From Sliema: Malta Cruise to Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Caves

The main attraction here is a full day on and around Comino, with a boat ride that turns the journey into part of the outing. You pass Malta’s busy coastal resorts, St. Paul’s Island, Mellieha Bay, and Gozo before reaching the bright water around Comino.

I like two things in particular: the boat works as your base, giving you shade, toilets, drinks, and somewhere to return when Blue Lagoon feels too crowded, and the Crystal Lagoon stop offers a proper swim from the boat with a waterslide. The drawback is simple: Blue Lagoon is often packed, and the boat can feel crowded too.

Key points to know before booking

• Three and a half hours at Blue Lagoon: You get plenty of time, but the famous swimming area can be very crowded, even outside July and August.
• Crystal Lagoon is seasonal: The 45-minute swim stop normally runs from May 1 through October 30 and depends on weather and sea conditions.
• A free QR code is required to go ashore: Reserve the afternoon Blue Lagoon slot from 13:31 to 17:30 at blcomino.com.
• The waterslide and jump board are included: You can swim from the boat at the designated stops instead of fighting for a patch of shore.
• The ride can be rough: Strong winds made some departures uncomfortable, so check the forecast and bring seasickness tablets if you need them.
• The boat holds up to 200 people: Arrive at least 30 minutes early if you want a better chance of sitting on the upper deck.

A long Comino day from Sliema

This Luzzu Cruises trip costs about $42.24 per person and runs for roughly seven and a half hours. It begins at 10 a.m. from Ferries 4 on Triq Ix-Xatt, beside the Sliema ferry area, and returns to the same place.

I see this as a practical Malta day trip rather than a small, personal sailing excursion. You are paying for transport, several scenic passes, two Comino stops in the summer season, use of the boat’s facilities, and enough free time to make the day your own.

That matters because Comino is not easy to visit in a relaxed way once you arrive. You could arrange separate transport, search for a place to sit, buy food on the island, and keep track of return times. Here, the boat stays part of your day. You can use it for shade, a bathroom break, snacks, or a swim from the side.

The tradeoff is scale. With a maximum of 200 people, this is not the choice for quiet coves and personal attention. Some departures feel well spaced, while others are packed enough that upper-deck seats disappear before boarding.

Leaving Sliema and following Malta’s coast

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the 10 a.m. departure. The starting point is convenient if you are staying in Sliema, and the cruise avoids the need to arrange a separate taxi or bus to a northern harbor.

The first part takes you along Sliema promenade, then past St Julian’s and Balluta Bay. You continue by St George’s Bay and Paceville, where Malta’s resort and nightlife districts look quite different from the water.

The boat then passes Bugibba, St. Paul’s Island, and Mellieha Bay. St. Paul’s Island is especially interesting because tradition places the apostle’s shipwreck there in the year 60 AD. This is a scenic coastal ride, not a guided historical tour, so the amount of spoken information can vary.

Some departures use recorded announcements, while others include more regular commentary from the captain. If learning about every landmark is important to you, set your expectations modestly. The main value of this section is the changing view of Malta’s shoreline and the chance to see the island from offshore.

The sea can be choppy early in the day. Strong winds have made the outward ride uncomfortable for some people, and motion sickness is a real possibility on an open-water trip of this length. I would bring medication if you are prone to seasickness, eat lightly before departure, and keep water close.

A brief look at Gozo’s Mgarr Harbour

The cruise passes Gozo and makes a short photo stop at Mgarr Harbour. The stop lasts about five minutes, mainly while passengers on a separate Gozo visit leave the boat.

This is not a Gozo sightseeing stop. You will not have time to explore the harbor or island, so think of it as a quick view and a useful pause in the journey. Mgarr Harbour is a pleasant sight from the water, but the real swimming time comes later at Comino.

The boat may also travel to Gozo during the Blue Lagoon portion to collect or drop off passengers who booked a different option. That explains why the boat can briefly leave Comino while you are enjoying the island. Pay close attention to the departure time. The boat leaves at the advertised time and does not necessarily conduct a full attendance check.

