The amazing Adriatic and cruise that allows you to visit seven countries on one joyous journey

When I read Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines’ itinerary for Bolette, a recent addition to their small ship’s fleet, then talked to the shore destination team about the innovative and exciting ship’s excursions, I promptly booked.

Three glorious days at sea gave us the opportunity to discover Bolette, and it quickly became apparent this was a vessel of elegance.

Restaurants, bars and lounges all had their own unique style and the staff welcomed us with genuine enthusiasm and a willingness to please.

Our first port of call was Cartagena, Spain – a city with a history stretching back over 3,000 years.

Our tour started at the beautiful marina and took us through the city’s marbled walkways and grand architecture to the Roman Theatre. This spectacular site, considered one of the most important of its kind, was only discovered in 1988 when existing houses were demolished. This grand theatre, which held 7,000 Roman spectators, is a must to visit.

Next we sailed into Dubrovnik, Croatia. Our ship’s excursion took us through small villages to picturesque Konavle Valley, where a local family welcomed us into their 15th century home with brandy and dried figs. We were shown a traditional mill used for producing olive oil and also learnt how they made brandy before we were treated to a lunch of cheeses, hams, olives and gherkins served with home baked bread and washed down with local red wine whilst being entertained by musicians singing folk songs from a bygone age. Our tour ended by exploring inside Dubrovnik’s ancient walled city.

Bolette seemed to glide into the bay of Kotor, Montenegro, and anchored in Boka Bay surrounded by mountainous landscapes. Our tour here began with a scenic drive as we wound towards the top of Lovcen Mountain to the village of Mirac. There we met the Kascelan family who offered us various types of brandy produced on their estate. We toured their farm and vineyards then enjoyed a scrumptious feast of traditional dishes made from organic ingredients grown on the estate. The day ended with a stroll around Kotor’s imposing medieval walled town before Bolette sailed into the sunset, bound for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Neum is a pretty seaside resort from where we journeyed to Mostar, a quaint city rich in culture and characterised by Turkish influence. Its cobbled streets take you to the iconic Mostar bridge – Stari Most – built in 1566 and badly damaged during the Balkans war before being restored to its former glory in 2004. From the bridge you can’t help but admire the surrounding views with the vivid green river flowing underneath.

From there it was a short drive to the Kravice Waterfalls. We boarded a small train descending through a lush valley and enjoyed the spectacle of 15 waterfalls – each separated by overhanging small trees – cascading into a natural emerald green lake.

We were now half way through our cruise, enjoying all of Bolette’s amenities, inspiring days and wonderful evenings when meals chosen from mouthwatering menus are followed by entertaining shows in the elegant Neptune Theatre.

We dined for a nominal fee at Bolette’s two speciality restaurants – Vasco, where the menu is inspired by chefs from Goa, and the Colours and Tastes Restaurant which features delicious Asian Fusion dishes which were a real treat.

Returning to Croatia we arrived in Split, where a bustling market awaits you with an abundance of merchandise on display. After some good natured bargaining my wife bought a dress which didn’t hurt my wallet too much.

The Roman Dioletian Palace is fascinating and we couldn’t help but gaze in awe at its architecture before we meandered through narrow streets to the main square where we watched a re-enactment portraying the glory of Ancient Rome accompanied by stirring marching music.

Moving on from there we arrived in Sarande, Albania, where a jeep safari took us through authentic Albanian villages before we stopped at Borsh, a coastal village built around a beautiful waterfall, where we drank iced coffee to the sound of flowing water. Half way up the mountain we came across a shepherd’s cottage where the shepherd and his wife invited us to drink their moonshine accompanied by nuts and sheep’s cheese – what a combination!

It was so tranquil... the only sounds were of birdsong and the tinkling bells around the goats’ necks. Our jeep climbed through dramatic landscapes filled with an array of wild flowers towards the top of the mountain and Himara, a small village where we enjoyed a delightful Albanian lunch while being entertained by traditional singing and dancing. I watched an eagle fly on this mountain high – a sight to savour.

Once a war torn region, now the beautiful Balkans is a joy to behold.

Then it was homeward bound, stopping off at Cagliari, Sardinia – where we saw the sights of both modern and old town – and finally Gibraltar, a haven for duty free shopping which my wife took advantage of. I’m sure I heard my wallet groan.

This Fred.Olsen cruise was perfectly balanced, experiencing the best of cities and countrysides and leaving us with indelible memories.

Did the Joy of the Journey match expectations? It surpassed them.

• A similar cruise – Bolette’s 26-night T2326 Exploring the Balkans & Adriatic with Venice cruise – departs from Southampton on September 18, 2023 with prices starting at £4,099 per person. For more details visit www.fredolsencruises.com/cruise/balkans-adriatic-venice-t2326