Dubrovnik Islands Private Rented Boat Cruise

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat day is the freedom to shape it around your group. Your skipper takes you among Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, with time for the Blue Cave, swimming, beaches, lunch, or a quiet stretch of sea. I like the private format and the chance to change plans as you go. A captain named Tino has taken groups to his favorite spots rather than forcing a fixed route.

I also like that the 12-meter boat carries up to 12 people, making the price sensible for a family or group of friends. Fuel, a skipper, water, soft drinks, and white and red wine are included. The main drawback is simple: this is not a cheap outing for one or two people, and entrance fees at historical sites are extra.

Key points to know before you book

• A flexible private day: You choose how much time to give beaches, caves, swimming, lunch, and island villages.
• Three Elafiti Islands: Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan each offer a different mix of sea, sand, buildings, and gardens.
• The Blue Cave and Šunj Beach: Snorkel near Koločep and swim at Lopud’s famous sandy lagoon.
• A useful group price: The $924.18 rate covers up to 12 people, not each person separately.
• Drinks are included: Water, soft drinks, and unlimited white and red wine are supplied.
• Good for mixed-age groups: Families can combine easy boat time with swimming, walks, and sightseeing.

A private boat day from Dubrovnik’s Gruž Port

You meet at Gruž Port Parking, at Obala Stjepana Radića 39, and return there after roughly eight hours. Pickup is offered, and one large group was collected and driven to the boat, but confirm the exact pickup plan when you book.

The advertised operating hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., from February 1 through October 30, 2026. That gives you a useful daytime window, though the boat portion is described as up to eight hours, so your exact start and finish should be confirmed locally.

This is a private activity, which matters more than it may sound. You are not sharing the boat with an unrelated group or following someone else’s preferred swim stop. If half your party wants a beach and the other half wants island buildings, the skipper can help find a workable balance.

The boat, called Đivo in the tour details, is 12 meters long and fitted with a fridge, CD player, and life jackets. One family especially appreciated the shade, an important detail during a long summer day on open water. Another outing used a boat called Nara, so the boat name may vary.

How the flexible route works

There is no single rigid order for the islands. The plan is built around the conditions, your interests, and the skipper’s local suggestions. You can ask for swimming time, cave visits, a beach stop, a walk, or a restaurant lunch.

That flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip instead of a standard group cruise. A group of ten asked Tino to take them to his favorite places, and he adjusted the day around that request. The practical lesson is to arrive with a short wish list, but leave room for the captain to fine-tune it.

You should not expect every possible stop to receive equal time. Three islands, a cave, beaches, swimming, historical buildings, gardens, lunch, and an eight-hour limit require choices. If you want a slow beach day, say so early. If you care more about sightseeing, make that clear before the boat gets underway.

Koločep and the Blue Cave

Koločep is the natural first choice if the Blue Cave is high on your list. The cave gives the day its most dramatic water stop, with a chance to snorkel and see the coast from a different angle than you get from the boat.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, and gear you are comfortable using in the water. The boat carries life jackets, but the supplied information does not promise personal snorkel equipment, so ask ahead if you need masks and fins.

Koločep is best treated as a sea-and-nature stop rather than a major sightseeing visit. You come here for rock, water, cave light, and a swim. If you have young children or older relatives in your party, tell the skipper what feels comfortable before choosing a water entry or cave stop.

The cave can also be weather-sensitive. The tour description promises access to the area, but no private boat can control wind, waves, or local conditions. Keep your expectations focused on the chance to visit, not a guaranteed exact sequence.

Lopud, Šunj Beach, and time on land

Lopud offers the clearest change of pace. After the boat and caves, you can walk on the island, visit local sights, or spend time at Šunj Beach, a sandy lagoon often described as one of the area’s top beaches.

The sand is a major advantage in a region where many swimming spots are rocky or pebbly. If you have children, prefer an easier shoreline, or simply want to get off the boat, Šunj is likely to be one of your most useful stops.

Still, the beach should not be treated as an empty private cove. Its appeal is well known, and the exact feel will depend on the day and time. Your skipper can help with timing, but the tour does not promise exclusive use of the beach.

Lopud also gives you a chance to add land time without turning the whole day into a formal sightseeing tour. You can stroll, swim, or look for historical buildings and botanical gardens. Entrance fees to historical monuments are not included, so budget separately if you decide to go inside a paid site.

One group enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant on one of the islands. Lunch is not listed as included, so plan to pay for your own meal. The private format makes a restaurant stop easier to arrange than it would be on a fixed public cruise, but ask the skipper about timing and location on the day.

Šipan for a quieter island stop

Šipan gives you another setting for swimming, a walk, or a picnic. The tour description points to rocky, pebble, and sandy beaches across the islands, so you can choose the kind of shoreline that suits your group.

The island also has historical buildings and gardens worth seeing. These sights give the day more substance than a simple boat-and-beach outing, especially if you want a break from swimming.

