Podstrana and Jesenice, Boat trip to Brač and Šolta with lunch

The best part of this trip is its easy rhythm: a little island town, two swimming stops, a freshly cooked lunch, and plenty of time to watch the Dalmatian coast slide past. You visit Sutivan on Brač before spending the afternoon in the water around Šolta.

I like the practical extras here, especially the included snorkels, floaties, Wi-Fi, and lunch drinks. I also like the choice of mackerel, boneless chicken, or a vegetarian burger, since the food is prepared fresh onboard rather than treated as an afterthought.

The main thing to consider is the long day and the fairly tight schedule. You get about 75 minutes in Sutivan and two swimming sessions, but this is not a slow, private sailing trip. With up to 45 people onboard, it feels more like a sociable day cruise.

Key points at a glance

• A full island day for $66.23: The price includes the cruise, BBQ lunch, salad, bread, lunch drinks, equipment, and several small refreshments.
• Sutivan gives you a real shore break: You have free time to walk around this former Roman settlement and use the provided town map.
• Two swimming stops from the boat: Ladders, snorkels, floaties, and water polo balls make getting into the sea straightforward.
• Fresh lunch with three main choices: Pick mackerel, boneless chicken, or a vegetarian burger, and tell the crew your preference when booking.
• A relaxed family-friendly mood: Welcome coffee, chocolate donuts, juice for children, and watermelon later in the day soften the early start.
• Pickup covers the Podstrana coast: Boarding begins around Krilo Jesenice, then continues at Sv. Martin and Le Méridien Lav marina.

A morning pickup along the Podstrana coast

The day begins early. The first pickup is listed at Hotel Krilo around 8:25, with departure toward Sv. Martin Podstrana at about 8:30. The boat then stops at Sv. Martin beach around 8:55 and Le Méridien Lav marina at about 9:00 before heading out once everyone is onboard.

The main sailing departure toward Brač is around 9:30. Check your exact pickup point and time carefully, since the morning has several boarding locations. This is one of those excursions where arriving early is much wiser than trying to cut it close.

The boat can carry up to 45 people. That is not a tiny yacht, but it keeps the cost reasonable and gives the day a friendly, communal feel. If you want silence and personal space, this may feel busy. If you like having a crew, bar, music-free conversation, and fellow passengers around, the size works well.

Soon after leaving the coast, the crew gives a short briefing. Adults receive a welcome shooter, while children receive juice. Coffee and chocolate donuts are served during the ride to Sutivan, a small touch that matters after an early start.

Unlimited Wi-Fi is included, so you can send photos or stay connected while offshore. Still, I would treat the connection as a useful bonus rather than the reason to book. The main attraction is being on the water, not spending the day online.

Sutivan, Brač, and 75 minutes on shore

The boat reaches Sutivan at about 10:30. You receive a map and have free time to explore on your own until the 11:45 departure.

Sutivan began as a Roman settlement, and the stop gives the cruise a welcome change of pace. Instead of spending every minute onboard, you can walk through the town, look around its waterfront, and get a quick taste of island life. The scheduled stop is long enough for a relaxed stroll, though not long enough for a full exploration of Brač.

Keep an eye on the clock. The crew asks you to return at least three minutes before departure, and the boat leaves at the stated time. This is not the place to wander far from the waterfront or start a long café stop.

The free-time format is a good choice for independent visitors. You are not tied to a large guided walking group, and the map helps you get your bearings. The tradeoff is that there is no detailed commentary about every building or street. You explore at your own pace, which suits some people better than a formal tour.

Sutivan is also the most cultural part of the day. The swimming stops are enjoyable, but they are centered on recreation. If you want one compact shore visit paired with time at sea, this itinerary gets the balance right.

The first swim stop near Brač

At 11:45, the boat leaves Sutivan and reaches the first swimming area at about 12:10. The captain anchors, and the crew sets up ladders on both sides of the boat.

You can enter the sea by ladder or jump in, then use the supplied snorkels and floaties. Water polo balls are also available, which adds an easy bit of fun for families and groups. The stop lasts about an hour, although the listed schedule moves from the arrival at 12:10 into lunch preparation and departure at 13:10.

The water access is worth noting. This is not a beach landing with a shallow walk-in entry. You need to be comfortable using a ladder or jumping from the boat. One of the available swimming comments describes the setup clearly: there are ladders, and you can also jump in. If you are unsure in open water, use the ladder and stay close to the boat.

Bring or wear secure swimwear and consider packing a towel, since the supplied equipment is for water activities rather than personal beach gear. The boat provides shade, according to the experience details and direct trip feedback, but you should still be sensible about sun exposure during a long day outside.

BBQ lunch with views toward four islands

While you swim, the chef prepares lunch. Around 13:10, the crew serves the meal onboard, with views toward Brač, Hvar, Mrduja, and Šolta, plus Split on the starboard side.

You choose among fresh mackerel, boneless chicken, or a vegetarian burger. Salad and bread are included. Red wine, water, and orange juice are available without extra charge during lunch.

The meal is one of the strongest reasons this cruise offers fair value. A day on the sea can become expensive once you add food and drinks, but here the main meal is built into the price. The food is freshly prepared on the boat, and the available choices cover seafood, meat, and a vegetarian option.

Tell the operator your meal choice when booking. The crew brings fresh food each day, so giving advance notice is important. If you want beer, spirits, wine outside the included lunch service, or another drink before or after lunch, you pay separately at the bar. Ice cream and several kinds of chips are also available for purchase.

Do not expect a restaurant with a long menu. This is a straightforward BBQ served at sea. That is part of its appeal. You eat outside the usual tourist restaurant circuit, with the boat moving or resting among the islands. The setting does much of the work.

