Island Hopping & City Walls Cruise with Food and Open Bar

The best part of this outing is the easy sweep from Dubrovnik’s harbor to three Elaphiti Islands in one day. You swim off Koločep, see Šipan’s Skočibuha summer house, spend the longest break on Lopud, and watch the sun drop behind the coast on the return ride. It gives you a broad taste of island life without arranging several ferries yourself.

I like the included lunch and wine, which turn this into more than a sightseeing boat ride, and I like the professional handling by hosts such as Ana and Annabella. The main tradeoff is time: two hours on Lopud can feel short if you want to walk to Šunj Beach, swim there, and still have time to relax.

Key points to know before booking

• Three islands in one day: Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud each offer a different kind of stop.
• Lunch is included: Choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal, with bread and the chance of extra servings.
• Lopud gets the longest visit: You have about two hours, but reaching Šunj Beach takes planning.
• Wine is part of the package: Unlimited drinks may involve a refundable €3 cup charge.
• A large boat outing: The maximum group size is 120, so expect a social cruise rather than a quiet private trip.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Three Elaphiti Islands from one Dubrovnik boat

This is a practical choice if you want to see beyond Dubrovnik but do not want to puzzle over local ferry schedules. The Elaphiti Islands sit close enough to Dubrovnik for a day cruise, yet each stop gives you a different view of the archipelago.

The day lasts about seven hours. The advertised start time is 10:45 a.m., though the exact departure point can affect when you actually board. One useful detail is that the boat leaves from near the Sheraton area, while the listed time may refer to departure from the Old Town. Check your meeting instructions carefully so you are not waiting at the wrong waterfront.

The boat returns to the starting point. A reported return time is around 5:45 p.m., making this easy to fit into a Dubrovnik day without giving up an evening meal in town.

The boat carries up to 120 people. That is a sizable group, so I would not book this expecting a hushed sailing trip or personal attention at every moment. The upside is a social, informal atmosphere and a price of $84.66 per person that includes both a meal and drinks.

Koločep gives you the first taste of island time

Koločep is the first stop, with about 45 minutes scheduled ashore. The pace here is intentionally simple. You can swim, have a coffee, or take a short walk before returning to the boat.

That short stop works well as an introduction. After leaving Dubrovnik, you get a chance to stretch your legs and see how different the nearby islands feel from the city. It is not enough time for a long walk or a full beach afternoon, so choose one activity rather than trying to do everything.

If swimming is your priority, arrive ready. The tour does not include snorkeling equipment, and coffee and tea are not included either. You can bring your own swimming gear, but you should not count on borrowing masks or fins from the boat.

I like the order of the stops. Koločep gives you a quick, low-pressure start before lunch and the longer visit on Lopud. You are not asked to make your biggest decision right away.

Šipan adds a quieter historical stop

Šipan is one of the largest islands in the Elaphiti group. The stop lasts about 40 minutes in the planned schedule, though timing can vary slightly with the day’s operation.

The main point of interest is Skočibuha, a summer house that gives the stop a cultural angle. You also have time for a swim. This is a good middle stop for anyone who wants a little more than beaches, but it remains brief.

I would treat Šipan as a compact visit rather than a full island tour. You will not have time to roam widely, and that is worth knowing before you book. The appeal is the combination of a named historic site and a quick swim, not a long guided exploration.

The stop also helps break up the day. You move from Koločep’s short walk or coffee break to a glimpse of island architecture, then on to the longer pause at Lopud.

Lunch is a real part of the value

Lunch is included, with a choice of fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal. Bread and bottled water are also provided. The meal is not just a token snack, it is one reason the price compares well with simpler island boat trips.

You should tell the crew which main course you want when instructed. Extra servings of the main dish may be offered, and the bread supply helps make the meal feel generous. Wine is included as well, which suits the relaxed, communal character of the cruise.

There are a few practical details. Coffee and tea cost extra, and WiFi is not available on board. The boat has a restroom, which matters during a full-day outing with several hours on the water.

One small oddity is the cup system. You may be asked to pay a €3 charge for a cup if you want unlimited drinks, with the amount refundable at the end of the day. Keep track of this arrangement, and do not assume the cup charge is part of the advertised tour price.

The food will not turn the cruise into a culinary tour, but it does remove the need to find lunch on an island during a tight schedule. At $84.66, that makes a meaningful difference.

Lopud is the main event, but watch the clock

Lopud receives about two hours, the longest island stop of the day. It is one of the most popular islands in the group, and this is where you have the best chance to shape the afternoon around your own interests.

You can stay near the arrival area, swim, walk, or try to reach Šunj Beach on the far side of the island. Šunj is the big draw for many people, but it is not right beside the boat.

The walk to the other side takes about 15 minutes. You can also pay about €3 each way in cash for a golf cart. Once you account for the walk or cart, beach time, and the return to the boat, two hours disappears quickly. A visit to Šunj may leave you with only 45 minutes to an hour on the beach.

That does not make the stop a bad choice. It simply means you need to decide early. If you want Šunj, head there promptly and carry cash for the golf cart. If you prefer a slower swim and an easy walk near the port, stay closer and enjoy the island without racing the clock.

