Jet into the beautiful Croatian city of Split and join this fantastic small boat cruise touring the islands bigger ships can’t visit, sipping cocktails on deck and diving into the deliciously blue sea before dining in one of the gorgeous restaurants in the country’s historical harbours.

Where is it?

Cruisecroatia.com run seven-night cruises that travel between Split and Dubrovnik with one set of passengers and then do the journey in reverse with another. During the cruise you moor up in sheltered coves and bays for snorkelling and swimming sessions, drop anchor in the beautiful, historical towns to explore on foot and have guided tours to wineries and food producers.

What’s the accommodation like?

Our balcony cabin was modern and bijou with a neat shower and loo facility, a small balcony with chairs and a comfortable bed and plenty of clothes storage. Our boat – the My Wish – sleeps 36-38 passengers and is one of seven similar vessels. There’s a staff to guest ratio of 1:4, so every need is met with a smile and friendly efficiency. Up on deck there are plenty of spots to sit, sunbathe or socialise along with a hot-tub, outdoor gym and a selection of kayaks and inflatables to add a bit of playfulness to the swimming stations.

What did you eat and drink?

Breakfast and lunch are served on board in the dining area. Breakfast is a good-quality buffet heaving with fresh fruit, cereals, charcuterie, local cheese, pastries, preserves and more. There’s a DIY toast station and one for coffee and tea too. The ship’s chef is happy to rustle up and omelette or cooked breakfast for those with large appetites. The three-course lunch features a salad bar, followed by a starter such as gorgonzola -stuffed pears before a hot dish such as pasticada, a local beef stew served with gnocchi or sesame-crusted fresh tuna steak with freshly steamed veg. Desserts will satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth, with cheesecake making a regular and welcome appearance.

For dinner the boat’s cruise director will book a recommended restaurant in the harbour town visiting that evening. Due to Croatia’s geography and location Italy has been a strong culinary influence, with plenty of places offering pizza and pasta, however the locally caught fish shouldn’t be missed. Best grilled and served with roasted veg but also elevated at some of the excellent restaurants we tried including Don Dino on the island of Trogir, where we tucked into a huge salt-baked seabass and in Hvar town where we tucked into a first-class seafood risotto and burrata with pesto sauce at Black Pepper restaurant.

Croatian wine is also worth ordering particularly Piena, a sparkling rosé which makes a great aperitif and Benvenuti Malvazija, a crisp, fresh white wine from istria.

What is there to do?

Apart from lazing on deck and taking the occasional dip in the clear, turquoise sea most mornings presented relaxing opportunities to catch up with that good book, or daydream about spending the rest of one’s life on board. In the afternoons there was plenty of time to explore the harbour towns where we would spend the night, either on one of the excellent guided tours or on our own. We strolled the ramparts of various island castles, browsed the chic boutiques, stocked up on local food and drink specialities or sat sipping coffee in one of the pretty cafés that line all the cobbled streets.

Some days we all boarded a local coach to visit an interesting food producer; one, a small oyster farm near the tiny, fortified village of Ston saw us board a boat to spend a few hours on the farm pontoon. Here the farmer explained the farming process before serving us some perfectly shucked examples, which we washed down with carafes of local white wine.

In Hvar, we stopped off at Vina Tomić in the little town of Jelsa, where we sampled the wineries excellent vintages during a long, leisurely lunch featuring platters of local deli delights.

What do I need to pack?

Not much! The storage in cabins is limited, and this isn’t a place for high heels, or glamorous gowns – the local streets are cobbled so comfy low-heels and slides are the footwear we recommend for nights out, and during the day flip-flops or trainers are fine. Then all you need is your swimwear, cover-ups and a few mix-and-match outfits for dinner.

Lasting memory

Making lovely new friends, from all four corners of the world over leisurely meals onboard the My Wish. It’s a great opportunity to get to know what life would look like if you lived in Australia, the US and Canada in particular. Plus, swimming in the vast saltwater lakes in the Mijet National Park after hiking around its rocky shores. Pure bliss.

Sainsbury’s magazine insider tip

This is an ideal holiday for sociable people, breakfast and lunch are on large, shared tables and it helps if you’re happy getting to know strangers.

How to book

The seven-night one-way Luxury Split to Dubrovnik Balcony Cruise runs from May to October. Prices start from £1,950 per person, including breakfast and lunch, and several visits and tours. For more information, and to book see cruisecroatia.com