Split: All inclusive Brač & Šolta Island Swimming Cruise

The best part of this Split cruise is the time it gives you to enjoy the sea, not just look at it from the deck. You get a long swimming stop near Brač, then a second island visit in Šolta’s Stomorska, a small fishing port that offers a pleasant change of pace from Split.

I like two things in particular: lunch is a proper three-course meal with fish, meat, or a vegetarian option, and the open bar runs during the cruise. I also like that paddleboards, snorkeling equipment, and floaties are on board, so you can make the swim stop more than a quick dip.

One thing to weigh up: this is a swimming-first outing. The main stop involves getting into the sea from the boat, and the water may be deep even when it is calm. Stomorska is a lovely place for a short wander, but it is a small village, not a packed afternoon of shops and sights.

At a glance

• Brač swim stop: More than two hours are set aside for swimming and relaxing in a bay.
• Lunch on board: Choose grilled fish, meat, or vegetables, served with salad and dessert.
• Drinks included: Soft drinks, beer, local wine, coffee, and other hot drinks are available during the cruise.
• Šolta on foot or in the water: Spend free time in Stomorska’s port or swim at the nearby beach.
• Useful equipment: Snorkeling gear, paddleboards, and water toys are provided.
• A relaxed pace: The seven-hour outing leaves Split at 9:30 AM and returns at about 4:30 PM.

A sea day with two different island stops

This trip is a practical choice if you want a full day on the water without arranging a boat, lunch, and activities yourself. You leave Split’s city port, spend time swimming near Brač, eat aboard, and call at Šolta before returning to the same port. The trip is built around the sea, with the islands serving as both swimming grounds and places to pause.

Boat Polaris is the vessel named for the experience. The cruise is in English, and the host or greeter speaks English. The boat has open deck space where you can pick a spot to sit or stretch out, and the cruise includes time for both relaxing and moving around. A number of people have found the boat comfortable and not overcrowded, though group size can vary and is not specified.

The day is not a guided history tour. You will see the coast from the water and have a little time in a traditional fishing village, but most of the appeal is swimming, scenery, food, and the ease of having the essentials included. If you want a leisurely day with a lot of sea time, that is a sensible trade.

Leaving Split at 9:30 AM

The boat departs from Split city port, from the dock just in front of Gat Svetog Nikole at Obala Lazareta 3. The departure is scheduled for 9:30 AM. Plan to reach the meeting point with enough time to find the boat and board; no hotel pickup is included.

The day begins with a roughly one-hour cruise toward Brač. A morning croissant and welcome refreshments are included, and this first stretch gives you time to settle in and get a feel for the boat. You can choose a place on deck and watch the coastline recede rather than rushing straight into an activity.

There is no need to pack a full day’s worth of drinks or snacks, which makes the morning simpler. The open bar includes soft drinks, beer, local wine, and hot drinks. Alcohol is served as part of the cruise, but the rules prohibit alcohol and drugs brought for use outside the provided service, as well as smoking indoors, speakers, and party groups.

More than two hours near Brač

The first main stop is a bay near Brač, where the captain anchors the boat for more than two hours. This is the day’s longest stretch for swimming and relaxing. You can swim in the clear Adriatic, use the snorkeling equipment, try a paddleboard, or take advantage of the floaties and other water toys.

The bay stop is a strong point if you prefer a generous swim to a string of brief photo stops. You have time to get in, dry off, and get back in again rather than watching the clock after one quick dip. The boat also gives you a place to rest between swims, with room on deck to sit and enjoy the view.

Be realistic about the water entry. The stop is designed for swimming off the boat, and the sea can be reasonably deep even when calm. If you are not confident swimming, or would rather stay on dry land, this may not be the right outing. Bring a towel and swimwear, and consider sea shoes: one person found them useful at a small beach on Šolta.

Snorkeling gear is included, but the tour does not promise a particular underwater sight or marine-life encounter. Think of it as equipment for enjoying the water, not a specialist snorkeling excursion. The same goes for the paddleboards and floats: they add options, but the main attraction remains the swim and the setting.

Lunch aboard on the way to Šolta

At about 1:00 PM, the boat leaves the Brač area for Šolta. Lunch is served during the cruise, making good use of the passage rather than taking more time away from swimming or the village visit. The meal is described as a three-course lunch, with grilled fish, meat, or vegetables, plus salad and dessert.

The meal is one of the more useful parts of the price. A sit-down lunch, drinks, and a full day on the water can add up quickly if booked separately, and here they are part of one outing. The food is a relaxed, generous meal rather than a restaurant stop ashore. You can eat while the boat is underway and keep enjoying the coastal scenery.

You should choose between the fish, meat, and vegetarian meal options. The tour information does not spell out every ingredient or accommodate specific dietary needs, so if you have an allergy or a strict dietary requirement, check with the operator before booking rather than assuming a substitution is available.

The onboard bar continues through the cruise, with soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, and hot drinks. That convenience means you do not have to carry as much with you, though sensible sun protection and water are still important on a summer day.

