Venice and the Dalmation Coast: A Voyage to the Shores of Croatia and Montenegro September 11-20, 2018

Dear W&L Alumni, Parents, and Friends,

The coast of Croatia and Montenegro has an irresistible loveliness. Long coveted by the ancient Greeks, Roman, and Byzantine emperors, Venetian doges, and Ottoman caliphs, this sun-dappled strand of the Adriatic has retained its distinctive appeal, even in this era of mass tourism. The idyllic islands, the small, well-preserved medieval towns lining the coast, the revered monuments, the palm-lined promenades have all retained their authentic character. The entire coastline presents a lovely marriage of land and sea with the long history that has made the region so eloquent.

This is a voyage to the very best of the northern Adriatic aboard the elegant, 244-guest Le Lyrial, the youngest member of the PONANT fleet of small luxury ships. After two nights in the storied city of Venice, we sail first to the charming medieval town of Korcula and then to Split, where Emperor Diocletian built the magnificent palace that still dominates the city’s architecture. Further down the Dalmatian coast, we devote three days to exploring the medieval cities of Dubrovnik and Kotor then enjoying the seascapes and landscapes of the beautiful Croatian island of Hvar. Turning northward we call at Pula, with its remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheater in the center of the city, then travel to Rovinj in the heart of the Istrian Peninsula, where the mix of Slovene and Italian spoken everywhere bears testament to its multicultural past.

Accompanying you throughout the program will be one of W&L’s most popular lecturers, Lamar Cecil, who will enhance your understanding of the history of the region. If you wish to explore one of Europe’s most beautiful and unspoiled coastlines in extraordinary style, join Professor Cecil and fellow W&L travelers aboard Le Lyrial.

Sincerely,

Rob Fure, Ph.D., Director of the W&L Traveller

Itinerary

Date	Location	Description	Meals
Tuesday, September 11, 2018	Fly from the USA
Wednesday, September 12	Venice, Italy	Arrive in Venice and transfer to the Hotel Bonvecchiati (or similar). This evening join fellow Washington and Lee travelers for a reception and introduction.	R
Thursday, September 13	Venice | Embark	Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a morning at leisure and independent lunch. In the early afternoon, we gather for a walking tour of Venice with visits to Santa Maria Gloriosa de Frari Basilica and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco to view Tintoretto’s magnificent murals. We continue to San Basilio Port later in the a ernoon to embark Le Lyrial.	B,L,D
Friday, September 14	Korcula Island, Croatia	This medieval city of Korcula, walls and guard towers still intact, is laid out in a striking way: western streets run straight to funnel refreshing maestral breezes; eastern streets slightly curve to minimize bura winds. We explore St. Mark’s Cathedral and its Treasury, the Bishop’s Palace, the Church of All Saints, and the Icon Museum. A drive brings us to the old village of Lumbarda to visit the Milina-Bire Winery for a tasting of local specialties and wine.	B,L,D
Saturday, September 15	Sibenik | Split	Take an excursion to Krka National Park and view the stunning Skradinski Buk waterfalls. After a lunch of local specialties, continue overland to Split — an ancient city centered on the Palace of Diocletian, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The palace contains Split’s medieval town within its walls. We visit its underground cellars, the Mausoleum, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle, the Northern Gate, and, later on, the gallery of sculptor Ivan Mestrovic.	B,L,D
Sunday, September 16	Dubrovnik	Set on a rocky peninsula jutting into the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city contains within its ramparts the Rector’s Palace; the Franciscan Monastery, which houses a 13th-century pharmacy (the oldest in Europe); and the baroque Cathedral, with works by Renaissance painters Titian and Andrea del Sarto. Overnight aboard ship in Dubrovnik.	B,L,D
Monday, September 17	Kotor, Montenegro	Sail the deep, fjord-like Bay of Kotor to reach the port town of the same name. One of the most striking and best-preserved towns along the Adriatic coast, Kotor is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. A tour reveals its magnificent walls, palaces, and churches, including the Drago Palace, with its elegant Renaissance windows, the 12th-century St. Tryphon Cathedral, and the baroque Lipovac Palace.	B,L,D
Tuesday, September 18	Hvar Island, Croatia	Discover Hvar, a fertile island of stone houses surrounded by rosemary, lavender, and laurel. Our walking tour of the island’s principal town includes a view of the 17th-century Municipal Theater, and visits to the Franciscan Monastery and gallery, the city’s Loggia, and St. Stephen’s Square.	B,L,D
Wednesday, September 19	Pula | Rovinj	Pula was founded in the 5th century b.c. and flourished during the Roman period. We explore the Roman ruins, including the magnificent amphitheater, built by Augustus in the 1st century a.d., the Temple of Augustus, and the Sergi Arc. Sail to Rovinj, built into a hillside surrounded by the sea. Our walking tour includes a visit to the Batana Museum, dedicated to the traditional wooden boat, a symbol of Rovinji’s proud maritime heritage.	B,L,D
Thursday, September 20	Venice | Disembark | Fly to the USA		B

