Split: Blue Lagoon, 3Islands, Boat Trip, Mediterranean lunch

The best part of this Split boat trip is the variety: one day brings a relaxed lunch stop on Čiovo, a swim in the Blue Lagoon, and a chance to snorkel around a shipwreck in Šolta’s Nečujam Bay. You get more than a quick look at the islands; there is time to get into the water at several stops.

I like that lunch is a proper Dalmatian-style meal, with grilled fish, meat, or vegetables, and that water and juice are included on board. The waterslide and hydraulic jump ramp add a playful touch, especially if your group wants more than a scenic ride.

One thing to weigh is the length: the tour is described as about eight hours, though some details call it nine. You will spend a good part of the day on the boat, and alcoholic drinks and extra lunch portions are not included.

• Three island stops: Visit Čiovo, the Blue Lagoon near Drvenik, and Nečujam Bay on Šolta.
• Lunch on Čiovo: Choose grilled fish, meat, or vegetables prepared in traditional Dalmatian style.
• Swim time at the Blue Lagoon: The schedule allows about 90 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, and photos.
• A shipwreck to explore: Snorkel around a sunken pirate ship in Nečujam Bay.
• Onboard extras: Use the waterslide and hydraulic ramp, and find shade or a spot on the sundeck.
• Simple meeting point: Meet at stand 7 on Split’s Riva promenade, opposite Caffe Bar Biberon.

A full day from Split, with three very different stops

This trip makes sense if you want a day on the water without arranging separate boat rides, meals, and beach stops yourself. It links three island locations with time to swim, eat, and look around, then returns you to the same promenade where the day began.

The route combines a beach and lunch stop on Čiovo, the turquoise water of the Blue Lagoon near Drvenik, and a quieter bay on Šolta. Those stops offer different reasons to get off the boat, which helps keep the day from feeling like a string of identical swims.

The vessel is described as a comfortable ex-military boat. You can choose shade or a place on the sundeck, and there is a waterslide and hydraulic ramp for jumping into the sea. The boat is part of the outing, not just transport between islands, so those features matter if you enjoy spending time on board.

The tour is listed as eight hours, while some descriptions call it nine. The timed stops and sailing legs add up to a little over eight hours, so treat this as a full-day commitment rather than a quick excursion. If you have dinner plans or another activity in Split, leave a generous buffer.

Finding the boat on Split’s Riva

The meeting point is at Obala Hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 55, on the Riva promenade. Look for boat excursions stand number 7, opposite Caffe Bar Biberon. The tour ends back at the same meeting point, which is useful if you are staying in or near central Split.

The host or greeter speaks English. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan to reach the promenade on your own. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, beachwear, and snacks. You will be able to buy or bring alcoholic drinks only according to your own plans, as alcohol is not included; water and juice are provided without limit on board.

First stop: a meal and swim on Čiovo

After about 75 minutes of cruising, the boat reaches Čiovo and beach bar Borko. You have roughly two hours here for lunch, free time, swimming, and snorkeling. The restaurant is close to the shore, so you can move between the table and the water without turning the meal into a formal, sit-down affair.

Lunch is one of the more useful parts of the package. You choose grilled fish, grilled meat, or grilled vegetables, cooked in traditional Dalmatian style. That gives you a real meal early in the day, rather than relying on snacks until the boat returns. If you have a bigger appetite, note that an extra lunch portion is not included.

This stop has a pleasingly unhurried rhythm. Eat first if you want a relaxed meal, or swim before lunch and come back ready for the grill. The beach and cove give you a chance to settle into the day before the more famous Blue Lagoon stop.

A prior description of the outing praised the food and the restaurant’s setting, and that emphasis is worth taking seriously: the lunch is not just a box to tick between boat rides. Still, the stop is time-limited. If you want a long meal and an extended swim, you may need to choose how to divide those two hours.

The Blue Lagoon: clear water and a waterslide

After another short cruise, you reach the Blue Lagoon near Drvenik. The schedule allows about an hour and a half here for photos, swimming, snorkeling, and watching marine life. The clear turquoise water is the visual high point of the route, and this is the stop to prioritize if swimming in bright, open water is your main reason for booking.

The waterslide adds a bit of amusement to what could otherwise be a straightforward swim stop. There is also a hydraulic ramp for jumping from the boat. If you would rather take it easy, you can stay on deck, use the shade, or choose a place on the sundeck and enjoy the view.

Bring a towel and sunscreen, and expect to spend time in and around the water. The tour includes snorkeling equipment for the shipwreck stop, but the supplied details do not specify whether equipment is provided for every swimming stop. If having your own mask matters, bringing one is a sensible precaution.

