Blue lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Comino Island & Caves

The main draw here is simple: you get three proper swimming stops in one day, plus a boat ride past Comino’s caves and rock formations. Blue Lagoon gets the longest break, followed by Crystal Lagoon and Halfa Rock near Gozo.

I like the generous time in the water and the fact that the trip is not only a quick photo stop. I also like the practical touches, including onboard toilets, showers, a stocked bar, and light hot and cold snacks. The main drawback is that this is a swimming-and-sunbathing day, not a quiet sightseeing cruise, and it is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Key points at a glance

• Three swimming stops: Spend about 1.5 to 1.75 hours at Blue Lagoon, one hour at Crystal Lagoon, and one hour at Halfa Rock.
• A cave-filled route: Pass Smuggler’s Cave, Santa Maria Caves, Poppy’s Caves, Lovers Cave, Coral Lagoon, and Elephant Rock.
• A 10:00 to 16:00 schedule: The cruise leaves Mellieha Bay in the morning and returns in the late afternoon.
• Cash bar onboard: Buy drinks, cocktails, and light hot or cold snacks during the cruise.
• Good value at $35: The price covers the boat trip, sightseeing, three swim stops, toilets, and showers.
• Bring cash and beach gear: Towels, swimwear, sunglasses, sun cream, and cash are the useful basics.

A full day on Comino’s clearest water

This cruise is built around water time. You are not being hurried from one stop to the next, and the schedule gives you several chances to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, or simply stay onboard and watch the coast.

That matters at Malta’s most famous bays. Blue Lagoon is beautiful, but it can feel busy and exposed, especially during the middle of the day. Having a boat as your base gives you somewhere to return to after a swim, along with a toilet, shower, drinks, and snacks.

The cruise departs from the Tunny Net Jetty at Mellieha Bay at 10:00. The meeting point is just behind Starbucks at Mellieha Bay, about 200 meters from the DB Seabank Hotel and roughly 500 meters from the Luna Holiday Complex. Allow a little extra time to find the boat and settle in before departure.

The return is scheduled for about 16:00. That makes this an easy full-day plan rather than an evening activity. You will want to keep the rest of the day light, since six hours in the sun and water can be tiring.

Mellieha Bay to Comino’s caves

The first part of the cruise is scenic. As the boat leaves Mellieha Bay, you get views along the coast before reaching Comino’s cave country.

The route includes a short stop at Ghar Ic-Comb, as well as a pass by Coral Lagoon. These are brief sightseeing moments, so think of them as chances to take photographs rather than full visits ashore.

The boat then passes Elephant Rock, a distinctive natural formation that makes a good camera subject. It is one of those places where the shape is easier to appreciate from the water than from land. Keep your camera ready, since the boat may not linger for long.

Santa Maria Caves receive a longer look, around 10 minutes. The route also includes Smuggler’s Cave, Poppy’s Caves, and Lovers Cave. The cruise lets you see several of Comino’s coastal formations without arranging a separate boat outing.

If you want a closer look at the caves, there is an optional fast powerboat cave tour for €15. This costs extra, and it is not part of the standard cruise. You can decide once onboard, which is useful if the main route already gives you enough cave viewing.

Blue Lagoon gets the longest stop

Blue Lagoon is the centerpiece. You get approximately 1.5 hours to 1 hour and 45 minutes here, depending on the exact timing of the day.

That is enough time for a real swim rather than a quick dip. You can snorkel in the clear water, sunbathe, or walk on Comino. The stop gives you a choice, which is important because not everyone wants to spend the entire break in the sea.

The water is the attraction, but Blue Lagoon is also the stop most likely to feel busy. You may find people moving around the shore, boats nearby, and plenty of activity in the water. If your ideal beach day means silence and empty sand, this may not be your favorite part of the route.

Still, the longer pause works in your favor. You are not limited to taking one photograph and climbing back aboard. Bring your own mask if you have one, or rent a mask and snorkel for €5. Since equipment rental is an extra charge, cash is useful.

A walk on Comino is also possible during this stop. The schedule does not promise a long island hike, so treat it as a short chance to stretch your legs and see the setting rather than a walking tour.

Crystal Lagoon offers a quieter change of pace

After Blue Lagoon, the boat heads to Crystal Lagoon for about one hour of swimming and snorkeling.

The appeal here is the change in mood. Blue Lagoon is the famous name, but Crystal Lagoon gives you another place to get into the water without spending the whole day in one bay. The stop is focused on swimming, so do not expect a long guided visit on land.

You can use the hour to snorkel, float, or relax in the sun. The clear water is well suited to looking below the surface, although the tour does not promise specific marine animals or a particular snorkeling route.

This is also a good point to make practical use of the boat’s facilities. You can rinse off in the shower, use the toilet, and buy a drink or snack from the cash bar. Those small comforts make a difference on a day when you are repeatedly moving between salt water and the boat.

Halfa Rock brings you to Gozo

The final one-hour swim stop is at Halfa Rock Bay near Gozo. This gives the day a different setting from the two Comino lagoons and adds a third chance to swim in clear water.

The stop includes snorkeling, marine-life viewing, and wildlife viewing. The description does not promise a formal nature talk, so you should see this as independent time in the water rather than a guided wildlife excursion.

If you prefer variety, this final stop is a strong part of the schedule. You are not simply returning to Malta after Blue Lagoon. Instead, you get another hour to swim and take in the coast before the boat heads back.

By this point, you may be ready for a break from the water. The boat’s seating, snacks, and drinks are useful here. You can stay onboard if you would rather dry off and enjoy the ride back.

What the onboard setup means for your day

The bar is described as fully stocked, with cocktails, standard bar drinks, and light hot and cold snacks. Food and drinks are not included in the $35 price, so plan to pay onboard with cash.

The food offering sounds designed for convenience, not a full meal. If you need a substantial lunch, bring something with you or check what is available before leaving Mellieha Bay. The included information only promises light snacks.

Toilets and showers are included. For a boat day with three swim stops, this is a useful advantage. You can rinse off salt water, change your comfort level, and avoid feeling stuck in wet swimwear for the entire return trip.

The crew’s attitude is another part of the experience’s appeal. The service is presented as personal and family-minded, and the strongest feedback focuses on friendly staff, good organization, tasty light food, and a pleasant boat. That does not turn the cruise into a luxury yacht outing, but it suggests a warm, relaxed style rather than a bare-bones transfer.

Is $35 a fair price?

At $35 per person, the value is good if you want a full day on the water.

The price covers the cruise around Comino’s bays and caves, the Blue Lagoon stop, Crystal Lagoon, Halfa Rock, and the coastal sights along the route. Toilets and showers are also included. You are paying for access to several swim locations in one outing rather than arranging separate transport.

The extras are reasonable but worth noting. A fast powerboat cave tour costs €15, and mask and snorkel rental costs €5. Drinks and snacks are purchased separately at the cash bar.

I would compare this cruise with a simple boat transfer plus beach time. The advantage here is that the route is planned for you, with three separate swim stops and several cave visits along the way. If you only want to reach Blue Lagoon and spend the day there, a shorter transfer may suit you better.

The cruise also has a practical value for families and mixed groups. Swimmers get plenty of water time, while anyone who needs a break can stay aboard, use the facilities, or have a snack. The boat becomes a base for the day.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

This is best for you if swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and coastal scenery are the main reasons you are in Malta.

You will likely enjoy it if you want:

• Several opportunities to swim rather than one short stop
• A simple full-day plan from Mellieha Bay
• Views of Comino’s caves and rock formations
• The freedom to choose between swimming, walking, sunbathing, and staying onboard
• A casual boat atmosphere with drinks and snacks available
• A reasonably priced way to see both Comino and a part of Gozo’s coast

It is less suitable if you dislike being in the sun for long periods or want a detailed historical tour. The live tour guide language is English, but the main activity is sightseeing and water time, not a long series of guided explanations.

Mobility is an important consideration. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. The information also lists electric wheelchairs as not allowed.

What to bring for a comfortable six hours

Pack for a beach day, not a formal excursion. You should bring a towel, beachwear, sunglasses, and sun cream. Cash is important for the bar, snacks, optional cave trip, and equipment rental.

A phone or camera is useful for Elephant Rock and the caves, but protect it from water. The clearest parts of the day are spent swimming, so a waterproof pouch can save you worry.

You may also want a small cover-up for the boat ride back. The tour information does not specify shaded seating, so do not assume you can avoid the sun all day. Sun protection is especially important when you are surrounded by reflective water.

Glass objects, weapons, sharp objects, explosives, and anything used to make a fire are not allowed. These are normal boat safety rules, but it is still worth checking your bag before you leave.

Timing, comfort, and the real trade-off

The schedule is the great strength of this outing, but it also sets the pace. You leave at 10:00, spend much of the day between three bays, and return around 16:00. That is enough time to enjoy the water without turning the trip into an overnight adventure.

The trade-off is that the most famous places may not feel private. Blue Lagoon is a major attraction, and this cruise is designed to show you several popular coastal stops in one day. The boat, bar, and facilities soften the crowds, but they do not remove them.

I also like that the schedule gives you three different water stops. If one bay feels too busy or the sea is not appealing at that moment, you have two more chances to enjoy the coast.

The reported overall rating of 4.4 from 43 ratings fits the experience as described: strong appeal for people who want friendly service, a pleasant boat, good light food, and well-organized swimming time, with the usual limitations of a popular group cruise.

Should you book the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon cruise?

Book it if you want a social, water-focused day with plenty of time to swim and a route that covers Comino’s main coastal sights. At $35, the combination of three swim stops, cave visits, onboard facilities, and a six-hour schedule offers solid value.

Skip it if you want a secluded beach, a quiet sailing trip, or a serious guided tour of Malta’s history and geology. Also think twice if you have mobility limitations, dislike long periods in the sun, or would rather spend the entire day at one beach.

For most able-bodied visitors who love the sea, this is a practical way to pack a lot of Malta’s coast into one day. Bring cash, sun protection, and realistic expectations about popular bays, and you should get the best from it.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The meeting point is at Mellieha Bay, just behind Starbucks at the Tunny Net Jetty. It is about 200 meters from the DB Seabank Hotel and 500 meters from the Luna Holiday Complex.

What time does the boat leave and return?

The cruise departs at 10:00 and is scheduled to return to Mellieha at approximately 16:00.

How long is the Blue Lagoon stop?

The Blue Lagoon swimming and snorkeling stop lasts approximately 1.5 hours to 1 hour and 45 minutes. You can also walk on Comino during this break.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are available for purchase at the onboard cash bar. The boat serves light hot and cold snacks, bar drinks, and cocktails.

Can I rent snorkeling equipment?

Yes. Masks and snorkels are available to rent for a small charge of €5. You can also pay €15 for the optional fast powerboat cave tour.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.