Split: Blue Lagoon, Shipwreck and Šolta with Food and Drinks

The best part of this full-day cruise is the variety. You snorkel over a small shipwreck in Nečujam Bay, stroll through the fisherman village of Maslinica, then settle in for lunch beside the Blue Lagoon. I like the well-equipped Yacht Tamaris and the fact that coffee, food, local wine, water, lemonade, and snorkeling gear are included. The crew keeps the day moving without making it feel rushed.

I also like the beachside lunch setting, which is more relaxing than eating on a crowded boat. The main drawback is timing: lunch can arrive as late as 2:45 p.m., and the Blue Lagoon stop may feel short if swimming is your priority. Arrive early for a top-deck sunbed, since only about 20 are available.

Key points at a glance

• Snorkel over a shipwreck: Nečujam Bay offers the first swim of the day, with gear available aboard.
• Visit Maslinica on Šolta: Use your hour here for the harbor, cafés, Marchi Castle, and its park.
• Eat beside the Blue Lagoon: Choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal with a side dish, salad, and drinks.
• Travel on a 27-meter yacht: Tamaris has three decks, air-conditioned salons, toilets, showers, Wi-Fi, a bar, and a sundeck.
• Good value at $74: The fare covers an eight-hour cruise, lunch, drinks, fruit, coffee, and snorkeling equipment.
• Plan for a late lunch: Bring a small snack, especially if you are traveling with children.

What this Split boat trip is really like

This is not a quiet little sailboat outing. Yacht Tamaris is a large 27-meter day cruiser that can carry up to about 150 people, with two air-conditioned indoor salons, an open deck, a bar, and a top sundeck. The size gives you useful comforts on a long day at sea, though it also means you will share the experience with a sizable group.

I like the layout. You can sit inside when the sun becomes too strong, step outside for the views, or use the rear showers after swimming. There are four toilets, safety deposit boxes for valuables, charging sockets, and a professional Wi-Fi system. Those details matter more than they might sound like they do. Eight hours on a boat is much easier when you can rinse off salt water, store your wallet safely, and keep your phone charged.

The boat leaves from stand number 8 on Split’s Riva Promenade. Look for the small white Max Nautica stand beside the water, opposite Diocletian’s Palace and near Bobis, Romana, Biberon, and St Riva. You need to arrive 30 minutes before departure. The boat must leave on time because of the port schedule, so do not treat the boarding time as a loose suggestion.

The first hour, coffee, croissants, and open sea

After boarding, the crew seats groups one at a time rather than letting everyone crowd the entrance. That is a small but welcome touch. Your first cruise takes about an hour, and coffee and a croissant are served while Split fades behind you.

If you want a good outdoor seat, arrive early and queue for boarding. The seats you choose at the start may be your seats for the rest of the day, and the top deck has only around 20 sun loungers. The front of the boat offers a fine ride and views, but the sun can be strong. A shaded outside position may be more comfortable than claiming the brightest spot.

Music plays lightly in the background, and the crew serves drinks as the boat heads toward Nečujam Bay. The mood is social but not necessarily rowdy. You can chat at the bar, sit in an air-conditioned salon, or simply watch the Adriatic pass by.

Nečujam Bay and the small shipwreck

The first stop is Nečujam Bay, where you have about an hour to swim and snorkel over a wreck. Snorkeling equipment is available, and the boat provides clear instructions before people enter the water.

The wreck is not a large historic vessel. It is a small boat lying underwater, so keep your expectations sensible. Its appeal comes from the chance to float above a submerged object and look for underwater life in clear water, not from a grand archaeological site. For confident swimmers, reaching the wreck can be straightforward. If you are not a strong swimmer, listen closely to the crew and do not set off alone across a long stretch of water.

One practical improvement would be clearer guidance to the exact location of the wreck. It can take time to spot, and some people may swim farther than expected while searching. Ask a crew member to point it out before you leave the boat.

This stop is more about a refreshing first swim than a long snorkeling session. You have enough time to get into the water, look around, and rinse off, but not enough for a slow, extended exploration. The rear showers are handy here and at the later swimming stop.

Maslinica, Šolta’s easygoing harbor village

After Nečujam, Tamaris cruises toward Maslinica on the island of Šolta. The journey takes roughly 45 minutes, and you get about an hour ashore.

Maslinica is a small fishing village with a slower pace than Split. This is the least structured stop of the day, which is a good thing. You can wander along the waterfront, find a freshly brewed coffee at a local café, or look around Marchi Castle and its attractive park.

Do not expect a full island tour in one hour. The stop is designed as a pleasant break between swims, not as a major sightseeing visit. You will have time to get a feel for the harbor and village, but you will need to keep an eye on the departure time.

I would spend the first part of the hour walking toward the castle and through the park, then use the remaining time for a drink or a short swim. If you prefer a slower café stop, skip the castle. If you want to see more of Šolta, keep your walk focused. The limited time is one reason some people wish this stop lasted longer.

Maslinica also gives the day some local character. Without it, the trip would be almost entirely about swimming and sun. Here you get a glimpse of island life, stone buildings, a small harbor, and a calmer rhythm.

Blue Lagoon lunch beside the water

The final stop is the Blue Lagoon on Drvenik Veliki Island, reached after another short cruise. This is the main swimming stop and the place where lunch is served.

The boat docks by a private restaurant on the beach, so you do not have to search for a meal or wait for a table elsewhere. Lunch includes a choice of fish, chicken, or a vegetarian dish, along with a side dish and salad. Fresh fruit is served for dessert.

