Our cruise ship docked on the banks of the Danube River in late afternoon, at the historic city of Novi Sad, Serbia. We were three days into a Danube cruise, and a city tour was next on the itinerary. But for my husband and me and perhaps 15 other hardy passengers, there was no coach bus waiting on shore.

Instead, we climbed the gangplank and found two enthusiastic guides and a row of blue bicycles.

We had chosen this cruise on AmaWaterways specifically because it offered bicycle excursions on an itinerary that started in Vienna; stopped in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria; and finished a few miles south of Bucharest, Romania. Cycling seemed like a change from the usual cruise-excursion transport — more intimate than a bus but covering more ground than a walking tour. At least as important, we would get some exercise and perhaps work off some of the excess calories that come from traveling on a ship with excellent food.

I was a bit concerned about my stamina — I’m an occasional cyclist, at best — but we checked with Ama and were told that the rides would be of reasonable length and leisurely in pace. My husband won’t ride without a helmet, but we were assured that helmets would be provided, and they were, in a good range of sizes. Our ship, the AmaPrima, carried its own fleet of bicycles. The bikes, with upright handlebars, reasonably comfy seats and both coaster and hand brakes, were easy to ride and adequate for our paved routes.

We probably wouldn’t have chosen this day for cycling; it had been furnace-hot all week, in the upper 90s in September. But there was a breeze off the Danube, and the shadows of afternoon were growing longer. With one guide in front and the other bringing up the rear, we set off, a ragged file of blue bicycles steered by people who clearly were not locals.

Our route took us along the Danube’s banks to the campus of the University of Novi Sad, then to a riverside beach crowded with bathers, all along flat, automobile-free bicycle paths and campus lanes. A 10-minute ride, a stop for some commentary from our guides, then back on the bikes. From the campus we headed toward the historic center down one of the city’s main boulevards, which thankfully had a wide pedestrian-and-cycle lane running alongside.

At each stop we learned a bit from our guides. At the beach we learned that the former communist regime frowned on skimpy bathing suits. Next to a row of dreary-looking communist-era apartment towers, we learned that the flats are now prized for their spacious rooms and thick walls. Outside the Serbian National Theatre we got a quick lesson in the Cyrillic alphabet. On a picturesque square we learned that some of the upper-floor apartment windows were designed so old folks could easily snoop on the young people socializing below.

Navigating the twisting pedestrian lanes of the old city was probably the most challenging part of the ride, but after another 20 minutes we were back at the ship, in plenty of time for a drink before dinner. The ride was perhaps 5 or 6 miles in all.

The 164-passenger AmaPrima was a fine place to relax. Our cabin was spacious for river cruising, with a queen-size bed, two upholstered chairs, a fairly roomy bathroom and a small veranda (sadly, on our trip, it was just too hot to sit outside and admire the view). The meals, featuring wines from the countries we passed through, were excellent, some of the best we’ve had on a cruise ship, and casual dress was the rule.

Some of the bike tours emphasized easy riding over sightseeing. In Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, the cycle group avoided the busy central city and rode along the Danube, with a beer stop en route. For the majority of passengers who weren’t interested in cycling in 90-degree heat, other excursion options were offered. In Novi Sad we could have taken a walking tour of the city; elsewhere, a winery visit and a cooking lesson in a local home were options.

Our last bicycle jaunt, in the small city of Vidin, Bulgaria, was longer — perhaps 12 miles along city streets and country roads that were mostly empty on a Saturday — and more taxing because of the distance and the heat and baking sun. I needed a break before the halfway point, and one of our guides kindly stayed with me when I pulled off at a shady spot along the road. The rest of the group turned around a mile or so later, and the guides quickly agreed that we needed a stop for cold drinks before riding back to the ship.

This brinGS up what might seem an obvious note: Tell your guide on a bicycle excursion what you want or need — if you need to slow down or take a break, if you need a drink, if you see something interesting and want to stop and investigate further. They likely have a prescribed route and schedule but usually can make changes if you ask.

A case in point: On our way back to the ship at Vidin, we rode into a shady park toward an ancient fortress, Baba Vida, on the riverbank, and we asked for time to explore. Some of the group inspected the souvenir stands outside, while others spent half an hour photographing and climbing ramparts and towers that had been built, besieged and rebuilt over a span of 1,000 years.

Perhaps 2-1/2 hours after leaving, we were again within sight of the ship. We rode down the riverside park’s walkways under an archway of tall trees, past cafes and strolling families. We hurried down the gangplank into the ship for a welcome blast of air conditioning. Crew members greeted us with cold hand towels and cold drinks.

We both needed showers but we had earned our dessert.