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

The best part of this full-day cruise is the mix of three very different stops: a snorkel over a small submerged boat, a quiet hour in the fishing village of Maslinica, and a long swim at the Blue Lagoon. You get a taste of the islands without arranging separate ferries or boat trips.

I like the clean, comfortable Yacht Tamaris and the fact that drinks, lunch, fruit, and basic snorkeling gear are built into the price. I also like the easy pace: you can swim, walk, eat, or simply sit in the shade instead of rushing from one sight to the next.

The main drawback is timing. Lunch is served late, often around 2 to 2:45 p.m., and only about 20 sun loungers sit on the top deck. Arrive early if you want the best outdoor seat, and bring a small snack if you are traveling with children.

Key points to know before booking

• Three island stops in one day: Swim at Nečujam, visit Maslinica on Šolta, and spend the final two hours at the Blue Lagoon.
• The shipwreck is a small submerged boat: It makes a pleasant snorkeling stop, but do not expect a large historic wreck.
• Lunch is served beside the Blue Lagoon: Choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal with a side dish and salad.
• The boat is built for a full day at sea: Tamaris has three decks, air-conditioned salons, toilets, showers, Wi-Fi, a bar, and a sundeck.
• The $74 price covers a lot: Coffee, croissant, lunch, local wine, water, lemonade, and fruit are included.
• Early arrival matters: Check in at stand number 8 on Split’s Riva at least 30 minutes before departure.

A full day among Split’s nearby islands

This is a good choice if you want a taste of the Dalmatian coast but do not want to spend your whole holiday studying ferry schedules. From Split, the boat heads into the island waters for a relaxed loop through Nečujam Bay, Šolta, and Drvenik Veliki.

The schedule lasts about eight hours. That sounds long, but the day is broken into short cruises and land or swimming stops. You are not sitting still for eight hours, though you should expect several stretches of open-water cruising between stops.

The price is $74 per person. For a full day that includes food, drinks, fruit, snorkeling equipment, and transport between several coastal spots, I consider that a fair package. Extra beer, cocktails, and Coca-Cola cost more, but local wine, water, and lemonade are included without limit.

The atmosphere is social rather than private. Tamaris can carry a large group, and the top deck has limited sun loungers. If you want peace and quiet, this is not a private-island escape. If you enjoy meeting people, light music, and a well-organized day on the water, the setup works well.

Boarding Yacht Tamaris from Split’s Riva

Your meeting point is stand number 8 on the Riva Promenade. Look for a small white stand with a picture of the boat, near the water and across from Diocletian’s Palace. It sits close to the bars Bobis, Romana, Biberon, and St Riva.

Arrive 30 minutes before departure. The boat must leave on time because of the port schedule, so a late arrival can cause real trouble. Check in early, especially if you want an outside seat.

Tamaris is a 27-meter day cruiser with three decks. It has two air-conditioned salons, a large open deck with a bar, and a top sundeck. There are four toilets, showers for rinsing off after swimming, safety deposit boxes, charging sockets, and a professional Wi-Fi system.

The boat’s comfort is one of the strongest parts of the day. You can escape the sun in an air-conditioned salon, sit outside during the cruise, or rinse off salt water after a swim. The toilets are also a practical advantage on a full-day trip.

Seats are important. The place you receive when boarding is generally your place for the day, and the upper deck has only about 20 sun loungers. Get there early if sunbathing is a priority. Otherwise, the shaded middle deck and indoor areas are perfectly usable.

The day begins with coffee and a croissant while the boat heads toward Nečujam. It is a simple breakfast, not a full meal, but it takes the edge off before the first swim.

Nečujam Bay and the submerged boat

The first stop is Nečujam Bay, reached after about an hour of cruising. You get roughly an hour here for swimming and snorkeling.

The attraction is a small boat sitting underwater. The surrounding water is clear enough for you to see the wreck and look for fish around it. Snorkeling gear is included, although some bookings have involved a €10 deposit, so ask the crew about the current arrangement before taking equipment.

Keep expectations realistic. This is not a dramatic ocean liner or a major archaeological site. It is a small submerged boat, and its appeal comes from the easy swim, clear water, and chance to look beneath the surface. One practical issue is that the wreck can be hard to locate from the water.

Listen carefully to the crew’s directions before swimming out. If you are not a strong swimmer, stay close to the boat or ask where the wreck is located. The distance may feel longer once you are in the water.

Nečujam is a good first stop because it gets you into the sea early. You can snorkel, swim, or remain aboard and enjoy the bay. Showers on the boat make the return to the deck more comfortable.

Maslinica on the island of Šolta

After Nečujam, Tamaris cruises for about 45 minutes to Maslinica, a small fishing village on Šolta. You have about an hour to walk around, swim, or sit at a local café.

Maslinica offers a change of pace. The morning is mostly about water, while this stop lets you put your feet on solid ground and see a quieter island settlement. You can stroll toward Marchi Castle and its park, then pause for a freshly brewed coffee before returning to the boat.

Do not expect a long guided tour. The hour is enough for a short walk and a quick look at the village, but not for a serious exploration of Šolta. That limited time is the tradeoff for visiting three separate places in one day.

I would use the stop for a simple loop through the village, a look at the castle area, and a few photographs. If you want a longer island visit with time for a leisurely meal, hiking, or a slow afternoon, take a ferry to Šolta instead.

The swimming here is another bonus, though the schedule can make the stop feel short. Several people would prefer more time in the second location. Still, Maslinica gives the cruise a useful human scale, rather than making the whole day a series of swimming platforms.

Lunch beside the Blue Lagoon

After another short cruise, the boat reaches the Blue Lagoon on Drvenik Veliki Island. This is the longest stop, lasting about two hours, and it is the part of the day most people look forward to.

Lunch is served at a private beach restaurant. You choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal, with a side dish and salad. Fresh fruit follows, and local wine, water, and lemonade are included.

The meal is straightforward rather than fancy. The chicken and fish are popular choices, but the fish may be served whole and can contain many bones. If you choose fish, be prepared to pick it apart carefully. The vegetarian option is useful for people who do not eat meat or seafood, though the supplied information does not specify its exact dish.

Timing matters here. Lunch may not arrive until around 2 or 2:45 p.m., depending on the day’s schedule. Eat the croissant in the morning, bring a small snack for children, and remember that the boat bar sells extra snacks and drinks.

The beach setting makes the meal more enjoyable than a standard boat buffet. You eat beside the water, then have time to swim, snorkel, walk around the bay, or sit beneath the old pine trees. The restaurant area can feel almost private when the group is seated together, even though the boat itself carries many people.

Blue Lagoon swimming and snorkeling

The Blue Lagoon is the visual high point of the trip. The water is turquoise and clear, and the shallow beach area is easy to enjoy without any special plan. You can sip a cocktail from the beach bar, though cocktails are extra, or head back to the boat for a swim from the stern.

The sea around the beach can be rocky underfoot. Bring water shoes if you have them, or enter carefully. The boat’s rear swimming area may offer deeper water and an easier place to get in, depending on the conditions.

Two hours is enough for lunch and a swim, but it can pass quickly. I would organize your time before leaving the boat: eat first, then swim and snorkel, or swim before lunch if the crew permits it. Do not assume you will have time for a long walk, an extended meal, and a leisurely snorkel all at once.

The pine shade is valuable in the middle of a sunny day. Bring a hat and sunscreen, and do not count on a sun lounger being available on the boat. The top deck fills early, while shade and indoor seating are easier to find.

The final cruise back to Split lasts about 75 minutes. It gives you time to dry off, use the shower, order an extra drink, and watch the islands recede before returning to the Riva.

What is included, and what costs extra

The $74 price includes more than transportation. You receive:

• English-speaking crew
• Coffee and a croissant
• Snorkeling gear
• Lunch with fish, chicken, or vegetarian choice
• A side dish and salad
• Fresh fruit dessert
• Unlimited local wine, water, and lemonade
• Wi-Fi
• Showers and toilets
• Safety deposit boxes

Beer, cocktails, and Coca-Cola are not included. The onboard bar sells them separately, and cash is a sensible choice because card payment may not always be available.

The included drinks make a real difference. You do not need to keep buying bottled water throughout an eight-hour day, and the local wine adds a pleasant touch at lunch. For this reason, the package is better value than a bare sightseeing cruise with food added later.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would recommend this for couples, groups of friends, solo visitors, and families who want a simple day at sea. The crew gives clear instructions, and the boat’s size and facilities make the experience less demanding than a small speedboat excursion.

It also works well for solo travelers. You have a shared boat, a set route, and plenty of natural chances to chat with other people without needing to arrange anything yourself.

Families should plan around the late lunch. Children may enjoy the swimming and boat ride, but a small snack is wise. The shipwreck stop also requires some swimming, so weaker swimmers should stay near the boat and follow the crew’s instructions.

This is less suitable if you want a private, quiet outing or a serious cultural tour. Maslinica receives only about an hour, and most of the day centers on swimming, sun, food, and views from the water.

The tour runs in English. The schedule may change slightly with conditions, but the route and stops are designed to fit into one organized day. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later if that option is offered when you book.

What to bring for a comfortable day

Pack a sun hat, towel, sunscreen, camera, comfortable clothes, and beachwear. A small snack is useful because lunch comes late. Water shoes may help at the rocky beach, though they are not listed as required equipment.

Keep your valuables small. Safety deposit boxes are available on board, and the boat has Wi-Fi, but you will still want a waterproof way to carry your phone during the swimming stops.

Arrive early for boarding, especially if you want a top-deck sun lounger. The best seats disappear quickly, and the upper deck has limited space. If you prefer shade, you can take your time and settle into one of the covered areas.

Should you book the Blue Lagoon cruise?

Book it if you want a well-organized full day that combines swimming, a small island village, lunch, and transport in one price. The clean Tamaris, helpful crew, included drinks, and onboard showers give the tour a level of comfort that smaller boats may lack.

Skip it if the idea of a large group, late lunch, or limited time at each stop bothers you. Also keep the shipwreck in perspective: it is a small submerged boat, not a major underwater site.

For most people staying in Split, this is a sensible value choice. Arrive early, pack a snack, claim your preferred seat, and treat Maslinica as a short taste of Šolta rather than a complete island visit. Do that, and the day gives you a good balance of sea time, simple food, and Dalmatian scenery.

FAQ

Where does the boat leave from?

The meeting point is stand number 8 on Split’s Riva Promenade. It is a small white stand with a picture of the boat, near the sea and across from Diocletian’s Palace.

How long does the activity last?

The cruise lasts about eight hours and returns to the same meeting point in Split.

What boat is used for the cruise?

The trip uses Yacht Tamaris, a 27-meter day cruiser with three decks, two air-conditioned salons, an open deck with a bar, and a sundeck.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is included for the stops at Nečujam and the Blue Lagoon. Some bookings have involved a €10 deposit, so confirm the current arrangement with the crew.

What food is included?

You receive a coffee and croissant in the morning, then lunch at the Blue Lagoon with a choice of fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal. Lunch includes a side dish, salad, and fresh fruit dessert.

Which drinks are included?

Unlimited local wine, water, and lemonade are included. Beer, cocktails, and Coca-Cola cost extra.

Is there time to visit Maslinica?

Yes. The cruise allows about one hour in Maslinica on the island of Šolta for sightseeing, swimming, coffee, and a look at Marchi Castle and its park.

What should I bring?

Bring a sun hat, towel, camera, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and beachwear. A small snack is also useful because lunch may be served around 2 to 2:45 p.m.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. The boat must leave strictly on time because of the port schedule and the planned route.