Family of 6 Boat Tour from Split: Group or Private?
How to plan a boat tour from Split for a family of 6: the arithmetic of group vs private, which tour suits mixed ages
By Paolo (Skipper) · 6 min read · Updated 2026-08-28
The arithmetic for a family of 6
Group Blue Cave 5 Island Tour: €110 per person, so €660 total for 6.
Private Blue Cave Tour: €1,300 per boat, so €217 per person.
Difference: €640 total, or €107 per person.
The €640 extra buys the entire boat for your family. Whether that is worth it depends on what you value.
When group is the right call for 6
Budget-conscious families. €640 is real money and a group tour delivers the same route and the same sights.
Families with kids aged 8 to 14 who enjoy meeting other kids on the boat. The shared experience can be a positive.
Families happy with a fixed schedule.
Most families of 6 do fine on the group tour.
When private is worth the difference for 6
Mixed-age families. Grandparents and toddlers need different paces. Private accommodates.
Special occasions: anniversary, milestone birthday, family reunion.
Families with one child who has specific needs (mobility, anxiety, dietary). Private avoids the stress of a shared boat.
Families wanting to focus on photography or specific spots not on the standard route.
Which tour fits a family of 6
Children 8 and up: Blue Cave 5 Island Tour. The full day works for older kids and is the most memorable Croatia experience.
Children 5 to 7: borderline. Sometimes works, sometimes too long. Honest read with the operator before booking.
Children under 5: skip the Blue Cave. Take the Blue Lagoon and Trogir half-day instead. Calmer, shorter, easier.
Multi-age families: pick the tour that suits the youngest comfortable child. Stretching the youngest is rarely worth it.
Practical considerations for 6 people
Boats with 12-person capacity handle 6 easily. The group is half-full: comfortable, not crowded.
Six is the maximum for one bench at most Hvar lunch restaurants. Reserve a table in advance to avoid splitting.
On the boat itself, 6 people means everyone has a seat, room to move, and personal space.
For luggage and gear (towels, sunscreen, snacks for kids), bring a single shared bag rather than 6 individual ones.
Sun and heat for kids
UV swim shirts for all children. Not optional.
Hats for everyone. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. Set phone reminders.
Water bottles for each person: encourage continuous drinking.
Take advantage of the wind jacket and canopy shade on the boat. Move kids into shade between swim stops.
Snack management for 6
Bring snacks for the boat. Fruit, biscuits, sandwiches, granola bars. Children eat continuously when active and the lunch stop is mid-afternoon.
A small cooler bag is welcome on most boats. Bring it.
Avoid sugary snacks that crash energy. Bananas, nuts, dried fruit, savoury crackers are better.
Lunch in Hvar with 6 people
Reserve in advance. WhatsApp the operator or directly the restaurant.
A 90-minute lunch stop is enough for a sit-down family meal if you order promptly.
Kid-friendly options: pizza places near the harbour, the konobas with pasta and grilled fish (most kids eat these).
Budget €60 to €120 for the family lunch in Hvar depending on choices.
Booking timing for 6
Group tour: book 2 to 4 weeks ahead in shoulder season, 4 to 6 weeks in peak. A group of 6 fills 6 of the 12 seats: you want availability.
Private tour: book 3 to 6 weeks ahead, longer in peak.
For a guaranteed family group on the boat (no strangers), private is the only option.
After the tour
Plan a low-key family dinner. Pizza in Split, casual konoba, room service.
Kids will be tired. Older family members too. An 18:30 return means dinner by 20:00 and bed by 22:00.
A rest morning the next day is welcome before any other major activity.
Further reading: see also our family Blue Cave practical guide, the group-of-8 private math, the Blue Cave with teens read, and the Blue Cave with toddlers honest piece. Cornerstone day at /tours/blue-cave-5-island-tour and the calmer half-day at /tours/blue-lagoon-trogir-tour.
Ready to plan the route?
Compare group and private speedboat tours from Split, or go directly to the route mentioned in this guide.
About the author
Paolo
Skipper · 10 seasons in Split
Skipper with more than 10 years of Adriatic experience. Calm under pressure, methodical about safety, and the captain we trust with the most cautious guests: families with young kids, first-time-on-a-boat travellers, anyone nervous about open water. With Paolo at the wheel the day is smooth on purpose.
Meet the rest of the crew →Common questions
Is a private boat worth it for a family of six?
It is close. Six group seats at €110 is €660 against €700 to €1,300 for the whole boat, so on the shorter routes private is nearly the same money, and you get your own timing, which with children is worth more than the price difference.
Can six people fit on one boat?
Comfortably. The boats take twelve, so a family of six has room to spread out, which matters on a ten-hour day far more than it does on a half-day.
What is the best route for a family of six?
The Blue Lagoon and Trogir half-day with younger children, and the Golden Cape route with teenagers. Both avoid the 07:00 start and the long open-water crossings of the Blue Cave day.
Do children pay full price?
On a private charter nobody pays per head: the price is for the boat. On group tours children are charged at a reduced rate; ask when you book and we will quote the exact figure for your ages.