Overview
We are delighted to partner with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to bring this opportunity to our Jewish Heritage travelers.
Embark on a relaxing and enriching cruise along the spectacular Adriatic coast aboard the 18-cabin Queen Eleganza yacht, beginning in Dubrovnik and calling at the enchanting islands of Mljet, Korčula, and Hvar, and the charming ancient coastal cities of Split, Trogir, and Slovenia’s captivating capital, Ljubljana. In a region worth visiting for its natural beauty alone, you will visit spellbinding archaeological sites, dramatic palaces, ancient city centers, important Jewish sites and synagogues, and two national parks.
Discover at the magnificent walled city of Dubrovnik, including a visit to the Dubrovnik Synagogue, built in 1408, then set off for a week at a leisurely pace that allows for plenty of free time to explore, sample local cuisine, and mingle with residents. There are also wonderful opportunities to swim in turquoise waters.
Along the way, architectural historian Grace Gary enriches your experience through enlightening lectures and tour leader and Jewish History historian Raquel Orensztajn presents engaging talks on topics such as the Jewish legacy of Dubrovnik and Kosher wine.
Highlights
- 3 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations
- 7 nights aboard the Super Yacht, Queen Eleganza
- Visit historic synagogues in Dubrovnik and Split
- Marvel at the well-preserved Roman ruins of Emperor Diocletian’s palace at Split.
- At Plitvice National Park take guided walks on wooden walkways and bridges through the magical landscape of cascading waterfalls, picturesque pools, and lush vegetation.
- Delve into the historic sights of Dubrovnik, Pearl of the Adriatic.
- Enjoy a traditional peka, meat and potatoes slowly roasted over coals under an iron bell, for dinner at an agrotourism home.
- Swim in secluded coves in the pristine waters of the Adriatic Sea.
Itinerary
Friday August 29 | Arrive Dubrovnik, Croatia
Arrive and transfer to the 5-star Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, overlooking the Adriatic Sea, with time to settle in and relax. We then gather for an orientation, welcome reception and shabbat dinner.
Meals included: reception and shabbat dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Dubrovnik Palace
Saturday August 30 | Dubrovnik
This morning features an enlightening lecture on the Jewish legacy of Dubrovnik with tour leader Rachel Orensztajn, followed by a walking tour of the iconic sites of historic Dubrovnik along Stradun, a limestone-paved pedestrian street running through the Old Town. We also visit the ornate Baroque-style Dubrovnik Synagogue, built in 1408, the oldest Sefardic synagogue in use in the world and the second oldest synagogue in Europe. Located in what was formerly the city’s Jewish ghetto, its main floor functions as a place of worship for the High Holy Days and special occasions for the small local Jewish community. The synagogue is also home to a museum with centuries-old artifacts and ritual items from the city’s Jewish history, including a collection of Torah scrolls from Spanish Jewish migrants, a collection of menorahs, and numerous handicrafts, books, posters, photographs, and documents.
After lunch, enjoy free time to explore Dubrovnik on your own, embarking on the Queen Eleganza in the late afternoon. A welcome reception is followed by dinner.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, reception, dinner
Accommodations: Queen Eleganza
Sunday August 31 | Mljet
Relax on the sun deck this morning while cruising to the beautiful island of Mljet. According to legend, Odysseus used the island as a safe haven on his trips among the islands in the Greek archipelagos. Here we visit Mljet’s gorgeous national park, an unspoiled oasis of tranquility, where you have time to walk or e-bike amongst forests of Aleppo pine and explore its two stunning saltwater lakes, centerpieces of the park. Bring your bathing suit and take a swim in their refreshing turquoise waters or skim across their clear surfaces by kayak.
We enjoy dinner at an agro-tourism home, featuring a traditional Croatian meal of peka, meat and potatoes slowly roasted over coals under an iron bell.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Queen Eleganza
Monday September 1 | Korčula
This morning we cruise to Korčula Island, with an opportunity to swim in an exquisite cove along the way (weather permitting). Korčula is home to a spectacular wine culture, a stunning old city, a collection of hidden beaches, endless olive groves, and unique dining specialties.
Upon arrival, we take a walking tour of the charming narrow streets and historic buildings of Old Town, a medieval walled city, layered like a wedding cake (with many stairs!). Then take part in a wine tasting, accompanied by local specialties, and discover what makes Korčula’s wines so special. Today includes a lecture on what makes wine kosher by tour leader Rachel Orensztajn — “Bore Pri HaGeffen.”
Choose from among the many local eateries — from a Michelin-starred meal to street food in a traditional konoba — for dinner on your own, perhaps watching the sun set over the Adriatic from one of Korčula’s western walls.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Queen Eleganza
Tuesday September 2 | Hvar
Today we cruise to the popular island of Hvar, known as Croatia’s sunniest island, where lavender oil production is a century-old industry and lavender fields dominate the landscape of small family-owned plots divided by dry stone walls. We will take a tour of the Piazza, the town’s main square, where the elegant St. Stephan’s Cathedral is located, as well as see intricate lace made by nuns from aloe threads at the Benedictine Monastery, established in 1664.