Crystal Lagoon and St. Nicholas Bay

From May through October, the boat normally stops at Crystal Lagoon or St. Nicholas Bay for about 45 minutes. The exact location is chosen by the skipper according to sea conditions, currents, wind, jellyfish, and other safety concerns.

This is one of the strongest parts of the day. Instead of trying to find a place on the rocks, you can swim directly from the boat. The waterslide and jump board add a bit of fun, especially for older children and anyone who would rather make the swim stop active.

Conditions matter. A calm, clear stop can be wonderful, but rough water can make the same 45 minutes uncomfortable. The boat may not move into the calmest-looking section of the lagoon if the captain decides another position is safer.

Bring swimwear under your clothes, a towel, sunscreen, and a secure bag for electronics. Masks and snorkels are not included, but you can rent them onboard for €5 per person. Food and drinks are also extra, with an onboard bar available.

The boat’s facilities are useful here. You can dry off, sit in shade, use the bathroom, and buy a drink without having to climb over rocks. That boat-as-home-base setup is a real advantage for families and anyone who does not want to spend the whole day exposed to the sun.

Blue Lagoon for about three and a half hours

The main stop lasts approximately three and a half hours. You can go ashore, find a place near the water, walk around Comino, or stay on the boat and use it as your base.

Blue Lagoon is beautiful, but it is not a peaceful beach escape. The area can be crowded even in March and October, and the small stretches of shore fill quickly. Shade ashore is limited, and the most comfortable spots may already be taken when the boat arrives in the afternoon.

You may find that the boat is the better place to spend part of this stop. It offers shade, seating, toilets, a bar, and direct access to the water at the permitted swimming areas. One useful approach is to go ashore first for a look, then return to the boat for a swim and a rest.

If you want to leave the boat at Comino’s Blue Lagoon, you must obtain a free QR code in advance and choose the afternoon time slot from 13:31 to 17:30. This shore-access requirement is easy to miss, so handle it before the morning of your cruise. The crew may help if you arrive without it, but relying on assistance can make check-in more stressful.

The island itself has limited comfort compared with the boat. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat. Food is available to buy on Comino, but an onboard snack can save you from waiting in line when you are hungry.

Also keep an eye on anything that touches sunscreen. Colored access bracelets have reportedly transferred dye onto swimwear and bags. Put the bracelet on as late as practical and keep it away from light-colored belongings.

Seeing Comino’s caves from the water

On the return journey, the boat passes Comino’s sea caves. This is a short viewing stop rather than a cave walk or a separate small-boat excursion.

It adds variety after the long Blue Lagoon pause. You can stay seated, take photographs, and see the island’s rocky edges from a different angle. The caves are best treated as a scenic extra, not the central reason to book the trip.

The ride back to Sliema can be especially attractive in the changing afternoon light. It is also another period on open water, so anyone affected by motion should plan for the full day, not only the outward journey.

Food, shade, toilets, and onboard comfort

Food and drinks are not included in the ticket. You can buy them from the bar, and some departures offer snacks, fruit, water, sandwiches, or hotdogs. The selection is limited, so I would bring a snack in addition to money for purchases.

The boat’s facilities are among the better reasons to choose this format. You have somewhere to sit between swims, shade when the sun becomes tiring, and a toilet onboard. These details matter much more on a seven-and-a-half-hour outing than they do on a short harbor cruise.

The experience can vary depending on the boat assigned that day. A technical problem once required the company to use a smaller boat instead of its larger vessel. That alternative still completed the route, but it meant less room for people who expected the boat shown in promotional images.

For the best chance at an upper-deck seat, arrive early. If the top fills, you may end up downstairs with limited views. That is a frustrating result on a cruise advertised around coastal scenery, so early arrival is worth the effort.

How the group size changes the experience

A boat carrying up to 200 people gives you a relatively low price, but it also affects the feel of the day. Check-in can be hectic, announcements may be hard to understand, and boarding early becomes more important.

The crew’s service has received mixed reactions. On good departures, staff are friendly, helpful, and clear about rough seas and timing. Captains sometimes point out landmarks and give useful updates. On less successful trips, passengers have found the crew distant or slow to clean up after seasickness.

