Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat

The Adriatic is best seen from the water. This private Dubrovnik speedboat trip combines coastal views, cave swimming, quiet island time, and a long stop at sandy Sunj Beach. I especially like the private boat for up to 12 people and the chance to shape the day around swimming, music, and relaxed island stops.

I also like that snorkeling equipment, drinks, bottled water, and the skipper are included. The main thing to watch is the extra fuel charge paid in cash, which can reach €150 for a full-day tour. Also, the schedule includes Pasjača Beach as an alternative to the Elaphiti Islands, so you should confirm the final route before setting off.

Key points at a glance

• A true private outing: Your group has the boat to itself, with space for as many as 12 people.
• Blue Cave swimming: You enter by jumping into the sea, then swim through a small opening into water about four meters deep.
• Three caves around Kolocep: The stop includes two green caves and a canyon-like cave, with about an hour for exploring.
• Sunj Beach offers a sandy break: Lopud’s shallow beach works well for families and anyone ready for a slower hour after swimming.
• Your own music is welcome: A recent booking praised the quiet boat, sunset timing, and ability to listen to a personal playlist.
• Budget for fuel: A full-day fuel surcharge of €150 is paid separately in cash, so the headline price is not the complete cost.

A private day on Dubrovnik’s blue coast

This is an eight-hour private boat outing from the Dubrovnik area, offered in English. The listed price is $360.44 per group, not per person, and the boat can carry up to 12 people. That makes the cost attractive for a larger family or group of friends, but less of a bargain for one or two people once the fuel charge is added.

The day is built around the sea rather than museums or formal sightseeing. You will see Dubrovnik from offshore, swim at cave entrances, stop around the Elaphiti islands, and have time for the beach and lunch. It is a good choice if you want your Dubrovnik day to feel active and easygoing instead of tightly scheduled.

I would not choose this as your main introduction to Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The opening coastal cruise gives you panoramic views, but it does not replace walking the city walls or exploring the historic center on foot. Think of this as a coastal escape that begins near Dubrovnik, not as a full city sightseeing tour.

The boat is described as a new Mercan Excursion 34, and a recent booking praised it for being especially quiet. That matters on an eight-hour day. A noisy boat can turn conversation and music into work, while a quieter ride lets you enjoy the coastline without constant engine racket.

Seeing Dubrovnik from the water

The first stop is described as a panoramic cruise around Dubrovnik’s coast, with about 25 minutes set aside for the view. From the water, you get a different sense of the city’s position, with the walls and shoreline viewed as one broad scene rather than as a series of streets and lookout points.

This part is brief, so keep your expectations in check. You are not spending the morning touring every corner of Dubrovnik’s fortifications, and there is no admission ticket included because this is a boat view rather than a wall visit. Still, it is a useful opening: you can settle into the boat, take photos, and see the city before heading toward the caves.

The boat ride to the Blue Cave is expected to take around 20 minutes. Bring your camera, but protect it carefully around the swimming stops. Saltwater, wet hands, and a small cave entrance are not a good combination for expensive equipment.

Swimming into Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave

The Blue Cave is one of the day’s most unusual stops. You do not enter by walking through a large opening. The entrance is small, and the only way inside is to jump into the sea and swim through it.

You do not need to swim underwater through a long passage, but you must be comfortable in open water. The cave is about four meters deep, and you cannot stand on the bottom. If you are not a confident swimmer, this stop may be more stressful than fun.

The planned time is about 35 minutes. That is enough for a swim and a look around, though it is not a long beach-style stop. The attraction comes from the setting and the way you enter, not from spending half a day inside the cave.

Pack a swimsuit, towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and a spare change of clothes. These items are not supplied. Snorkeling equipment is included, but you should still bring whatever personal swim gear helps you feel secure in the water.

Three Green Caves around Kolocep

The next stop lasts about an hour and includes two green caves plus a canyon-like cave on Kolocep Island. This is where the trip feels most like a small coastal exploration rather than a simple boat transfer.

