Malta: Gozo, Comino Island and Blue Lagoon Cruise

The best part of this outing is the balance: you get Gozo’s inland sights and Comino’s famous water without having to arrange separate transport. The boat also takes you past St. Paul’s Island, Mellieha Bay, Crystal Lagoon, Smuggler’s Cove, and Santa Maria Caves, so the cruise itself is part of the day.

I like the friendly, attentive crew, especially Captain Owen, and the fact that Seahorse Cruises uses a smaller boat rather than a huge party vessel. I also like the calm Blue Lagoon stop, where the boat anchors away from the thickest crowds. The main drawback is time: one and a half hours in Gozo is enough for a quick look at Victoria, but not enough for a proper island visit.

Key points

• Small-boat feel: Seahorse Cruises offers a more personal setting than the biggest excursion boats.
• Victoria in two hours: You have time for a quick look at Gozo’s capital, photos, and a little shopping, but not a full exploration.
• Blue Lagoon swimming: The boat anchors away from the busiest area, with a swim platform, ladder, shower, and snorkeling equipment.
• Cave scenery: The route includes Crystal Lagoon, Smuggler’s Cove Cave, Santa Maria Caves, and the Elephants Head rock formation.
• Fair onboard prices: Food and drinks are available for purchase, and cash is required.
• Important Blue Lagoon rule: If you want to step off the boat, reserve the free QR code for the 13:30 to 17:30 time slot.

What This Six-and-a-Half-Hour Cruise Actually Feels Like

This is a full maritime day built around three ideas: scenic cruising, a short visit to Gozo, and swimming at Comino’s Blue Lagoon. At $53 per person, it offers a useful amount of sightseeing for the price, especially if you want to see both islands without arranging ferries, buses, and separate boat trips.

You leave from Bugibba Jetty at 10:30 AM, but boarding closes at 10 AM. That early cutoff matters. Arrive with time to find the vessel, Seahorse Cruises, and settle in before departure. The meeting point is on Dawret il-Gzejjer in San Pawl il-Baħar.

The boat has a sundeck, toilet, outdoor shower near the side ladder, and a swim platform. Food and drinks are sold onboard, but only cash is accepted. You cannot bring food, drinks, a cooler, large bags, or luggage, so pack light and bring money for refreshments.

The Coastline Cruise Past Malta’s Northern Sights

The first hour is a scenic cruise along Malta’s northern coast. You pass St. Paul’s Island, Mellieha Bay, and Smuggler’s Cove Cave before reaching the waters around Gozo and Comino.

This part gives you a useful sense of Malta from the water. The coast is rugged, broken by caves and pale rock, with clear changes in color where the sea becomes shallow. I like this opening because it avoids the feeling of being rushed straight to the headline stop. You get time to settle into the boat and enjoy the route.

The live commentary is provided in English and Italian. Do not expect a formal historical lecture at every sight. The information is there to orient you, but the main pleasure is the view, sea air, and changing coastline.

If you are prone to seasickness, choose your seat with care and keep your eyes on the horizon during the crossing. The boat is described as comfortable and not overly crowded, though conditions can vary with the day and the number of people booked.

Gozo and Victoria: A Quick Taste of the Sister Island

Gozo is the first main stop. Once the boat arrives, you transfer by shuttle bus toward Victoria, Gozo’s capital. Transport to Victoria is included, which saves you from working out local connections during a short visit.

You have about two hours in Victoria for a self-guided visit. That is enough to take photos, walk around the central sights, and browse the market for souvenirs such as fridge magnets. It is not enough to see much of the wider island, visit several villages, or make a relaxed meal stop and still explore properly.

That time limit is the clearest compromise in the day. Some people will appreciate the quick introduction. You can say you have seen Gozo, get a feel for Victoria, and return to the boat without spending a full day on land. If Gozo is your main reason for visiting Malta, I would choose a separate Gozo tour instead.

The included shuttle is convenient, but it also makes the stop feel structured. You are not free to wander anywhere on the island. You are being taken to Victoria for a short look, then brought back to the boat for the Comino portion of the trip.

Bring comfortable shoes. Victoria involves walking, and the short stop is easier if you can move at a steady pace rather than searching for a place to sit. Keep an eye on the meeting time. Missing the return shuttle would create a serious problem.

Crystal Lagoon and Comino’s Clear Water

The route includes a photo stop at Crystal Lagoon before the main Blue Lagoon visit. This is a chance to see another of Comino’s striking coastal areas from the boat and take pictures without spending your limited swimming time there.

The Blue Lagoon is the centerpiece of the afternoon. You get about one and a half hours for swimming, snorkeling, or relaxing on deck. The water is famously clear and turquoise, and the boat anchors away from the most crowded section.

That anchorage is a major advantage. You can swim from the vessel instead of fighting for a patch of shoreline in the busiest part of Comino. The swim platform makes getting into the water straightforward, and the nearby ladder and shower are practical touches. A snorkeling mask is available with a €10 deposit.

You should understand the difference between stopping at the Blue Lagoon and landing at the Blue Lagoon. If you want to get off the boat, Maltese authorities require a free QR code from May 1, 2025. The required booking window is 13:30 to 17:30, so arrange it before departure and check your ticket for the exact instructions.

The boat’s position gives you a quieter swim, but you are not completely removed from the crowds. The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s most popular swimming spots, and the area can be busy even when your vessel anchors farther out. The boat helps, but it cannot make Comino private.

Pack swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. You can swim or snorkel during the stop, but you can also stay aboard and use the sundeck. That makes the activity suitable for people in the same group who do not all want to enter the water.

Santa Maria Caves and the Return to Bugibba

After Comino, the boat heads back toward Bugibba and passes through the Santa Maria Caves. This is a short stop of roughly ten minutes, mainly for photographs and views from the water.