A short pause in Stomorska

The boat is scheduled to reach Stomorska on Šolta at about 1:45 PM. This is a small fishing village with a picturesque harbor, and the boat docks there. You have free time to explore the port or swim at a beach close to the boat. The planned stop lasts until the 3:30 PM departure.

Stomorska gives the day a different rhythm from the open-water stop. You can walk along the port, look at the boats, and get a feel for a quieter island settlement before returning to Split. Or, if you have not had enough sea time, use the nearby beach for another swim. The choice is yours, within the time available.

Keep your expectations in proportion. This is a short visit, not a long island tour, and the village has limited time for browsing. Some people may find the small port charming and restful; others may wish for a larger beach or more shops. The value here is the contrast: a little time ashore after a long swim stop, not an extensive visit to Šolta.

The schedule may also change if conditions require it. On one trip, wind led to a stop in Milna rather than Šolta, and the outing still included time to walk around town. That is a useful reminder that the captain may adjust the route for the sea and weather. If visiting Stomorska specifically is essential to your plans, bear in mind that conditions can affect the itinerary.

The return cruise to Split

At 3:30 PM, the boat leaves Stomorska for Split, with arrival expected around 4:30 PM. This final hour is a chance to sit back after a day in the water, have a last drink, and watch the coast from the deck. The overall timing makes the cruise a full-day activity without taking up the evening.

The return is part of the pleasure, but it is still a boat ride. If you are prone to seasickness, prepare as you would for any day at sea. The cruise has been described as smooth on some outings, but weather and conditions can vary, and no boat can promise a perfectly calm passage.

Is $121 good value?

At $121 per person, this is more than a basic transport boat trip. You are paying for a seven-hour outing that includes the cruise, visits to two islands, a three-course lunch, an open bar, a morning croissant, and swimming equipment. If you would otherwise pay separately for a boat outing, a meal, and drinks, the combined package can represent good value.

The strongest value is for someone who will use the swimming stop and enjoy the included food and drinks. The more time you spend in the water, the more the paddleboards, snorkeling equipment, and floaties matter. A hearty lunch and drinks also remove the need to plan a meal ashore during the middle of the day.

It is less compelling if you mainly want an in-depth visit to Šolta, a guided tour of island history, or a beach day without boat swimming. The first stop is the main event, while the village visit is shorter and more informal. You are buying an easy, catered day at sea, not a deep exploration of either island.

The trip has a 4.9 rating from 205 reviews, and the transport component receives especially strong marks. Praise centers on the friendly, attentive crew, plentiful food and drinks, comfortable space aboard, and time for swimming. Those details matter because a seven-hour excursion can feel long if service is poor or the schedule is cramped. Here, the repeated emphasis on room to sit, a generous meal, and unhurried swimming points to a well-rounded day.

What to bring and practical details

Pack swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen. A camera is also worth bringing for the coast and the village port. Sea shoes may be useful if you plan to swim from the beach at Šolta, though they are not listed as required.

The experience is marked wheelchair accessible, but that does not tell you whether getting into the sea or using the beach will suit your needs. If you need specific access arrangements, confirm them with the operator before booking. The tour does not include pickup, so you need to get to the dock in Split yourself.

Children aged zero to three can join free, and children aged three to twelve receive a 50 percent discount. The cruise is not intended as a party boat: speakers and party groups are not allowed. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation up to 24 hours in advance qualifies for a full refund.

Who should book this cruise?

I would choose this outing if I wanted an easy, sociable day on the sea, with a long swimming stop and the practical comforts of lunch, drinks, and water toys already arranged. It suits couples, families, and groups who like swimming and do not need a tightly guided program. The boat’s range of included food and equipment also makes it a useful option if you are comparing several day cruises from Split.

Think twice if you are uncomfortable swimming from a boat in deep water, or if your priority is extensive time ashore. The most rewarding part is the Brač bay stop; Stomorska adds a pleasant pause, but it is not the main event. If that balance sounds right, this is a strong way to trade Split’s busy streets for a day of clear water, island views, and an unhurried lunch.

FAQ

Where does the cruise leave from?

It leaves from Split city port, at the dock in front of Gat Svetog Nikole, at Obala Lazareta 3.

What time does the boat depart and return?

Departure is scheduled for 9:30 AM, with arrival back in Split around 4:30 PM. The cruise lasts about seven hours.

How long is the swimming stop near Brač?

The boat anchors near Brač for more than two hours, giving you time to swim and relax.

What food is included?

A three-course lunch is included, with grilled fish, meat, or vegetables, along with salad and dessert. A morning croissant is also provided.

What drinks are included?

The open bar includes soft drinks, beer, local wine, and hot drinks such as coffee.

Is swimming equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, and water toys are included.

How much free time do I get in Stomorska?

The boat is scheduled to dock in Stomorska at about 1:45 PM and depart at 3:30 PM. You can explore the port or swim at a nearby beach.

Are children allowed, and do they receive a discount?

Children aged zero to three can join for free. Children aged three to twelve receive a 50 percent discount.