Island Hopping & City Walls Cruise with Food and Open Bar

Three islands, one easy day at sea. This Dubrovnik cruise combines swimming stops, island walks, lunch, wine, and sunset views of the Old Town walls, all for about $84.66 per person. I like the included hot lunch and the generous time on Lopud, where you can walk toward famous Šunj Beach. I also like that the boat returns to Dubrovnik on schedule, a useful feature when you have evening plans.

The main tradeoff is time. Lopud gets two hours, which can feel short if you want to reach Šunj Beach and still swim there. The boat can hold up to 120 people, so you should expect a proper group outing rather than a quiet private cruise. Still, with a 4.8 rating from 102 reviews and 95 percent of customers recommending it, this is a strong-value way to see the Elaphiti Islands.

Key points at a glance

• Koločep begins the island day: You get about 45 minutes for a swim, coffee, or a short walk.
• Šipan adds a cultural stop: See the summer house of the Skočibuha family and make time for another swim.
• Lopud gets the longest visit: Two hours gives you time for the village, a swim, or the walk toward Šunj Beach.
• Lunch is included: Choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal, with bottled water and wine provided.
• The return to Dubrovnik is scenic: The final section includes sunset views toward the Old Town and its city walls.
• The price covers a lot: Food, drinks, restroom access, and organized boat travel are included, though coffee, tea, WiFi, and snorkeling gear cost extra or are unavailable.

Why this cruise works well from Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is famous for its stone walls, packed lanes, and spectacular coastal setting. But the city itself can become tiring after a few hours of steps, crowds, and hard pavement. This cruise gives you a change of pace without requiring you to plan several ferry connections.

The Elaphiti Islands sit close to Dubrovnik and offer a gentler side of the region. You get small island ports, swimming water, short walks, and time to sit down with a meal. The route is also practical because it links Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud in one day. Doing those three islands independently would require working around local ferry schedules, and the link between Šipan and the other islands may not be simple.

I see the main value in the organization. You board once, eat on board, and let the crew handle the route. The tour is not built around long guided talks or major monuments. It is built around being outside, seeing several places, and enjoying a full day without ferry math.

At around seven hours, the day is long enough to feel worthwhile but short enough to leave you with an evening in Dubrovnik. The listed start time is 10:45 a.m., with the trip ending back at the meeting point. One useful timing note comes from the practical experience of the tour: the boat may leave the Old Town area at 10 a.m., while the Sheraton boarding point has been described as convenient and later. Check your confirmation carefully, since the exact boarding time may depend on where you join.

Koločep gives you an easy first stop

Koločep is the first island. The scheduled visit is about 45 minutes, although one account of the day described closer to an hour there. Either way, this is an introductory stop rather than a full island visit.

You can use the time in three simple ways:

• Swim near the island
• Stop for coffee, which is not included
• Take a short walk

That choice makes Koločep a good opening stop. You are not asked to rush straight into a long walk or a formal sightseeing program. If the sea is calm and you want to swim, this is your first chance. If you prefer dry land, a short stroll can help you get your bearings.

The limitation is obvious: 45 minutes disappears quickly. You will not see every corner of the island. Think of Koločep as a pleasant first taste of the Elaphiti Islands, not the place to build your whole day around.

Coffee and tea are not included in the tour price, so bring some spending money if a café stop appeals to you. Bottled water is provided, which is helpful after swimming or walking in the sun.

Šipan brings a short dose of island culture

Šipan is one of the larger islands in the Elaphiti group. The stop lasts about 40 minutes, though the timing may run longer depending on the day’s operation. The named point of interest is the Skočibuha summer house, giving this stop a little more cultural flavor than a simple swim break.

You should keep your expectations realistic. This is not a long historical tour with a detailed lecture. You get a brief chance to see the summer house, take in the setting, and perhaps swim before returning to the boat.

That short format suits the overall design of the cruise. The day gives you three different island impressions rather than one slow, detailed visit. Šipan contributes a glimpse of local architecture and island life, while Koločep offers an easy swim or walk and Lopud receives the main share of your time.

Pack your swimwear under your clothes if you want to make the most of this stop. The schedule moves steadily, and a long changeover can eat into a 40-minute visit.

Lopud is the main event, but two hours is tight

Lopud is the most popular island on the route and the place where you spend the longest stretch, about two hours. This is where you have the best chance to slow down, swim, walk, and enjoy the meal without watching the clock every minute.

The island is also your gateway to Šunj Beach, one of the best-known beaches in the area. You can walk to the other side of Lopud, but the walk takes about 15 minutes each way. A golf cart is also available for about 3 euros each way, paid in cash. That fare is not part of the tour.

Here is the timing problem. If you walk to Šunj, you spend roughly 30 minutes getting there and back, leaving perhaps 45 minutes to an hour at the beach. If you use the golf cart, you save time but add cost. Either choice makes the two-hour stop feel brisk, especially if you also want lunch, a swim, and time to look around the island.

I would choose Lopud based on your priority:

• If you want the famous beach, head there first.
• If you want a relaxed island stop, stay closer to the port.
• If swimming matters most, avoid spending too long on the walk.
• If you want lunch at an unhurried pace, accept that Šunj may have to wait.