The caves are interesting because their shapes change as the boat moves through the coastline. Look for the Elephants Head, a distinctive rock formation named for its profile. The brief timing means you should have your camera ready rather than expecting a long exploration on foot.

This is also where the boat itself adds value. A land-based island visit cannot give you the same angle into the caves, and a simple ferry crossing would not normally include this kind of coastal route. The cave portion is short, but it rounds out the day well.

Arrival back at Bugibba is scheduled for 5 PM. Weather, tides, and other operating conditions can change the route or timing. The captain and activity provider can also alter the start or end location if conditions require it.

Why the Smaller Seahorse Cruises Boat Matters

The strongest feature of this outing is its scale. Seahorse Cruises is not presented as a giant party boat, and the smaller vessel gives the day a more relaxed feel. Captain Owen is repeatedly singled out for his personal approach, while the wider crew is described as friendly, helpful, and attentive.

That matters on a six-and-a-half-hour trip. A clean, comfortable boat is nice, but considerate staff make the practical parts easier: boarding, finding a place to sit, using the swim ladder, buying food, and getting back onboard after swimming.

The boat is large enough to offer useful facilities without losing its personal character. You have a toilet, sundeck, swim platform, outdoor shower, snacks, drinks, and a bar area. Several people also praise the captain’s safety instructions, which is reassuring before the swimming stop.

The smaller setting does not guarantee a quiet boat every day. Capacity and conditions can vary, and one account describes a busier return after additional groups joined. Still, if your main concern is avoiding the biggest and loudest excursion vessels, Seahorse Cruises is a sensible choice.

Food, Drinks, and What to Bring

Food and drinks are available onboard at prices described as reasonable. Do not count on a full restaurant meal, though. The information provided points to snacks and drinks rather than a substantial lunch service.

Bring cash because the boat accepts cash only. You are also told not to bring your own food or drinks, so plan to buy refreshments onboard or eat before boarding. Since the itinerary has a short Gozo stop, you should not assume you will have time for a relaxed meal in Victoria.

Your useful packing list is simple:

• Comfortable shoes for Victoria
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Cash
• A small bag for personal items

Large bags, luggage, and coolers are not allowed. Pack for a day on the water, not an overnight ferry.

Who Will Get the Most From This Tour?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a broad sample of Gozo and Comino in one day. It suits families, couples, and mixed groups because swimming is optional, the boat has shade and deck space, and the outing is suitable for all ages.

It also works well if you want a friendly atmosphere without committing to a large party-style cruise. The crew’s helpful approach and the smaller boat are important parts of the experience, not minor extras.

You should think twice if your priority is a serious visit to Gozo. Two hours in Victoria is a quick introduction, and the shuttle transfer uses part of that time. Likewise, the Blue Lagoon stop lasts only 1.5 hours, so swimmers who want a long, unhurried beach day may find it brief.

The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Boarding, the shuttle, the swim platform, and the ladder make this a poor match if you need step-free access or extra assistance.

Is $53 a Fair Price?

At $53 per person, the value is good if you use the day as a combined sightseeing and swimming trip. You receive the cruise, Gozo transport to Victoria, the Blue Lagoon stop, live commentary, cave views, onboard facilities, and access to snorkeling equipment with a refundable deposit arrangement.

The price is less compelling if you only care about Gozo. A dedicated Gozo visit would give you more time and likely a deeper look at the island. It is also less ideal if you want to spend most of the day at the Blue Lagoon, since the swimming stop is limited to about 90 minutes.

For a first Malta visit, though, the combination is practical. You see two islands, several coastal sights, and a major swimming spot in one outing. The fair onboard food prices and included shuttle help keep extra costs manageable.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are helpful if your Malta plans are still shifting, but the Blue Lagoon QR code remains your responsibility.

Should You Book the Gozo and Comino Cruise?

Book it if you want a well-organized island sampler with a friendly crew, scenic boat time, and a good swimming stop. The strongest reasons are the smaller Seahorse Cruises vessel, Captain Owen’s attentive style, the useful onboard facilities, and the chance to anchor away from the worst Blue Lagoon crowds.

Skip it if you want a full day in Gozo, a long beach stay, or a completely quiet experience. The stop in Victoria is short, the Blue Lagoon can still be busy, and the schedule leaves little room for lingering.

For most people looking for one boat day from Malta, I think the $53 price is fair. Arrive before the 10 AM boarding cutoff, bring cash and swim gear, reserve the Blue Lagoon QR code if you plan to step ashore, and treat Gozo as a preview rather than a complete visit.

FAQ

Where does the cruise leave from?

The meeting point is Bugibba Jetty on Dawret il-Gzejjer, San Pawl il-Baħar, Malta. Look for the Seahorse Cruises vessel.

What time does the boat depart?

The tour begins at 10:30 AM. Boarding closes at 10 AM, so you need to arrive before that cutoff.

How long does the cruise last?

The total duration is about six and a half hours, with return to Bugibba scheduled for 5 PM.

Is transport to Victoria included?

Yes. A shuttle bus takes you from Gozo to Victoria, the island’s capital.

How much time do I have in Victoria?

The planned stop in Victoria is about two hours, including free time for sightseeing and shopping.

How long is the Blue Lagoon stop?

You have approximately one and a half hours at the Blue Lagoon for swimming, snorkeling, or relaxing aboard the boat.

Do I need a QR code for the Blue Lagoon?

You need a free QR code if you want to get off the boat at the Blue Lagoon. The required time slot is 13:30 to 17:30.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

A snorkeling mask is available with a €10 deposit. Bring your own swimwear and towel.

Can I buy lunch and drinks on the boat?

Food and drinks are available to purchase onboard. Only cash is accepted.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments.