From Split: Islands & Blue Lagoon Cruise with Lunch & Drinks

The main attraction here is not one landmark, but a full day on the water linking Trogir, the Blue Lagoon, and Šolta. You get ruins, swimming, a shipwreck, meals, and open-sea views without arranging several separate trips.

I like the generous drink service and the friendly crew, two points praised especially often. I also like the mix of sightseeing and swimming: Trogir gives you an hour on land, while the Blue Lagoon and Nečujam offer time in the sea. The main drawback is that the day can feel loosely managed, with random seating, changing schedules, and some advertised features not always available.

Key points to know before booking

• Three very different stops: UNESCO-listed Trogir, the Blue Lagoon, and the sunken Kontessa near Šolta.
• Meals are included: coffee and a croissant in the morning, lunch with fish, meat, or vegetarian choices, and fresh fruit later.
• Drinks keep flowing: water, wine, and homemade iced tea are included throughout the day.
• Swimming is central: you get about two hours at the Blue Lagoon and another hour near the shipwreck.
• Expect a social boat setting: seating is random, and you may need to change places if you want to sit with your group.
• Allow for some uncertainty: the captain can alter the route, and the waterslide or snorkeling equipment may not always be available.

A full Adriatic day for $91

At $91 per person, this is priced as an all-day boat outing rather than a simple transfer to one beach. Your fare covers roughly nine hours, breakfast, lunch, drinks, fruit, WiFi, and use of some onboard equipment.

That makes the price reasonable if you want a simple package. You do not need to budget separately for lunch, water, wine, iced tea, or the fruit served on the return trip. The value is less convincing if you care mainly about seeing Trogir, since one hour there is short, or if you expect polished facilities and a tightly run schedule.

You should also allow for a €10 safety deposit if you use the snorkeling gear. Extra food and drinks offered onboard are not included. The tour accepts free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Dalmatian plans are still shifting.

Boarding in Split or Slatine

The Split departure point is Gat sv. Nikole, berth 6A or 6B. Look for the Bura Travel flag. Boarding in Split is scheduled between 09:00 and 09:15, with arrival back around 18:30.

There is also an earlier pickup in Slatine, on Čiovo, between 08:00 and 08:30. The return there is scheduled for about 19:00. Check your selected departure carefully, since the Slatine and Split timings are not interchangeable.

Once underway, the boat passes the southern side of Čiovo. Keep an eye out for Gospe od Prizidinice, described as one of the oldest churches on the island. It is a passing view rather than a formal visit, but it gives the first part of the cruise a little local character before the main stops begin.

The boat provides coffee or tea and a croissant during the morning journey. This is a light breakfast, not a full meal. One useful tip is to eat beforehand if you need more than a pastry to carry you through the morning.

Trogir in one short hour

The boat reaches Trogir at about 11:00 and gives you one hour ashore. That is enough for a brisk look around the compact old center, but not enough for a relaxed visit to every major sight.

Trogir is one of Dalmatia’s best stops for a short walking visit. The old town is UNESCO protected, and the main sights are close together. You can head toward Kamerlengo Fortress, climb the tower if time and access allow, or visit St. Lovre Cathedral.

Other named points of interest include the Three of Love and the Kairos relief. The Kairos figure is linked to the ancient Greek idea of opportunity, a fitting symbol for a town visit where you must use every minute.

I would choose one main target before leaving the boat. If you try to fit in the fortress, cathedral, relief, photographs, and a leisurely coffee, you will spend most of the hour watching the clock. Trogir deserves longer than this, but the brief stop still adds real cultural value to a day otherwise focused on the sea.

The short timing is one of the tour’s clearest compromises. You get a taste of Trogir without paying for a separate walking tour, but you will not have time to explore its side streets at an easy pace.

Lunch while sailing to the Blue Lagoon

After Trogir, the boat heads toward the Blue Lagoon. Lunch is served during the voyage, which is a practical use of sailing time. The stated choices are fish, meat, and vegetarian meals, followed by fruit later in the day.

Food quality appears to be uneven. Fish risotto has been particularly well received, while other meals have been described as basic pasta rather than the clearly defined fish, meat, or vegetarian dish expected from the menu. I would treat the lunch as convenient boat food, not a reason to book the tour by itself.

The included drinks are one of the stronger parts of the package. Water, wine, and homemade iced tea are served through the day, and the supply has generally been described as ample. If you prefer a soft drink, beer, or something else, bring money for additional purchases onboard.

Seating is random. This matters more than it may sound, especially for couples or families hoping to share a table. You may need to swap seats with other passengers, and the boat does not promise that your group will be seated together from the start.

Two hours at the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the biggest swimming stop, with about two hours scheduled for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. The name can create the wrong expectation. This is a sea stop, not a quiet inland lagoon, and the area can feel busy when several boats arrive.

The water is the main reward. You can swim from the boat, use the floating equipment if available, or try the onboard slide when it is operating. The slide is advertised as included, but it may be replaced by inflatables or unavailable on a particular sailing, so do not book this trip specifically for the slide.

