Split: All inclusive Brač & Šolta Island Swimming Cruise

The Adriatic is best enjoyed from the water. This 7-hour cruise from Split combines a long swimming stop near Brač, a visit to Šolta, and a proper grilled lunch aboard the Polaris. I especially like the open bar, which includes soft drinks, beer, local wine, and coffee, and the generous supply of paddleboards, floats, and other water toys.

I also like the relaxed pace. You get more than two hours for swimming near Brač, followed by time in the fishing village of Stomorska on Šolta. The main consideration is simple: this is primarily a swimming and boat day, not a sightseeing tour packed with monuments. The beach at Šolta is small, and the village stop may feel quiet if you want lots of shops or restaurants.

Key Points to Know Before You Book

• Two islands in seven hours: You visit Brač and Šolta, with the longest stop reserved for swimming.
• A real lunch, not just a snack: Choose grilled fish, meat, or vegetables with salad and dessert.
• Open drinks throughout the cruise: Soft drinks, beer, local wine, and hot drinks are included.
• Water equipment is provided: Paddleboards, floats, snorkeling equipment, and inflatable water toys are available.
• Comfortable boat setting: The Polaris has spacious decks, seating for lunch, and room to move around.
• Best for swimmers and sun seekers: The first stop involves swimming from the boat in calm but reasonably deep water.

Meeting the Polaris at Split Port

The cruise begins at 9:30 AM from Split city port. The boat is docked in front of Gat Svetog Nikole at Obala Lazareta 3, a central meeting point that is easy to reach from the old town and waterfront.

There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to the port. Give yourself enough time to find the correct boat and settle in before departure. The meeting point is specific, but Split’s port can be busy with ferries and other excursions.

Once aboard, you can choose a place on one of the spacious decks. The boat offers proper seating rather than forcing everyone to stand or squeeze onto narrow benches. That matters on a seven-hour outing, especially when you want shade for part of the day and sun for another part.

The morning starts with a croissant and welcome refreshments. From there, the Polaris heads out toward Brač, giving you about an hour to watch Split recede and enjoy the coastal views from the water.

The cruise itself is part of the experience. You are not being rushed from one photo stop to the next. You can sit with a coffee, find a sunny patch of deck, or chat with the crew while the boat makes its way across the Adriatic.

The One-Hour Crossing to Brač

The first crossing lasts about an hour. It is a useful transition from city mode to island mode. Split’s waterfront becomes a distant strip, and the open water gives the day a calmer rhythm.

The crew speaks English and is frequently praised for being friendly, attentive, and helpful. That warmth appears to be one of the strongest parts of the experience. The crew keeps drinks available, helps with the water equipment, and handles the lunch service without making the day feel formal.

The Polaris is also a good choice if you dislike tightly packed boat tours. Several comments describe ample seating, a clean boat, and enough room to move around. That does not mean you will have the entire deck to yourself in high summer, but the setup is intended for comfort rather than maximum passenger numbers.

Music is part of the atmosphere, though this is not marketed as a party boat. Speakers and party groups are not allowed, which suits the overall tone. You get a social summer cruise, not a floating nightclub.

Brač Swimming Stop: The Main Event

After the one-hour cruise, the captain anchors in a scheduled bay near Brač. You then have more than two hours of free time for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing in the clear Adriatic water.

This is the strongest part of the day. The water is described as turquoise and crystal clear, and the boat gives you direct access to the sea. You can swim from the side of the Polaris, use a paddleboard, or float with one of the provided inflatables.

If you are comfortable in open water, you may also enjoy jumping from the upper deck. The swimming area is calm, but the water is reasonably deep, so you should not treat this like a shallow beach break. Anyone who is not a confident swimmer should use care and stay close to the boat or choose a flotation aid.

Snorkeling equipment is included, though you should not expect a guided snorkeling session. The value is convenience: you can look below the surface without bringing your own gear. Paddleboards and water toys add another option when you need a break from swimming.

The long stop is important. Many boat excursions offer a quick 20-minute swim and then hurry onward. Here, you have enough time to swim, dry off, have a drink, and get back into the water without constantly watching the clock.

Bring your own towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. Sea shoes may also be useful at the beach on Šolta, as one account specifically recommends them. You should also protect your phone and camera from spray and wet hands.

Lunch on the Way to Šolta

At about 1:00 PM, the Polaris leaves Brač and heads toward Šolta. Lunch is served during the cruise, turning the transfer into another relaxed part of the day.

The meal is a three-course lunch with your choice of grilled fish, grilled meat, or grilled vegetables. Salad and dessert are included. The food is served at tables, rather than handed out as a simple boxed meal, and the cruise includes wine and water with the meal.

The fish option has received particularly warm praise, while the meat and vegetarian choices give mixed groups an easy way to dine together. The meal is described as simple, plentiful, and tasty. You should not expect a fine-dining production, but you do get a substantial, freshly grilled lunch in a pleasant setting.

This is where the $121 price begins to make sense. The fare covers the boat, both island stops, lunch, an open bar, snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, and water toys. Comparable half-day outings can charge separately for drinks, equipment, or food. Here, most of your costs are handled in one payment.

The open bar is available during the cruise and includes soft drinks, beer, local wine, and coffee. Hot drinks are useful in the morning or after a swim, while the beer and wine fit the easygoing afternoon mood. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed outside the provided cruise service, and smoking is not permitted indoors.

Stomorska on Šolta at 1:45 PM

The boat reaches Stomorska at about 1:45 PM, docking in a small fishing village on Šolta. This is a different sort of stop from Brač.

Brač is mainly about the sea and active swimming. Stomorska gives you the chance to walk around a traditional port, look at the boats, have a coffee, or swim from a nearby beach. The boat remains close to the beach, so you do not need a long transfer or complicated walk to reach the water.

