Cruise stops are a great first impression and gloss-over opportunity …to determine whether one wants to come back and entrench oneself into the environment to really soak it up.

Dubrovnic, our first stop, was famously referred to as "the pearl of the Adriatic" by George Bernard Shaw. It is the tourist capital of Croatia and its well preserved city walls and old town have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is extremely picturesque and one feels transported into a far bygone era (if it were not for the hordes of tourists keeping you firmly grounded in the here and now and make the town feel like a tourist theme park!). Dubrovnic was originally built in the 7th century and as a maritime trading port was only second to Venice at the peak of its success. In 1667 the city was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake and was rebuilt and restored by its residents. This is the Dubrovnic we see today.

From the Cruise Terminal we took a bus to the city gates. The entry through the big city gates into the Stradun, the wide pedestrian main street, is quite breath taking. On reaching the Old Port with its small moored boats, Clint and Pieter decided that it was too good an opportunity to let slip, and went for a swim in the warm Mediterranean . Unfortunately I was not as brave (didn't bring a swimming costume either) and didn't want to cause a diplomatic incident ! Walking the city walls would have been great, but the cost was exorbitant (in terms of our budget) and we opted for some drinks and wandering through the maze of steep back alleys (great exercise). So many magical photo opportunities and inviting restaurants.

Definitely on the list to be visited again - most likely in combination with a sailing holiday along the Croatian coast - as the sea and islands are exceptionally conducive to this manner of travel .

Athens, our second stop on the trip, felt oddly familiar this time around. The guided tour of the Acropolis was very interesting, although it was an extremely hot day. Lunch had been organised in a restaurant in the Plaka, the oldest section of Athens and mainly pedestrian areas filled with restaurants, small shops, buskers, the accordion players and general street traders. From every corner you feel you are in ancient Greece with spectacular views of the Acropolis. The lunch was a very tasty selection of typical greek food , with some musicians adding to the great atmosphere. Come back ...only as a stop-over

Izmir, the third stop on the trip, is the gateway to Ephesus and Pamukkale - great in terms of historical and natural sights. Izmir itself has a long tumultuous history (founded by the Trojans in 3000BC), is the 3rd largest city in Turkey and the second biggest port after Istanbul. It is not a city I would rush back to however. We took a walk along the beachfront - with its many monuments and sculptures - and then took a walk through the town and markets. It is busy and bustling, but does not have the charm of the more well-preserved cities in the Aegean.

Split, the last stop before returning to Venice, definitely is a city I wish to return to and explore it and the surrounding islands and areas. Split is a city in Central Dalmatia, Croatia. The city was originally built around the 1700 year old Diocletion palace (a palace built for the retired Roman emperor Diocletian) and later, when the Palace fell into disuse, the homes and businesses were built inside the walls of the palace.

We were transported to the shore in small tender boats and came ashore on the Riva, the expansive, café-lined promenade on the shore of the Adriatic Sea on the Dalmatian Coast with the Dalmation mountains in the background. Beautiful vistas and a maze a alleys and nooks and crannies overwhelm the day-visitor. So much to do and see in so little time ! The Old City and the New City are equally appealing and the different architecture of the Roman and Christian eras, with gothic and renaissance buildings keep one wandering and interested. The cuisine and shopping seem to be very worthwhile, yet we had too little time to savour them. Needing to spend the remainder of the local currency, we bought 2 kgs of coffee - always a good investment. Next time !

Treviso was our last stop before our flight back home. We disembarked in Venice and were transported by bus to Treviso, to spend the day there before catching our flight in Venice late evening. Treviso is about an hour's drive away from Venice. Its historical centre lies within the Venetian walls (le Mura) and is filled with sculptures, beautifully restored buildings and piazzas and canals and waterways. The city is a shopper's paradise (as long as you have Euros !) and the headquarters of Benetton, Sisley, Stefanel Diadora, Lotto Sport Italia, De'Longhi and legendary bicycle manufacturer Pinarello. Treviso is also known for Prosecco wine and the town where Tiramisu was created. We were treated to a tour of the town with a tour guide, witnessed several wedding parties and their stylish guests, enjoyed a very indulgent lunch at an authentic Italian restaurant and filled the remainder of the time with looking at stores , buying another Bialetti Espresso Maker and enjoying a drink on the main piazza with the rest of the party.

As far as cruises are concerned … not our ideal holiday. If going on a cruise and this is the holiday you enjoy - then the Norwegian Jade is definitely to be recommended. Our trip and the facilities on board cannot be faulted. Having had the experience of sailing on a small yacht however - oh wow - that cannot be beaten. To be on the Mediterranean and be able to immerse yourself in the water at any time…well, that is just heavenly !