The beach is described as well worth seeing, but the visit can feel rushed. Other island cruises may allow three hours at Lopud, so this tour gives you a lower price and an included meal in exchange for less time at the final island.

That is an important distinction. You are not choosing the best tour for a long beach day. You are choosing a balanced island sampler with lunch, drinks, and a sunset return.

Lunch and drinks make the $84.66 price easier to justify

The price is about $84.66 per person. That is not the cheapest way to reach the islands, but the fare includes more than transport.

For lunch, you choose one of three main options:

• Fish
• Chicken
• Vegetarian

The meal also includes bread, and extra portions of the main course may be offered. Bottled water is included, as is wine. There is a restroom on board, which matters on a seven-hour boat day.

The food receives some of the strongest praise in the supplied feedback. One account described the lunch as delicious and noted that bread and extra main portions were available. Another praised the combination of food, drinks, and price. Those details make a difference because buying lunch and drinks separately at island restaurants could quickly push up the cost.

The alcoholic drinks are listed as wine. Do not assume the bar includes every type of drink or unlimited service without checking the current arrangements. One account also described a 3 euro cup charge for unlimited drinks, with the money refundable at the end of the day if the cup was returned. Keep a few euros in cash in case that system is still in place.

Coffee and tea are not included. WiFi is not available on board, and snorkeling equipment is not provided. If you want to snorkel, bring your own equipment if permitted, but the tour does not supply it.

A small practical detail: the crew reportedly had Dramamine available for passengers who felt motion sickness. The sea can be rougher on the outward journey, so anyone prone to seasickness should plan ahead rather than depend on supplies on the boat.

The Old Town return is more than a ride back

The final part of the day is listed as an Old Town stop lasting about one hour and 30 minutes. The key experience here is the return toward Dubrovnik, with sunset views of the Old Town and its walls from the water.

That view gives you a different angle on Dubrovnik. From land, the walls dominate your sightline as you walk along the stone streets. From the boat, you can take in the relationship between the fortifications, the harbor, and the sea. The timing is especially appealing if the day’s schedule lines up with sunset.

Do not read this as a full guided Old Town tour. The supplied details describe sunset viewing on the way back to port, not a lengthy shore visit through the city. If you want to explore the lanes or walk the walls, plan that separately before or after the cruise.

The return arrival has been described as around 5:45 p.m. on one outing. That gives you a useful planning target, though weather and sea conditions can affect the schedule. The boat ends back at the meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return transfer.

Group size, crew, and comfort

The maximum group size is 120 people. That is a sizable boat outing, and you should expect a social atmosphere rather than silence and personal attention. A larger group also means boarding, meal service, and disembarking may take a little patience.

The crew receives strong praise for being friendly, professional, and safety-conscious. Ana is singled out as an especially helpful host, while Anabella is praised for being attentive and kind. Those personal touches matter on a full-day cruise, particularly when the schedule includes several stops and a meal service.

The boat has a restroom and bottled water. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Most people can take part, though the information does not provide detailed accessibility specifications for boarding, the islands, or the route to Šunj Beach. If you have mobility concerns, ask the operator before booking.

The start time deserves care. The published time is 10:45 a.m., but the boarding arrangement may differ by location. One account specifically described the Sheraton as a convenient boarding point and gave a different departure time from the Old Town. Use the time and meeting point on your own confirmation as the final word.

Who should book this island day?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want to see more than Dubrovnik but do not want to organize three separate island visits. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families, and anyone who values a fixed schedule, included lunch, and a simple return to the city.

It is also a good fit if you want a mix of swimming and sightseeing. You can get in the water at Koločep, Šipan, or Lopud, but you are not locked into beach time all day. The Skočibuha summer house and the Old Town views add variety.

You may want another option if Šunj Beach is your main goal. Two hours on Lopud is workable, but the walk or golf cart ride leaves limited time on the sand. A cruise with three hours at Lopud would be better for a slow beach day, even if it lacks this tour’s lower price or included lunch.

This is also not the right pick if you want a small, quiet boat or a heavily guided cultural tour. With up to 120 people and a focus on food, swimming, and scenery, the experience is social and practical.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The cruise depends on good weather, and if the operator cancels for poor conditions, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want strong value and an easy route through the Elaphiti Islands. The included fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch, wine, water, restroom, three island stops, and sunset return add up quickly at $84.66.

Go in knowing that the day is a sampler. Koločep and Šipan are short visits, and Lopud gives you only two hours. If you treat Šunj Beach as an optional extra rather than the whole purpose of the trip, the timing makes sense. For a well-organized first look at the islands, with friendly hosts such as Ana and Anabella and a practical return to Dubrovnik, this is a sensible choice.

FAQ

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts about seven hours.

What time does the cruise start?

The listed start time is 10:45 a.m. The exact departure arrangement may vary by boarding point, so check your confirmation carefully.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

The route includes Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud.

How long do you stay on Koločep?

The scheduled stop at Koločep is about 45 minutes.

How long do you stay on Šipan?

The scheduled stop at Šipan is about 40 minutes.

How long do you stay on Lopud?

You have about two hours on Lopud.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You can choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal.

Are drinks included?

Bottled water and wine are included. Coffee and tea are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling equipment is not included.

Can the cruise be canceled because of weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can receive a different date or a full refund.