The Pearl of the Adriatic ” and “The Queen of Tourism”, it continues to be one of the few old-school resort towns, a vestige from the days when a resort meant a place to unwind and focus on one’s health and well-being. But if you do want a break from all that resting and relaxing—because really, a voyage with Azamara^® is the best “How to Relax” guide on Earth—there’s still plenty to do here.

Go town hopping along the seaside seven-mile promenade known as the Lungomare, which connects to the other towns of the Opatija Riviera: Lovran, Ika, Icici, and Volosko.

Be sure your batteries are charged, literally and figuratively, since there’s many a photo op along the way, including Villa Angiolina, St. Jakov’s Church and Park, the statue of “Maiden with the Seagull”, Hotel Kvarner, Slatina Beach, the hills of Ucka Mountain…need we go on? (Because we could, you know.)