Island Hopping & City Walls Cruise with Food and Open Bar

Dubrovnik’s best escape from the stone and crowds is out on the water, and this seven-hour island cruise gives you three different tastes of the Elaphiti archipelago in one day. You can swim at Kolocep, see the Skočibuha summer house on Sipan, and spend the longest stop on Lopud before sailing back toward Dubrovnik at sunset. I like the included lunch, the choice of fish, chicken, or vegetarian food, and the easy all-in-one schedule. I also like that the boat returns around 5:45 pm, leaving your evening free.

The main catch is time. Two hours on Lopud is enough for the village and a swim, but it can feel rushed if you want to walk to Šunj Beach, pay for the golf-cart ride, and still enjoy the sand. The boat can also feel rough on the way out, though Dramamine is available. This is a social boat day, not a quiet private sailing trip, with up to 120 people aboard.

Key points to know before booking

• Three islands in one day: Visit Kolocep, Sipan, and Lopud without arranging separate local ferries.
• Lunch is included: Choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal, with bread and the chance of second servings.
• Lopud gets the most time: The two-hour stop lets you see the island, but Šunj Beach requires extra effort.
• Drinks are part of the appeal: Bottled water and alcoholic beverages are included, with a refundable €3 cup charge for unlimited drinks.
• The return has a fine finish: The boat heads back toward Dubrovnik as the sun drops, with views of the city walls from the water.
• Good value for a full day: At $84.66 per person, the price covers transport by boat, lunch, water, wine, and organized island stops.

Three Elaphiti islands from one Dubrovnik boat

The Elaphiti islands sit just off the Dubrovnik coast, and they offer a welcome change from the city’s polished stone streets. This cruise makes the day simple: board once, settle in, and let the crew handle the transfers between islands.

That convenience matters. You could use local ferries for some of this route, but connecting Sipan with the other islands would take more planning and waiting. Here, your boat is already there when each stop ends. You trade some independence for a much easier day.

The group can reach 120 people, so expect a shared excursion rather than a small yacht outing. The upside is a lively setting, organized transport, a restroom aboard, and food and drinks without hunting for a restaurant at each stop. The downside is that departure and return times follow the group, not your own pace.

The listed start time is 10:45 am. One useful detail is that the boat may leave from the Sheraton area at about 10 am, with 10:45 referring to the departure from the Old Town area. Check your exact meeting instructions carefully, since the difference matters if you are staying near the harbor or the Old Town.

Kolocep: a gentle first stop for swimming

Kolocep is the first island, and the stop lasts about 45 minutes according to the planned schedule. It works as a soft opening to the day. You can swim, have a coffee, or take a short walk instead of rushing straight into a major sightseeing stop.

The island is close enough to Dubrovnik that the first part of the cruise does not feel like a long transfer. If the sea is calm, you can use this time to get comfortable on the boat and decide how you want to spend the later stops.

I would treat Kolocep as a sampler rather than a full island visit. Forty-five minutes passes quickly, especially if you need to get off the boat, find a swimming spot, and return before departure. Coffee and tea are not included, so bring some Croatian kuna knowledge? Croatia now uses the euro, but no currency detail is supplied for this tour, so simply plan to pay separately for coffee if you want one.

The order of lunch can vary in practice, but the day includes a proper meal rather than only snacks. That is useful after swimming, especially for anyone who does not want to spend island time looking for food.

Sipan and the Skočibuha summer house

Sipan is one of the larger islands in the Elaphiti group, and the planned stop lasts about 40 minutes. The visit includes time to see the Skočibuha summer house and take another swim.

This is a short cultural pause between two more relaxed island stops. The Skočibuha house gives you something specific to see, while the nearby water keeps the visit from becoming a formal history stop. You get a quick look at an island landmark, then a chance to cool off.

The schedule may allow closer to an hour in practice, based on the timing described by the operator’s guest services, but you should plan around the published 40 minutes. Do not expect a long walk across Sipan or a full afternoon of sightseeing. The value here is variety: Kolocep gives you a first swim, Sipan adds a point of interest, and Lopud supplies the longest break.

This is also where the organized route earns its keep. Moving between the Elaphiti islands independently can mean checking ferry times and waiting for the next connection. The cruise keeps the route moving and makes the three-island plan possible in one outing.

Lopud and the walk to Šunj Beach

Lopud is the main stop, with about two hours ashore. It is one of the most popular islands in the group, and you can use the time for a swim, a walk, or a visit to Šunj Beach on the far side of the island.

The walk to Šunj takes about 15 minutes. You can also pay about €3 each way for a golf-cart ride, using cash. That transfer can save your legs, but it eats into the already limited beach time. If you take the cart both ways, pay the fare, and allow time to return to the boat, your two-hour stop may leave only 45 minutes to an hour at Šunj.

I like the fact that the tour includes this option, but I would not pretend it is effortless. You need to choose your priority before leaving the boat. If you want to reach Šunj, go there first and keep track of the return time. If you prefer a calm swim or lunch in the main settlement, stay closer to the landing point.

The two-hour stop is a fair compromise for an itinerary that also includes Kolocep and Sipan. Some competing island trips offer three hours at Lopud, giving you more room for Šunj. This cruise starts later and costs a little less, while adding lunch and included drinks. For many people, that trade works. For dedicated beach time, it does not.

The island itself is worth seeing even if you skip Šunj. You can walk, swim, and enjoy a slower break after the shorter first stops. I would choose Lopud as the place to relax, not try to collect every possible sight.

Lunch, wine, and the practical side of the boat

Lunch is one of the strongest reasons to consider this cruise. You choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal, and the serving includes bread. Food service removes a common island-day headache: deciding where to eat during a short port stop.

