Dubrovnik Islands Boat Tour with Lunch and Unlimited Drinks

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat tour is its easy rhythm: three Elafiti Islands, a grilled lunch, time for a swim or walk, and no need to plan each hour yourself. You get a full day on the water without paying extra for meals or drinks along the way. Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan each offer a different taste of island life, from pine and carob trees to old chapels and pebble beaches.

I like the freshly grilled lunch and the small touches that make a long boat day comfortable, including shaded benches, a toilet, onboard kitchen, and music. I also like the freedom at each stop. The captain gives a short orientation, then you choose whether to explore, swim, or simply sit by the shore with time to spare.

The main consideration is that these islands are quiet rather than packed with major sights. If you expect a full schedule of grand monuments, you may find the stops modest. Poor weather can also cancel the cruise, and one booking problem involved late notice, so keep your phone available on the morning of departure.

Key points to know before you book

• Three Elafiti Islands in one day: Visit Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, with free time at each stop.
• Fresh lunch grilled during the cruise: Choose hake, chicken, or a vegetarian plate with three salads.
• Unlimited drinks are included: Red and white wine, grappa, soft drinks, and water are available throughout the trip.
• A relaxed boat setup: The vessel has benches and tables, shade, music, a toilet, kitchen, and grill, with room for up to 60 people.
• Hotel transfer is part of the plan: Morning pickup brings you to Gruž Harbor, and transport returns you afterward.
• Best for a slow day at sea: This suits you if you prefer swimming, simple island walks, and lunch over a packed sightseeing program.

Why this boat trip works as a Dubrovnik day out

Dubrovnik can feel intense. The old town draws crowds, the stone streets hold heat, and a day spent climbing steps can leave you ready for a change. This excursion gives you a full day away from the city without requiring complicated ferry planning or a rental car.

You begin at 9 a.m. and spend about eight hours on the water and islands. The pace is intentionally loose. You are not being pushed from one monument to the next. Instead, the captain gives you brief information on arrival, and you decide how to use your free time.

That format is the heart of the experience. I would choose this trip for a day when I wanted sea air, a simple lunch, and a look at island communities near Dubrovnik. I would not choose it as my main history tour, since entrance fees to local monuments are not included and the explanations at each stop are brief.

The boat carries a maximum of 60 people. That is not a private cruise, but it is also not an enormous ferry. Tables, benches, shade, speakers, a toilet, a kitchen, and a grill make it practical for a long outing. The setup favors comfort and conversation over polished luxury.

From Gruž Harbor to the Elafiti Islands

The day starts at Lapadska obala 5 in Dubrovnik, with the boat departure scheduled for 9 a.m. Morning pickup from your hotel or apartment is included, followed by a transfer to Gruž Harbor. The exact pickup arrangements should be clear in your confirmation, since the stated meeting point is the harbor-side address.

Once onboard, you can settle at a table or bench under the sunshade. The boat has a toilet, which matters on an eight-hour trip, and the kitchen and grill allow lunch to be prepared during the outing rather than packed in advance.

This is also when you choose your meal if you have not already done so at booking. You can select grilled hake, grilled chicken breast, or grilled vegetables. Each comes with three seasonal salads. Vegetarian meals are available, but you need to request one when booking. The same applies to food allergies and other dietary needs.

The boat’s music and speakers add to the social, holiday feel. If you want a quiet, silent cruise, this may not be your ideal setup. If you like an informal day with a crew serving drinks and lunch while the coast slips past, the arrangement makes sense.

Koločep: pine trees, beaches, and a gentle first stop

Koločep is one of the three island stops, and its appeal is natural rather than monumental. Expect stretches of pine and carob trees, gardens, and pebble beaches. The island gives you a chance to step off the boat, look around, and get your first taste of the slower pace that defines the day.

You might use your time for a short walk, a swim, or a quiet break near the water. Bring a swimsuit and towel if swimming is part of your plan. Snorkeling is also possible, but equipment is not supplied, so pack your own mask and fins if you want to look below the surface.

The important thing to understand is that Koločep is not designed around a long list of attractions. The pleasure comes from the setting and the pause. If you want an active guided tour with several historic interiors, you may find the stop too spare. If you enjoy a few hours that are mostly your own, it fits well.

The captain gives a short explanation about what you can see and do before you go ashore. That guidance is useful for getting your bearings, but it is not a full island tour. Plan to make your own choices once you arrive.

Lopud: the best stop for a walk or swim

Lopud brings another mix of greenery, old buildings, and beaches. The island is known on this route for its gardens, chapels, ancient churches, and pebble shores. It offers more visual variety than simply staying on the boat, but you should still think of the visit as free time rather than a guided historical program.

I like this part of the day because it gives you room to choose your own speed. You can wander through the island setting, look for old religious buildings, or spend your time near the water. Some people will want to walk. Others will decide that the most sensible plan is a swim followed by a cold drink back on the boat.

The tour does not include entrance fees to local monuments. That means you should not assume every historic site is included in the price. If a church, chapel, or other attraction charges admission, that cost is yours, and opening arrangements are not specified.

Lopud is also where the trip’s limitations become clear. The islands are appealing for their atmosphere, but there may not be enough formal sightseeing for someone who needs a full itinerary. I would book this with the expectation of beaches, scenery, and casual exploration, not a sequence of major landmarks.