Snorkeling gear is offered, but there may not be a complete set for every person at once. The €10 deposit applies when you use the equipment. If snorkeling is important to you, bring your own mask and snorkel if you have them.

The boat may anchor some distance from the most attractive swimming spots. You should be comfortable getting into open water and swimming to nearby attractions. This is not a shore-based beach excursion, and the experience may not suit anyone who needs easy water access from land.

For me, the two-hour stop is the best balance in the schedule. It gives you enough time to swim without turning the day into an endless wait at one anchorage. Still, expectations matter: the appeal is open-sea swimming and a bright coastal setting, not a private beach or an untouched natural pool.

Nečujam and the Kontessa shipwreck

The final major stop is Nečujam Bay on Šolta. The boat moors near the sunken ship Kontessa, giving you about an hour to snorkel around the wreck.

The shipwreck is an unusual idea for a standard island cruise, but it is a modest attraction rather than a major underwater site. The wreck can be disappointing if you imagine a large, dramatic vessel in clear, shallow water. Its appeal comes from swimming around a sunken boat and seeing something different from the usual beach stop.

The crew also serves licorice for tasting in this part of the trip. That small local-style touch breaks up the routine of swimming, lunch, and sunbathing, though licorice is not to everyone’s taste.

As at the Blue Lagoon, you may need to swim from the boat to reach the most interesting point. If you are not a confident swimmer, ask the crew what access is available before entering the water. The published information does not promise a tender or direct shore transfer.

What the crew and onboard service are like

The crew’s friendliness is one of the more consistent positives. The staff are described as polite, helpful, and willing to assist, which matters on a long shared boat trip where small problems can affect the whole day.

Music is part of the atmosphere, and the outing is more social than quiet. You should expect a group cruise with people moving between tables, swimming from the boat, and sharing the same onboard facilities.

WiFi is included, though the practical quality of a boat connection can vary as you move between islands. It is useful to have, but I would not choose this experience expecting a reliable workday at sea.

The schedule also needs a little flexibility. The captain can change the itinerary because of weather or sea conditions, and the actual order or length of stops may shift. Some departures have finished earlier than the posted time, while others may run differently from the timetable. Keep this in mind if you have an evening reservation in Split.

Who will get the most from this cruise

This trip suits you if you want one easy day covering several highlights. It works well for people who enjoy boat rides, open-water swimming, casual snorkeling, and a relaxed group atmosphere.

Families and mixed-age groups may like the range of activities. One person can explore Trogir, another can swim, and others can stay onboard with drinks and fruit. The waterslide or inflatables may add fun for children, but their availability is not guaranteed.

It is also a good fit if you prefer a package with meals included. You will not need to search for a restaurant between stops, and the drinks reduce the cost of a long day in the sun.

I would hesitate to recommend it to you if your priority is serious sightseeing in Trogir, a quiet boat, gourmet meals, or a carefully timed schedule. It is also a poor fit if you cannot comfortably swim away from the boat, since access to the shipwreck and some swimming areas requires getting into the sea.

Practical details that affect the day

Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a dry bag for valuables. The tour includes swimming stops, but the provided information does not promise changing facilities or a private place for every passenger to change.

Bring a little cash or a card for additional purchases and the snorkeling deposit. A light snack before boarding is sensible because the morning offering is only coffee or tea and one croissant.

At the meeting point, find the Bura Travel flag at berth 6A or 6B. Arriving early is wise, especially because seating is random and boarding has a fixed window. If you want to sit with your group, be ready to ask politely for a swap once everyone is aboard.

The tour language is English, and the host or greeter is listed as English-speaking. The experience provider is named Dubrovnik Local Guide, while the Split meeting instructions direct you to the Bura Travel flag.

Should you book the Split island cruise?

Book this cruise if you want a value-focused day on the Adriatic with several stops, included meals, steady drinks, and plenty of time in the water. The strongest parts are the friendly crew, the attractive route, the two-hour Blue Lagoon stop, and the convenience of having food and drinks handled for you.

Book with caution if you expect every advertised detail to operate exactly as written. The menu may be simpler than expected, the waterslide may not be running, snorkeling supplies may be limited, and the timing can change. You should also see Trogir as a short introduction, not a full city visit.

At $91, I think the tour is fair for a nine-hour boat day with lunch and drinks. Its value depends on your priorities. If you want a lively sea outing with a little culture, it makes sense. If you want a quiet, precise, high-end cruise, spend more time comparing alternatives before paying.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from in Split?

It departs from Gat sv. Nikole, berth 6A or 6B. Look for the Bura Travel flag.

What time does the Split departure board?

Boarding in Split is scheduled between 09:00 and 09:15. The cruise returns to Split at about 18:30.

Can I depart from Slatine instead of Split?

Yes. Boarding in Slatine is scheduled between 08:00 and 08:30, with arrival back in Slatine at about 19:00.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, with fish, meat, and vegetarian options listed, along with a fruit snack. The exact meal served can vary.

What drinks are included?

Water, wine, and homemade iced tea are included during the day. Additional drinks and food offered onboard cost extra.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Snorkeling equipment is available, but you must pay a €10 safety deposit to use it. Equipment may not be complete or available for everyone at the same time.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.