Luxury Elaphite Islands half day Cruise with lunch Apreamare

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat trip is the mix of three very different islands in one day. You can swim from the boat, wander a traditional village, inspect sea caves, taste local wine and olive oil, and sit down to lunch without arranging each piece yourself. The Apreamare boat, onboard restroom, drinks, snorkeling gear, and stand-up paddleboard make the day easy to enjoy.

I like the private format, since only your group takes part, and I like the balance between active stops and unhurried time ashore. The main caution is that the advertised details do not line up perfectly: one description says 9am to 3pm, while the duration is listed as about eight hours, and the island order differs between the descriptions. Confirm the exact route, boat, and price before paying.

Key points at a glance

• Three Elaphite Islands in one outing: See Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, each with a different feel.
• Swimming and sea caves: Bring a swimsuit and use the supplied snorkeling equipment, or try the stand-up paddleboard.
• Local food on Koločep: Lunch is planned at a small restaurant, with drinks included according to the tour details.
• Šipan adds village life: Allow time for the village visit, wine tasting, olive oil tasting, bays, and caves.
• A private boat day: Your group travels together rather than joining a large public excursion.
• Check the numbers carefully: The listed price is $889.37 per person, while older comments refer to a much lower fare and a different schedule.

Why the Elaphite Islands make a good Dubrovnik escape

Dubrovnik’s old town can be crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. The Elaphite Islands offer a useful change of pace. You trade stone streets and city walls for small villages, quiet coves, bare cliffs, beaches, and clear water suited to a swim.

This is not simply a boat ride with a quick photo stop. The plan gives you several ways to spend the day. You can stay on deck and watch the coast, get into the water, walk across an island, taste local produce, or sit down for a proper meal.

I especially like that the day includes both nature and everyday island life. A cave or swimming stop is fun, but the village visit and food tasting give you more of a sense of the islands as lived-in places rather than empty scenery.

The private setup matters. You can take the day at your own pace within the planned stops, and you will not be sharing the outing with a large mixed group. That makes this a better fit for families, couples, or friends who want a boat day built around their own group.

Still, you should not treat the word luxury as a guarantee of a fully customized yacht charter. The supplied information confirms an Apreamare boat, drinks, equipment, and a private activity, but it does not provide the boat’s passenger capacity, cabin layout, or exact onboard service. Ask those questions if the boat itself is central to your decision.

Leaving Gruž Port for the islands

The meeting point is Gruž Market, Obala Stjepana Radića 21, with a stated start time of 9am. Gruž is Dubrovnik’s main port area, so plan to arrive early enough to find the meeting point without rushing.

The published material says the trip returns to the same meeting point. One description gives a return around 3pm, while another lists the experience as approximately eight hours. That is a meaningful difference when you are planning dinner, a walking tour, or an airport transfer, so confirm the actual departure and return times with Regina Maris.

Pickup is offered in the general tour information, and several comments describe hotel pickup and return transport. However, the formal meeting instructions identify Gruž Market as the start and end point. I would not assume hotel pickup is included for every booking. Check your confirmation for the pickup area and any extra conditions.

The boat comes with bottled water, soda, and alcoholic drinks for adults aged 18 and over. A restroom is available onboard, which is a small but important comfort during a full day on the water.

Koločep: caves, cliffs, and a short island walk

Koločep is described as a first stop in the detailed itinerary, although another description places Šipan first. Either way, Koločep is the kind of stop that gives the outing its outdoor character.

You can expect beautiful bays, sea caves, cliffs, and two small villages. A walk across the island takes about 20 minutes, making this a manageable way to stretch your legs after time on the boat. The stop is listed as one hour, so you will want to keep an eye on the meeting time rather than setting off on a long wandering route.

The caves and cliffs are best enjoyed from the water and shoreline. If conditions allow, you can swim and snorkel, using the equipment supplied onboard. A stand-up paddleboard is also included, offering another way to look around a sheltered bay.

I would pack water shoes if you have them, along with a towel, sun protection, and a dry bag for your phone. The details do not specify the exact shore surface or swimming access, so do not assume every landing will be a sandy beach.

Koločep may be the least suitable stop for anyone who wants a long beach session. Its appeal is the combination of coves, rock formations, small villages, and a short walk. If your top priority is a broad sandy beach, Lopud is likely to be the more satisfying island.

Lopud: the day’s best beach stop

Lopud receives the longest time allocation in the detailed schedule, listed as three hours. Another description calls the stop about one and a half hours, so this is another timing point worth checking before departure.

The island is known here for sand beaches, a historical village, swimming spots, and restaurants. For many people, Lopud will be the easiest place to settle into a slower rhythm. You can swim, walk through the village, find a restaurant, or simply enjoy the shore before returning to the boat.

I like the flexibility of this stop. Some boat outings allow only enough time for a quick photograph. Lopud appears to offer enough time for a real break, especially if the longer three-hour schedule is the one used for your booking.

The trade-off is that the stop can feel short if you want to combine a beach visit, village walk, and meal. Since lunch is described as taking place later on Koločep, use Lopud for swimming and exploring rather than expecting the main included meal here.

Ask where the boat will leave you and how much walking is involved. The supplied information confirms beaches, a historical village, swimming, and restaurants, but it does not give a precise beach name or landing point.

