Luxury Elaphite Islands half day Cruise with lunch Apreamare

The best part of Dubrovnik may be offshore. This private eight-hour cruise links Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan aboard an Apreamare boat, with swimming, snorkeling, village visits, wine and olive-oil tasting, and lunch at a local restaurant. I especially like the mix of active time and easygoing cruising, plus the chance to see small island communities rather than only Dubrovnik’s crowded old streets. The crew also earns strong praise for friendly service, clean boats, good food, and an upbeat atmosphere.

The main caution is the price of $889.37 per person, which is a serious splurge, and the published stop order and timings are not fully consistent. You should confirm the exact route, meal location, and time spent on each island before paying.

Key points at a glance

• Three Elaphite Islands in one day: Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan each offer a different mood, from sea caves and walking paths to beaches and village life.
• Private group setting: Only your party participates, giving you a more personal day than a large group boat excursion.
• Swimming gear and paddleboard included: Snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, bottled water, soft drinks, and onboard restrooms are provided.
• Local food and drinks matter here: Lunch is served at a small local restaurant, while the day also includes wine and olive-oil tasting on Šipan.
• Crew service is a major strength: Feedback repeatedly praises the boat’s condition, the staff’s helpful attitude, and the quality of the meal.
• Check the schedule carefully: The stated route descriptions differ on stop order, stop length, and where lunch takes place.

Why this island day is worth considering

Dubrovnik is famous for stone walls, tiled roofs, and cruise-port crowds. The Elaphite Islands offer a useful change of pace. You trade city lanes for open water, small villages, coves, cliffs, and beaches. The boat does the hard work, so you can spend the day moving between islands without arranging separate ferries or restaurant stops.

This is not simply a sightseeing ride. You can swim from the boat or near the islands, snorkel with the provided equipment, use a stand-up paddleboard, walk through a village, taste local wine and olive oil, and sit down to a proper meal. That variety is the best reason to choose it.

The private format also changes the feel of the trip. Your group is not sharing the experience with a boatload of strangers, and that can be valuable when you want a quieter day or need a little flexibility. The available information does not state the maximum group size, so ask how many people the Apreamare boat accommodates before booking.

At the same time, the word luxury deserves a practical reading. You are paying for a private boat, a full day on the water, included equipment, drinks, lunch, and personal service. You are not necessarily buying a five-star dining experience or a formal guided tour at every stop. Much of the pleasure comes from the setting and the freedom to swim, sit back, or explore at your own speed.

Starting at Gruž Port at 9 a.m.

The meeting point is Gruž Market, at Obala Stjepana Radića 21. Departure is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., with the boat returning to the same meeting point at the end of the day.

Gruž is Dubrovnik’s working harbor and a practical place to begin a boat trip. Arrive with enough time to find the meeting point, especially if you are coming from the Old Town or staying outside the center. Pickup is offered according to the tour details, but the confirmed arrangements should be checked when you book because the stated meeting point remains Gruž Market.

The day is advertised as lasting about eight hours, with a return around 3:00 p.m. That description does not quite match the listed 9:00 a.m. departure and eight-hour duration, so do not plan a tight connection afterward. Boat conditions, boarding, lunch, and island timing can all affect the return.

Because this is a private activity, the pace should feel less rushed than a standard public island ferry schedule. Still, three islands in one day requires movement. You will get a taste of each place, not a long, leisurely stay on every island.

Koločep: caves, cliffs, and a short island walk

Koločep is described as the first stop in one part of the schedule and the final island in another. Either way, it is the most natural stop for sea scenery and a little walking. You can expect beautiful bays, sea caves, cliffs, and two small villages connected by a pleasant walk of about 20 minutes.

The walk is short, but it gives the visit a useful change of rhythm. After sitting on the boat, you can stretch your legs and see some of the island away from the shore. The villages are small, so this is more about atmosphere and local scale than major monuments or a long list of sights.

Koločep also suits a swim or snorkel stop. The included equipment means you do not need to arrange your own mask and snorkel, and the boat carries bottled water and soft drinks for the day. Ask the crew where swimming is safest and how much time you have before setting off on your own.

The limitation is time. The detailed stop list gives Koločep one hour, while the broader description suggests the island may include lunch and free time. If Koločep is important to you, confirm whether your visit is mainly a swim stop, a village walk, or the meal stop. Those are three different experiences.

Lopud: the best choice for beach time

Lopud receives the longest stated stop, listed at three hours, and that makes sense. It offers sandy beaches, a historic village, swimming spots, and restaurants. Among the three islands, Lopud is the easiest choice if your main goal is to spend real time on land.

A sandy beach is a welcome change from the rocky shoreline common along the Adriatic. Bring swimwear, sun protection, and footwear you can walk in. The available information does not specify which beach you will use or whether beach chairs are included, so treat the stop as free time rather than a reserved beach package.

You can split the visit in a simple way: swim first, then walk through the village, or reverse the order if the heat is strong. Restaurants are available, but lunch arrangements should be clarified because the tour description places the local restaurant meal on Koločep, while the detailed island timing may lead you to expect a different sequence.

Lopud may also be the prettiest stop for people who want a classic island view without much effort. You get beach, village, and open sea in one place. The tradeoff is that a three-hour stop can feel long if you do not want to swim or explore on foot. The boat’s paddleboard and snorkeling equipment help keep the time active.

Šipan: village life, wine, and olive oil

Šipan is the largest of the Elaphite Islands. Its appeal is less about a single famous sight and more about the combination of quiet bays, caves, traditional village scenery, local food, and tasting experiences.

