Private Boat Tour from Split: What is Actually Included

A private boat tour means the boat is exclusively yours for the day. No other guests, no shared schedule, no compromise on the route or pace. Pricing is per boat (not per person), which is a fundamentally different calculation from group tours.

The implications: you can adjust the day, the boat is configured around your group, the crew works for your party only, and there are no strangers to negotiate with.

The entire boat for your group only — up to 12 passengers depending on the boat.

A professional skipper and a sailor (two crew members) for the day.

All fuel for the route, regardless of distance covered.

Travel insurance for all passengers.

Snorkelling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel) for every guest.

Wind jackets available on board for cool moments.

Cold drinks throughout the day — water, soft drinks, sometimes beer.

A swim platform, sun deck, shaded canopy, and standard marine equipment.

A bathroom on board.

Blue Cave entrance fee (~€15 per person, cash, paid locally) — applies on Blue Cave routes.

Lunch. Eaten independently at a restaurant stop in Hvar, Bol, or another stop town.

Personal spending money — drinks at beach bars, ice cream, souvenirs.

Tips for the crew — €100 to €200 typical for a full day.

Any specific entrance fees to museums, fortresses, or other paid sights ashore.

Music system — Bluetooth or aux for your playlist. Often the most appreciated little touch.

Phone charging on the boat — USB ports for guest phones.

A coffee maker on board — particularly useful for early morning departures.

Small towels for guests who forget theirs.

A safety briefing and route explanation at the start of the day.

A bottle of local wine for the return ride — usually €20 to €30 extra. Excellent for sunset returns.

Pre-ordered lunch from a specific restaurant. The crew can arrange and pre-pay to save time.

Pickup or drop-off at a specific marina or hotel dock instead of Split Riva. May involve a small additional charge.

Early departure (06:30 instead of 09:00) for the calmest sea and the best Blue Cave light. Often arranged at no extra cost.

How many crew members are on board? Two (skipper plus sailor) is standard for quality private tours.

What size boat? Capacity 8 to 12 is standard.

What happens if weather cancels? Reschedule, refund, or alternative route — the clear answer matters.

Is the boat insured? It should be.

Is fuel included for the entire route, or are there surcharges for distance?

Private boat at €1,300 for 8 people = €162 per person.

Group tour at €119 per person.

Difference: €43 per person, or €344 total for the group.

For 4 people: €1,300 / 4 = €325 per person. Group at €119 = €476 total. Difference: €824 for the group. Group tour wins clearly.

For 10 people: €1,300 / 10 = €130 per person. Group tour at €1,190 total. Difference: €110 for the group. Private wins.

Eight is the typical inflection point. Below 8, group is much better value. At 8 and above, private starts to compete.

You pay for the boat, not per person. A boat of 12-passenger capacity is the same price for 4 people or 12 people.

For groups of 12 maxing out the boat, private becomes cheaper per person than the group tour.

For very small groups (2 or 3), private is much more expensive per person but bought for the privacy and flexibility.

Private boats book faster than group tours. Peak season (July, August): 6 to 8 weeks ahead minimum.

Shoulder season: 3 to 5 weeks ahead.

Weekends require more lead time than weekdays.

A quality operator quotes a flat price per boat with a clear list of inclusions and exclusions. No hidden fees, no fuel surcharges, no surprises.

If the price quoted does not match what you pay, something is wrong. Ask for written confirmation of the total before booking.

Further reading: see also our group-of-8 private Blue Cave math, the family-of-6 boat tour read, the cheapest Blue Cave tour catch piece, and the choosing-an-operator guide. Compare private routes at /tours and the most-booked at /tours/blue-cave-private-tour.