Split: Blue Lagoon, 3Islands, Boat Trip, Mediterranean lunch

The best part of this day is the variety. You are not parked at one beach for hours. Instead, you move through three Dalmatian islands, stopping for a proper lunch, clear-water swimming, a waterslide, and snorkeling around a sunken pirate ship. The boat ride itself gives you wide sea views between each stop.

I like the combination of included grilled lunch and unlimited water and juice on board. I also like that the boat has both shaded seating and a sun deck, plus a hydraulic ramp and waterslide for easy access to the sea. The main drawback is the long day. With several hours on the water, limited time at each island, and no hotel pickup, this suits you best if you enjoy an active group boat trip rather than a quiet private cruise.

Key points to know before booking

• Three very different stops: Čiovo is for lunch and beach time, the Blue Lagoon is for clear-water swimming, and Šolta offers a shipwreck snorkel stop.
• A full Dalmatian meal is included: Choose grilled fish, vegetables, or meat prepared in a traditional local style.
• The boat is built for swimming: You get a waterslide, hydraulic jumping ramp, shaded spots, and a sun deck.
• Nečujam Bay adds the most unusual stop: Snorkel around a sunken pirate ship with aquatic life nearby.
• The day begins and ends on Split’s Riva: Meet at boat excursions stand number 7, opposite Caffe Bar Biberon.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can cancel the trip, with a new date or full refund offered.

From Split’s Riva to a full day at sea

You meet at Obala Hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 55, along Split’s Riva promenade. Look for boat excursions stand number 7, opposite Caffe Bar Biberon. Since there is no hotel pickup, allow enough time to reach the waterfront on your own and find the correct stand before departure.

The trip lasts about eight to nine hours, depending on the stated schedule and operating time. That makes it a major part of your day, not a quick add-on between visits to Diocletian’s Palace and the old town. I would book it on a day when you want the sea to be your main plan.

The vessel is described as a comfortable ex-military cruise boat. That gives you a more substantial boat experience than a small speedboat, with room for shaded positions and open sun-deck seating. The tradeoff is that a larger boat may feel less private and may take longer to get between islands, but the cruise time is part of the appeal. You can sit back, watch the coast, and let the views change without having to organize several separate transfers.

English is the stated language for the host or greeter. The activity is also listed as wheelchair accessible, though you should still confirm any personal boarding or swimming needs before booking.

The first 75 minutes: settling into the cruise

The opening sightseeing cruise lasts about 75 minutes. This is a useful stretch of time to find your preferred place on the boat, decide if you want sun or shade, and get comfortable with the day’s rhythm.

The boat carries unlimited juice and water, which is practical in the strong Mediterranean sun. You should still bring sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, and beachwear. Snacks are also suggested, though lunch is included later. Bring your own camera protection or a waterproof pouch if you plan to take photographs near the water.

This first stretch is not a guided city tour based on the information provided, so do not book it expecting a detailed lecture about every island. Think of it as a scenic transfer with time to enjoy the sea.

Čiovo: lunch, beach time, and a real pause

The first main stop is Beach Bar Borko on Čiovo. You get about two hours here for lunch, free time, swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing by the cove. The restaurant sits just steps from the shore, which makes the stop easy to use. You can eat, then return to the water without a long walk or a separate transfer.

Lunch is one of the strongest reasons to consider this trip. You choose grilled fish, grilled vegetables, or grilled meat, all prepared in a traditional Dalmatian style. That choice matters because it gives you a proper local meal rather than only a sandwich or snack from the boat. The vegetable option also makes the meal workable for people who do not eat fish or meat.

The setting helps. A beach restaurant beside a sheltered cove gives you a more relaxed meal than eating at a crowded port. You can pair lunch with a swim, though the two-hour stop includes everything, so it is not two full hours of beach time after eating.

Extra lunch is not included, which can sound confusing because a meal is already part of the package. The practical reading is that the standard restaurant lunch is included, while any additional meal or extra food is not. Alcoholic drinks are also excluded. Water and juice are included on the boat, but you should budget separately if you want beer, wine, or other alcohol.

Čiovo is likely the most comfortable stop for a mixed group. Someone can eat and sit by the shore while others swim or snorkel. Families and friends may appreciate that flexibility, although you will need to keep an eye on the clock before the boat moves on.

The Blue Lagoon: clear water and a waterslide

After leaving Čiovo, you have a shorter 30-minute sightseeing cruise before reaching the Blue Lagoon near Drvenik Island. The stop lasts about 90 minutes and includes photographs, swimming, snorkeling, and marine-life viewing.

The Blue Lagoon is the visual centerpiece of the day. The water is described as crystal clear and turquoise, making this the place for your best wide shots and easy swimming. The appeal is simple: you leave the boat, get into clean-looking open water, and have time to enjoy the color and visibility.

There is also a waterslide. That small feature changes the mood from scenic cruise to floating playground, especially for families and anyone who would rather make an entrance than use a ladder. The boat has a hydraulic ramp for jumping into the water as well, so you have several ways to get in.

The practical point is that the Blue Lagoon is a shared swimming stop, not a private beach. The boat’s own features are the focus. If you prefer a quiet shore with a long walk and few people around, this may feel busy or structured. If you want easy access to the water, playful activities, and time to snorkel without hauling gear between beaches, it is a good fit.

The provided details do not state that snorkeling equipment is supplied, so bring your own equipment if you have it or check with the operator before departure. Snorkeling is specifically included as an activity, but the equipment details are not given.