Enjoy dinner on your own at one of Hvar’s many chic bars and restaurants offering international cuisine as well as tasty local specialties — gregarda, a fish and potato stew; dalmatinska pašticada, a dish of marinated beef; brudet, a rustic seafood-based stew; and others.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Queen Eleganza
Wednesday September 3 | Split
Relax on board as we cruise to the ancient shoreline city of Split, originally a Greek colony, where the Roman Emperor Diocletian had a palace built in 305 CE. Upon arrival, we tour Diocletian’s Palace along the waterfront, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We also visit the city’s Jewish sites, including the ancient Split Synagogue. Dating back to the beginning of the 16th century and one of the oldest Sefardic synagogues in use today, the synagogue is situated at the entrance to the former ghetto on a small street called Židovski Prolaz (Jewish Lane), within the walls of the northwestern part of Diocletian’s Palace.
Enjoy dinner on your own, with options ranging from traditional Dalmatian specialties to Michelin-star dining.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Queen Eleganza
Thursday September 4 | Trogir
Today we cruise to the enchanting town of Trogir, with another possible swim opportunity in a quiet cove along the way.
A walking tour introduces you to Trogir’s car-free UNESCO-designated Old Town, packed with the charm of well-preserved medieval architecture, cobbled streets, lively squares, art galleries, ancient churches, and endless opportunities for picturesque photos.
Choose from among Trogir’s many excellent restaurants for dinner on your own, perhaps along the stunning waterfront promenade, where palm trees sway in the sea breeze.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Queen Eleganza
Friday September 5 | At Sea / Zadar
While cruising to Zadar, we are treated to a final lecture by tour leader Rachel Orensztajn, “To Be a Jewish Traveler.”
Then discover the beautiful city of Zadar, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia, rich in history, charming architecture, and breathtaking natural beauty. Highlights include the Roman Forum, with its well-preserved ruins of temples, columns, and arches that showcase the city’s Roman past; the Church of St. Donatus, an impressive circular structure that dates back to the 9th century. Stroll through the ancient charm of Zadar’s Old Town, where you will find many delightful squares and can spend time at the Sea Organ, a system of pipes and whistles on stone stairs that dip into the water and play mesmerizing tones via sea waves.
“In the evening, our last night on the Queen Eleganza, we enjoy shabbat dinner on board the ship.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, shabbat dinner
Accommodations: Queen Eleganza
Saturday September 6 |Ljubljana, Slovenia
En route to Ljubljana, Slovenia, we visit Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s oldest and largest national park. Easy walking trails invite you to meander along wooden walkways suspended over turquoise waters and enjoy stunning viewpoints and photogenic waterfalls.
In Ljubljana, we check into the elegant Grand Hotel Union in the center of the city. You are free for dinner on your own in Ljubljana — a foodie destination — perhaps discovering Slovenian cuisine, featuring local, seasonal ingredients with inventive twists.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Union
Sunday September 7 | Ljubljana
Enjoy a morning walking tour of the historic center of the thriving capital city of Ljubljana, including its Dragon Bridge and ancient Roman wall. Ljubljana was once home to a small Jewish community dating back to around the 12th century. Its present-day Jewish Cultural Center serves as a place of remembrance of the Shoah and a synagogue.
We then travel by motorcoach to the incredibly picturesque Lake Bled, where a traditional local pletna boat takes us to a delightful islet crowned by a church perched high on the hillside. Beekeeping in Slovenia has been designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, and we have the special opportunity to tour an apiary and sample local honeys.
On our return to Ljubljana, we have a farewell dinner together.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Union
Monday September 8 | Ljubljana / Home
Departure from Ljubljana’s airport for your flight home.
Meals included: breakfast
Gallery
Traveling with you…
Each of our scholars are outstanding experts in their fields and play an active role in helping us design our journeys as well as accompanying us as we travel.
Raquel Orensztajn
Raquel Orensztajn was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She studied Modern History and Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and dedicated her professional life to teaching the Holocaust and its significance in Jewish memory and identity. Raquel is the co-initiator and founder of ‘When Memory Meets Art’, a project that specializes in creating artistic content based on primary sources of the Holocaust. She is a scholar and educator of Jewish Journeys programs and has participated as a trip scholar throughout Jewish Europe. Raquel developed the study curriculum in Prague and Theresienstadt for the Jewish Agency and led the March of the Living in Poland. She also teaches Hebrew as a second language to participants of the Masa Israel Journey program. Raquel works in the International School for Holocaust Studies, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, as a developer and writer of online teaching courses and content coordinator of seminars for educators from Israel, Europe, and Latin America. Raquel is fluent in English, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Spanish. She lives in Tel Aviv.
Grace Gary
Grace Gary is an architectural historian with degrees from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and the University of Virginia. A veteran leader of more than 30 tours with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, she and fellow National Trust lecturer Dwight Young are the authors of Nemours:A Portrait of Alfred I. duPont’s House. Grace also authored two volumes in the Trust’s “Information” series and has served as director of the Trust’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Office in Pennsylvania. Grace most recently served as the executive director of Nemours Mansion and Gardens in Wilmington, Delaware, where she oversaw an award-winning, multi-year, $70 million restoration of the building and gardens.
