Fernandes Gozo & Comino

The best part of this day is simple: you spend hours on the water without having to arrange a thing. The Turkish gulet Fernandez carries you from Malta toward Gozo and Comino, with a swim in a quiet Gozo bay, a longer stop at the Blue Lagoon, and food and drinks included.

I like the two proper swimming stops, since you get more than a quick photo stop. I also like the all-inclusive setup, with a buffet, snacks, water, soft drinks, beer, and wine. The main catch is space. With up to 180 people aboard, this can feel crowded, and not everyone may find a seat at a table for lunch.

• Two swim stops: About 90 minutes in a secluded Gozo bay, followed by two hours at Comino’s Blue Lagoon.
• Food included: A hot and cold buffet, morning and afternoon snacks, and unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and water.
• Pickup offered: Round-trip accommodation transfers in Malta make the early start easier.
• Boat style: You sail on a Turkish gulet rather than a standard fast ferry.
• Good for social trips: The group format makes it easy to meet people, but quiet space may be limited.
• Bring: A swimsuit and sun protection. Coffee, ice cream, and the cave speedboat ride cost extra.

A Full Day on the Fernandez Gulet

This is a 7-hour-30-minute group sailing trip built around swimming, food, and easy sightseeing. You start at about 9:00 a.m., then spend most of the day aboard the Fernandez as the crew handles the route, anchoring, meals, and drinks.

That format has real value in Malta. You do not need to piece together a bus, ferry, beach visit, and lunch. Pickup is offered from accommodation in Malta, and the day is arranged for you from start to finish.

The boat is a Turkish gulet, a traditional-style wooden sailing vessel with broad outdoor areas. The available information does not give a detailed seating plan, so I would not book this expecting a private or spacious yacht. The maximum group size is 180, and the boat can feel full when everyone is eating or moving toward the swimming areas.

Still, the gulet offers a more pleasant setting than simply riding from point to point. You can sit in the sun, watch Malta’s coast pass by, and return to the water between stops. The crew and captain take care of the practical details, which lets you settle into the day quickly.

Gozo’s Quiet Bay Comes First

The first scheduled stop is Gozo. The boat drops anchor in a secluded bay, giving you about 1 hour and 30 minutes to swim and enjoy the scenery before continuing to Comino.

This is a useful first stop because it eases you into the day. You are not rushed off the boat for a ten-minute swim. An hour and a half gives you time to get changed, enter the water, use any available snorkeling equipment, and sit back before lunch or the next sailing stretch.

The bay is described as quiet and scenic, but the exact anchorage can vary. You should think of this as a swimming break in Gozo rather than a guided visit to a town or historic site. There is no walking tour, museum visit, or sightseeing program on land included here.

Bring a swimsuit that is easy to change out of and a cover-up for moving around the boat. Sun protection matters even when you are not in the water, since much of the appeal of this trip is spending the day outside.

Snorkeling is part of the appeal for some passengers, and equipment is available if required. If you already own a mask and snorkel, bringing them may still be useful, but the provided information does not specify the full range of equipment or sizes.

Two Hours at Comino’s Blue Lagoon

After Gozo, the Fernandez heads to Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon. You have about two hours here, which is the longest stop of the day and gives the lagoon proper time rather than a quick look from the rail.

The Blue Lagoon is the visual centerpiece of the trip. The water is clear and bright, and the boat gives you a good base for swimming without needing to find a beach chair or arrange another boat. You can swim from the vessel and spend time in the water before returning for food and drinks.

The setting is also the busiest part of the route. Comino’s Blue Lagoon is a famous stop, and this trip is not designed as a private visit. Other boats may be nearby, and the boat itself can be busy with a large group. If you want complete silence or a secluded cove all day, this is not the right format.

The two-hour window is still helpful. You can swim, snorkel, and take in the view without feeling that the crew will call everyone back after a few minutes. A cave speedboat ride is available as an extra, but it is not included in the price. Coffee and ice cream are also separate purchases.

What You Eat and Drink for $85.98

At $85.98 per person, the price makes the most sense if you plan to eat and drink on board. A hot and cold buffet is included, along with morning and afternoon snacks. Unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and water are also included.

That is a strong package for a long day at sea. You do not need to carry a full picnic, buy lunch at the Blue Lagoon, or keep stopping to purchase drinks. For many people, those savings make the fare easier to justify.

The food is not presented as fine dining, and you should set your expectations accordingly. It is a buffet designed for a large group. Some passengers found it tasty and better than expected, while others felt the quality was poor. Both reactions are possible with mass catering, so book this for convenience and quantity rather than a special meal.

There is also a practical seating issue. With a large group, you may not have a dedicated table during lunch. If sitting down for a leisurely meal is important to you, the onboard setup may disappoint. Eating earlier or later than the main rush might help, but no formal seating arrangement is provided in the tour details.

The listed drinks include beer, wine, soft drinks, and water. Do not assume coffee or ice cream is part of the package. Cocktails may be available on the boat, but the included-drink information specifically lists the items above, so budget for extras if you want something beyond them.

The Crew, Boat, and Group Atmosphere

The crew and captain are responsible for the route and onboard service. The strongest praise is directed at their friendly, helpful manner. That matters on a full-day boat trip, where a good crew can make boarding, swimming stops, and meal service feel much easier.