Šolta and the sunken pirate ship at Nečujam Bay

The final island stop is Šolta, with about an hour for a photo stop, a visit, free time, sightseeing, and a walk. The location is Nečujam Bay, a calmer setting that gives the day a different feel after the bright water of the Blue Lagoon and the beach restaurant on Čiovo.

The special feature here is the sunken pirate ship. You can swim and snorkel around the wreck, where aquatic life can be seen. This is the most distinctive activity on the trip, since you are not simply looking at a coastline or swimming from a beach. You are exploring an underwater object with a story-like setting.

You should keep your expectations sensible. This is a one-hour stop within a busy full-day schedule, not a formal wreck expedition. The shipwreck is included as a snorkeling activity, and the tour also provides a waterslide and jumping ramp, but no technical instruction or specialist underwater equipment is listed.

Nečujam Bay also gives you the chance to walk and take photographs. That helps break up the swimming. If you have had enough sun by this point, staying on the boat or taking a short walk may be more enjoyable than going straight back into the water.

The boat ride home is part of the day

The return sightseeing cruise takes about 100 minutes. That is a long final stretch, so plan your energy accordingly. After three stops, lunch, and time in the water, you may be ready for a quiet seat in the shade rather than more activity.

This is where the boat setup matters. Shaded positions let you get out of the sun, while the sundeck works for people who want one last stretch of open air. Unlimited water and juice are useful on the return, especially after swimming.

The boat returns to the same Riva meeting point in Split. You do not need to arrange a separate return transfer, but you should not plan a tightly timed evening activity immediately after the tour. The sea and weather can affect the pace, and the advertised duration already takes most of the day.

What the $68 price really covers

At $68 per person, the value depends on how much of the day you would use independently. The price includes the boat trip, the three island stops, the restaurant lunch, water and juice on board, the snorkeling stop at the sunken pirate ship, the waterslide, and access to the hydraulic jumping ramp.

That is a solid bundle for a full day from Split. Lunch alone is not the only value. You are also paying for transport between Čiovo, Drvenik, and Šolta, which saves you the trouble of piecing together separate boats and beach visits.

I see the strongest value for you if you want one organized day with a meal and several water activities. It is less compelling if your main goal is simply to reach the Blue Lagoon, because a shorter boat excursion could give you more time in one place. It is also not designed as a luxury sailing trip. The ex-military vessel, shared boat format, and set schedule point to practical fun rather than polished privacy.

The friendly and helpful crew is another positive part of the experience. The team is praised for creating a good day and for making the trip work well for families and friends. One memorable detail from the experience is that the boat captain jumped off with passengers, which suggests a playful atmosphere rather than a distant, formal crew. Still, the exact guide and captain names are not provided, so I would not book this expecting a named private guide.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this day to you if you want:

• A straightforward way to visit several islands from Split
• Swimming in clear water without arranging your own transport
• A proper choice of fish, meat, or grilled vegetables for lunch
• A boat with a waterslide and jumping ramp
• A mix of relaxed beach time and active snorkeling
• An outing that works for families or groups of friends

You may want another type of trip if you dislike fixed schedules, shared boats, or long periods at sea. The tour gives you several stops, but each one has a set window. Čiovo gets two hours, the Blue Lagoon about 90 minutes, and Šolta about an hour. That is enough for a taste of each place, not enough for a slow, unplanned island day.

The amount of sun and water time also matters. Bring sunscreen, a towel, swimwear, and beachwear, and expect to spend much of the day outdoors. Snacks are recommended, even with lunch included. Alcoholic drinks are not included, so plan for that separately.

Booking details that affect your decision

The trip requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.

The listed rating is 4 out of 5 from 47 reviews, which points to a generally positive but not flawless experience. The strongest praise centers on the friendly, helpful team, the good food, the attractive restaurant setting, and the suitability for families or friends. I would give those points real weight because they match the structure of the tour: this is as much a social day out as a sightseeing trip.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. If you use a wheelchair or have specific mobility needs around the boat, swimming areas, or restaurant, contact St. Damian Boat Tours before booking so the general accessibility label can be matched to your needs.

Should you book the St. Damian boat tour?

Book it if you want a full, active day from Split with a local-style lunch, several swims, and plenty of boat-based entertainment. The Blue Lagoon offers the postcard water, but the sunken pirate ship at Nečujam Bay and the meal on Čiovo give the day more substance than a basic sightseeing cruise.

Skip it if you want a private boat, a slow island visit, or a quiet day with little structure. At $68, the package is strongest for families, friends, and first-time visitors who want to sample several Dalmatian stops without managing the transport themselves. Bring sun protection, expect a long day, and leave room in your schedule after returning to Split.

FAQ

How long does the boat trip last?

The activity lasts about 8 to 9 hours. The provided schedule includes sightseeing cruises and three island stops before returning to the Riva meeting point.

Where does the tour start?

Meet at Obala Hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 55 on Split’s Riva promenade, at boat excursions stand number 7, opposite Caffe Bar Biberon.

Does the tour return to the same place?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point on Split’s Riva.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at the restaurant includes a choice of grilled fish, grilled vegetables, or grilled meat prepared in a traditional Dalmatian style.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited juice and water are available on board. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

What islands does the cruise visit?

The trip visits Čiovo, the Blue Lagoon near Drvenik Island, and Šolta, including Nečujam Bay.

Can I snorkel during the trip?

Yes. Snorkeling is available at the Blue Lagoon and around the sunken pirate ship at Nečujam Bay.

Is the waterslide included?

Yes. The waterslide is included, along with access to the boat’s hydraulic ramp for jumping into the water.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, snacks, sunscreen, and beachwear. The tour requires good weather, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.