Accommodations
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace
The luxury 5-star Hotel Dubrovnik Palace sits on a spectacularly scenic seafront peninsula between a pine forest and the turquoise coastal waters of the Adriatic. All rooms feature contemporary design, modern amenities, and a balcony with breathtaking Adriatic views. Just a few minute’s drive to Old Town Dubrovnik, the resort includes 2 outdoor and 1 indoor swimming pool, walking/jogging paths, a luxury spa, and superb dining options, as well as some of the best sunset views in Dubrovnik.
Queen Eleganza
The yacht-like Queen Eleganza was beautifully crafted in Croatia specifically to cruise the Adriatic coastline and features a sun deck with loungers for excellent views and relaxation. Its size allows for mooring at or near town centers with easy walk-off access. The Eleganza’s 18 cabins are finished to high standards with sleek lines and neutral colors and provide all modern amenities, including en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning/heating, a wardrobe, drawers, radio, flat-screen television, hairdryer, safety deposit box, and 220 volt electrical outlets (universal adapters are recommended). Depending on the ship’s location, WiFi is available in public areas.
Serving fresh and tasty Mediterranean cuisine, the bar/restaurant and lounge boast comfortable seating areas and large windows. When guests are dining ashore, knowledgeable staff can recommend the best restaurants to discover. Carrying a maximum of 36 guests, there is a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere on board this fine ship, with a friendly Croatian crew providing excellent service and hospitality as you cruise the Adriatic.
Grand Hotel Union, Ljubljana
For more than 100 years, the historic Grand Hotel Union has provided elegance and beauty in a stunning Art Nouveau building at the heart of Ljubljana, steps from Old Town. Spacious and tastefully decorated rooms feature all modern amenities, including slippers and bathrobes. The top-floor swimming pool boasts views of Ljubljana Castle and guests are welcome to enjoy the sauna and fitness areas and indulge themselves with a treatment at the wellness center. Famous for the culinary delights at its Grand Union Café, the hotel also has a newspaper and souvenir shop, fashion boutique, jewelry shop, and barber and hair salon.
Details
Program Cost: from $7,990* includes:
- 7 Nights aboard the 18-cabin private super yacht, Queen Eleganza
- 3 nights accommodation at a deluxe hotels
- Full breakfast daily; nine lunches; five dinners; and two receptions
- House wine, beer and soft drinks with group lunches and dinners
- All group transportation via deluxe air-conditioned coach
- All lectures, guided tours, museums and site entrance fees
- All gratuities
**Per person, double occupancy. View cabin options online.
Travel note: Plan to arrive in Dubrovnik (DBV) on Friday, August 29, and depart from Ljubljana (LJU) on Monday, September 8.
Secure your place
Book Now: use the link below to reach our easy online booking form.
By phone: 845-256-0197 Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm EST.
Payment Reserve your space with a deposit of $1,000 per person. Final balance is due 120 days prior to departure.
Membership Participation on these tours is a benefit for active members of our museum partners. During the registration process, you will be asked about your membership status with your affiliated museum. If you are not a current member, you will have a chance to activate your membership.
Participation Tour sizes are limited to 30 participants unless otherwise noted. Trips entail considerable walking including over uneven terrain. Participants need to be in good health, be able to keep up with the group, be able to experience group and cultural differences with grace. Please let us know if you have any physical conditions that may require special attention while on tour.
Cancellations Deposits are refundable (less a $250 per person administration fee) if written notice of cancellation is received within 30 days of reservation; after that, deposits are 100% nonrefundable. After final payment deadline (April 30, 2025, 120 days before departure) all payments are 100% nonrefundable, regardless of booking date.”
Trip Cancellation Insurance Jewish Heritage Travel strongly urges all participants to purchase travel insurance for coverage of losses necessitated by having to cancel due to illness or accident. For your convenience, we are providing a link to Allianz Global Assistance, which many past participants have used. Please use code ACCAM/Agency ID# F026815 or feel free to use your own insurance agent. When purchasing insurance, please consider the plans carefully to familiarize yourself with what is covered. In this context, do take note that most insurance companies generally will waive exclusion for preexisting conditions only if your application is received by them within 14 days from the date of your program registration. If you have a preexisting medical condition and are interested in taking trip insurance, you should do so either with Allianz or through your own insurance agent within 14 days of registration.
Changes All rights are reserved by Jewish Heritage Travel to make scholar substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (including hotels) as needed. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the program as planned; however, should unforeseen world events and conditions require the itinerary to be altered, Jewish Heritage Travel reserves the right to do so for the safety and best interest of the group. Any extra expenses incurred in this situation are the responsibility of the participant.
Disclaimer of Responsibility By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident, or death incurred by any person in connection with this tour. The Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other conveyance that may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will the Museum of Jewish Heritage or the Jewish Heritage Travel office or their staffs be responsible for any injury, death, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, viruses, weather, strikes, wars, and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, including hotels or scholars, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his/her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety and that of the group in general. Prices subject to change. Cost in effect at time of registration will be honored.
