Dubrovnik Islands Boat Tour with Lunch and Unlimited Drinks

The best part of this outing is its easy rhythm: three Elafiti Islands in one day, with no ferry schedules to juggle and no restaurant search when hunger strikes. You cruise from Dubrovnik, hear a short introduction from the captain at each stop, then have time to wander, swim, or simply sit by the water.

I like the freshly grilled lunch and the generous drinks package. I also like the small-boat feel, with a maximum of 60 people, tables, benches, shade, a toilet, music, and an onboard kitchen. The main drawback is simple: island time can feel thin if you want long walks, museums, or serious sightseeing at every stop.

The quick facts that matter

• Three islands in one day: Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan give you different settings without extra transport planning.
• Lunch is cooked during the trip: Choose grilled hake, grilled chicken breast, or grilled vegetables, each served with three seasonal salads.
• Drinks are included: Red and white wine, grappa, soft drinks, and water are available throughout the cruise.
• A relaxed boat setup: Tables, benches, shade, speakers, a toilet, kitchen, and grill make this more than a basic transfer boat.
• Hotel pickup and return: The morning service takes you to Gruž Harbor and brings you back after roughly eight hours.
• A useful group limit: The boat accepts up to 60 people, so this is not an intimate private cruise, but it is also not an enormous ship.

Leaving Dubrovnik from Gruž Harbor

The day starts at 9 a.m. at Lapadska obala 5, near Dubrovnik’s Gruž Harbor. The tour information also describes a morning pickup from your Dubrovnik hotel or apartment, followed by a transfer to the boat. Confirm the exact pickup arrangement when you book, since the listed meeting point is the harbor location.

Gruž is Dubrovnik’s working port, not the polished center around the city walls. That is useful context. You begin among the city’s everyday transport and harbor activity, then trade stone streets for open water and a slower day outside town.

The boat has the basics that make an eight-hour outing comfortable. You have seating at tables and benches, a sun shade, a toilet, speakers for music, a kitchen, and a grill. This matters more than it may sound. A boat with nowhere to sit, no shade, and no toilet becomes tiring quickly. Here, the setup supports a full day rather than a short scenic ride.

The group limit is 60 people. That is small enough to feel more personal than a large excursion ship, but you should not expect quiet solitude. The tone is social and relaxed, with music, shared tables, food, and drinks. If you want a private boat and your own schedule, choose a different type of outing.

Koločep, the greenest-feeling first stop

Koločep is one of the three Elafiti Islands included in the day. The experience description points you toward pine and carob trees, gardens, old churches, chapels, and pebble beaches. The captain gives a short explanation as you arrive, then you have free time to decide how to use the stop.

I would treat Koločep as a place for a gentle walk and a swim rather than a packed sightseeing visit. The island setting is the attraction. You might find shady paths beneath old trees, quiet garden views, and small historic buildings that reward a slow look. The ancient churches and chapels offer a sense of the island’s past, but entrance fees to local monuments are not included.

Bring suitable shoes if you plan to walk away from the waterfront. Bring a towel and swimwear if the conditions look good. Snorkeling is possible at the pebble beaches, but you must bring your own equipment. No snorkeling gear is supplied.

The tradeoff is time. Three islands in eight hours means each stop is an introduction, not a full island tour. You may need to choose between swimming, walking, and looking around. I would not plan to see every church or cover a large part of the island during this stop.

Lopud for beach time and a slower break

Lopud is another scheduled island stop, and the day gives you free time here rather than a fixed guided walk. That freedom is valuable. You can follow the captain’s suggestions, find a beach, take photos, or sit with a drink and let the day pass at a gentler pace.

The beaches are mainly pebble beaches, so water shoes may make swimming more comfortable. Snorkeling is available in principle, but again, you need to bring your own mask and fins. The tour does not list equipment rental or supplied gear.

Lopud may be the stop that most clearly reveals the tour’s limits. One guest found there was little to do beyond the beach, even while praising the food and staff. That criticism is fair for anyone seeking a full cultural program. The islands are not presented as major museum centers, and the captain’s commentary is brief rather than a long historical lecture.

I see that as a question of expectations. If you want a beach day with scenery, food, and transport handled for you, Lopud fits well. If you need a busy schedule of monuments and guided activities, you may feel under-served. You are buying time by the sea, not an intensive cultural excursion.

Šipan, the island with a more rural feel

Šipan completes the island circuit. It is described through the same mix of natural and historic features: pine and carob trees, gardens, old churches, chapels, castles, and pebble beaches. The captain provides a brief overview on arrival, then you explore independently.

Šipan adds variety because the day is not only about one beach. Look for quiet corners, old buildings, and signs of island life as you walk. The supplied details do not promise a specific monument visit or a formal walking route, so keep your plans flexible.

The best way to enjoy Šipan is to avoid trying to force it into a checklist. Take a short walk, pause for views, and leave time to return to the boat without rushing. The tour works best when you accept that each island gives you a taste of its character.

As at the other stops, monument entrance fees are extra. The day includes transportation, food, drinks, and the island visits, but not paid admission to local sites.

Lunch grilled on board, with three clear choices

Food is one of the strongest reasons to consider this cruise. Before departure, you select a fish, meat, or vegetarian meal. The choices are straightforward:

• Fish: grilled hake with three seasonal salads
• Meat: grilled chicken breasts with three seasonal salads
• Vegetarian: grilled vegetables with three different salads

The chef prepares the meal during the tour, and the grill is used at the island. Lunch is served on the boat. That arrangement keeps the day moving and saves you from spending island time looking for a restaurant.