The skipper has the final say on where the boat stops. That is important at Crystal Lagoon and St. Nicholas Bay. The advertised stop may be adjusted for safety, but you should still receive the planned swimming time when conditions allow.

This is a functional, activity-focused cruise. You should not book it expecting a small group, tailored attention, or a quiet soundtrack of the sea. Book it if you want an easy route to Comino with built-in swimming time and a boat to return to.

Who will enjoy this Comino cruise most

I think this trip suits you best if you want a simple full-day outing from Sliema and care more about access and flexibility than peace and privacy.

It works particularly well for:

• Families who value shade, toilets, and a stable base near the swimming area
• Swimmers who want to use a waterslide, jump board, or boat ladder
• Visitors without a car who want transport from Sliema to Comino and back
• People who want several hours at Blue Lagoon rather than a quick photo stop
• Anyone happy to bring snacks, manage their own time, and accept a large boat

I would hesitate if you dislike crowds, get seasick easily, or want a quiet beach day. The Blue Lagoon shore can be packed, and the boat ride takes a substantial part of the day.

The trip is also less suitable in winter if your main goal is swimming at Crystal Lagoon. The Crystal Lagoon stop is seasonal, from May 1 to October 30, and the cold-season experience may be mostly transport, sightseeing, and time on a much quieter Comino.

Practical details that save trouble

The meeting point is Luzzu Cruises, Ferries 4, Triq Ix-Xatt, Sliema SLM 1023. The activity ends at the same place, and mobile tickets are accepted.

Wear shoes that can handle wet surfaces and rocky shore areas. Keep phones and cameras in a waterproof pouch, especially if you plan to use the slide or swim from the boat.

Bring:

• Water and a snack
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Towel and dry clothes
• Seasickness tablets if needed
• Cash or another way to pay for bar items
• A pre-arranged Blue Lagoon QR code if you plan to go ashore

The tour is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, but the sea conditions and long day deserve honest thought if you have very young children. One family found the boat comfortable for shade and rest, while the long, windy cruise was a concern with an infant.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure. If poor weather cancels the cruise, you can receive a different date or a full refund. Missing the boat because your cruise ship arrives late is not covered, so allow a generous margin if you are visiting Malta from a ship.

Should you book the Luzzu Cruises trip?

I would book this cruise if you want good-value transport plus a full Comino day, especially in the May to October season when the Crystal Lagoon swim is running. The included waterslide, boat facilities, cave viewing, and long Blue Lagoon stop make the $42.24 price reasonable for an active day by the sea.

I would not book it expecting an uncrowded lagoon or a personal sailing experience. Go early, secure your QR code, bring your own water and snack, and treat the boat as your main base rather than assuming the shore will offer comfort.

For families, casual swimmers, and first-time Comino visitors, it is a practical choice. For quiet-water seekers, people sensitive to rough seas, or anyone wanting attentive service and plenty of room, a smaller boat would likely be worth seeking out.

FAQ

Where does the cruise leave from?

It leaves from Luzzu Cruises at Ferries 4, Triq Ix-Xatt, Sliema SLM 1023. The cruise returns to the same meeting point.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 10 a.m. You should arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately seven hours and 30 minutes.

Is Crystal Lagoon included?

In summer, from May 1 to October 30, the trip includes a 45-minute stop at Crystal Lagoon or St. Nicholas Bay, subject to weather and sea conditions. The skipper may select the safer location.

How long do I have at Blue Lagoon?

You have approximately three and a half hours at Blue Lagoon. You can go ashore or use the boat as your base.

Do I need a ticket to go ashore at Blue Lagoon?

Yes. You need a free QR code and must choose the afternoon time slot from 13:31 to 17:30 at blcomino.com.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks can be purchased from the onboard bar. Food is also available on Comino.

Can I rent snorkeling equipment?

Yes. Masks and snorkels can be rented onboard for €5 per person.

Is the waterslide included?

Yes. Use of the waterslide and boat facilities is included in the cruise.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You can be offered another date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather. Free cancellation for other reasons is available up to 24 hours before departure.