Days start with a buffet breakfast on board. Then you ride, usually with the ship meeting you at the other end. On the Split Return Southern route, day two is the big one: a 48km ride across Brac with 890m of ascent and a climb to 580m, past the white stone that built the White House and the Reichstag. At the 35km mark you can stop for peka and wine in a local village, though lunch is optional and paid separately. Other days are gentler, like the 9km loop through Krka National Park on day six, where you walk the wooden bridges over the waterfalls.

What separates this from a standard cycling holiday is that the boat does the transfers. On the Dubrovnik to Split route you ride through Mljet National Park in the morning, have lunch on board, then swim off the ship while it cruises to Lastovo. That evening the advice is to stay up and watch the stars from the deck, since Lastovo sits far out from the mainland. On the Split Return Northern route you ride from Sali to Brbinj on Dugi Otok with the Velebit mountains visible across the water on a clear day.

The guides are named in guest reviews: Ivan and Mario, described as knowledgeable, helpful and full of historical detail about the islands. Ivan posts the daily route and Mario handles the storytelling. Guests repeatedly mention the food, including tuna steaks, silver fish, shrimp risotto and a Captain's Dinner of traditional Croatian dishes.

Evenings are your own. In Zadar there are modern art installations and restaurants. In Sibenik you can visit St James Cathedral, a UNESCO site mixing Gothic and Renaissance, and St Nicholas Fortress. In Hvar you can climb to the Spanjol Fortress above the harbour. In Split, Diocletian's Palace is a short walk from where the ship docks.

One thing to know: the captain adjusts the itinerary for weather and port conditions, so the exact stops can change during the week. Some extras are payable locally, including national park entry (€20-40 for Krka, €20-30 for Mljet, €7-13 for Lastovo Islands Nature Park), a €3-4 each-way transfer into Korcula Town, and €2.50 bus fares into Dubrovnik Old Town.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation on board - Experienced cycle guide leading daily rides and assisting with bike maintenance - Dedicated tour manager on board - Daily buffet breakfast - Three-course lunch or dinner daily, depending on the cycling itinerary - Captain's Dinner with traditional Croatian cuisine - Daily swim stops off the ship - Wi-fi on board, subject to download limits - Option to bring your own bike at no extra cost

What's not included

- Bike hire (classic €199, e-bike €329) - National park entrance fees (Krka €20-40, Mljet €20-30, Lastovo €7-13) - Korcula Town transfer (€3-4 each way) - Dubrovnik bus fares (€2.50 one way) - Optional excursions such as wine tasting, walking tours and day trips - Meals in port towns on evenings when dinner is not served on board - Optional peka lunch on the Brac ride - Travel to and from Croatia - Travel insurance