I like that the vegetarian meal is planned rather than treated as an afterthought. Still, tell the operator about dietary needs or food allergies at booking. The information specifically asks you to state your meal choice in advance, so do not wait until boarding.

The meal is not a fine-dining event. It is a practical grilled lunch suited to a day on the water. That is exactly the right standard here. You get a hot meal, salads, and a place to eat while the boat provides the setting.

Unlimited drinks and the social pace

The drink package includes red wine, white wine, grappa, soft drinks, and water. The information also lists alcoholic beverages and unlimited wine and soft drinks among the inclusions. This is a major part of the price, especially if you would otherwise buy drinks during a full day out.

Use a little judgment with the alcohol. The day involves sun, swimming, and time on a moving boat. Water and soft drinks are included, so you can keep the cruise comfortable without treating unlimited wine and grappa as a challenge.

The drinks help create the easy, sociable mood that suits this trip. Several strong comments focus on the plentiful drinks, friendly crew, clean boat, and relaxed atmosphere. One particularly useful detail is that the crew continued to work hard and keep the day enjoyable even when the weather was not ideal.

Music plays through onboard speakers. That will please you if you like a cheerful group outing. If you want a silent cruise with only the sound of the sea, it may be less appealing.

Crew service and what the day feels like

The crew receives consistent praise for being friendly, helpful, and energetic. Natasha is specifically named as an excellent guide, though guide assignments can vary. The captain speaks briefly at each island, explaining what you can see and do.

That level of commentary is enough to orient you, but do not confuse it with a long guided tour. You are given the broad picture and then left to make your own choices. I consider that a strength for a relaxed day, especially if you dislike being hurried from one sight to the next.

The boat is described as clean and well equipped. The crew grills lunch, serves the meal, manages drinks, and handles the return trip. Good service matters on a day with many moving parts. It also explains why the overall rating is high, at 4.8 from 215 ratings, with 95 percent recommending the experience.

There is one serious practical warning. One canceled departure caused a passenger to spend 60 euros on transport before learning that poor weather had stopped the trip. The stated policy requires good weather and offers a new date or full refund if the operator cancels. Still, check the departure status before leaving for the meeting point, particularly when the forecast is doubtful.

Is $72.59 a fair price?

At $72.59 per person, this is good value if you plan to use the full package. The cost covers about eight hours, transport to and from the harbor, a boat trip to three islands, lunch, unlimited wine, grappa, soft drinks, and water. Buying those parts separately would quickly add up.

The value is strongest for people who want a ready-made day. You do not need to arrange island ferries, find lunch, or decide how to get back to Dubrovnik. You also avoid paying for each drink during the cruise.

The value is weaker if you would rather spend many hours on one island. Independent ferry travel may give you more control over timing, even if you must arrange your own meals and drinks. This tour charges for convenience and a social boat atmosphere, not for long, detailed visits at each location.

The price does not include entrance fees to local monuments. Since the tour does not promise a specific paid attraction, this may not affect your plans. Just budget separately if you decide to visit one.

What to bring for a better day

Pack light, but cover the basics:

• Swimwear and a towel for the pebble beaches
• Water shoes or sturdy sandals for rocky shorelines
• Your own snorkeling equipment if you want to snorkel
• Sun protection for time on deck and at the islands
• A light layer for the boat ride, depending on the weather
• Any required medication and details of food allergies

The boat has sun shade, but shade will not cover every moment of an eight-hour day. You will move between the boat and open island areas, so prepare for both.

Wear something comfortable for sitting, walking, and getting on and off the boat. No special fitness level is required, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

Who should book this boat tour?

I would choose this outing if you want a complete day away from Dubrovnik with very little planning. It suits couples, families, and groups of friends who enjoy swimming, short walks, simple history, grilled food, music, and drinks.

It also suits you if the phrase laid-back day sounds better than packed sightseeing schedule. The crew handles the practical work, while you choose how active to be at each island.

I would hesitate if you want a private experience, detailed historical guiding, or long stretches of solitude. The group can reach 60 people, the commentary is brief, and one island stop may feel limited if you are not interested in the beach.

Book at least 24 hours ahead if you need to cancel safely. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The trip depends on good weather, with a different date or full refund offered if poor conditions cancel it.

Should you book it?

Book this Dubrovnik island cruise if you want strong value in a single package: three Elafiti Islands, a grilled lunch, unlimited drinks, harbor transfers, and a full day on the water for $72.59.

Skip it if your main goal is intensive island sightseeing. You will get brief captain’s information and independent free time, not a detailed tour of every historic site. For most people seeking a pleasant break from Dubrovnik, the clean boat, kind crew, good meal, and simple schedule make this a sensible choice. Just check the weather and bring your own swim and snorkeling gear.

FAQ

Where does the Dubrovnik Islands Boat Tour start?

The listed meeting point is Lapadska obala 5, 20000 Dubrovnik, near Gruž Harbor.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 9 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and ends back at the meeting point.

Which islands are included?

The cruise visits Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan in the Elafiti Islands.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is freshly prepared during the tour and served on the boat.

What lunch options are available?

You can choose grilled hake with three seasonal salads, grilled chicken breasts with three seasonal salads, or grilled vegetables with three different salads.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited red and white wine, grappa, soft drinks, and water are included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience start time. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.