The caves give you several different settings in one stop. You can look at the rock shapes, swim, and use the provided snorkeling equipment. The canyon cave adds variety, so the hour should feel less repetitive than visiting a single cave and immediately moving on.

As with the Blue Cave, the practical question is your comfort in the water. The provided details do not promise platforms, ladders, or shallow footing at every cave. Bring a towel and dry clothes, and expect to spend much of this stop around the boat and water rather than on a conventional walking trail.

I like the way this stop follows the Blue Cave. You get the more unusual cave entrance first, then a longer period to enjoy several caves at your own pace. Since the boat is private, you can ask the skipper about timing and spend more of the hour swimming if that is what your group prefers.

Sunj Beach on Lopud

After cave exploring, Sunj Beach provides a welcome change of pace. It sits on the south side of Lopud, one of the small islands near Dubrovnik, and is known for its long sandy shore. The planned stop is about an hour.

The water is notably shallow. You may walk roughly 100 meters before reaching swimming depth, which makes the beach appealing for families with small children and anyone who prefers a gentler entry than the cave stops. It also gives you room to stretch your legs after time aboard the speedboat.

Sunj is not only for swimming. The beach area is suited to relaxing, and activities listed for the area include volleyball, tennis, and picigin. You should treat those as available recreation possibilities rather than guaranteed parts of the boat tour.

The shallow water has a tradeoff. Strong swimmers looking for an immediate swim may find the long walk out a little tiresome. For families, though, that same shallow approach can make the stop feel less demanding.

Lunch and island time on Lopud

Lopud is also the main chance to stop for lunch. Restaurants line the coast, and the island is presented as a good place to eat after the swimming and beach stops.

Lunch is not listed as included, so plan to pay for it yourself. The supplied details do not name a particular restaurant or give a menu, which means you should ask the skipper where the group will stop and how much time is available before ordering.

The schedule gives Lopud and the return journey a combined three-hour block. That is useful because lunch does not have to feel rushed, but the exact division between eating, beach time, and island time may vary. Sunj Beach has its own one-hour allocation, so you should clarify whether the three-hour Lopud section includes the meal and return preparation.

This is one of the better features for a private group. Some people can eat while others take a short walk or sit by the water. You are not locked into a standard coach schedule, although the boat still needs to keep enough time for the return to Dubrovnik.

Pasjača Beach as an alternative route

Pasjača Beach is described as an alternative if you do not want to visit the Elaphiti Islands or have already seen them. It is not clearly an additional stop after Kolocep, Lopud, and the return journey. The stated timing gives Pasjača two hours, so the full route needs confirmation before departure.

That distinction matters. You should not assume you will visit both the Elaphiti Islands and Pasjača Beach in one eight-hour outing. Ask the provider which route applies to your booking, particularly if Pasjača is your priority.

Pasjača is described as an amazing natural beach, but no further details are given about facilities, access, or water conditions. I would approach it as a scenic beach alternative, not as a guaranteed replacement with the same sandy, shallow character as Sunj.

The option is valuable if your group wants flexibility. You can choose the Elaphiti island route for caves, Sunj, and lunch on Lopud, or ask about Pasjača if you want a different coastal beach day.

What is included, and what costs extra

The tour includes the skipper, snorkeling equipment, bottled water, soda or pop, and alcoholic beverages. Those inclusions make the day easier, especially because you will be outdoors for around eight hours and moving between several swimming areas.

The fuel surcharge is the key extra cost:

• Sunset tour: €30 paid in cash
• Half-day tour: €80 paid in cash
• Full-day tour: €150 paid in cash

An eight-hour booking sounds like a full-day outing, so budget for the €150 charge unless the provider confirms a different category. Since the main price is $360.44 per group, the value depends heavily on group size. Split among 10 or 12 people, the base price plus fuel can be reasonable. For a couple, the same boat may feel expensive.

Alcoholic drinks are included, but the information does not specify which drinks or quantities. Bottled water and soda are also supplied. You should still bring personal snacks if your group needs food between the cave stops and lunch.

The boat is private, and only your group participates. That is a major part of the value. You avoid sharing the day with a large crowd and can enjoy your own playlist, an option specifically praised by Antonio’s recent customer response.

Timing, comfort, and the right packing list

Plan on roughly eight hours, with several stops in the water. This is not a passive sightseeing cruise. You will want swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a change of clothes. The provider specifically places those items outside the package.

A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch would be sensible, though it is not supplied. This is practical advice rather than a listed inclusion. You should also keep cameras secure when entering or leaving the Blue Cave.

The experience is offered in English, and confirmation arrives at booking. It is near public transportation, but the exact meeting point and pickup details are not given here, so confirm where you need to go and how early you should arrive.

Most people can participate, but the cave swimming requires confidence in water where you cannot stand. Anyone in your group who dislikes jumping from a boat, swimming through a small opening, or remaining in four-meter-deep water should know that the Blue Cave is a central feature, not a minor add-on.

Weather also matters. The tour requires good conditions. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

How the service shapes the day

The strongest service detail is the skipper, Antonio. A recent booking praised his helpful communication from the time of reservation, his punctual arrival, and his willingness to provide useful details before the trip. The same account praised the boat’s quiet ride and the freedom to swim until sunset while listening to a personal playlist.

Those details point to the best version of this outing: a relaxed private day where the skipper handles the route and your group enjoys the water at its own pace. Punctuality matters here because the schedule includes several stops, a meal break, and a long return ride.

The current rating is 5 out of 5 from 47 ratings, with 100 percent recommending the experience. That is a strong record, and the most praised elements are clear: Antonio’s helpful service, punctual timing, the quiet boat, swimming, and the personal feel of the day.

You should still ask direct questions before paying, especially about the fuel surcharge, the meeting point, and whether Pasjača replaces the Elaphiti route. Clear answers will help prevent an otherwise avoidable surprise.

Who should book this private boat day?

I would choose this for a family or friend group that wants a full day at sea without sharing the boat with strangers. It suits people who enjoy swimming, short coastal stops, island lunches, and a flexible private setting.

It is also a good match if you want to celebrate something quietly. The included drinks, personal music, and sunset possibility create a more relaxed mood than a standard group excursion.

Families may like Sunj Beach because the water is shallow, but parents should still consider the cave sections carefully. The Blue Cave requires a jump and swimming in water where you cannot stand, so it is not equally comfortable for every child or adult.

I would skip it if your main aim is Dubrovnik’s Old Town, if you want a land-based cultural tour, or if you dislike spending most of a day on a boat. I would also think twice if the €150 full-day fuel charge would stretch your budget.

Final verdict: a strong choice for the right group

Book this tour if you want a private Adriatic day built around swimming, caves, beaches, and island time. The quiet boat, attentive service from Antonio, included drinks and snorkeling gear, and freedom to play your own music give it a personal feel.

Before booking, confirm the fuel cost and exact route. If you understand that Pasjača may be an alternative rather than an extra stop, and if everyone in your group is comfortable in open water, this offers good value when shared among a larger party. For a group of friends or a family seeking a flexible day away from Dubrovnik’s streets, it is an appealing choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour take place?

The tour takes place in the Dubrovnik, Croatia area and is described as a private tour from Dubrovnik Cavtat.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The boat can accommodate one private group of up to 12 people.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Use of snorkeling equipment is included.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water, soda or pop, and alcoholic beverages are included.

Is the fuel surcharge included in the price?

No. The fuel surcharge is paid separately in cash. The stated amounts are €30 for a sunset tour, €80 for a half-day tour, and €150 for a full-day tour.

Do I need to swim to enter the Blue Cave?

Yes. The only way to enter the Blue Cave is to jump into the sea and swim through its small entrance. The cave is about four meters deep, and you cannot stand on the bottom.

Is Pasjača Beach included with the Elaphiti Islands route?

Pasjača Beach is described as an alternative if you do not want to visit the Elaphiti Islands or have already seen them. Confirm the exact route before departure.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.