The Blue Lagoon is a popular name for a reason, but its appeal is mainly natural: clear water and time to swim. The boat adds fun, though it also means the stop is shared with the rest of the group. This is not a private cove or a quiet shore visit, so set your expectations accordingly.

Nečujam Bay: snorkeling around a shipwreck

The final island stop is Šolta, with about an hour in Nečujam Bay. Here you can swim and snorkel around a sunken pirate ship, with aquatic life around the wreck. It gives the day a different focus from the Blue Lagoon: instead of simply enjoying clear water, you have a particular underwater feature to look for.

The stop also includes time for a walk, sightseeing, photos, and free time. An hour is enough to enjoy the bay and get into the water, but it is not a long island visit. If you prefer exploring on land, use part of the stop to stretch your legs and take in the surroundings rather than spending all your time snorkeling.

The wreck is one of the tour’s most distinctive details, and the included snorkeling around it makes the price easier to assess. This is not a full scuba excursion, and no scuba equipment or instruction is specified. Think of it as a surface-level snorkeling stop, suited to anyone comfortable in the water.

After Šolta, the boat has a longer return cruise of about 100 minutes to Split. That stretch gives you time to rest after the swims and enjoy the ride back. If you tend to get tired after a day in the sun, keep water handy and take a shaded seat when you need one.

What the $68 price covers

At $68 per person, the tour bundles transport between several island stops with a grilled lunch, unlimited water and juice, the waterslide, and snorkeling around the wreck. You also get dedicated time at three distinct locations, rather than paying separately for a boat transfer and then trying to arrange meals and activities yourself.

The value depends on how much you use the stops. If you plan to swim, snorkel, and eat the included meal, the price covers the main pieces of a full day out. If you mainly want a short scenic cruise or prefer to spend the day on land, a long island-hopping trip may not be the best use of your time or budget.

Alcoholic drinks are extra, as are additional lunch portions. Hotel transport is not included either. Those exclusions are worth factoring in, but the core meal and non-alcoholic drinks are covered, which makes it easier to keep incidental spending under control.

St. Damian Boat Tours operates the outing. The feedback available places particular emphasis on the friendly, helpful team and the good food at a beautiful island restaurant. One lighthearted detail described the captain jumping into the water with the group. That is a fun sign of an informal boat-day atmosphere, but it is not a scheduled activity you should count on.

Who will enjoy this boat day most

I would consider this tour for a group of friends, a family, or anyone who wants a mix of swimming, a casual meal, and time on the water. The waterslide and jump ramp make it more playful than a simple sightseeing cruise, while the lunch and island stops give people who prefer a slower pace something to enjoy too.

It is also a practical choice if you want to see the Blue Lagoon and Šolta without organizing the route yourself. The boat handles the connections, and the same central meeting point makes the return straightforward. The English-speaking host helps keep the day accessible to visitors who do not speak Croatian.

Think twice if you dislike long boat days, want a quiet beach with no other group around, or need a highly structured land visit. The tour has several moving parts and a substantial amount of sailing. The timing at each stop is set, so you will have to choose between activities rather than linger indefinitely.

The activity is marked wheelchair accessible, but the supplied details do not explain how boarding or movement around the vessel works. If you need specific assistance, check directly with the operator before booking rather than assuming every part of the boat and each shore stop will be equally accessible.

The trip requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a spot without paying immediately.

Should you book this Split island cruise?

Book it if you want a full day that combines the Blue Lagoon, a substantial Dalmatian lunch, and snorkeling around a shipwreck, with some fun extras on the boat. The best value comes from using the swim stops and eating the included meal, not from treating the boat as a simple transfer.

Skip it if you want a short outing, a private beach experience, or a day with no set schedule. For most people who enjoy being on the water and are happy to spend several hours moving between islands, this is a well-rounded way to see more of the Split area in one day.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start and end?

It starts and ends at Obala Hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 55 on Split’s Riva promenade. Meet at boat excursions stand number 7, opposite Caffe Bar Biberon.

How long does the tour take?

It is listed as eight hours, though some descriptions call it a nine-hour tour. The stop and sailing schedule adds up to a little over eight hours, so plan for a full day.

Which places does the boat visit?

The route includes Čiovo, the Blue Lagoon near Drvenik, and Nečujam Bay on Šolta. You return to the Riva promenade in Split.

What lunch is included?

Lunch at the restaurant on Čiovo includes a choice of grilled fish, grilled meat, or grilled vegetables prepared in traditional Dalmatian style. Extra lunch portions are not included.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited water and juice are included on board. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, beachwear, and snacks. The tour includes snorkeling around a sunken pirate ship.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.