Šipan: a quieter finish to the island circuit

Šipan completes the three-island route. Like the other stops, it combines Mediterranean vegetation with traces of older island life, including churches, chapels, gardens, and castle-related sites. The captain’s short briefing helps you decide how to spend your time before the boat moves on.

The value of Šipan is the change of scene. Seeing three islands in one day lets you compare them rather than treating the Elafiti Islands as one blurred stop. You get several chances to walk, swim, take photographs, and sit by the shore.

The drawback is time. An eight-hour excursion has to divide its schedule among cruising, lunch, and three stops. You will not have time to explore every corner of each island. For a first look at the area, the route is efficient. For a slow, detailed visit to one island, an independent stay would offer more freedom.

By the final stop, the boat’s relaxed structure can be a real advantage. You can return onboard, take a shaded seat, and let the crew handle the trip back toward Dubrovnik.

What lunch and unlimited drinks actually add

Lunch is more than a minor inclusion here. The crew prepares it fresh during the outing, and you can watch the chef grill the food at the island. Meals are served on the boat, so you do not lose part of your limited island time searching for a restaurant.

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

This is simple boat food, not a fine-dining meal. Still, the combination of fresh grilling, salads, and a seat overlooking the water is a strong fit for the day. Several comments specifically praise both the lunch and the generous supply of drinks, and the meal is one of the features that helps the price make sense.

Included drinks are red and white wine, grappa, soft drinks, and water. The word unlimited matters if you plan to make the most of a long day at sea, but drink responsibly, especially if you intend to swim or walk in the heat. You can also stick to soft drinks and water without paying extra.

The crew received especially warm praise for being friendly and hardworking. Natasha was singled out as an excellent guide on one departure. Staff quality can vary by day, but the available feedback points to a welcoming, social atmosphere rather than a stiff tour format.

What $72.59 buys you in Dubrovnik

At $72.59 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the islands. The price includes transport from your accommodation to the harbor, the boat trip, lunch, local taxes, all listed drinks, and the return transfer. You also avoid arranging separate ferry tickets, restaurant stops, and island transport.

That package makes the cost reasonable if you would otherwise spend money on a meal and several drinks during an independent day out. The value is strongest for you if you want the convenience of one booking and a full schedule that is still relaxed.

The value is weaker if you care little about included alcohol, prefer to choose your own restaurant, or want to spend the entire day on one island. The tour also does not include monument entrance fees, so add those if you decide to visit paid sites.

The excursion is commonly booked about a month ahead, with an average lead time of 31 days. That suggests you should not leave it until the last minute during a busy Dubrovnik visit, especially if your dates are fixed.

Weather, group size, and practical details

This experience requires good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The stated cancellation policy also allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

One important practical lesson is to watch for weather updates and cancellation messages. A poor-weather cancellation once caused a customer to travel to the meeting point before receiving notice. I would confirm the trip is running before paying for a separate taxi, especially if you are not using the included pickup.

The maximum group size is 60 people. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, though the included transfer may be more convenient if your accommodation is covered by the pickup arrangement.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes for uneven paths or casual island walks. Pack your own snorkeling gear if you want it. Since shade is available on the boat but not guaranteed at every island stop, a hat and water-friendly footwear are sensible additions.

Who will enjoy this Elafiti Islands cruise

I would recommend this excursion to you if you want a low-effort day outside Dubrovnik. It is a good match for couples, families, and small groups who like a mixture of swimming, scenery, lunch, and light exploration. The included food and drinks also make budgeting easier.

It suits you particularly well if you prefer a friendly boat atmosphere to a formal sightseeing tour. The music, communal tables, grill, and drink service create a social day. You can join in or keep to yourself, but the setting is not built around silent contemplation.

I would be more cautious if your main interest is medieval architecture. The islands do contain churches, chapels, gardens, and older buildings, but the tour offers only brief information and free time rather than detailed guided visits.

I would also think twice if you dislike open-ended stops. One person found there was little to do beyond the beach. That criticism is fair for anyone expecting constant activity. The tour’s strength is relaxation, and that same quality can feel like a lack of substance if you need a packed program.

Should you book this Dubrovnik boat tour?

Book it if you want one easy day covering Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, with lunch and drinks already handled. The 4.8 rating from 215 reviews and 95 percent recommendation rate match the tour’s strongest points: kind crew, plentiful drinks, a good onboard meal, clean facilities, and a pleasant pace.

Skip it if you want detailed history, private boating, or a full roster of paid sights. The islands are best approached as peaceful coastal stops, not as a major monument circuit.

For the right kind of day, $72.59 is a fair package price. Choose your meal in advance, state any allergies, bring swimming and snorkeling gear, and confirm the weather before setting out. If those details suit your plans, this is an enjoyable way to trade Dubrovnik’s stone streets for a day of sea air and simple island time.

FAQ

What time does the Dubrovnik Islands boat tour start?

The tour starts at 9 a.m. The listed meeting point is Lapadska obala 5 in Dubrovnik, and morning pickup from your hotel or apartment is included before the boat departs from Gruž Harbor.

How long does the Elafiti Islands cruise last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours, including the boat ride, lunch, and free time on Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, three of the Elafiti Islands near Dubrovnik.

What food choices are available for lunch?

You can choose grilled hake with three seasonal salads, grilled chicken breasts with three seasonal salads, or grilled vegetables with three different salads. You should provide your meal choice when booking.

Are drinks included in the tour price?

Yes. The price includes unlimited red and white wine, grappa, soft drinks, and water, along with lunch and alcoholic beverages.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.