The Fernandez has also been described as new and well cared for. That is encouraging, especially when you will spend seven and a half hours aboard. A clean, maintained boat makes a difference when you are eating, changing, sitting in the sun, and getting in and out of the water.

This is a social trip, not a private charter. You may meet people from different countries, and the shared swim stops make conversation easy. The trade-off is noise, limited personal space, and a less peaceful feel when the boat is near capacity.

The group limit is 180 people. That number is worth taking seriously because it changes the character of the experience. If you enjoy a lively boat with plenty of company, it can be fun. If you want a quiet day with room to spread out, choose a smaller sailing trip instead.

Pickup and the 9:00 a.m. Start

Pickup is offered from accommodation in Malta, with a listed start time of 9:00 a.m. Round-trip transfers remove one of the day’s biggest chores, especially if you are staying away from Valletta or do not want to work out local transport before breakfast.

Confirm the pickup details at booking and keep your phone available on the morning of the trip. One serious complaint involved a missed pickup and a cancellation that was not communicated clearly. The operator explained that poor sea conditions can lead to cancellations for safety reasons and offered a replacement trip in that case.

That incident points to two sensible precautions. Check your messages before leaving your accommodation, and avoid placing this cruise on the final possible day of your Malta stay. If weather cancels the trip, you can be offered another date or a full refund, but a replacement date is not useful if you are flying home.

The experience requires good weather. This is normal for a swimming cruise, but it means the schedule is not as fixed as a museum visit or city walking tour.

Who Will Get the Most from This Cruise?

I would recommend the Fernandez to you if you want an easy day on the water with the major costs bundled together. It suits couples, friends, families, and solo visitors who enjoy swimming and do not mind sharing the boat with a large group.

It is especially useful if you want to see both Gozo and Comino in one day without arranging separate transport. The two swim stops give the outing a clear purpose, and the included buffet and drinks mean you can leave your accommodation without planning every meal.

You should think twice if you dislike crowded boats. The 180-person maximum, limited tables, and reports of insufficient space are not minor details. The boat may feel comfortable when people are spread across the deck, then much tighter during lunch or boarding.

This is also not the best choice for someone seeking a land-based Gozo experience. You will see the island from the water and stop in a bay, but there is no stated time for visiting Gozo’s villages, churches, citadel, or local food spots.

The trip may suit most people physically, since the activity notes that most participants can take part. Service animals are allowed, and the boat is near public transportation, though pickup is offered. The available details do not explain steps, toilets, or specific facilities, so contact the operator if you need those details before booking.

How to Prepare for a Better Day

Pack lightly, but bring the items that matter on a swim cruise:

• Swimsuit and a towel
• Strong sun protection
• A cover-up or dry clothes for the return journey
• Sunglasses and a hat
• A waterproof pouch for small valuables
• Any personal snorkeling equipment you prefer to use

You will be outside for most of the day, so sun protection is more than a comfort item. Reapply it after swimming, and do not assume that sitting under shade will protect you for the whole cruise.

Come hungry enough to enjoy the buffet, but do not rely on coffee or ice cream being included. If you want the cave speedboat ride at Comino, bring extra money for that add-on.

The boat has a relaxed holiday feel, but it is still a shared public excursion. Keep your expectations practical: you are paying for a well-organized day of sailing, swimming, meals, and drinks, not a private boat or a gourmet cruise.

Booking Value and Cancellation Rules

The fare includes a lot for a seven-and-a-half-hour outing: accommodation pickup, the boat ride, two swim stops, snacks, a buffet, and unlimited listed drinks. If you would otherwise pay separately for lunch, transport, and a boat trip, $85.98 can be reasonable.

The value drops if you do not drink alcohol, do not eat much buffet food, or mainly want a short visit to the Blue Lagoon. In that case, a smaller or shorter boat trip might suit you better, though the provided details do not give prices for alternatives.

The experience can be canceled free of charge up to 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Poor weather is handled differently: you can be offered another date or a full refund.

The trip is often booked well in advance, with the average booking made 36 days before departure. That suggests you should not leave it until the last minute during a busy Malta visit, especially if you need a particular date.

Should You Book the Fernandez?

Book this cruise if your ideal Malta day means swimming in clear water, eating without hunting for a restaurant, and enjoying a friendly group atmosphere. The Gozo bay stop, two-hour Blue Lagoon visit, and included food and drinks give you a full day for one price.

Skip it if space, quiet, or a polished dining experience matters more than convenience. The large group and possible lack of lunch tables are the main concerns, while the weather policy and occasional communication problems mean you should leave room in your schedule.

For the right kind of visitor, this is a practical way to put Gozo and Comino on the same day. Bring sun protection, confirm pickup, avoid scheduling it on your departure day, and treat the buffet as generous boat-trip food rather than a restaurant meal.

FAQ

Where does the Fernandes Gozo and Comino tour start?

The tour is based in Valletta, Malta, and pickup from accommodation in Malta is offered. The listed start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The cruise lasts approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The tour includes a swimming stop at Gozo and a visit to the Blue Lagoon on Comino.

How long do you stay at Gozo?

The boat anchors in a secluded Gozo bay for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How long is the Blue Lagoon stop?

You have approximately two hours at Comino’s Blue Lagoon.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A hot and cold buffet is included.

Which drinks are included?

Unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and water are included. Coffee and ice cream are not included.

Is the cave speedboat ride included?

No. The cave speedboat ride is an optional extra and is not included in the tour price.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum capacity of 180 people.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.