Luxury Elaphite Islands half day Cruise with lunch Apreamare

The best part of this outing is the chance to see three very different Elaphite Islands without arranging ferries, taxis, restaurants, and beach time on your own. You cruise from Gruž Port on an Apreamare boat, stop for swimming and snorkeling, visit small villages, and sit down to a local lunch before returning to Dubrovnik.

I like the mix of active and easygoing time. Šipan brings village life, wine, and olive oil, while Lopud gives you a longer stop for its sandy beach and pretty harbor. I also like that this is a private activity for your group, with snorkeling gear, bottled water, soft drinks, a paddleboard, and a restroom on board.

The main caution is the price: $889.37 per person is a serious spend, even with lunch and a private boat included. Also, the timing needs checking before you pay. The tour is described as approximately eight hours, but the stated departure and return run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the island stops add up to about six hours.

Key points to know before booking

• Three islands in one outing: Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan each offer a different mix of caves, beaches, villages, and food.
• Swimming is built into the day: Bring swimwear and a towel, since sea caves, bays, and snorkeling are central to the experience.
• Šipan includes local tastes: The stop combines a traditional village visit with wine and olive oil tasting.
• Lopud gets the longest island time: You have up to three hours for the beach, village, swimming spots, or a restaurant.
• A private boat changes the feel: Only your group participates, making the trip more personal than a standard island ferry excursion.
• The schedule deserves confirmation: Published timing says 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the duration is also listed as about eight hours.

Leaving Dubrovnik from Gruž Port at 9 a.m.

Your meeting point is Gruž Market, Obala Stjepana Radića 21, Dubrovnik’s working harbor area. This is not a departure from the Old Town gates, so allow time to reach Gruž if you are staying inside the historic center.

The stated start time is 9 a.m. Pickup is offered, but the listed meeting point remains Gruž Market. Confirm the exact pickup arrangement after booking, especially if you expect to be collected at your hotel.

The private format matters here. You are not joining a large public ferry with a fixed island schedule. Your own group takes part, and the boat has a restroom, drinks, and equipment already on board. That makes the day easier for families or groups who want to swim, eat, and stop without managing every detail themselves.

The boat is described as an Apreamare, a style associated with comfortable coastal cruising rather than basic island transport. The available comments describe a clean, well-maintained boat and a crew that pays close attention to guests. Elisa is singled out by name in several accounts for her warmth and energy, while Robert is associated with private boat arrangements. Crew assignments can change, so treat those names as useful possibilities, not a guarantee.

Koločep: caves, cliffs, and a short island walk

Koločep is listed as one of the island stops, with about one hour set aside for exploring. It has small bays, sea caves, cliffs, and two villages, linked by a walk of around 20 minutes.

This is the most compact stop, so think of it as an introduction rather than a full island visit. You may have time to stretch your legs, look into the coves, and take photographs, but an hour disappears quickly if you also want to swim.

The sea caves are the main draw. If conditions are calm, the boat’s snorkeling equipment gives you a way to see the coast from the water instead of only from the deck. The supplied paddleboard is another option for a quiet spin near the boat, though the exact use of equipment depends on the captain and sea conditions.

Koločep suits you if you prefer small-scale scenery over a long list of monuments. It is less about checking off sights and more about seeing how close the villages, rocky shore, and clear-water swimming areas are to one another.

The short stop is also the drawback. You cannot expect a slow village lunch, a long hike, and an extended swim here. Save your unhurried island time for Lopud and Šipan.

Lopud: the beach stop worth protecting

Lopud receives the biggest block of free time in the stated itinerary, up to three hours. That is sensible, because this island offers the broadest range of things to do: a sandy beach, a historic village, swimming areas, and restaurants.

If beach time is your priority, Lopud is likely to be the highlight. Sand is not always easy to find along the rocky Adriatic coast, so a stop built around a sandy beach gives you a different experience from the usual Croatian swim platform or pebbled cove.

You can use this pause in several ways. Swim first, then walk through the village. Sit by the beach, look for a restaurant, or simply enjoy time away from the boat. The schedule gives you enough room to avoid rushing, though the exact balance depends on how long the boat remains at each point.

I would bring water shoes if you have them, even though a sandy beach is included in the description. Conditions at the shoreline can vary, and water shoes are useful around rocky swimming spots.

Lopud is also the stop most likely to feel busy during the peak summer period. The island has beaches and restaurants, so you should not expect complete solitude. Still, three hours lets you find your own pace instead of racing through the place with a camera in one hand and a watch in the other.

Šipan: village life, wine, and olive oil

Šipan is the largest of the Elaphite Islands and receives about two hours in the stated schedule. Its appeal is broader than a single beach. You have bays, caves, a traditional village, local wine, olive oil, and restaurants.

The village and tasting element gives the cruise some cultural weight. Without it, the day would be mostly a pleasant ride with swims. Here, you get a look at a slower island setting and a chance to connect the scenery with local food production.

Wine and olive oil tasting can be a useful way to understand the region without turning the tour into a formal history lesson. You can ask how the products are made, compare flavors, and then see the village and coast that give the island its character.

The schedule places Šipan among the main stops, but the supplied description presents the order differently in different places. One version begins with Šipan, while the detailed stop list places Koločep first. Confirm the running order with Regina Maris before departure if the sequence matters to you.

The two-hour stop should allow a taste, some sightseeing, and possibly a swim, but not a full island tour. If you want a long walk or a slow meal here, you may need to choose between activities.

Lunch at a small local restaurant

Lunch is part of the planned day at a small local restaurant, with free time on Koločep also described around the meal. The food is repeatedly praised in the supplied material, with fish, chicken, and vegetarian choices mentioned in one account.

That choice is important. A fixed fish-only meal can be awkward for some people, but the available information points to at least three main options. If you have dietary needs beyond vegetarian food, ask before departure rather than assuming the kitchen can adapt.

Drinks are another strong part of the package as described. Alcoholic beverages are included for adults aged 18 and over, along with bottled water and soda. Several accounts describe wine being available generously with lunch, but you should still confirm exactly what is included in your booking because the formal inclusion list does not spell out every lunch detail.

The restaurant setting is meant to be local and small, not polished fine dining. That is a plus if you want a straightforward island meal with your group. It may be less suitable if you expect a long tasting menu, formal service, or a carefully timed gourmet lunch.

There is also a practical safety point. Unlimited or plentiful drinks sound appealing on a hot boat day, but swimming, sun, and alcohol are a poor combination. Eat first, drink water, and use good judgment before getting back in the sea.

What the boat provides between island stops

The boat carries snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, bottled water, soda, alcoholic drinks for adults, and a restroom. Those inclusions reduce the amount of gear you need to pack and make the cruise feel more self-contained.

Pack your own towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a light layer for the ride. The sea can feel cooler once the boat is moving, even on a warm day. A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch is sensible around caves and swim stops.

The boat itself is part of the value calculation. A private Apreamare cruise offers comfort and privacy that a basic public boat does not. You can talk with your own group, settle into the day more easily, and avoid spending the whole outing among strangers.

At the same time, a luxury label does not guarantee a silent or formal atmosphere. The supplied accounts describe a fun boat and lively crew, including Elisa’s dancing and upbeat personality. That may be perfect for a celebration or group holiday. If you want a hushed yacht charter, ask about the boat, music, and mood before booking.

Is $889.37 per person good value?

At $889.37 per person, this is not a casual budget excursion. The value rests mainly on the private format, the Apreamare boat, the crew service, included equipment, drinks, and the convenience of combining three islands with lunch in one day.

For a small group splitting the cost of a private boat, the price may make more sense than it does for one or two people paying individually. You are buying time, privacy, and coordination as much as you are buying transportation. The boat takes care of the island connections while you focus on swimming, walking, and eating.

I would compare the final price carefully with the exact group size and inclusions. The supplied accounts also contain much lower prices, including one figure of 55 euros for adults with hotel transfers and lunch. That does not match the current quoted price or necessarily describe this same Apreamare product, so do not use it as a direct price comparison.

Ask Regina Maris to confirm four points: the exact number of hours, whether lunch is included in your package, the precise pickup arrangement, and what private boat is assigned. Those answers will tell you far more about value than the word luxury.

Timing, weather, and who will enjoy it most

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

The published timing needs special attention. The description says departure at 9 a.m. and return at 3 p.m., which is roughly six hours. Elsewhere, the duration is listed as approximately eight hours. The individual stop times also total about six hours. This could reflect different transfer or cruising arrangements, but you should get the correct schedule in writing.

I think this cruise suits you best if you want:

• A private day on the water rather than a public ferry ride
• Swimming, snorkeling, and beach time mixed with village visits
• A comfortable outing for a family or small group
• Local food and drinks without planning a restaurant yourself
• A flexible-feeling day with a lively crew

It may not suit you if you want a strict historical tour, a long hike, a quiet luxury yacht experience, or the lowest-cost route to the islands. You also need to be comfortable with stairs, boat movement, and getting in and out for swimming, even though the activity says most people can participate.

Should you book the Elaphite Islands cruise?

I would book this if your priority is a private, full-service day at sea with several kinds of experiences packed together. The combination of caves, swimming, Lopud’s beach, Šipan’s village and tastings, and a local lunch gives you a fuller picture of the islands than a simple beach transfer.

Before paying the high price, I would confirm the duration, lunch details, boat assignment, and pickup. If those match what you want, this is a strong choice for a group marking a special occasion or seeking comfort without organizing every island detail. If your main goal is simply to swim and see the coast cheaply, look for a standard public boat instead.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start?

The meeting point is Gruž Market at Obala Stjepana Radića 21 in Dubrovnik.

What time does the cruise begin?

The stated start time is 9 a.m.

Where does the cruise finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Gruž.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

The stated route includes Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan.

How long is the experience?

The duration is listed as approximately eight hours, but the stated departure and return times run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Confirm the exact timing with Regina Maris before booking.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is swimming equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a stand-up paddleboard are included.

Is lunch included?

Lunch at a local restaurant is part of the planned experience. Confirm the precise lunch inclusions when you book, since the formal inclusion list does not detail the meal.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.