Old world elegance in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Europe has some truly memorable and classic cities that are among the top travel destinations in the world, like London, Paris and Rome. However, these aren't the only places worth visiting on a European cruise, as you'll soon discover if you disembark in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Dubrovnik, known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic," is simply beautiful. That's true of many cities in Europe, but Dubrovnik is a special case. For starters, the entire town is built within old stone walls. You can actually ascend these ramparts to get a better view of the city and the stunning harbor that it's built on.

Many European cities have an "old town" district, where the government has gone to great lengths to preserve the integrity of the historic buildings. But in Dubrovnik, the entire place is an "old town," and features some truly magnificent architecture. You'll find no skyscrapers or modern buildings of any kind - everything is as it originally was.

In fact, the city is so unique that it was labeled an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Typically this honor is reserved for landmarks or monuments, but Dubrovnik is one of the few cases in the world where an entire city has been designated.