All-Inclusive Fares & Unique Features

Our fares are truly all-inclusive. Coupled with the high-quality lecture and educational program, we provide a most attractive value.

Included

• 1 night in Venice at the Hotel Bonvecchiati, including breakfast
• Welcome cocktail reception at the hotel
• 7-night cruise aboard the deluxe Le Lyrial
• Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
• All meals aboard ship including early riser’s coffee & pastry, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner
• Open bar aboard ship, including select wines with lunch and dinner
• Complete program of tours and excursions as described in the itinerary
• Enrichment program of lectures and discussions by accompanying W&L Professor
• Physician aboard ship
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials
• Baggage handling and airport transfers abroad on the designated program arrival and departure dates
• Port taxes and charges
• Gratuities to shipboard personnel, porters, guides, and drivers

Not included

• Airfare;
• Visa and passport fees (if applicable);
• Luggage, cancellation, and accident insurance;
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, internet, spa services and beverages other than those specified above

Le Lyrial

You will travel aboard the deluxe, five-star Le Lyrial, one of the most beautifully conceived and technologically sophisticated small ships afloat. Designed in France and built in Italy, Le Lyrial boasts an elegantly understated aesthetic that one associates with European sensibility and craftsmanship. It is one of four sister ships of the PONANT cruise line, selected as Best Luxury Cruise Line by Cruise Critic’s editors in 2014.

Fares

All accommodations aboard Le Lyrial face outside affording sea views, and, other than the eight superior staterooms, all feature a private balcony. All staterooms include a bedroom with either two twin-size beds or a king-size bed, sitting area (separate living room for the Prestige Suites), mini-bar, safe, spacious closets, climate control, telephone, WiFi access, TV with movies on demand, iPod player, and bathroom with marble vanity, shower, and fine amenities.

• SUPERIOR STATEROOM: $5,990
• DELUXE STATEROOM: $6,290
• PRESTIGE STATEROOM - DECK 4: $6,990
• PRESTIGE STATEROOM - DECK 5: $7,390
• PRESTIGE STATEROOM - DECK 6: $7,690
• DELUXE SUITE: $10,690
• PRESTIGE SUITE - DECK 5: $14,390
• PRIVILEGE SUITE - DECK 6: $15,090
• GRAND DELUXE SUITE - DECK 6: $17,390
• GRAND PRIVILEGE SUITE - DECK 6: $21,890
• OWNER’S SUITE: $22,390

Single occupancy cabins are available in Prestige Staterooms at the following per person rates: $11,990 (Deck 4); $12,690 (Deck 5). Subject to availability.

Terms & Conditions

Compagnie du PONANT, PONANT Group USA, LLC, and PONANT USA, LLC are hereinafter collectively referred to as “PONANT GROUP”. Please read carefully the following terms and conditions, which constitute the sole, legally enforceable agreements between the passenger and PONANT GROUP and the tour’s sponsoring organization.

Payment Schedule

In order to secure a booking, the guest is required to pay a 25% deposit. Final payment is due by June 15, 2018, 90 days prior to departure. Checks and credit cards are accepted.