The setting is the real advantage. You eat beside clear turquoise water, with the beach and pine trees close by. The food is simple rather than gourmet, and the fish is served whole. That can be tasty, but it may contain plenty of bones, so chicken or the vegetarian choice could be easier if you prefer a fuss-free meal.

Lunch can be served quite late, sometimes around 2:45 p.m. Coffee and a croissant are enough for the morning, but they will not carry everyone through to midafternoon. I suggest packing a small snack, particularly for children. You can also buy snacks such as Pringles aboard, along with extra drinks.

Included drinks are local wine, water, and lemonade. The onboard bar sells beer, cocktails, and Coca-Cola for an additional charge. Bring cash for purchases, since card payment may not be available at the boat bar. Cocktails have been priced around €8, though prices can change.

Swimming and snorkeling at the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the visual high point of the trip. The sea is clear, the bay is sheltered, and you have time for swimming, snorkeling, walking, or sitting under the shade of old pine trees.

The stop lasts about two hours, including lunch. That sounds generous until you add eating, changing, walking, and getting into the water. If swimming is your main reason for booking, the time can pass quickly. Some people prefer to return to the boat after lunch and swim from the rear platform, where the water is deeper and the seabed may be more comfortable than the rocky area near the beach café.

The restaurant and beach setting make this stop feel relaxed, but the bay is not an untouched private cove. You are visiting one of the popular swimming places near Split, and the experience includes a large group. Still, having a meal arranged beside the water saves time and makes the stop easier than managing lunch independently.

You may also choose to stay dry. A shaded pine tree, a walk along the bay, or a drink at the beach bar can be just as enjoyable as snorkeling. Bring a towel, sunscreen, hat, beachwear, and a camera. Comfortable clothes are useful for the boat ride, when wind and sun can change how warm you feel.

The cruise back to Split

After the Blue Lagoon, the return cruise takes about 75 minutes. This is a good time to shower, settle into a salon, or find a seat outside if one is free. The crew continues serving the included drinks, and the boat’s Wi-Fi can be useful while your phone still has battery.

The return leg is not another sightseeing stop. It is simply time to rest after the day’s swimming and walking. Depending on the weather, you may want the air conditioning indoors or the breeze outside. Tamaris is stable and comfortable for a large day cruiser, but anyone prone to seasickness should choose a central seat and avoid staring at the water for long periods.

The boat returns to the same place on Split’s Riva where you started.

Is $74 good value?

At $74 per person, this is a strong package if you want a full day on the sea without adding up many separate costs. The price includes transportation between Split and three island stops, coffee, a croissant, snorkeling equipment, lunch, local wine, water, lemonade, fresh fruit, Wi-Fi, showers, and onboard facilities.

The value is especially clear if you plan to swim and want lunch arranged for you. An independent island day would require separate boat tickets, food, drinks, and possibly snorkeling equipment. Here, the schedule is fixed, but the cost is easier to understand.

The tradeoff is group size and limited personal control. You cannot decide to stay longer in Maslinica or Blue Lagoon, and the top-deck loungers are limited. Extra drinks cost more, and the fish lunch may not suit everyone. Even with those limits, the combination of boat comfort and included food makes the price reasonable for an eight-hour outing.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later add useful flexibility. Check the available departure time when booking, since the exact start time can vary.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want to see several coastal locations in one day, enjoy swimming, and prefer an organized schedule. Families can use the toilets, showers, indoor salons, and stable boat, though parents should pack snacks because lunch may be late.

It also suits solo visitors. The shared boat, bar, and crew create an easy social setting without requiring you to arrange a private group. Couples will appreciate the beach lunch and open-water views, while swimmers will value the two water stops.

This is less suitable if you want a quiet, private boat or a serious archaeological snorkeling trip. The shipwreck is small, the group can be large, and the best sunbeds require an early arrival. Maslinica receives only about an hour, and Blue Lagoon time includes lunch.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a dependable island day with three distinct stops, generous onboard comforts, and most food and drinks covered in the price. The crew, clean boat, clear instructions, and careful timing are major strengths.

Before you commit, accept two realities: lunch may be late, and the Blue Lagoon swim may feel too short. Arrive 30 minutes early, bring a snack and cash, and make your first decisions about seating and swimming time. With that planning, this is a practical way to sample the sea around Split without paying for each part separately.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

The meeting point is stand number 8 on Split’s Riva Promenade. It is a small white Max Nautica stand beside the sea, opposite Diocletian’s Palace and near Bobis, Romana, Biberon, and St Riva.

Where does the tour finish?

The boat returns to the same meeting point on Split’s Riva Promenade.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts eight hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide and crew conduct the tour in English.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at the Blue Lagoon restaurant includes a choice of fish, chicken, or a vegetarian dish, plus a side dish, salad, drinks, and fresh fruit dessert.

Which drinks are included?

Local wine, water, and lemonade are included. Coffee is served with the morning croissant. Beer, cocktails, and Coca-Cola cost extra.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is included for the swimming stops at Nečujam Bay and the Blue Lagoon.

What should I bring?

Bring a sun hat, towel, camera, sunscreen, comfortable clothing, and beachwear.

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive 30 minutes before departure. The boat leaves strictly on time because of the port schedule and the planned route.

Does the boat have toilets and showers?

Yes. Yacht Tamaris has four toilets and showers, along with Wi-Fi and safety deposit boxes for valuables.