Island Hopping & City Walls Cruise with Food and Open Bar

Three islands, one boat, and a full Croatian day. This 7-hour cruise from Dubrovnik combines swimming stops, island walks, lunch, wine, and a sunset return toward the Old Town. I like the easy all-in-one format, and I like that lunch includes a choice of fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal. The main drawback is time: two hours on Lopud can feel rushed if you want to reach Šunj Beach.

The boat leaves around late morning and returns about 5:45 pm, making this a useful choice if you do not want an early start. The staff, especially host Ana, receive strong praise for being friendly and safety-minded. Just check your departure details carefully, since the stated start time is 10:45 am, while one practical account places the departure from the Sheraton closer to 10 am.

Key points at a glance

• Three Elaphiti islands in one day: Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud each get a stop, with swimming and short walks built into the plan.
• Lopud gets the longest visit: You have two hours, enough for the village and perhaps Šunj Beach, though the beach trip requires careful timing.
• Lunch is included: Choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian dish, with bottled water and wine provided.
• A relaxed late-morning departure: The schedule suits you if you prefer not to begin an island trip at dawn.
• The return adds sunset views: The final 90 minutes bring you back toward Dubrovnik and the Old Town by water.
• Good value at $84.66: The price covers the boat, meal, drinks, restroom, and organized island transfers.

What this Dubrovnik cruise is really like

This is a full-day boat outing through the Elaphiti archipelago, a group of islands just off Dubrovnik. You are not simply riding past the islands from a distance. The boat stops at Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud, giving you time to get off, swim, walk, or find a coffee.

The format is simple and practical. You board in the late morning, spend the day moving between islands, eat lunch on the boat, and return toward Dubrovnik in the late afternoon. The group can include up to 120 people, so this is not a small private sailing trip. It is better understood as a social, organized excursion with a useful route and a broad mix of ages.

At $84.66 per person, the value is strongest if you want several things bundled together. You would otherwise need to arrange island ferries, find lunch, and coordinate connections between islands. The cruise handles that work, which matters because reaching Šipan and Lopud independently is less straightforward than simply staying aboard one boat.

The package includes bottled water, wine, a restroom, and lunch. Snorkeling equipment, coffee, tea, and Wi-Fi cost extra or are not provided, so bring your own mask if swimming with one matters to you.

Koločep gives you the first taste of island life

Koločep is the first island stop. The planned visit is listed at 45 minutes, though one account of the timing describes closer to an hour, so you should treat the exact duration as flexible.

This first pause works well as an introduction. You can swim, sit with a coffee, or take a short walk without trying to see an entire island. After time on the boat, getting onto solid ground and into the water is a welcome change.

Do not expect a major sightseeing program here. Koločep is a short stop, not a full island tour. If you spend too long looking for a café or walking away from the landing point, you may leave yourself little time for swimming.

I would use this stop for a quick swim or a gentle walk. Save your longer exploration for Lopud, where you have the most time and a more notable beach option.

Šipan adds a small historic stop

Šipan is one of the larger islands in the Elaphiti group. The cruise makes a short stop of about 40 minutes, with time to swim and see the summer house associated with the Skočibuha family.

That combination gives the day a little more variety. Koločep is mainly a quick island pause, while Šipan offers a named cultural sight along with the chance to get in the water. The stop remains brief, though, so think of it as a glimpse rather than a full visit.

If you like fitting a small historic detail into a beach day, this is a useful stop. If you prefer long swims and unhurried island walks, the schedule may feel tight. The boat is trying to show you three different islands in one day, and every stop has a clock attached to it.

The short duration also makes practical planning important. Stay aware of where the boat is docked and when you need to return. A pleasant island stop can become stressful if you are still wandering when boarding time arrives.

Lopud is the main event

Lopud receives about two hours, making it the central stop of the cruise. It is one of the best-known islands in the group, and you have enough time for a short walk, a swim, or a trip toward Šunj Beach on the opposite side.

The island works best if you decide in advance what you want. You cannot comfortably do everything at a leisurely pace. A simple walk and swim near the arrival point is the least rushed choice. Reaching Šunj is more involved.

The walk to Šunj takes about 15 minutes. You can also pay roughly €3 each way for a golf-cart ride, with payment made in cash. That cost is not included in the cruise price. Once you account for the walk or the cart, the beach visit can leave you with only 45 minutes to an hour at Šunj.

Šunj itself is described as a very pleasant sandy beach, and it may be the highlight for anyone seeking a classic beach stop. Still, the two-hour limit is the important detail. Other island excursions may allow about three hours at Lopud, while this one trades some beach time for a later start, included lunch, and a lower price.

My advice is straightforward: choose Šunj only if you are comfortable moving quickly. If you want an easy swim, a drink, and a calm wander, remain near the main landing area. You will enjoy Lopud more by accepting that this is an introduction, not a full beach day.

Lunch, wine, and the open-bar details

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of the value. You choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal, and one particularly positive account describes generous bread and second servings of the main course. That makes the included meal more substantial than a token snack.

Wine and bottled water are included. The experience is marketed with an open-bar element, but the practical details deserve attention. A cup fee of €3 may be charged if you want unlimited drinks, with the fee refundable at the end of the day. You should carry a little cash for this and for the golf cart at Lopud.

Coffee and tea are not included. The same applies to Wi-Fi, so download anything you need before boarding. A restroom is available on the boat, which is useful during a seven-hour outing.

The food is not the reason to book this cruise by itself, but it improves the day considerably. You do not have to leave an island searching for lunch or carry a packed meal. For the price, the combination of a hot meal, drinks, and island transport is a strong point.

The boat ride and motion on the water

The boat carries up to 120 people, so expect a shared excursion rather than a quiet private charter. That size allows the operator to offer a useful route at a moderate price, but it also means the boat may feel active and communal.

The water can be rough on the way out. Dramamine is available on board, according to practical information from the trip, but I would not wait until you feel sick to think about motion. If you are prone to seasickness, take your usual precautions before departure and choose a spot that feels comfortable.

The crew receives praise for being helpful and professional. Host Ana is singled out for clear care and attention, while Annabella is also praised for being kind and considerate. Those personal touches matter on a long shared boat ride, especially when people need help with meal choices, boarding, or timing.

Safety is another plus. The crew is described as attentive about it, which gives the trip a more dependable feel. The boat left on time and returned around 5:45 pm in one account, but you should still confirm the exact meeting point and departure time before the day begins.

Returning toward Dubrovnik at sunset

The final portion of the day lasts about 90 minutes and brings you back toward Dubrovnik. The return is planned around sunset, so the boat ride becomes the last scenic part of the outing rather than just a transfer back to port.

The Old Town portion is not a walking tour through Dubrovnik’s streets. It is the return by water, with time connected to the city and its walls from the boat. If you want a detailed visit inside the Old Town, plan that separately.

This timing also makes the cruise useful for a busy Dubrovnik schedule. You spend the main daylight hours on the islands, then finish near the city in the early evening. The late return means you should not book another activity that requires a strict early arrival immediately afterward.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a simple island sampler rather than an independent ferry adventure. It suits first-time visitors to Dubrovnik who want to see more of the coast without spending a day working out routes and connections.

It is also a good fit for couples, families, and mixed groups where people want different things. One person can swim, another can walk, and someone else can stay aboard or enjoy lunch. The choice of fish, chicken, or vegetarian food helps when a group does not share the same diet.

The trip may also suit you if you prefer a late-morning start. Many boat excursions begin early, while this one lets you sleep a little longer and still spend most of the day outside Dubrovnik.

I would be more cautious if your top goal is a long visit to Šunj Beach. Two hours at Lopud is the key limitation, especially once you add the walk or golf-cart ride. A dedicated beach day or a cruise with three hours on Lopud would fit that goal better.

You should also think twice if you want a quiet, intimate sailing experience. A maximum group size of 120 is fairly large. The reward is a lower cost and an organized route, not privacy.

How the price compares with doing it yourself

At $84.66, the cost is reasonable for what is included. Your price covers transport between three islands, lunch, bottled water, wine, a restroom, and the staff needed to keep the day moving.

You could use local ferries for only a few euros in some cases, but that approach would not reproduce the same day easily. Connections between Šipan and the other islands can be awkward, and you would need to manage schedules, food, and return timing yourself.

The organized boat is the real purchase here. You are paying to avoid waiting for ferries and to fit three island stops into one day. That is especially useful when your time in Dubrovnik is limited.

The value is less clear if you plan to spend most of your time at Šunj. In that case, part of the fare pays for stops you may only sample briefly. For a broad first look at the Elaphiti islands, though, the price is competitive.

Practical tips before you go

Confirm the exact departure point and time. The formal start time is listed as 10:45 am, while the boat may leave the Old Town at that time and depart from the Sheraton earlier. This distinction matters, so use the confirmation details rather than relying on a general schedule.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and some cash. Cash is useful for the roughly €3 golf-cart ride to Šunj and for the possible €3 refundable cup fee connected with unlimited drinks.

If you want Šunj, head there promptly at Lopud. The 15-minute walk each way takes a large part of your two-hour visit, and the golf cart still leaves you with limited beach time.

You can bring your own snorkeling equipment, since it is not supplied. Coffee and tea are also excluded, and Wi-Fi is not available on board.

The tour requires good weather. If conditions cancel it, you can accept another date or receive a full refund. Otherwise, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time, with no refund for cancellations made later.

The experience is rated 4.8 from 102 ratings and recommended by 95 percent of customers. Most people can take part, service animals are allowed, and the boat is near public transportation.

Should you book the island-hopping cruise?

Book it if you want a well-organized day with three islands, a proper lunch, wine, swimming, and sunset views for one set price. The friendly crew, flexible meal choices, and easy route make it a strong introduction to the Elaphiti archipelago.

Skip it if you need a long, unhurried stay at Šunj or prefer a small private boat. The two-hour Lopud stop is enough for a taste, but not enough for every beach and walking plan.

For most visitors with limited time in Dubrovnik, I think the balance works. You see a lot, eat well, and avoid the ferry puzzle. Just choose your Lopud plan before you arrive, and this cruise should deliver a satisfying day on the water.

FAQ

How long is the island-hopping cruise?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours, beginning around late morning and returning to the meeting point in the late afternoon.

What time does the cruise start?

The stated start time is 10:45 am. Departure details can vary by meeting point, so check your confirmation carefully.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

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

How long is the stop at Koločep?

The planned stop at Koločep is about 45 minutes. You can use the time for swimming, coffee, or a short walk.

How long is the stop at Šipan?

The stop at Šipan is about 40 minutes. It includes time for swimming and visiting the Skočibuha summer house.

How much time do you get on Lopud?

The planned stop at Lopud is two hours. You can walk, swim, or try to reach Šunj Beach.

Is lunch included?

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

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can receive a full refund or choose another date.