Non-negotiables
Swimsuit (worn under clothes — the boat bathroom is tiny and you want to be in the water at the first stop without thinking about it).
High-SPF reef-safe sunscreen. SPF 30 minimum, 50 for fair skin. The Adriatic reflects light from all sides — exposure is double what you expect.
Real hat. Wide-brim ideal, baseball cap minimum. 10 hours on the water without head protection is a guaranteed burn.
Polarised sunglasses. Cheap unpolarised glasses make the day glare-heavy and tiring.
Water — 1.5 litres minimum per person. Cold drinks are included on board but you want your own bottle for continuous sipping.
Cash — €30-50 per person. You need it for the Blue Cave entrance (cash only on Biševo), lunch in Hvar, and incidental purchases. Croatia uses the euro.
The forgotten essentials
Light long-sleeve layer for the crossings. Even on a 32°C day, the wind chill at 23 knots feels noticeably cool. A thin technical shirt makes a big difference.
Water shoes for Stiniva and Pakleni — both are pebble beaches and the entry can be sharp underfoot.
Lip balm with SPF. Lips burn fast and uncomfortably. Without it, sunset dinner feels strange.
Motion sickness pills, even if you "never get seasick". The Biševo crossing can be choppy. €1 Dramamine an hour before departure is cheap insurance.
Phone case or waterproof pouch. Spray, sweat, splashes — the phone is at risk all day.
Children-specific
UV swim shirt or rashguard. Easier than reapplying sunscreen every two hours and provides better protection.
Swim noodle or arm bands for younger swimmers. The Blue Lagoon is shallow but other stops (Stiniva, around the boat) drop off quickly.
Snacks. Children who eat lightly through the day stay happier than children who wait until Hvar at midday.
A favourite toy or downloaded show on a tablet for the longer crossings.
What NOT to bring
Large hard suitcases. Boats have limited space. Soft duffel or backpack only.
Glass bottles. Crews prefer cans or plastic — broken glass is dangerous on deck.
Full DSLR camera if you don't normally bring one. Salt spray is unkind to camera bodies. Phone in case captures 95% of what you want.
Hair products and full make-up. Wind + salt water + sun makes elaborate hair pointless in 20 minutes.
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