Am planning summer trip that begins with a couple of days in Venice then another 7-8 on Dalmatian Coast including ending with a few days in Dubrovik (shorter than I'd like but.....)

I know there is the ferry across from Ancona to Split (and/or to Hvar) but has anyone taken a coastal route starting in Pula down the coast via ferry or something similar doing Croatia rather than Italy then across?

http://www.cemar.it/dest/ferries_croatia.htm

Dalmation Coast boats start at Rijeka and make stops at Zadar, Split, Hvar, Korcula (birthplace of Marco Polo) and Dubrovnik - boats run about daily between July 1 and Sep 20. 17-22 hours nonstop travel; about $50 total fare.

Jadrolinija Line; Rijeka ph385 (51) 66 61 11

Jadrolinija's coastal service is a great way of travelling down the coast - the only alternative is by road because there's no railway along the Croatian coast. The ship leaves Rijeka in the evening, goes overnight to Split, then calls at Stari Grad (Hvar), Korcula and Dubrovnik. The ship has lounges, bars, a restaurant and cabins. Breakfast is included in the fare for cabin passengers.
This year, the schedule was reduced to a twice weekly service - summer and winter.
From Venezia, there are hourly trains to Trieste, then buses to Rijeka.

Thanks all---I actually just came across a NY Times article tnhat was quite helpful and others may want to check out.....

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/06/1...ltraveler.html