As a travel agent that loves to find unique experiences for clients as well as explore new destinations, I was excited to be able to host a group of clients on board the new Silversea ship the Silver Ray to Croatia. Even though I’ve been on almost 30 different cruises and over 50 countries, both Silversea and Croatia were new to me, and I loved both!
We sailed out of the enchanting city of Venice to some of the most captivating ports along the Adriatic Sea. This particular cruise offered a carefully curated itinerary that took us to Zadar, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Opatija, Split, and even Trieste, Italy. Each destination boasted its own unique charm, rich history, and vibrant culture, making this journey a perfect blend of relaxation and exploration. Silversea offers some free excursions in every port and we were looking forward to what they had to offer.
Honestly, I’d never previously heard of this city in Croatia. Come to find out it was quite a fashionable area to travel to in the 19th century. The city is dotted with Hapsburg-era villas where the rich and famous of the time would come to rest and relax. The promenade called the Lungomare, snakes along the coast for miles and has some gorgeous, albeit rocky beaches. The scenery is spectacular, we loved our long walk along the beautiful coastline as we admiredthe villas on the hill.
Hvar was the jumping off point for an adventurous day. We traveled by boat to a few of the nearby islands—Vis and the Pakleni Islands. We spent time swimming and snorkeling from the almost empty beaches, visiting the Blue and Green Caves and even explored an old WWII ship bunker. I was most amazed by the island of Vis. It was inhabited as early as the 4th century B.C. and some early ruins from about 400 A.D. are still found there today.
One of the great things about Silversea is that the ships quite often stay in port longer than another ship might. When we arrived back in the main city of Hvar after our day out on the islands, we still had time to explore the fortress on the hill before returning to the ship for a late dinner and the evening entertainment.
In Split we started the day by traveling to the beautiful Krka National Park which was located about an hour and a half away from the city. It was a great opportunity to explore some of the natural beauty of the Croatian countryside.
Although swimming in the falls is no longer allowed, we had a fantastic morning hiking around the falls and the lush greenery of the surrounding forests. The views were truly spectacular!
We arrived back in Split in the afternoon and had time to explore the fascinating, ancient city. Split has quite a history as it dates back to the 2nd century B.C. and was ruled by the Romans after that. We explored ancient ruins such as the Diocletian’s Palace and the Temple of Jupiter. Split is also home to an original Egyptian Sphinx that was stolen from Egypt around the year 297.
Again, because Silversea stays in port a bit longer than other cruise lines, we had plenty of time to explore before the ship’s late departure.
In Split we started the day by traveling to the beautiful Krka National Park which was located about an hour and a half away from the city. It was a great opportunity to explore some of the natural beauty of the Croatian countryside. Although swimming in the falls is no longer allowed, we had a fantastic morning hiking around the falls and the lush greenery of the surrounding forests. The views were truly spectacular!
We arrived back in Split in the afternoon and had time to explore the fascinating, ancient city. Split has quite a history as it dates back to the 2nd century B.C. and was ruled by the Romans after that. We explored ancient ruins such as the Diocletian’s Palace and the Temple of Jupiter. Split is also home to an original Egyptian Sphinx that was stolen from Egypt around the year 297.
Again, because Silversea stays in port a bit longer than other cruise lines, we had plenty of time to explore before the ship’s late departure.
My dream for Trieste, Italy was to take a day trip to Lake Bled, Slovenia. I’d heard so much about Lake Bled and wanted to check another country off of my travel bucket list. Silversea did not offer an excursion there so I made arrangements through another company to take a day trip to the lake. The lake is about 2 hours from the port, so I knew it would be possible to go and return before the ship’s departure. An outside shore excursion like this is always a gamble when you book elsewhere. However, it was a gamble I was willing to take.
Unfortunately, part of the gamble is working with an outside company. Although I had a confirmation and receipt of my purchase the tour company never arrived. When we called them, they said they decided to cancel because there was too much traffic.
However, after inquiring at the local tourist office we were told they canceled because most likely we were the only clients who scheduled the trip. I guess you win some and lose some in travel. It’s good to be flexible. We worked out a “Plan B” and had a great day exploring a nearby castle and the city. Trieste is so interesting because in the middle of a neighborhood we’d see areas where Roman ruins either had been found,or were currently being excavated. It really was unique!
Besides the ports of call, we loved sailing on Silversea. The food was great and there were many unique dining experiences such as cooking a steak tableside, or their Teppanyaki grill. Unlike other cruise lines though they don’t offer the typical Broadway style show, or comedians as evening entertainment. We enjoyed listening to a former ambassador to Brazil share his unique experiences in the job, and an art college professor that shared with us so many fascinating art details about some of the cities that we were visiting. Silversea also offered classical music performances and other guest lectures. I loved learning more about the historical aspects of the ports we visited.
Because the staff to guest ratio on board is almost 1:1 we had a lot of individualized service. Our dedicated room steward was always anxious to serve and us make our cruise memorable. There were only about 800 passengers on board which is also an advantage at embarkation and disembarkation. There were no long lines anywhere and sailing was a breeze. I already have a Silversea trip planned to Greece in 2025. Come join me!
Please contact me at (801) 483-6584 or to view my full travel biography, please click this link.
Laura Murdoch
Black Pearl Luxury Services
A division of Morris Columbus Travel
(801) 483-6484 or email me
I love to travel and talk about travel! Since 1993, I’ve helped clients plan big vacations and small getaways on every continent. Having been to more than 30 countries, traveled to all 50 states, and sailed on a wide array of cruises, I’m often asked which place is my favorite to visit. My answer is always the same, “I’ve had amazing experiences everywhere I’ve been, but I’ll never turn down traveling to the beaches of Hawaii.” The most memorable trips I plan are for people who are trying to check things off their travel bucket list. I love to help identify what they’re looking to do and then architect their perfect experience. Whether you’ve always dreamed of a foodie tour in NYC, a long weekend in Charleston, a hideaway in Thailand, or an exploration of the Amazon River, I’m not just a travel agent, I’m a maker of lifetime memories!
As a travel agent that loves to find unique experiences for clients as well as explore new destinations, I was excited to be able to host a group of clients on board the new Silversea ship the Silver Ray to