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

Three island stops, one easy day at sea. This $74 cruise aboard Yacht Tamaris packs snorkeling at a shipwreck, a stop in Maslinica, and lunch beside the Blue Lagoon into eight hours from Split. I like the clean, modern boat and the fact that coffee, breakfast, lunch, wine, lemonade, water, and fruit are included. I also like the steady mix of swimming, island time, and simply sitting on deck with the Adriatic sliding past.

The main thing to consider is timing. Lunch comes late, often around 2:00 or 2:45 p.m., and the Blue Lagoon stop can feel short once you have eaten and changed for swimming. The upper-deck sunbeds are limited, too, so arrive early if a sunny perch matters to you.

The day at a glance

• Coffee and croissant begin the cruise: You get a light breakfast while the boat heads out from Split.
• Snorkel above a shipwreck in Nečujam Bay: Equipment is available, giving you an easy first swim stop.
• Maslinica offers a quiet island hour: Walk around the fishing village, visit Marchi Castle and its park, or sit at a café.
• Lunch is served on the Blue Lagoon shore: Choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian meal with a side dish and salad.
• Tamaris is built for a full day: Three decks, air-conditioned salons, toilets, showers, Wi-Fi, a bar, and safety deposit boxes make the long outing easier.
• The price covers more than transport: At $74, included food and drinks make this a strong value for a full day on the water.

Boarding at Split’s Riva

Your morning starts at stand number 8 on Split’s Riva Promenade, a small white kiosk with a picture of Tamaris. It sits by the sea, across from Diocletian’s Palace and near Bobis, Romana, Biberon, and St Riva.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. The boat must leave on time because of the port schedule, and this is not the sort of outing that can hold the gangway for late arrivals. If you want one of the limited sunbeds on the top deck, arrive even earlier. Only about 20 loungers are available there, while most seating is inside or on other decks.

Boarding is organized one group at a time, which helps avoid the usual port scrum. Once you settle in, you generally keep that place for the day. That makes an early arrival useful for another reason: you can choose whether you prefer shade, an outdoor view, or a place close to the action.

Tamaris makes the long ride comfortable

Tamaris is a 27-meter day cruiser with three decks. It has two air-conditioned salons, an open deck with a bar, and a top sundeck. Four toilets, showers, Wi-Fi, charging sockets, and safety deposit boxes give the boat more practical comfort than a basic excursion vessel.

That matters because this is an eight-hour outing, not a quick transfer to one beach. You can cool off indoors, rinse salt water from your skin, use a proper toilet, and store valuables while swimming. The Wi-Fi and charging points are useful if you are out all day and still need your phone for photos or plans later.

The upper deck is the prize for sun worshippers, but space is limited. Do not assume the whole boat offers open-air loungers. Most seats are inside, and the top deck can fill quickly. I would bring a light cover-up for the air-conditioned salons and choose your first seat with care.

The bar sells extra drinks such as beer, cocktails, and Coca-Cola. Those are not included, and one practical point is worth remembering: cash may be needed because card payment is not always available on board. Local wine, water, and lemonade are included without limit, so you can keep your costs under control by sticking with those.

Nečujam Bay and the shipwreck swim

The first stop is Nečujam Bay, reached after roughly an hour of cruising. Coffee and a croissant are served during the ride, so you get something small before the first swim.

Here, you use the provided snorkeling gear to look for underwater life around a shipwreck. The wreck is a small submerged boat rather than a dramatic ocean liner, so keep expectations sensible. Its appeal is the clear water, the novelty of swimming above it, and the chance to see fish and other underwater life in a sheltered bay.

The exact location may not be obvious at first. Pay close attention to the crew’s instructions, and do not swim farther than feels comfortable while searching. One useful improvement would be clearer guidance from the boat to the wreck, especially for weaker swimmers. If you are not confident in open water, stay close to the marked area and use the stop as a relaxed swim rather than a personal expedition.

Snorkeling equipment is available, though some arrangements require a €10 deposit. Bring a towel and sunscreen, and remember that a sun hat is useful during the long open-water sections. The crew gives instructions before activities begin, which helps keep the stop orderly.

Maslinica, Šolta’s small harbor village

After Nečujam, the cruise continues toward Maslinica on the island of Šolta. The ride lasts roughly 45 minutes, giving you time to dry off, eat something from the bar if needed, or watch the islands pass.

Maslinica is a small fishing village with an easygoing feel. You have about an hour here for a short walk, a coffee at a local café, or a look at Marchi Castle and its park. This is not a major sightseeing stop with a long list of monuments. Its value is the change of pace: after the boat and the water, you get solid ground, a compact village, and a glimpse of island life.

Keep your expectations in proportion to the schedule. An hour is enough to stroll and sit down, but not enough for a full exploration of Šolta. Some people would prefer more time here, while others will be eager to reach the Blue Lagoon. I see Maslinica as a pleasant interlude rather than the main event.

The stop also gives families and non-swimmers a break from the water. You can explore without getting wet, and the village cafés offer a chance to buy a coffee before lunch. Still, pack a small snack if you are bringing children or tend to eat early. Lunch is the main meal of the day and arrives late.

Lunch at the Blue Lagoon

The final major stop is the Blue Lagoon near Drvenik Veliki. After about 30 minutes of cruising from Maslinica, the boat reaches a turquoise bay with clear water, a beach restaurant, and a pine-shaded setting.

Lunch is served at a private restaurant on the shore. You choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian plate, with a side dish and salad. Fresh fruit follows for dessert, while local wine, lemonade, and water are included.

The meal is straightforward rather than elaborate. The chicken and vegetarian choices are useful for people who do not want seafood, while the fish can be a satisfying choice if you are comfortable dealing with bones. One meal served as a whole fish had many bones, so fish lovers should not expect a boneless fillet. The setting beside the water does part of the work, and the meal is included in a day that already covers transport and drinks.

The late lunch is the biggest practical weakness in the schedule. Bring a small sandwich or buy a snack from the boat bar if you need food before mid-afternoon. Pringles and drinks may be available for purchase, but these are extra.

Blue Lagoon swimming and snorkeling

After lunch, you have free time around the Blue Lagoon. You can swim from the beach, snorkel, walk around the bay, sit under the old pine trees, or buy a cocktail and settle in the shade.

The water is the star here. It is clear enough for an enjoyable swim and gives the last stop a holiday feel that the earlier village visit does not. The shore can be rocky underfoot, so water shoes may be helpful, though they are not listed as required equipment. If you prefer deeper water, swimming from the back of the boat can be more comfortable than entering at the beach.

The schedule allows about two hours for lunch, swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing. That sounds generous until you account for disembarking, eating, changing, and walking to the water. If you want a long, unhurried beach session, you may wish for more time. The Blue Lagoon is the part of the trip most likely to leave you thinking that the clock moved too fast.

Still, the stop is well chosen. You get food on shore rather than eating from a plastic container on the boat, and the restaurant area gives you access to shade and drinks. You are not forced to spend the whole stop snorkeling. A walk, a swim, and a quiet hour beneath the pines are perfectly reasonable ways to use it.

The return to Split

The trip back takes about 75 minutes. By then, you will probably be ready for a shower, a seat in the air conditioning, or a final drink from the bar. The boat returns to the same Riva meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate transfer.

The return cruise is part of the experience, not dead time. You can take photographs, watch the coast recede, and let the crew handle the logistics. The English-speaking crew keeps the day moving with clear instructions, and the schedule is designed around the port departure and return.

The organized format is a benefit if you want to see several places without renting a boat or arranging separate ferries. It is less appealing if you prefer to set your own pace. You will follow a fixed route, fixed departure, and fixed stop lengths.

Who will get the most from this cruise?