This is the clearest compromise in the itinerary. Some island cruises allow three hours at the final stop. This one starts later, includes lunch, and costs a little less than some alternatives, but gives you less time on Lopud.

I like having two hours because it keeps the whole day moving. Still, if Šunj is the main reason you want to book, compare schedules before paying. A longer Lopud stop may suit you better.

The return ride brings sunset views

The ride back toward Dubrovnik is more than a transfer. The itinerary allows about 90 minutes around the Old Town portion, and the timing is designed to give you sunset views on the way back to port.

The view is best treated as a quiet finish rather than a formal Old Town walking tour. You are seeing Dubrovnik from the water, with the city walls and coastline forming the backdrop as daylight fades. Bring a light layer if you tend to get cool on a boat, though the tour details do not specify any particular dress requirement.

This final stretch also gives you time to settle after the island stops. You can have another included drink, use the onboard restroom, and enjoy the view without needing to navigate streets or catch a ferry.

The phrase city walls in the title may suggest a dedicated walking visit inside the fortifications. That is not what this experience provides. The Old Town element is primarily the cruise past Dubrovnik and the sunset return, so book it for water views rather than a guided tour of the walls.

How the boat experience feels in practice

Vivado appears to run a structured operation, with the crew keeping departures and the return on schedule. Ana is particularly helpful if you need clear instructions, and Annabella is another named host associated with a warm, attentive approach.

The boat is large enough for a maximum of 120 people. That makes boarding and meal service more organized than an informal small-boat trip, but it also means the experience can feel busy. You will share the deck, lunch service, island transfers, and drink arrangements with a substantial group.

A useful touch is the availability of Dramamine for rough water. The ride can be a little choppy on the way out, so if you are prone to seasickness, take your usual precautions before departure. Sit where you feel most comfortable and avoid treating the first open-water stretch as the time for a large meal.

Safety is taken seriously, which matters on a day with repeated boarding, swimming, and movement between islands. Service animals are allowed, most people can participate, and the boat is near public transportation. The supplied information does not give detailed accessibility specifications, so anyone with mobility concerns should confirm the boarding and island arrangements before booking.

What to bring for a better day

The essentials are straightforward:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Cash for the possible €3 golf cart each way to Šunj
• A light layer for the return ride
• Your own snorkeling equipment if you want to snorkel
• Any personal seasickness medicine you normally use

Do not count on onboard WiFi. Coffee and tea are not included, and snorkeling equipment is also excluded. Bottled water, lunch, wine, and a restroom are provided.

The most important item is not something you pack. It is a plan for Lopud. Decide before you arrive if you want Šunj Beach or a relaxed island stop. Trying to do both may leave you hurrying.

Is $84.66 a fair price?

For a seven-hour outing, the price is strong if you value convenience. You get transportation between three islands, lunch, bottled water, wine, a restroom, and a sunset ride back toward Dubrovnik. Arranging the same route independently would mean checking ferry times and working out how to move between Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud.

Independent travel can cost less in some situations, especially if you only want one island and do not need lunch or drinks. It also gives you more control over how long you stay. But the connections between the islands can be difficult to coordinate, and a missed ferry would spoil the day.

This cruise is best value for you if you want variety. You get a short swim and walk on Koločep, a brief cultural stop on Šipan, and a longer beach break on Lopud. It is less ideal if your goal is one long, peaceful beach day.

The 4.8 rating from 102 reviews and recommendation by 95 percent of purchasers support the idea that the basic package delivers well. Still, the good score should not hide the Lopud timing issue or the size of the group. Value depends on what you want from the day.

Who should book this island cruise?

I would recommend it to you if:

• You have one free day in Dubrovnik and want to see several islands.
• You prefer an organized route to arranging local ferries.
• You want lunch and wine included.
• You enjoy a social boat atmosphere.
• You are happy with short stops and a two-hour main island visit.
• You want sunset views of Dubrovnik from the water.

I would think twice if:

• Šunj Beach is your only priority.
• You want three or more hours on one island.
• You dislike larger group outings.
• You expect a guided walking tour of Dubrovnik’s city walls.
• You need coffee, tea, WiFi, or snorkeling gear included.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. For other cancellations, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want a well-organized introduction to the Elaphiti Islands, with food, wine, swimming, and a sunset return built into one day. The package is particularly useful if you are staying near the departure area and would rather avoid ferry planning.

My main advice is to book with realistic expectations. This is a large, active day with several short stops, not a private sailing trip. If you make Šunj Beach your goal, move quickly at Lopud and bring cash for the golf cart. If you want a comfortable overview of three islands at a fair price, Vivado’s cruise is an appealing Dubrovnik day out.

FAQ

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours. It starts at 10:45 a.m. and ends back at the meeting point, with a reported return around 5:45 p.m.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

The route includes Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud in the Elaphiti archipelago.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You can choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal. Bread and bottled water are also included.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

Wine is included. A €3 cup charge may apply if you want unlimited drinks, and that amount can be refunded at the end of the day.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

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

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

You can choose a different date or receive a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.