Full-Day Catamaran Cruise to Hvar & Pakleni Islands with Food and free Drinks

The best thing about this 10-hour catamaran day is its mix of clear-water swim stops and time in Hvar. You get a little sightseeing, a lot of sea time, and a lively return ride with music, games, and dancing. It is less a quiet sailing trip than a relaxed island outing that gradually turns into a party.

I especially like the included food and drinks, plus the useful extras such as snorkeling masks and foam noodles. The crew, including hosts such as Mia and Manuela, puts real energy into the day. The main drawback is the length: there is quite a bit of time on the water, and the three swim stops may feel repetitive if you would rather have more time ashore.

• Three swimming stops: Cool off near Brač, the Pakleni Islands, and Šolta.
• About two hours in Hvar: Take a guided introduction to the old town, then explore on your own.
• Food throughout the day: Expect an early pastry and coffee, chicken salad for lunch, then fruit and cakes.
• Open bar after the first swim: Beer, wine, soft drinks, water, and coffee are included.
• A social finish: Music, games, and dancing often fill the final part of the ride back to Split.
• Maximum of 76 people: The boat is sizeable, but it is not one of the largest, most crowded party boats at the harbor.

A Full Adriatic Day That Builds Toward a Party

Summer Blues gives you a full day out of Split without asking you to plan ferries, beaches, lunch, or island connections. For $119.72 per person, the price covers the boat, the Hvar guide, meals, and an open bar. That is a solid deal if you would otherwise pay separately for transport, food, and drinks.

The tradeoff is time. You leave at 8:30 a.m. and return after roughly 10 hours, with about an hour of cruising back to Split. This is not a quick Hvar visit. You are paying for the whole day at sea, including the quiet stretches between stops.

The mood changes as the day goes on. Morning is calm, with coffee and a pastry. The first swim gives you room to settle in. Hvar adds a touch of sightseeing. After that, the open bar, music, and crew-led games push the atmosphere toward a social boat party, especially on the way home.

That blend suits you if you want to swim, meet people, hear music, and see Hvar without treating the day as a serious cultural excursion. If your main goal is two or three quiet hours in Hvar, a direct ferry gives you more freedom.

Meeting the Summer Blues Catamaran in Split

The boat leaves from Obala Lazareta 1, at dock 4 or 5 in Split harbor. You meet the crew directly in front of the catamaran named Summer Blues. Several boat companies use nearby boarding areas, so check the name and join the correct queue.

The activity is offered in English, and confirmation arrives when you book. The harbor is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying outside Split’s old center. Since this is a popular outing, it is often reserved well ahead of time, with average bookings made about 35 days before departure.

The boat can carry up to 76 people. That gives you more room than the biggest floating party boats, though this is still a group activity. One useful rule is easy to miss: groups of more than 10 people are not allowed on the daily tours. If your party is larger, split arrangements are not something to assume will work, since the operator can refuse boarding without a refund.

Brač Begins the Day With a Swim

The first stop is a bay near Brač, reached after a relaxed cruise from Split. You have about an hour to swim and cool off in the clear sea. This is a good opening stop because you can wake up gradually rather than rushing straight into a packed schedule.

Bring sunscreen and expect plenty of time exposed to the sun between stops. The boat provides snorkeling masks and foam noodles, according to the details available for this trip, so you do not have to bring all your own swim gear. Still, a towel, sunglasses, a hat, and a waterproof phone pouch are sensible additions.

Alcoholic drinks begin after the first swim stop. In the morning, you can have coffee, water, soft drinks, and the early food service. The delayed start for beer and wine makes practical sense, since the first swim comes before the bar opens fully.

The sea can be choppy on the open stretches. If you are prone to motion sickness, bring your usual medication or ask the crew about the pills kept on board. The catamaran may feel smooth in a sheltered bay and much less so when it meets larger swells.

Hvar Gives You Sightseeing, But Not a Full Day Ashore

The cruise continues to Hvar, where the land portion lasts about two hours. A professional guide first leads you around the old town and points out the main sights. After the guided walk, you have roughly an hour to choose your own activity.

That free time is enough for a coffee along the promenade, a short wander through the streets, or souvenir shopping. It is not enough for a slow museum visit, a long meal, and a thorough climb around town. Keep your expectations in line and you will find the stop useful.

I like this arrangement because you get an introduction without being tied to a guide for the whole visit. Hosts such as Manuela and Mia have been praised for keeping people informed without filling the day with a constant stream of facts. The Hvar portion gives the trip some cultural shape, but the boat day remains the main event.

Hvar is likely to be your favorite stop if you want a glimpse of the town before returning another time for a longer stay. Several details in the schedule point to the same conclusion: the visit is an appetizer, not a complete Hvar tour.

Pakleni Islands Add a More Secluded Swim

After Hvar, you return to the catamaran at the waterfront and continue toward the Pakleni Islands. The boat stops in one of the islands’ quieter bays for another swim of about an hour.

This is where the trip feels most like a classic Dalmatian island day. You are surrounded by open water and rocky coast rather than town streets and harbor traffic. The swimming is the focus, so use the noodles or masks if you want a relaxed float or a look below the surface.

Lunch is served around this part of the day. The advertised dish is a chicken salad, but it is worth knowing what that means: it is a light salad with pieces of chicken on top, not a creamy chicken salad. It works as a simple meal at sea, though hungry people expecting a substantial lunch may want to eat a good breakfast before departure.