I would recommend this outing to anyone staying in Split who wants a full day on the sea without surprise meal costs. It works especially well for first-time visitors who want a sample of the nearby islands but do not have time to plan separate trips to Šolta and the Blue Lagoon.

Families can enjoy the easy structure, onboard toilets, showers, air conditioning, and swimming stops. Children may need snacks before lunch, and parents should keep an eye on them around the shipwreck and open-water areas.

Solo visitors can also fit in easily. The crew helps create a social atmosphere, and the shared boat, restaurant, and swimming stops make it less awkward than hiring a private vessel alone.

This is not the best choice for someone seeking a small, quiet sailing trip. Tamaris can carry up to about 150 people, and the boat may feel busy, especially during boarding and the popular swimming stops. It is comfortable for a larger cruise, but it is still a group excursion.

People who want serious snorkeling should also temper expectations. You get clear water, gear, and two good chances to swim, but the shipwreck is modest and the Blue Lagoon stop is shared with other groups.

Is $74 good value?

At $74 per person, the price is strong for an eight-hour boat day. You are paying for the cruise, crew, coffee, croissant, snorkeling equipment, a restaurant lunch, fruit dessert, unlimited local wine, water, lemonade, Wi-Fi, showers, and toilets.

The included drinks make a real difference. A full day beside the sea can become expensive once you add lunch, bottled water, and refreshments. Here, you can keep spending low unless you want beer, cocktails, or soft drinks from the bar.

The value also comes from the variety. You are not paying for eight hours parked at one beach. The schedule combines a shipwreck swim, a village stop, a restaurant meal, and Blue Lagoon swimming. The tradeoff is that each stop is short, so you pay in flexibility rather than money.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later add useful flexibility. Check the available starting time before booking, since departure times can vary.

What to bring and how to plan the day

Pack a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, sun hat, camera, and comfortable clothes. Beachwear is essential, but a dry layer is useful after swimming and inside the air-conditioned salons.

I would also bring a small snack, especially for children or anyone who dislikes late lunches. Keep some cash for extra drinks and the possible snorkeling deposit, and place valuables in the boat’s safety deposit boxes rather than leaving them beside your seat.

Arrive 30 minutes early at stand number 8. Arriving earlier is smart if you want a top-deck lounger or a preferred seat. Once on board, listen for the crew’s instructions about swimming areas, lunch choices, and return times.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want an easy, well-organized day that combines comfortable transport, island scenery, swimming, and included food. The modern Tamaris, friendly crew, clean facilities, and broad list of inclusions make it one of the better-value ways to leave Split for a day.

Skip it if you need a quiet small boat, a long visit at one beach, or a late-morning lunch. Also think twice if you dislike set schedules or crowded group excursions.

For most people, the formula works. Arrive early, bring a snack, claim your preferred seat, and treat the shipwreck as a fun snorkel stop rather than a major wreck site. Do that, and this cruise gives you a generous taste of Dalmatia for a reasonable price.

FAQ

Where does the Blue Lagoon, Shipwreck and Šolta cruise start?

It starts at stand number 8 on Split’s Riva Promenade. The stand is a small white kiosk with a picture of the boat, across from Diocletian’s Palace and near Bobis, Romana, Biberon, and St Riva.

How long does the boat trip last?

The activity lasts eight hours. Check the available date and starting time when booking.

Which places does the cruise visit?

The route includes Nečujam Bay, Maslinica on the island of Šolta, and the Blue Lagoon near Drvenik Veliki Island.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is included for the swimming and snorkeling stops. A €10 deposit may be required.

What food is included?

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

Are drinks included?

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

Does the boat have toilets and showers?

Yes. Tamaris has four toilets and showers. It also has air-conditioned salons, Wi-Fi, and safety deposit boxes.

What should I bring?

Bring a sun hat, towel, camera, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and beachwear. A small snack is also sensible because lunch may be served late.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.