Portions have been generous enough for second helpings of the main course, though you should not treat that as a guaranteed menu promise. Bottled water is included, and alcoholic beverages, listed as wine, are part of the package.

There is one small quirk with the drink service. You may need to pay a €3 cup deposit if you want unlimited drinks, and that amount can be refunded at the end of the day. You can also keep the cup as a souvenir instead of claiming the refund. This is not a major cost, but it is worth knowing before you wonder why a small extra charge appears.

Coffee and tea are not included. WiFi is not available on board either, so download anything you need before departure and bring a book, a camera, or simply plan to watch the sea. A restroom is available, which matters on a day with several hours of sailing.

Bring your own snorkeling equipment if you want to use it. The tour does not include gear. Swimming is part of the day, but no special water equipment is supplied.

A careful crew and a boat day that can get bumpy

Host Ana receives especially strong praise for friendly, attentive service, and Annabella is also noted for being kind and thoughtful. Names can change with the day’s staffing, but the important point is that the host is not just a ticket checker. Expect help with the schedule, meals, drinks, and the movement of a large group.

Safety has also been treated seriously. The boat carries up to 120 people, and the crew keeps the day organized around fixed departure times. That structure is useful when you are moving among three islands and cannot afford for one late return to disrupt the rest of the route.

The open-water portion can be rough on the way out. If you are prone to seasickness, sit where the motion feels easiest for you and consider using Dramamine, which has been available on the boat. The tour requires good weather, and a cancellation for poor conditions brings the choice of another date or a full refund.

This is not the right outing if you want a silent, private ride with complete control over the route. It is a practical group cruise with a friendly social feel, and its strengths are organization, food, and access to several islands in a single day.

Dubrovnik’s city walls at sunset

The final part of the experience is the ride back toward the port. Rather than ending after the last swim, the schedule leaves about 1 hour and 30 minutes for the return toward Dubrovnik, with sunset views along the way.

This is when the city looks best from a different angle. From the sea, you see the walls and rooftops as one compact mass above the harbor. It is a fitting contrast to the islands: green? Avoid banned verdant, use wooded. The islands give you open water and small settlements, while Dubrovnik returns as a solid medieval-looking city on the coast.

The boat is scheduled to arrive around 5:45 pm, though exact timing depends on conditions and the day’s operation. That arrival gives you the evening for dinner or a walk through the Old Town. I like this rhythm. You get a full day away without sacrificing the whole night.

Try to keep a little energy for the return ride. The sunset is part of the experience, not just a transfer back to the dock. If you are taking photographs, the light can change quickly, so keep your camera ready rather than packing it away after Lopud.

Is $84.66 a fair price?

At $84.66 per person, this cruise offers solid value if you would otherwise pay for transportation, lunch, drinks, and separate access to three islands. You are not paying only for a boat seat. You are paying for a planned route, staff, a meal, water, wine, a restroom, and the time saved by not arranging several ferry connections.

The value becomes clearer for couples, families, or anyone with only a few days in Dubrovnik. A self-planned island day may cost less in some cases, but it demands more attention to ferry schedules and may not connect the islands as neatly.

The price is less compelling if your main goal is Šunj Beach. Since Lopud gets only two hours, the walk or golf-cart ride takes a meaningful portion of your stop. A beach-focused outing with three hours on Lopud could suit you better, even if it costs more or starts earlier.

For a first look at the Elaphiti islands, the package is well balanced. You get three settings, a filling meal, and a sunset return. The strongest value comes from variety and ease, not from spending a long time in any one place.

Who should book this island cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want a straightforward full-day trip from Dubrovnik and like the idea of swimming, short walks, island scenery, and a meal without having to plan every connection. It suits people who want an introduction to the Elaphiti islands rather than a single-island beach holiday.

Families and mixed groups can benefit from the three meal choices and flexible stop activities. One person can swim, another can walk, and someone else can simply sit with a drink. The included restroom and bottled water also make the long day easier.

It is less suited to you if you dislike group excursions, need a quiet boat, or want several hours on a single beach. The Lopud stop requires discipline if Šunj is your target, and the sea may feel rough during the outward crossing.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Service animals are allowed, the meeting point is near public transportation, and most people can participate, but the tour still involves getting on and off a boat and walking on an island stop.

Should you book the Vivado cruise?

Book it if you want three islands, lunch, drinks, and sunset views in one organized day at a reasonable price. The friendly hosts, practical schedule, generous meal service, and return to Dubrovnik before evening make it an easy choice for a first island outing.

Skip it if Šunj Beach is the whole reason you are going. Two hours on Lopud can feel short once you add the walk or golf-cart ride. For everyone else, this is a well-priced sampler of the Elaphiti islands, with enough swimming and free time to keep the day from feeling like a sightseeing checklist.

FAQ

How long does the Island Hopping and City Walls Cruise last?

The experience lasts about seven hours. It starts around 10:45 am according to the tour details and returns to the meeting point after the island stops and sunset cruise back toward Dubrovnik.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

The route includes Kolocep, Sipan, and Lopud in the Elaphiti archipelago.

How much time is scheduled on each island?

The planned stops are about 45 minutes on Kolocep, 40 minutes on Sipan, and two hours on Lopud.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You can choose a fish, chicken, or vegetarian meal. Bread is also provided.

Are drinks included?

Bottled water and alcoholic beverages, listed as wine, are included. Coffee and tea are not included. A €3 cup charge may apply for unlimited drinks, and it can be refunded at the end of the day.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling equipment is not included, so you need to bring your own if you want to use it.

Is there a restroom on the boat?

Yes. A restroom is available on board.

How many people can join the cruise?

The maximum group size is 120 people.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund.