What to pack for a boat day (and what to leave).

This guide covers our private boat tours, from the sunset cruise to the full-day Elaphiti and Mljet trips. After the two lists come documents, children, seasickness and sun.

Private Boat ToursSee the boat tours →

On most of our boats

We confirm exactly what is aboard your boat with your quote.

• Towels, one per guest.
• Snorkel masks and fins in a range of sizes.
• A stand-up paddleboard on some tour boats; we confirm it with your offer.
• Chilled water, soft drinks, beer and wine.
• Shade: a bimini on the speedboats, a saloon on the yachts.
• USB charging and dry storage for bags.

Bring these six things

1. Swimwear under your clothes, as the first swim stop comes soon after departure.
2. High-SPF sunscreen, as the sun reflects off the water. Choose a reef-safe one if you can.
3. A hat with a strap or clip, so it stays on at speed.
4. Sunglasses, ideally polarised, for the glare off the water.
5. A light layer for the return trip, when the afternoon wind picks up.
6. A zip pocket or waterproof pouch for your phone.

Cross-border trips

Trips to Montenegro (Kotor by road, or the Bay of Kotor by boat) and to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina cross an international border. Every guest needs a valid document, including children: a national ID card or passport for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, a passport for everyone else.

Leave at the hotel

Hard-soled shoes (bare feet or boat shoes on board), drones (flying near the Old Town needs a permit), large inflatables (the wind takes them) and anything you would not want to lose overboard. There is a dry locker for valuables, but it is simpler to leave them ashore.

Extras by trip

What else you need depends on how long you are out and whether you go ashore. The six basics above cover every trip; these are the extras by route.

• Half-day tours and the sunset cruise: nothing beyond the basic list. You are back before lunch or dinner.
• Full-day Elaphiti: a card or some cash for lunch ashore, which is not included, and a T-shirt to put on in the village.
• Mljet National Park: trainers or strapped sandals for the gravel paths around the lakes. Bring money for the park ticket, which is paid at the entrance, and for bike rental if you want to cycle the loop. Details are on the Mljet tour page.
• Korčula: shoes with grip for the polished stone streets and stairs of the old town, and money for lunch.
• Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor: a valid document for every guest, as described above. Keep it somewhere dry.

Food, drinks and music

Drinks are on board on most boats, so there is no need to carry water or soft drinks. You are welcome to bring your own snacks and fruit. Meals are not prepared or served on board; for lunch we stop at a restaurant ashore, and the crew can book a table for you.

There are Bluetooth speakers on board, so bring a playlist downloaded to your phone, as mobile signal can be weak in some coves.

Packing for children

Our private tours work for all ages, including small children. Lifejackets are on board for every guest; tell us the children’s ages when you book. For the children themselves, pack:

• Swim nappies for babies and toddlers.
• A long-sleeved UV swim shirt, which is easier than reapplying sunscreen on a child who swims every hour.
• A full change of dry clothes for the ride home.
• Their favourite snack. We can also stock child-friendly snacks and drinks if you tell us in advance.
• Small toys or a book for the longer legs; leave large inflatables at the hotel.

If you get seasick

Most of our routes stay in sheltered water between the islands, where the motion is small. If you know you are prone to seasickness, tell us when you book; we plan a calmer route and timing and can recommend a remedy. On the day:

• If you use motion-sickness tablets, take them before departure as the pack directs. Pharmacies in Dubrovnik sell them without a prescription.
• Eat a light breakfast; an empty stomach makes it worse.
• Sit towards the back and the middle of the boat and look at the horizon rather than your phone.
• Go easy on alcohol until you know how you feel.

For guests who are sensitive, a motor yacht or a catamaran is the steadiest choice. The yachts are also the most comfortable, with shade and a saloon out of the wind.

Heat in July and August

In midsummer the sun on the water is stronger than it feels with the breeze. Drink water through the day, not only when you are thirsty; there is chilled water on board. After-sun lotion helps in the evening, and the bimini or the saloon gives shade during the hottest hours.

The evening before

• Check your messages. We watch the forecast and contact you the day before if conditions look uncertain. If conditions are not suitable for safe cruising, you can reschedule or receive a full refund of your deposit (see our weather policy).
• Confirm the pick-up. Hotel transfer is included on most boats; check the time and whether you board at Cavtat, Lapad, ACI Marina Komolac or the Old Port.
• Charge your phone and put the documents and money for the day in one bag.

More answers on booking, boarding and weather are in our FAQ, and the full list of routes is on the private boat tours page.

Sun and UV on the water

From June to September the midday UV index along the Dalmatian coast is usually very high. On a boat you get the sun twice: from above and reflected off the water. The World Health Organization recommends shade, a hat, sunglasses and a broad-spectrum sunscreen whenever the index is 3 or more, which on a summer boat day means most of the day.

• Sunscreen: put it on at the hotel, then again after every swim. Spray bottles blow away in the wind on deck; a cream or stick works better.
• Cover-up: a long-sleeved shirt or light linen top for the return trip, when the sun is low and the wind picks up.
• Hat that stays on: caps and soft hats with a strap survive the speedboat legs; wide straw hats rarely do.

A breezy day feels cooler than it is, and that is when people burn without noticing. The marine forecast from the Croatian Meteorological Service shows the wind for the next day; if it is windy, put sunscreen on more often, not less.

Money, phones and documents

Croatia uses the euro. Island restaurants and beach bars mostly take cards, but small kiosks, bike rentals and tips are easier with some cash, so bring 50 to 100 euros in small notes. If your day includes a national park, the ticket is paid at the entrance; see our Mljet guide for what that covers.

• Phone: a waterproof pouch or a zip bag keeps it safe from spray and lets you take photos in the water. The boat has a dry spot for bags and a charging point on most boats.
• Documents: carry an ID card or passport, as anywhere in Croatia. For Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina see Cross-border trips above.

Snorkelling and swim kit

Snorkelling masks, fins and towels are on board on most boats, so you only need your own if you have a favourite mask or need a prescription one. Beyond the six basics, two more things are worth bringing. Water shoes help, because many coves have pebble or rock entries and the occasional sea urchin. A second swimsuit means you are not sitting in a wet one on the way home.

Children swim best in a well-fitting life vest or swim vest rather than arm bands; tell us their ages and we bring the right sizes. On days with several swim stops, plan one stop for snorkelling and one for floating, as in the photo below.

Keep reading

• Speedboat, catamaran or yacht? How to choose the boat for your group and route.
• Quiet coves near Dubrovnik: where we anchor when the main bays are full.
• Dubrovnik sunset cruise: what to bring for an evening on the water.
• Ready to plan? See our half-day boat tours or rent a boat with a skipper.

Questions