The food service also includes a pastry early in the day, coffee, and later fruit and homemade cakes. Vegetarian food is available if you request it when booking. If you have specific dietary needs beyond that, the supplied information does not spell out other options, so ask before you go.

Šolta Ends the Swimming Schedule

On the return route, the catamaran makes another swim stop near Šolta. You have about an hour in the water, followed by fruit and cakes on board. By this point, the stop is welcome if you still want to swim, but it may feel similar to the earlier two.

That repetition is the clearest weakness of the itinerary. The three stops offer several chances to enjoy the sea, but they do not create three sharply different activities. If you prefer variety, you may wish one swim stop were replaced with extra time in Hvar.

On the other hand, the repeated pauses keep the day from becoming one long ride. You can swim, dry off, eat, sit on deck, and watch the islands pass. For a hot summer day, that simple rhythm may be exactly what you need.

The Open Bar and Sunset Ride Home

The open bar includes unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, water, and coffee. Alcohol begins after the first swim stop, and the drinks continue through the day. This inclusion makes the $119.72 fare more attractive, especially if you expect to buy several drinks during a 10-hour outing.

Use some restraint if you want to enjoy all three swim stops. The trip starts as a laid-back day at sea, but the drinks and music gradually change the tone. By the return ride, the crew often turns up the music, organizes games, and gets people dancing.

That final stretch is one of the most praised parts of the experience. The crew creates a friendly, social atmosphere, and people often make new friends on board. The music is aimed at a broad audience, with familiar dance songs rather than a quiet, refined soundtrack.

The party element also explains why this tour is not ideal for everyone. Children over age two are permitted, and families can take part, but the mood becomes more adult and energetic later in the day. If you want a peaceful family boat ride from start to finish, choose carefully. If you like a swim day that finishes with dancing, this is a major advantage.

What the Crew Adds to the Experience

The crew is one of the strongest reasons to choose this particular outing. Staff members help with boarding, food, drinks, swim equipment, and general questions. They also keep the group moving on schedule, which matters when four stops and a guided visit must fit into one long day.

Mia and Manuela are names associated with especially warm hosting. You cannot assume which host will be assigned to your departure, but the available details indicate that the team focuses on making people feel included rather than delivering nonstop formal commentary.

The guide in Hvar provides the main historical and sightseeing information. On the boat, you should expect a lighter touch. This is useful if you prefer time to look around without a microphone talking over every view. It may disappoint you if you want detailed history of each island.

Is $119.72 Good Value?

At $119.72, this is not the cheapest way to reach Hvar. A ferry and self-planned beach day may cost less, especially if you skip the open bar and eat simply. But that comparison misses what the fare bundles together.

You receive a full-day catamaran ride, a guided walk in Hvar, three swim stops, breakfast, lunch, snacks, coffee, soft drinks, water, beer, and wine. You also avoid planning separate boat tickets, finding a swimming bay, and arranging lunch between connections.

I see the price as good value for a social day at sea. It is less compelling if you do not drink, dislike group activities, or want maximum time in Hvar. The fare pays for convenience and atmosphere as much as for transportation.

The 94 percent recommendation rate and 4.8 rating from 670 reviews support the idea that the basic formula works well. The praise centers on the crew, swim spots, food, music, and organization. The recurring cautions are equally clear: boat motion can be rough, lunch is light, and the swim stops may feel alike.

Who Should Book This Catamaran Day?

I would choose this for couples, friends, solo visitors who enjoy meeting people, and families with older children who are comfortable with a later party mood. It works especially well when you want to see Hvar but do not want to spend a day arranging island transport.

You should bring sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, motion sickness medication if needed, and a layer for the ride home. Wear shoes that are easy to remove for swimming and keep your valuables secure while you are in the water.

I would not make this my first choice for a quiet sailing trip, a serious Hvar history tour, or a family outing where calm matters more than music. I would also think twice if you get tired after long periods on a boat.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the 8:30 a.m. start time. Late cancellations and changes are not refunded. Bad weather or failure to reach the minimum number of participants can cancel the trip, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should You Book the Summer Blues Cruise?

Book it if you want three chances to swim, a short guided look at Hvar, included food and drinks, and a lively ride back to Split. The crew and the easy social mood are the real strengths, while the final music and dancing give the long day a clear finish.

Skip it if you want a quiet boat, more than an hour of free time in Hvar, or a different activity at every stop. For the right kind of day, though, this is an efficient way to combine the Adriatic, Hvar, island swimming, and a little holiday excess in one organized outing.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran leave from in Split?

Meet directly in front of the Summer Blues catamaran at dock 4 or 5 in Split harbor, at Obala Lazareta 1. Check that you are in the correct queue because other boat companies board nearby.

What time does the tour start and finish?

The start time is 8:30 a.m. The full activity lasts about 10 hours and ends back at the same meeting point in Split.

Is food included?

Yes. The day includes an early pastry and coffee, a chicken salad lunch, and later fruit and homemade cakes. A vegetarian option is available if you request it when booking.

What drinks are included?

Unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, water, and coffee are included. Alcoholic drinks are served after the first swim stop.

How much free time do I get in Hvar?

The Hvar portion lasts about two hours. It begins with a guided sightseeing walk, followed by about one hour of free time for coffee, shopping, or independent exploring.

Can children join the cruise?

The tour is recommended for children over two years old. Keep in mind that the atmosphere becomes more lively later in the day, with music, games, and dancing on the return ride.