The planned visit is described as about two hours. You may visit a small village and taste wine and olive oil, which gives the stop more local character than a simple photo break. These small food moments are valuable because they connect the scenery to the island’s everyday produce and traditions.

Šipan is also listed as a place for swimming, restaurants, and relaxing in the bays. If the sea is calm and warm, you can use the stop for a swim. If you prefer land, take time to look around the village rather than treating the island as a quick transfer point.

The schedule presents Šipan as the first stop in the general description, but as the final island in the detailed stop list. That is not a small detail. The order affects when you swim, when you eat, and how much daylight and energy you have for walking. Confirm the day’s actual sequence before departure.

Lunch, drinks, and the onboard setup

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of this experience on paper. It takes place at a small local restaurant, and the meal is paired with free drinks. The available meal information mentions fish, chicken, and vegetarian choices, which is useful for mixed groups. Ask in advance how dietary needs are handled, since the supplied details do not spell out every option.

The food receives especially warm praise, along with wine, water, and other drinks. The included list specifies alcoholic beverages for people aged 18 and over, bottled water, and soda. That makes the price easier to understand, particularly for a private outing where drinks can quickly add up.

Still, unlimited or generous drinks can change the mood of a boat day. If you want a calm afternoon, pace yourself. The crew’s friendly, social style has been a highlight for many people, and some describe the boat as fun and lively. That may be perfect for a celebration, but less appealing if you want a silent, formal luxury cruise.

The Apreamare boat is repeatedly described as clean and well maintained. An onboard restroom is included, which matters during a full day at sea. You should still bring a towel, sunscreen, a hat, a dry change of clothes, and a waterproof bag for phones and wallets. Those personal items are not listed as included, but they are sensible for a swim-heavy day.

What the service feels like

Service is the clearest strength of the experience. The crew is praised for being kind, attentive, helpful, and cheerful. Elisa is singled out several times for bringing energy and good humor to the day, including a playful reputation as a talented dancer. Robert is also associated with a private boat experience.

Because crew assignments can change, you should not assume that either person will be onboard on your date. Their names are useful clues about the company’s service style, not a guarantee. The consistent message is that the staff aims to make the day easy and enjoyable.

The boat atmosphere also seems important. People describe a clean vessel, a welcoming crew, good food, and a relaxed social mood. If you like a boat day with conversation, music, drinks, and plenty of human contact, this should suit you. If you want a quiet yacht charter with minimal hosting, ask about the planned onboard atmosphere.

Is $889.37 per person good value?

At $889.37 per person, this is not a casual add-on. For a couple, the total is nearly $1,800 before tips. The value depends heavily on how many people share the private boat and what is included in your confirmed package.

The price covers a lot: transportation by private boat, three islands, snorkeling gear, a stand-up paddleboard, bottled water, soft drinks, some alcoholic drinks, lunch, onboard restroom access, and taxes. A private day also removes the uncertainty of sharing a public excursion with a large crowd.

But the price needs careful checking. Some older trip details connected with similar outings mention much lower amounts, including hotel pickup, meals, and drinks. Those prices may reflect a different boat, season, group arrangement, or product. Do not use them as a current comparison without confirming what is included today.

For a group that values privacy and plans to spend most of the day swimming, eating, and relaxing on the water, the cost may feel justified. For one or two people who mainly want to visit the islands, public ferries and independent restaurant stops could cost far less. You are paying for convenience, exclusivity, equipment, and service, not just three ferry landings.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Couples celebrating a special occasion
• Families or friends who want a private boat day
• People who enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and beach time
• Visitors who want lunch and drinks handled for them
• Anyone who prefers island scenery to another full day in the Old Town
• Groups willing to pay more for privacy and convenience

I would hesitate if you dislike boats, do not swim, want long guided visits at historic sites, or are watching your budget closely. The islands offer villages and local food, but this is primarily a coastal leisure day, not a detailed history tour.

The tour may also work well for mixed groups. One person can snorkel, another can walk through a village, and someone else can simply sit on the boat with a drink. That flexibility is more useful than a packed schedule of formal attractions.

Practical advice before you reserve

Confirm these points in writing:

• Which island comes first, second, and third
• Where lunch is served
• How long you stop at each island
• The exact group capacity of the Apreamare boat
• Whether hotel pickup is included for your address
• The available meal choices and how dietary requests are handled
• Whether Elisa, Robert, or another crew will operate your departure

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

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The experience is near public transportation, and the activity ends back at Gruž Market. Tips are not included, so carry cash or ask the operator about the preferred way to thank the crew.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want a polished, private day built around sea time, swimming, local food, and friendly service. Its best features are the three-island variety, the well-kept boat, the included equipment, and the chance to let someone else handle the meal and drinks.

Before committing to the high price, get the schedule clarified. If the confirmed plan gives you enough time at Lopud for the beach, a worthwhile village visit on Šipan, and a relaxed swim stop at Koločep, the day can be a memorable break from Dubrovnik. If you mainly want transportation between islands, choose a cheaper option and spend your money on longer stays.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start and finish?

It starts at Gruž Market, Obala Stjepana Radića 21 in Dubrovnik, at 9:00 a.m. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise is described as lasting approximately eight hours, with a scheduled return around 3:00 p.m.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

The experience visits Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, three islands in the Elaphite group near Dubrovnik.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a small local restaurant is included. The available meal information includes fish, chicken, and vegetarian choices, but you should confirm the exact restaurant and menu before departure.

What equipment and drinks are included?

Snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages for people aged 18 and over are included. There is also a restroom onboard.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You may also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time.