The village is picturesque and quiet. That is its appeal, but also its limitation. You will not find a major shopping district, a long list of attractions, or a large sandy beach here. One person found the stop less impressive than the first swimming area because the beach was small and there were few shops and restaurants.

I would treat Stomorska as a gentle change of pace rather than the main reason to book. Walk along the port, take photographs, order a coffee if you wish, and enjoy seeing a smaller island settlement. If you want another swim, the beach near the boat makes that easy.

You have roughly two hours in this part of the itinerary, enough time for a walk and a swim without feeling hurried. The exact balance is up to you. You can remain on the boat, explore the port, or spend more time in the water.

The Cruise Back to Split

At 3:30 PM, the Polaris leaves Stomorska for Split, arriving at about 4:30 PM. The final hour gives you time to relax after lunch and swimming.

This is a good moment to find a shaded seat, finish a coffee, or watch the coastline pass by. The boat’s open decks make it possible to move between views, sun, and shelter.

Island itineraries can change with the weather. On one occasion, strong wind redirected the boat from Šolta to Milna instead. That alternative allowed time to walk around another town, but it is worth understanding that the captain may adjust the route for safe and comfortable sailing.

The return is not a rushed dash to the harbor. It completes the day at an unhurried pace, and the boat generally returns to the same Split port where you started.

What the $121 Price Includes

At $121 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the islands. It is priced as an all-inclusive day on the water, so the comparison should be with other full boat excursions rather than with a public ferry ticket.

Your fare includes:

• Boat transportation from Split
• Visits to Brač and Šolta
• Morning croissant and refreshments
• Three-course lunch
• Choice of fish, meat, or vegetarian grilled food
• Salad and dessert
• Open bar with soft drinks, beer, wine, and coffee
• Snorkeling equipment
• Paddleboards
• Floats and inflatable water toys
• Free time for swimming and island exploration

The value is strongest if you plan to swim and make use of the food and drinks. A person who only wants to sit on a boat and look at the coast may find the price harder to justify. A couple or family paying separately for lunch, drinks, equipment rental, and transport could quickly approach the same total.

Children aged 0 to 3 can join free, and children aged 3 to 12 receive a 50 percent discount. That makes the outing more practical for families, though parents should think carefully about the deep-water swimming format.

Who Will Enjoy This Cruise Most?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a low-effort summer day with swimming, food, and scenery all arranged for you. It suits couples, families with older children, solo visitors, and groups of friends who prefer a comfortable boat to a fast speedboat.

It is also a good fit if you like variety. The day gives you a swimming bay, an onboard meal, a fishing village, and a scenic return cruise. You are not spending seven hours doing only one thing.

Swimmers will get the most from the itinerary. The Brač stop is long, and the provided water equipment adds real value. If you are not comfortable entering the sea from a boat, you can still enjoy the decks, lunch, and Šolta, but you will miss the central feature.

This is less suitable if your main goal is serious island sightseeing. You will not spend the day touring historic buildings or visiting several inland towns. Stomorska is a small port, and the schedule leaves limited time for a broad exploration of either island.

The cruise also follows a set timetable. That is helpful if you like structure, but it leaves little room to linger at one stop or change the plan yourself.

Practical Tips for a Better Day

Arrive ready for the sun. Pack swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat. A light cover-up is useful between swimming and lunch, and sea shoes may help on the beach at Šolta.

Wear sandals or shoes that are easy to remove, since you may move between the deck, the water, and the village. Keep valuables secure and bring a waterproof case if you want photos from the swimming stop.

Choose your lunch preference when asked. Fish, meat, and vegetarian grilled options are available, with salad and dessert included.

If you want the best chance of a particular seat, arrive at the meeting point with time to spare. The boat offers ample seating, but shade and sun are personal priorities on a long summer outing.

Take advantage of the equipment early. Paddleboards and floats are included, but popular items may be in use when the swimming stop begins. The crew can help you understand what is available.

The activity has a 4.9 rating from 205 reviews, with 94 percent of ratings giving the transport a perfect score. The repeated strengths are consistent: a friendly crew, good food, generous drinks, comfortable space, clear water, and enough swimming time.

The main cautions are also consistent. The first stop is stronger for swimming than the second, and the Šolta beach is small. Weather can change the route, and confident swimming is useful for getting the most from the boat stop.

Is the Brač and Šolta Cruise Worth Booking?

Book it if you want an easy, social day of swimming and good food without arranging separate ferries, meals, or equipment. The long Brač stop, open bar, proper lunch, and comfortable Polaris make this stronger than a basic sightseeing cruise.

Skip it if you want a quiet beach day on shallow sand, a serious historical tour, or complete control over your schedule. The first swim is from the boat in deeper water, and Stomorska is a small village rather than a major attraction.

For most visitors with one free day in Split, the balance is appealing. You get two islands, a clear-water swim, a grilled meal, and a friendly crew, all within a single 7-hour outing.

FAQ

Where does the cruise leave from?

The boat leaves from Split city port at Obala Lazareta 3, in front of Gat Svetog Nikole.

What time does the cruise depart?

Departure is scheduled for 9:30 AM, with arrival back in Split at about 4:30 PM.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts about seven hours.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

The planned route visits Brač and Šolta.

How much swimming time is available?

You have more than two hours for swimming and relaxing near Brač. You can also swim near the boat at Stomorska on Šolta.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course lunch is included, with grilled fish, meat, or vegetables, plus salad and dessert.

What drinks are included?

The open bar includes soft drinks, beer, local wine, coffee, and other hot drinks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, floats, and inflatable water toys are included.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You need to reach the meeting point at Split city port yourself.

Are children allowed on the cruise?

Yes. Children aged 0 to 3 can join free, and children aged 3 to 12 receive a 50 percent discount.