I would use Šipan as the stop where you slow the pace. A picnic, a short walk, and a swim can make good use of the island without trying to see everything. The exact stops are not fixed, so ask which parts of Šipan fit your remaining time.

As with Lopud, paid entrances are extra. You can enjoy the island outdoors without paying a monument fee, but anyone set on visiting a particular building should check the cost and available time first.

What the skipper adds to the day

The skipper is more than the person steering the boat. Your captain decides how to handle the route, points out places to stop, and helps you judge how much time remains.

Tino is specifically named as a friendly guide who let a group choose between the planned route and his favorite places. Another skipper and his wife acted as hosts, offering short history lessons as the boat passed landmarks. The captain’s personality will shape the day, but the format gives you a chance to ask questions and request local context.

You should not expect a formal lecture at every stop. This is a relaxed private cruise, not a full historical tour. Still, the occasional explanation can make the islands feel more connected to Dubrovnik rather than just a series of pretty swimming spots.

If you want history, say so. If you want maximum time in the water, say that instead. The more clearly you explain your priorities, the more useful the private setup becomes.

Drinks, shade, and the practical boat setup

The included drinks are a real convenience. You get water, soft drinks, and unlimited white and red wine, so you do not need to organize every bottle before leaving Dubrovnik.

A past outing also had snacks and a cheese plate, but those extras are not clearly promised as part of the standard package. Treat them as possible hospitality, not something to rely on for lunch.

The fridge matters on a full day in the sun, and shade matters even more. One family of ten, including children and grandparents, found the shaded boat helpful. That makes the cruise more workable for a mixed-age group than a bare open boat would be.

Life jackets are provided. The boat also has a CD player, though music details are not specified. You may want to ask about any equipment you care about, especially snorkel gear, towels, or food.

Is $924.18 good value?

The price is $924.18 per group of up to 12 people. At the full capacity, that works out to about $77 per person. For ten people, it is about $92 per person. For six, it rises to roughly $154 per person, and for two it becomes an expensive private day.

That pricing makes the tour strongest for families, wedding groups, and groups of friends who can fill most of the boat. You are paying for privacy, a full day on the water, fuel, a skipper, and the freedom to adjust the route.

The included drinks improve the value, especially since you may otherwise spend time and money arranging water and refreshments. The main extra costs are meals and entrance fees to historical monuments.

I would compare this with the cost of separate taxis, boat tickets, and meals before deciding. The private boat will not be the cheapest way to see the Elafiti Islands for a solo visitor or couple. For a group of eight to twelve, the math becomes much more favorable, and the ability to keep your own pace is worth real money.

Who will enjoy this most?

This trip suits you if you want a full day outdoors and do not like being tied to a fixed group schedule. It is especially practical for families because you can mix swimming, shade, beach time, and short walks.

It also works well for friends who want a social day with wine and sea views. The boat’s capacity of 12 lets a larger group stay together instead of splitting into separate boats.

Older family members can enjoy the scenery and shaded boat time while others swim or walk. Still, you should discuss mobility needs with the operator before booking, since the available details do not describe boarding arrangements or the ease of getting onto beaches.

This is less suitable if you want a tightly structured historical tour, a guaranteed restaurant meal, or a low-cost excursion for one or two people. It is also not the right pick if you want every minute planned in advance. The freedom is the point, but freedom means you need to make choices.

Booking details and cancellation

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is near public transportation. The tour is offered in English, and most people can participate according to the supplied information.

You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, so watch the local cut-off rather than relying on your home time zone.

This activity is often reserved well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 51 days. If your dates are fixed, especially during the warmer months, it is sensible to arrange the boat early.

Should you book the Dubrovnik Islands private boat?

I would book it for a group that can fill at least eight seats and wants control over the day. The Blue Cave, Šunj Beach, flexible stops, included drinks, and shaded private boat create a strong mix of sea time and island time.

I would skip it for a couple on a tight budget or for anyone who wants a formal, history-heavy tour with all meals and admissions covered. Before paying, confirm the pickup plan, boat name, snorkel equipment, lunch options, and the stops you most want.

For the right group, this is a relaxed way to see more than Dubrovnik’s old walls. You get a captain, a boat, three islands, and enough time to choose your own version of the day.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour start and end?

It starts at Gruž Port Parking, Obala Stjepana Radića 39, 20000 Dubrovnik. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the private boat tour last?

The cruise lasts up to eight hours. The listed operating window is 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

How many people can join the boat?

The boat accommodates a maximum of 12 passengers. The advertised price is per group, up to that limit.

Which islands can I visit?

The tour visits the Elafiti Islands of Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. Stops are flexible and can include the Blue Cave, Šunj Beach, beaches, historical buildings, gardens, and swimming areas.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Fuel, a skipper, water, soft drinks, and unlimited white and red wine are included.

Are entrance fees and cancellation covered?

Entrance fees to historical monuments are not included. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time.