Cancellation, Modification Penalties & Refunds

All cancellations or modifications must be in writing. Any and all guests not reporting for departure or prevented from reporting for departure or waiving for any reason whatsoever the benefit of services included in the program cannot claim any refund. PONANT GROUP shall not be required to refund any monies to any guests who must leave the cruise prematurely for any reason, nor shall PONANT GROUP be held responsible for any costs, fees, damages or causes of action which result from the transportation expenses incurred by guest’s early departure.

For any deposited or fully paid booking, cancellation penalties will be assessed as noted below. These cancellation penalties are applicable on all services booked with PONANT GROUP.

• For cancellations received up to 180 day prior to departure, by March 17, 2018, no cancellation penalty applies.
• From March 18, 2018 up to 91 days prior departure: 10% of full fare
• 90-61 days prior departure: 50% of full fare
• Within 60 days prior to departure: 100% of full fare.

Travel Insurance

Passengers shall be responsible for subscribing to cancellation/luggage/assistance repatriation/medical insurance(s).

Itinerary

PONANT GROUP reserves the right to withdraw and/or cancel a sailing to make changes in the itinerary whenever, in its sole judgment, or in the judgment of the vessel owner or operator, conditions warrant it.

Independent Contractors/Limit of Liability

The passenger agrees that PONANT GROUP acts as agent and/or trustee for any person, ground and maritime agents and subcontractors, who provide any service forming, or in connection with, any part of the cruise. Transportation services to the port of departure, transfers to the ship, including, as applicable, hotel room and restaurant bookings or guided tours, are performed by independent suppliers who are not employees of PONANT GROUP. In this respect, PONANT GROUP acts only as an agent and shall not be held liable for said services or for the acts or omissions of sub-contractors or other contractors.

PONANT GROUP shall not be held liable for bodily injury to, or death of passengers, or for loss of, or damage to luggage or other personal belongings, unless it is proved that the carrier has infringed statutory obligations or that it or one of its employees or agents has committed gross negligence. However, in the event the liability of PONANT GROUP is incurred, such liability is limited (details available upon request).

PONANT GROUP shall in any case not be liable for failure of an improper performance when the same is due to or caused by the fault of the passenger; the unforeseeable or unavoidable fault of a third party unconnected with the provision of any services to be provided under the contract; unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of PONANT GROUP; an event of “Force Majeure” such as a war, threat of war, riots, civil commotion, acts of God, terrorist activities, natural and nuclear disaster, fire, technical problems with transport, closure of ports, strikes and any industrial action, or any other event beyond the control of PONANT GROUP.

Rates

The prices given at the time of booking are based on economic conditions known on April 1, 2017 and are subject to change. These conditions are, amongst others, the cost of transport and fuel, relevant dues and taxes for the proposed operation (port taxes, embarkation and disembarkation taxes, entrance costs to tourist sites), currency exchange rates relevant to the pricing of these programs. PONANT GROUP reserves the right within the legal limits of applicable laws to vary the prices if necessary. All variation of the cost of transport, fuel, taxes, dues and visa costs will be passed on within the voyage cost. Additionally, any surcharge levied will be increased to include an amount to cover agent’s commission. Any change in fare cannot be imposed less than 60 days prior to departure. For the cruise-only rate, daily surcharge, if any, will be calculated based on:

S= fuel variation* x daily consumption**

Jurisdiction

These terms & conditions are subject to and interpreted according to International regulations and concern the transportation of passengers and their luggage from the time of boarding the ship to the moment of disembarking, as well as at ports of departure, destination, or stopover. PONANT GROUP shall incur no liability outside this period of time. Without prejudice to required legal regulations, any actions related either to the interpretation, or execution of this agreement shall be brought before the competent courts of Marseille-France.

PONANT GROUP is not responsible for omissions, printing and/or presentation errors and reserves the right to make corrections as required.

Ships’ Registry

France. FL Seller of Travel Ref No ST37706. CA Seller of Travel Ref No 2120712-40