“You see so much in just a week and get to stop in some truly stunning bays that larger ships can’t reach”

Bethany Coatsworth

Day 1: Arrival in Split & Onboard at Omis

Our trip started with a smooth two-hour flight from London Gatwick into Split, and the EES process was easy peasy, taking only about two minutes per person!

The drive from Split to Omiš took around 45 minutes and followed a stunning stretch of coastline, which gave us a brilliant first impression of Croatia.

When we arrived, we were met at the dock by our cruise manager, ‘Z’, who gave us a really warm welcome and showed us to our cabin onboard M/Y Lupus Mare. After a quick unpack, we headed to the saloon for a traditional Croatian drink, blueberry grappa, along with some bruschetta and fruit. Once we’d met the other guests, we all sat down at 7pm for a short briefing about the week ahead, including the optional trips on offer. Afterwards, we enjoyed a fantastic three-course dinner, which was the perfect way to round off a busy day of travelling!

Day 2: Cruising to Vis

We were up early at 6:30 to watch us begin our journey to the island of Vis. After catching a beautiful sunrise over the islands, we made the most of the onboard gym, followed by a quick 10-minute sauna to set us up for the day. Breakfast was a real treat, with a generous spread of pastries, eggs, sausages, cold meats, cheeses, toast and granola. As we cruised towards Vis, we relaxed on the top deck with a bit of reading, enjoying the fresh sea air - and I was even lucky enough to spot a pod of dolphins!

Arriving into Vis was breathtaking, and ‘Z’ gave us a brief introduction to the island’s military history before we anchored in a bay overlooking the old town. We quickly changed into our swimwear and braved a dip in the sea (a bit chilly, but worth it!), followed by a fantastic three-course lunch. In the afternoon, we wandered around the old town, spotting a few filming locations from Mamma Mia 2, and spent some time admiring the crystal-clear water. After an hour or so, we stopped for a quick beer and a gelato before heading back to the boat to relax in the hot tub and enjoy a few drinks with the other guests.

Day 3: Korcula's Old Town

Another early start as we left Vis, and I enjoyed a coffee on the top deck, taking in the views as we cruised towards Korčula. The approach was like nothing I’ve seen before - mountain ranges, lush landscapes and small towns tucked into bays, absolutely stunning. We had lunch as we docked, which made for a meal with an incredible view.

Afterwards, we headed off on a walking tour led by our cruise manager, Z. It was fascinating to hear about Korčula’s history and see all the beautiful architecture, and we loved wandering down the narrow little lanes. We finished the afternoon with a cocktail at Massimo Cocktail Bar, perched at the top of a turret overlooking the old town - such a brilliant spot to take it all in!

Day 4: Wine Tasting in Trstenik & Dubrovnik

We had an early breakfast as we pulled into Trstenik, a beautiful little town framed by rolling hills. This part of Croatia is known for its wine, so we headed off for a morning tasting at a local vineyard. It was a fantastic tour - we learnt all about the family history behind the vineyard and how the wines are made in the region, with all the vines planted at a 45-degree angle on the hillsides. We sampled both a white and a red, paired with prosciutto and local cheeses, which made it even better.

We then continued on towards Dubrovnik, with a quick stop for a brilliant swim in a secluded bay along the way. Once we arrived, we took a local bus into the old town, which only took about 10 minutes, and joined a walking tour to explore the city. Afterwards, we took the cable car up to the viewpoint for some incredible views over Dubrovnik, and finished the day with a cocktail at the Panorama Restaurant as the sun set, definitely a must-do if you’re visiting!

“One of the real highlights throughout the trip was the food, with every meal feeling like fine dining restaurant-quality, beautifully prepared and consistently exceptional from start to finish.”

Bethany Coatsworth

Day 5: Mljet National Park

Day five started with a lovely 15-minute sauna, followed by breakfast as we cruised north towards Mljet National Park. We stopped for a swim in a sheltered bay to escape the wind, and the crew brought out the paddleboards and seabob, which was great fun. The sea was the warmest it had been all trip, so we ended up staying in for about an hour!

After a quick lunch, we docked in the national park and set off on a 45-minute hike around the lakes to a small pier. From there, we waved the Croatian flag and a ferry came over from the monastery to pick us up and take us across to a little restaurant, where we stopped for a quick beer before catching a catamaran back to the park entrance. Back on the boat, we headed to Korčula to dock for the night, as some bad weather was coming in and the port there is more sheltered. It turned out to be a great decision, as we were treated to a beautiful sunset on the way in. We finished the day with the captain’s dinner onboard, complete with a shot of Croatian grappa.

Day 6: Exploring Hvar

The weather definitely turned overnight - we woke up to rain, strong winds and a pretty choppy sea. After making our way to Hvar, we stopped in a bay near the old town for lunch (no swimming this time as the current was too strong). Luckily, the weather cleared as we approached, so we headed out for an afternoon hike up to the fortress, which gave us an incredible view over the whole town.

We spent the rest of the evening wandering around the old town before settling in for dinner at Code 11 as the sun set - such a lovely way to end the day!

Day 7: Diocletian's Palace & Journey's End

We had a nice, slow start to the morning, leaving Hvar at 7am as we made our way to Split for a guided tour of Diocletian’s Palace. Afterwards, we had some free time to wander around the old town and pick up a souvenir or two, which was a lovely way to soak up the atmosphere.

We then continued on to Omiš, where our fantastic cruise came to an end. If you’re considering Croatia as your next destination, I’d absolutely recommend one of these small ship cruises, you see so much in just a week and get to stop in some truly stunning bays that larger ships can’t reach. The local knowledge and advice from the crew is invaluable, and they really do go the extra mile to make the experience special. One of the real highlights throughout the trip was the food, with every meal feeling like fine dining restaurant-quality, beautifully prepared and consistently exceptional from start to finish.