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

The best part of this day is the variety: you get a little old Dalmatian town, two swimming stops, an island cruise, meals, drinks, and plenty of time on the water. I like the Blue Lagoon stop for its two-hour swim and the chance to use onboard inflatables or a slide. I also like the friendly crew, steady supply of drinks, and fresh fruit served on the ride home.

The main drawback is that the schedule and inclusions may not always match the plan. Trogir gets only one hour, seating is random, and some equipment or advertised features may not be available on every departure. If you want a tightly timed tour with guaranteed snorkeling gear, this one may test your patience.

Key points to know before you book

• Three very different stops: Trogir offers streets and monuments, the Blue Lagoon offers open-water swimming, and Nečujam offers a shipwreck stop near Šolta.
• Meals are included: Start with coffee and a croissant, eat a fish, meat, or vegetarian lunch, and finish with fruit.
• Drinks are part of the fare: Water, wine, homemade iced tea, and liquorice tasting are included, with extra food and drinks sold separately.
• Swimming matters: The boat may moor away from the main attractions, so you may need to swim to reach the shipwreck or nearby water features.
• The $91 price is fair for a full day: It makes more sense if you value meals, drinks, and a long cruise, not just transport between sights.
• The day runs on captain’s time: Weather and sea conditions can change the route, stops, and return time.

A full day on the Adriatic for $91

At $91 per person, this is not the cheapest boat outing from Split. It is also not simply a transfer with a swim stop. Your fare covers about nine hours on the sea, breakfast, lunch, fruit, water, wine, iced tea, WiFi, snorkeling equipment subject to a $10 safety deposit, and use of the onboard water slide when available.

That package gives the tour decent value if you would otherwise buy lunch and drinks during a full day out. The value drops if you mainly want a quick look at Trogir or a short swim. Several similar boat trips run from Split, and the basic route is common. You are paying for the all-day format and included food as much as for the places themselves.

I would choose this trip for a relaxed day with friends or family who enjoy being on a boat. I would not choose it for a serious history visit to Trogir, a carefully managed snorkeling trip, or a polished small-group experience. The boat has a social, excursion-style feel, with music, shared seating, and a changing group of passengers.

The meeting point is Gat sv. Nikole, berth 6A or 6B in Split. Look for the Bura Travel flag. Boarding is also offered in Slatine on Čiovo, with the boat leaving there around 8:30 and Split around 9:15. Check your exact boarding time closely, since the two departure points follow different schedules.

The morning cruise past Čiovo

The boat begins with a view of the south side of Čiovo, the island connected to Trogir. Along the way, you pass Gospe od Prizidinice, one of the oldest churches on the island. It is a good detail to watch for because the morning ride is not just open water and engine noise. You get a quick look at the island’s coastal setting before the first main stop.

Breakfast is simple: coffee or tea and a croissant. That is enough to take the edge off an early start, but do not expect a full meal. One recent departure reportedly offered only the croissant and did not have the promised coffee or tea, so I would keep a little flexibility in your expectations. If you need a substantial breakfast, eat before boarding.

The trip to Trogir is scheduled to take roughly an hour and a quarter. Use it to settle into your seat, look for the church, and watch the coast. Seating is assigned randomly rather than arranged by booking group, so you may not sit beside the people you arrived with. You can ask politely about changing seats, but do not count on a private table or a fixed place.

One hour in Trogir

Trogir is the cultural high point of the day. The compact old town sits on a small island and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its stone lanes, waterfront, churches, and medieval buildings give you a very different experience from the open-water stops.

The scheduled visit runs from 11:00 to 12:00. That is enough time to walk through the center and get a taste of the town, but it is not enough for a relaxed visit. I would make a simple plan before leaving the boat. Head toward the old town, see the main square and cathedral area, then choose one paid or climbable sight if time allows.

The suggested options include Kamerlengo Tower and St. Lovre Cathedral. Kamerlengo gives you a fortified view over Trogir and the harbor, while St. Lovre Cathedral is known for its carved portal and interior details. You can also look for the Three of Love and the Kairos relief, two small details that are easy to miss if you simply wander without a plan.

I like that the stop adds real local character to a day otherwise built around swimming. The problem is the clock. A line for a tower or cathedral can use up much of your hour, and you must leave enough time to return to the boat. If Trogir is your main reason for booking, take a separate half-day visit instead.

Lunch while the boat heads to the Blue Lagoon

After Trogir, the boat heads toward the Blue Lagoon, with lunch served during the voyage. You can choose from fish, meat, or vegetarian options. The plan also includes fruit later in the afternoon.

Food quality appears to be uneven. Fish risotto has been praised as tasty, while another meal was described as pasta rather than the expected fish or meat dish. That tells me to view lunch as practical boat food, not a restaurant meal. It is useful, filling, and included, but the exact dish may depend on the day and the kitchen onboard.

Drinks are one of the stronger parts of the package. Water, wine, and homemade iced tea are included throughout the day. Fresh fruit is served on the return trip, with watermelon described as plentiful and refreshing. Extra food and drinks cost more, so check before ordering anything beyond the included offer.

The lunch arrangement is shared and seating is random. If you are traveling with a group, you may need to trade places to sit together. The operator does not promise reserved tables, so keep your expectations at the level of a casual communal cruise.

Two hours at the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the main swimming stop, scheduled for two hours. The name can create the wrong picture. This is not a quiet inland pool or a private cove with a sandy beach. It is a sea stop where the boat moors and you swim, sunbathe, use inflatables, and explore the water.

The color can be lovely on a clear day, and two hours gives you enough time to get wet without spending the entire afternoon rushing. I would bring a swimsuit, towel, sun protection, and a dry bag for small items. You may spend much of the stop on the boat rather than on land, so shade and a place to sit matter.

Snorkeling equipment is offered, but you pay a $10 safety deposit to use it. Equipment may not be available in a complete set for everyone, so bring your own mask and snorkel if underwater viewing matters to you. The water is the attraction here, but this is not presented as a dedicated marine-life excursion.

The onboard water slide is included when available, along with inflatables. One departure reportedly had inflatables but no slide. That is worth noting if the slide is a major reason for booking. Weather, safety decisions, and equipment condition can affect its use.

You also need to be comfortable entering and leaving the water. The boat may stop away from the most interesting features, and reaching them can require swimming. This is not a good fit for anyone who cannot swim confidently or who needs step-free access to every attraction.

Nečujam and the sunken Kontessa

The final stop is Nečujam Bay on Šolta. The boat moors near the sunken ship Kontessa, where you can swim around the wreck and look below the surface. It adds a small sense of discovery to the trip, though I would keep the scale of the attraction in mind.

The shipwreck is not a full-size museum wreck or a long underwater route. It is a modest water feature viewed from the sea. Some people may find it fun, especially with a mask, while others may find it underwhelming if they expect a dramatic wreck site. The boat can also moor away from the wreck, making swimming ability important.

The scheduled stop lasts about an hour, from 16:00 to 17:00. The program also includes liquorice tasting, an unusual extra that gives you something to try while the crew prepares the return voyage. It is a small detail, but it helps break up the usual pattern of swim, sunbathe, and swim again.

I would put this stop in the bonus category rather than the main reason to book. The best parts of the day are the time on the boat, the Blue Lagoon swim, and Trogir. Kontessa is worthwhile if you enjoy casual underwater exploring, but it should not carry the whole trip.

The ride back to Split

The return cruise is scheduled from 17:15 to 18:30, with arrival in Split around 18:30 and Slatine around 19:00. Fresh fruit is served along the way, which is welcome after a hot afternoon in the sun.

The advertised schedule is not guaranteed. The captain may change the route or timing because of weather and sea conditions. One departure finished an hour earlier than planned, while other experiences included last-minute changes to the program. I would avoid booking a tight evening dinner, airport transfer, or ferry connection after this cruise.

The final ride is also your best chance to sit back and take in the coast. You have already seen the organized stops, so the return can feel less rushed. On a good day, the journey itself becomes part of the experience rather than dead time between activities.

Crew, comfort, and the practical details

The crew has received praise for being friendly, polite, and helpful. That matters on a long boat day, especially when seating, food service, and water access require a little coordination. English is the tour language, and the host or greeter is listed as English-speaking.

WiFi is included, though the quality of a connection at sea can vary. I would treat it as a useful extra rather than a reason to book. Bring a charged phone, but also expect to spend much of the day offline.

Random seating is the biggest comfort issue for couples and groups. You may not have control over your table, and moving around can be awkward once lunch service begins. If sitting together is essential, ask at boarding, but understand that the arrangement may not change.

The experience is not fully accessible to all abilities. The boat can stop away from the swimming points, and some activities require getting into open water. The supplied information does not describe special boarding equipment or an accessible route, so ask the operator before booking if you have mobility concerns.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if the weather forecast is uncertain, but a flexible booking does not guarantee that the sea conditions will allow every listed stop.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want one easy day that combines sightseeing and swimming. Families with older children, groups of friends, and couples who enjoy casual boat trips should find plenty to like. The included drinks, lunch, fruit, and long time at sea make the price easier to justify.

You should think twice if your priorities are a long visit in Trogir, refined food, guaranteed equipment, or precise timing. The day can feel less polished when the schedule shifts, seats are split, lunch changes, or the slide is unavailable.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, comfortable shoes for Trogir, and cash or a payment method for the $10 snorkeling deposit and any extras. Eat a proper breakfast if a croissant will not carry you through the morning. Most of all, book it as a flexible Adriatic day, not as a perfectly controlled sightseeing program.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you value variety, a full day on the water, and included meals and drinks more than fine-tuned organization. The Blue Lagoon swim and friendly crew are the strongest reasons to go, while Trogir’s short visit and the uncertain equipment are the main compromises.

At $91, I think the trip is fair value for an all-day outing, provided you will use the food, drinks, and swimming time. If another company offers the same route for much less, compare the inclusions carefully. The stops are broadly similar, and this tour is worth its price only when the extras matter to you.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

You can board in Split at Gat sv. Nikole, berth 6A or 6B, by looking for the Bura Travel flag. Boarding is also available in Slatine on Čiovo.

What time does the cruise leave Split?

Boarding in Split is scheduled between 09:00 and 09:15, with the boat leaving for Trogir afterward. Slatine boarding is scheduled earlier, between 08:00 and 08:30.

What food is included?

Breakfast includes coffee or tea and a croissant. Lunch includes a choice of fish, meat, or vegetarian food, followed by a fruit snack later in the day.

Which drinks are included?

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

Do I have to pay to use the snorkeling equipment?

Yes. A $10 safety deposit is required to use the snorkeling gear. Equipment availability may vary, so bring your own set if snorkeling is important to you.

When does the cruise return to Split?

Arrival back in Split is scheduled for around 18:30. Arrival in Slatine is scheduled for around 19:00, though the captain may change the timing or route because of weather and sea conditions.