I tried a Croatia cruise for people who don’t like cruises

Words by Rebecca Barnes

Taking in the views from the top deck of our super yacht, a live rendition of Skyfall wafts from a restaurant below. It’s a starry, starry night and the perfect scene setter for our very own Bond movie moment, set on location in Hvar harbour [below, right].

Attracting island hoppers, party people, famous faces and VIP sailors alike, the Croatian resort is one of Forbes’ four European island destinations to visit this year, and our floating home, the 36-passenger yacht Katarina, is certainly holding her own alongside the head-turning mega ships lined up in the marina.

We’re midway through a seven-night Croatian coastal cruise from Dubrovnik to Split, a best-of-both-worlds hybrid of sea and land. The Croatia yacht holiday is a great option if you’re cruise-curious but unsure about spending too much time onboard. And if you’ve always believed the yachting lifestyle to be out of reach or exclusively for the jet set, you’ll be surprised at how affordable coastal Croatia cruises can be.

The deal is half board, so breakfast and a three-course lunch are on the ship – dinners are down to you. Book a table wherever you like, wander and explore to your heart’s content and emerge at dawn from the club if you desire, as your ship is going nowhere till the following morning.

– READ MORE: 10 surprising facts you never knew about Croatia –

Arriving in southerly island Mljet one baking July morning, we jump onto bikes for a leisurely three-hour cycle ride through the National Park [above, centre]. One of eight in Croatia and covering around a third of the island, this car-free paradise is perfect for four wheels or two feet, and you can stop to swim in the lakes along the way.

On our return we plunge into the warm water, before flagging down the free taxi boat to the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on St Mary’s Island, for a well-deserved drink in the shady cafe.

Korčula [main image] offers one of the prettiest sail-ins on the Dalmatian coast, and does not disappoint when we enter one afternoon on our cruise to Croatia. This picturesque destination is buzzing in the height of summer, as are the cobbled streets, bars and upscale restaurants.

The fabled birthplace of Marco Polo, Korčula is nicknamed ‘Little Dubrovnik’ due to its similar architecture and structure. Studded by fortified towers reaching high above the city walls, it is a beautiful example of a coastal Dalmatian town.

Massimo cocktail bar is perched at the top of the Medieval tower, and while you can stop and drink on the first level, we decide to brave the steep ladder to the very top. It’s definitely worth it for the views and cocktails which arrive by pulley – only one though, as you’ll need your wits about you when you decide to return to terra firma.

– READ MORE: What to see, do & eat in Croatia and Montenegro –

“Who wants to go to the Blue Cave?” asks our cruise director Vicko before one of our delicious daily swim stops. With the majority of my shipmates raising their hands, we’re briefed to be up extra early the next day in order to beat the other day trippers.

As luck would have it, we don’t need to wait too long before we’re given the all-clear to pick up our boat transfer in Mezoporat port.

You need to duck to get through the narrow entrance, but this natural wonder is well worth losing sleep for: the Blue Cave [above, right] gets its name because of the reflection of light on the water when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, and it’s mesmerising.

Another port highlight on Croatia cruises is Vis, which is said to be Croatia’s greenest island and has an intriguing past. Closed to foreigners till 1991, it was a major player in World War II, with the airstrip used for emergency landings by war-damaged Allied aircraft.

Our final stop is Croatia’s second-largest city, Split, which offers so much whether you are craving culture, amazing restaurants or non-stop nightlife.

We dine within the walls of the Unesco-listed Diocletian’s Palace before strolling the promenade to the west coast which is lined with buzzing bars and chic hotels, to check out the opulent yachts and do some people-watching.

It’s the perfect end to our ocean adventure, and as we are overnighting here before heading home the following morning, we have plenty of time to soak up the vibe.

Katarina’s flexible itinerary is perfect for those looking to experience Croatia’s islands while enjoying a voyage with fewer restrictions and plenty of leisurely time ashore.

– READ MORE: We tried a luxury superyacht  – this is what happened –