Adriana serves the tables, and the crew handles the meal while keeping the program moving. Direct feedback on the trip praises the food as tasty and the staff as attentive. The menu is simple, but the timing is smart: you swim first, then sit down to eat.

Šolta and the long afternoon swim

After lunch, the boat arrives in Nečujam Bay on Šolta at about 14:10. You have roughly an hour and five minutes for another swim and snorkel session around the boat.

This second stop gives you more time in the water than the earlier one. You can use the ladders, floaties, and snorkels again, or simply sit in the shade and watch others enjoy the sea. Since the stop is in a bay, the setting should feel more sheltered than open-water sailing, though the exact conditions depend on the weather.

The two swimming sessions make this trip a better fit for people who want an active day than for those mainly interested in sightseeing. The schedule gives you a genuine chance to get wet, rather than treating swimming as a five-minute photo stop.

At the same time, you should not expect a guided snorkeling excursion. The equipment is provided, but the experience is self-directed. There is no detailed underwater program described, and no special instruction beyond the crew’s normal support. For casual swimming and simple snorkeling, that is enough.

The boat leaves Šolta around 15:15. During the return journey, watermelon is served at about 16:30. This is a useful late-afternoon refreshment after time in the sun and salt water.

The return to Podstrana and Krilo Jesenice

The boat reaches Sv. Martin Podstrana around 17:20 and Krilo Jesenice around 17:45. The full outing takes approximately eight to nine hours, depending on the pickup point and the day’s timing.

That length makes this a major day activity, not a short add-on. You will be out for most of the daylight hours, so plan the rest of your evening lightly. The return is still early enough for dinner in Split or along the Podstrana coast, assuming the schedule runs as planned.

One especially useful detail is the crew’s willingness to help when plans change. Direct trip feedback describes the crew driving passengers home after an unscheduled stop. That does not mean private drop-off is a standard part of the tour, so do not count on it, but it suggests a practical attitude when something goes wrong.

The normal arrangement is simply to return you to the meeting point. Make sure your transport plan matches your chosen pickup location, especially if you are boarding in Podstrana and staying elsewhere.

What the $66.23 price really covers

At $66.23 per person, the trip is priced as a full-day coastal outing rather than a bare boat transfer. The value comes from the number of included pieces:

• Boat transportation from the Podstrana and Jesenice area
• Free time in Sutivan
• Two swimming stops
• Fresh BBQ lunch
• Salad and bread
• Red wine, water, and orange juice with lunch
• Coffee, tea, welcome drinks, chocolate donuts, and afternoon watermelon
• Snorkels, floaties, and water polo balls
• Wi-Fi onboard

The lunch and equipment make the price easier to justify. If you paid separately for a boat ride, a restaurant meal, drinks, and water equipment, the total would rise quickly.

The price does not include every drink. Alcoholic beverages are restricted to adults, and anything ordered outside the included lunch service costs extra. Snacks such as ice cream and chips also cost extra. This is normal for an all-day boat trip, but bring a card or cash suitable for the onboard bar if you want more than the included food and drinks.

The experience is best value for someone who will actually use the swimming gear and enjoy the full day. If you only want to see an island from the sea and rarely swim, a shorter sightseeing cruise could suit you better.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would recommend this outing to families, couples, and groups of friends who want a low-effort island day from the Split area. You get several activities without arranging ferries, restaurants, beach equipment, and return transport separately.

It also suits people who prefer a loose schedule. You have set departure times, but Sutivan is self-guided, and the swimming stops are informal. You are free to swim, snorkel, float, eat, or sit in the shade.

The trip may be less suitable if you dislike group outings or want a quiet luxury cruise. Up to 45 people can be onboard, and the day follows a fixed route. It is also not ideal for someone who needs a sandy beach or easy shallow-water entry, since the swimming is from the anchored boat using ladders or jumps.

Most people can participate, and the activity is near public transportation. Still, the supplied information does not describe specific accessibility arrangements, so ask the operator directly if you have mobility concerns or need help boarding.

The cruise requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If weather cancels the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. If the minimum number is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Final verdict: a strong choice for a social sea day

Book this trip if you want to combine Brač sightseeing, Šolta swimming, and a proper lunch without planning every detail yourself. Sutivan adds a useful land stop, while the two water sessions keep the day from becoming a simple boat ride.

The strongest points are the fresh meal, the friendly crew, the useful swimming equipment, and the number of inclusions for the price. The main compromises are the early pickup, fixed schedule, group size, and extra charges for drinks and snacks outside lunch.

I would choose it for a first Dalmatian boat day, especially if you are staying around Podstrana or Krilo Jesenice. I would skip it only if you want a private boat, a long unstructured stay on one island, or a small-group snorkeling trip with more specialized instruction.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

Pickup begins around Krilo Jesenice, then continues toward Sv. Martin Podstrana and Le Méridien Lav marina. The first listed pickup is at Hotel Krilo around 8:25, and the main sailing departure is around 9:30.

How long does the experience last?

The boat trip takes approximately eight to nine hours. The listed return times are around 17:20 at Sv. Martin Podstrana and 17:45 at Krilo Jesenice.

What food choices are available for lunch?

Lunch includes a choice of fresh mackerel, boneless chicken, or a vegetarian burger, served with salad and bread. You should provide your meal preference when booking.

Are drinks included?

Red wine, water, and orange juice are included during lunch. Coffee or tea, a welcome drink, chocolate donuts, and watermelon are also provided. Drinks ordered before or after lunch are paid for separately at the bar.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkels, floaties, and water polo balls are provided for the swimming stops. The boat also has ladders on both sides for entering and leaving the water.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded or accepted.