Šipan: village life, caves, and local tasting

Šipan is the largest of the Elaphite Islands, and the stop brings a different mood from Koločep and Lopud. You are not visiting only for a swim. The plan includes a small village, wine tasting, olive oil tasting, bays, caves, and local restaurants.

The village visit is one of the more worthwhile details in the program. It gives you a chance to see the island at a human scale, with traditional buildings and local food traditions rather than only coastal views.

The wine and olive oil tasting also adds context to the meal later in the day. You can sample local products and learn what makes the islands more than a collection of pretty swimming bays. Alcoholic drinks are included for adults, but the details do not say how much tasting is provided or whether nonalcoholic alternatives are served at that particular stop. Bottled water and soda are included onboard.

The schedule lists two hours for Šipan. That should be enough for a compact visit, but not for a long island hike. If you want a calm village walk and time for photographs, stay close to the planned meeting area.

The order here is unclear. The general description says Šipan comes first, followed by Lopud and Koločep. The detailed stop list puts Koločep first, Lopud second, and Šipan third. The order can affect the feel of the day, especially if you prefer to swim early or eat lunch later. Confirm it with the operator.

Lunch, drinks, and the value of a private boat

Lunch is described as taking place at a small local restaurant on Koločep, followed by free time to discover the island. The meal is an important part of the day because it turns the cruise into a full outing rather than a series of short swims.

Past trip details associated with the experience describe choices such as fish, chicken, and vegetarian food, along with wine and water. Since menus can change, ask whether those choices still apply and tell the operator about dietary needs before departure.

The strongest praise has focused on the food, attentive crew, clean boat, and friendly service. Elisa is singled out by name in several comments for bringing energy and warmth to the day. Other comments refer to Robert and a boat arranged as a private outing. The details do not clearly explain which staff member will be onboard for your date, so do not book on the assumption that a particular person will lead the trip.

At $889.37 per person, this is a very expensive excursion if you are comparing it with a standard shared island cruise. Its value depends on what that figure covers, how many people are in your private group, and whether the quoted amount is correct for the Apreamare departure.

There is a major price mismatch in the supplied information. Older comments describe fares of about €55 for adults and €30 for children, including pickup, lunch, drinks, and return transport. That may refer to a different boat, an earlier season, or a different product, but the gap is too large to ignore. Confirm the current total, group size, and inclusions directly with Regina Maris.

If the current price is accurate, I would consider it only for a group that places a high value on privacy, a premium boat, and a fully arranged day. For a couple on a tight budget, a shared ferry or group boat would likely offer better value, though it would not provide the same private format.

What to bring for a comfortable day

You will want a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. The boat provides snorkeling equipment, but bringing your own mask can help if you care about fit.

Pack a light cover-up and dry clothing for the ride back. A phone case or small dry bag is sensible around caves, swimming stops, and the paddleboard.

Comfortable walking shoes matter for the village stops and the short walk across Koločep. You may also want some cash, although the supplied information does not state which purchases are covered or whether every restaurant accepts cards.

The boat has a restroom, drinks, and equipment, but the tour does not say that towels, hotel transfers for every location, or special dietary meals are included. Ask before you go if any of those points affect your plans.

Who will enjoy this island cruise most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a private day on the water with several different activities built in. It works well for a small group that wants to swim, eat together, and avoid the fixed social rhythm of a large excursion.

It also suits people who like variety. You are not required to spend the whole day swimming. You can walk through a village, taste wine and olive oil, explore beaches, or stay aboard and enjoy the views.

Families may appreciate the flexible mix, though the tour data does not provide a minimum age or details about child life jackets. Ask about those points before booking with young children.

You should think twice if you dislike boats, need a guaranteed long beach stay, or are mainly looking for a guided history tour. The focus is swimming, scenery, village visits, food, and relaxation. Historical sightseeing is present, especially on Lopud, but the day is not presented as a detailed cultural lecture.

The tour requires good weather. If conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if your ideal Dubrovnik day includes three islands, a private boat, swimming, local food, and a relaxed pace. The strongest reasons to choose it are the private format, the mix of activities, the onboard facilities, and the highly praised service and lunch.

Before booking, resolve three issues: the exact price, the actual duration, and the island order. The published details give different answers on all three. Also confirm hotel pickup, the current menu, and the specific boat and crew.

If Regina Maris confirms that $889.37 is the correct per-person price, compare it with the total cost of hiring a private boat for your group. If privacy matters more than bargain pricing, the experience may fit. If value is your main concern, look for a shared Elaphite Islands cruise instead.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start and finish?

The stated meeting point is Gruž Market, Obala Stjepana Radića 21, Dubrovnik. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 9am. The return is described as around 3pm in one section, while the overall duration is listed as approximately eight hours, so confirm the exact schedule before booking.

Which islands are included?

The cruise includes Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. The published descriptions give different orders for the stops, so confirm the final route with Regina Maris.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is planned at a small local restaurant, described as being on Koločep. The available details also refer to fish, chicken, and vegetarian choices, but you should confirm the current menu.

What is included onboard?

Snorkeling equipment, alcoholic beverages for adults aged 18 and over, bottled water, soda, a stand-up paddleboard, an onboard restroom, and all fees and taxes are included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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