3 Island Cruise onboard Faith

The best part of the Faith 3 Island Cruise is its easy, full-day mix of coast views, swimming, lunch, and time at Comino’s Blue Lagoon. You sail from Sliema, stop at a bay in Malta and another in Gozo, then spend up to three hours at the Blue Lagoon. It is a simple way to see several islands without arranging separate boats.

I like the comfortable onboard setup, especially the shaded seating, air-conditioned areas, showers, and snack bar. I also like the value: at $90.12, the fare includes lunch, local taxes, the cruise, live commentary, and drinks with lunch. The main catch is that the advertised route and swimming stops can change with sea conditions, and the drink offer needs careful reading.

Key points before you book

• Three island stops: Plan for a Malta bay, a Gozo bay, and the Blue Lagoon on Comino.
• About 8 to 9 hours: This is a full day, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and returning to Sliema Ferries Terminal.
• Three hours at the Blue Lagoon: The longest stop gives you the best chance for swimming, though summer crowds can be heavy.
• Lunch and meal-time drinks included: Beer, wine, water, and soft drinks are listed with lunch, but extra drinks may cost more.
• Route depends on the sea: Rough water may keep the boat farther from shore or replace sightseeing with open-water swimming.
• Maximum group size of 100: The boat can feel pleasantly spacious on a quieter departure, but do not assume it will be nearly empty.

A full day aboard Faith

Faith is built for a long day on the Mediterranean rather than a short sightseeing run. You spend much of the day on the boat, with time to sit in the sun, find shade, listen to commentary, eat lunch, and get into the water.

That makes the cruise a good match for you if your ideal Malta outing is relaxed and varied. You will not spend the whole day walking through towns or touring monuments. The reward is the changing coast, open-water views, and several chances to swim.

The boat has decent facilities for a day at sea. Showers matter after swimming, and air-conditioned areas give you a break from the Maltese sun. Shaded seating and sunny areas let you choose your own pace. A snack bar is also available, though purchases there are separate from the included lunch.

The experience is offered in English, with live commentary onboard. The commentary is meant to point out what you are seeing along the coast, but the delivery may be quick or difficult to follow at times. If learning every detail about Malta is your main goal, you may want a more focused land tour as well.

Leaving Sliema at 9:00 a.m.

The cruise begins at Sliema Ferries Terminal at 9:00 a.m. It ends back at the same meeting point. The day lasts roughly eight to nine hours, so plan around a substantial outing rather than a quick morning activity.

The tour information highlights round-trip transport as part of the value, but the stated meeting point is the Sliema terminal. If you are expecting pickup at your hotel, confirm that detail before departure. One departure had transport arrive 30 minutes late, and another passenger was dropped close to, rather than directly at, a hotel.

These details matter because a late start can reduce time in the bays if the schedule has to be adjusted. I would arrive early at the terminal, keep your booking confirmation on your phone, and allow extra time after the cruise if you have dinner plans or another timed activity.

The maximum group size is 100 people. That is not a tiny boat trip, but it is also not an enormous ferry. A quiet departure can feel very comfortable, with room to spread out in the shade or sun. On a full sailing, the popular swimming areas and boarding points will feel more crowded.

The first Malta bay: a gentle start

The first stop is a bay in Malta, with about one hour set aside. The exact bay is not specified, so you should think of this as a coastal and swimming stop rather than a guaranteed visit to one named attraction.

This opening stop helps break up the time on the boat. You can use it to swim, snorkel, or simply watch the coast from the deck. The warm Mediterranean water is a major part of the appeal, and the onboard showers make it easier to get comfortable afterward.

Bring your swimsuit under your clothes or keep it in your day bag. One complaint about the experience was that the swimming opportunity came with little warning, and the available water time could be short. You do not want to discover the stop only after the boat has arrived.

The exact amount of time in the water may also change. Swell, wind, and safety concerns can affect where the boat anchors and how long you can swim. If you need calm, extended time in the water, a dedicated beach day may suit you better.

Gozo by boat, with one hour in a bay

The second stop is at a bay on Gozo, again for about one hour. Gozo is Malta’s sister island, and seeing its coast from the water gives you a different view from a standard road excursion.

Do not expect this cruise to provide a full Gozo tour. You are stopping at a bay, not spending a day visiting Gozo’s towns and inland sights. The value here is the contrast between Malta and Gozo from the deck, plus another chance to swim or snorkel.

Some departures have found this stop much quieter than the Blue Lagoon. That is useful if you want time in the water without the full summer crowd. It also gives you a calmer part of the day before the long Blue Lagoon stop.

The commentary should add context as the boat moves along the coast. Still, several people found the guide hard to understand because the narration was rushed, the audio was unclear, or both. I would treat the commentary as a helpful extra, not the main reason to book.

Three hours at Comino’s Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the headline stop and receives about three hours. This is where you get the longest chance to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, or simply remain onboard and enjoy the setting.

The water is warm and clear enough for a pleasant swim in good conditions. You can choose how active you want to be. The cruise works well for a mixed group because one person can stay on deck while another heads into the water.

The Blue Lagoon has a major drawback: it can be extremely crowded in July and other busy summer periods. The famous name brings many boats and visitors, so do not picture a quiet natural pool. If you want the best chance of enjoying it, use the early part of the stop for swimming before settling into a slower break.

The stop length also needs a little caution. The planned duration is three hours, but sea conditions and route changes can affect the overall balance of the day. Some departures have received less swimming time and more time cruising past cliffs from a distance.

The Blue Lagoon is in Comino, even though the simple tour name refers to three islands. The route gives you Malta, Gozo, and Comino in one day. That is a useful way to cover the main island group if you have limited time, but it is not a substitute for separate trips to every named coastal attraction.

What you may not see clearly from the boat

This is where expectations need adjusting. The cruise can pass coastal sights, but it does not promise a close land visit to every attraction along Malta’s shore.

Some people expected a clear view of places such as Popeye Village, the Blue Grotto, or St. Peter’s Pool. On a moving boat, those sights may be distant, passed quickly, or skipped if the sea is too rough. Swell can prevent the boat from entering smaller bays, especially on routes exposed to open water.

One departure stayed too far from shore for comfortable sightseeing. Another changed course because of rough conditions and replaced expected coastal stops with swimming in open water. This is not necessarily a failure of the crew. It is a reminder that a sea cruise is weather-dependent, and the route cannot always follow the most scenic plan.

If seeing the Blue Grotto up close is important to you, book a separate excursion that specifically promises it. The same advice applies to Popeye Village and St. Peter’s Pool. The Faith cruise is better understood as a broad coastal outing with swimming stops, not as a close-up tour of each landmark.

Lunch on board and the drink wording

Lunch is included, and it is one of the stronger parts of the package. The meal has been described as a hearty Maltese platter with a good range of choices. That is welcome on an eight- to nine-hour boat trip, when buying every meal separately would quickly push up the cost.

The listed drink inclusion covers unlimited beer, wine, water, and soft drinks during lunchtime. Read that timing carefully. It does not mean unlimited drinks throughout the entire cruise.

This distinction has caused real frustration. Some departures did not offer beer or wine, while soft drinks were limited to the lunch period. Outside that window, a canned drink may cost extra, with one account citing €2 per can. Alcoholic drinks are also listed as available for purchase, so you should confirm the current arrangement before boarding if drinks are central to your decision.

I would book this for the lunch and the overall day, not for an all-day open bar. Bring your own expectations in line with the meal-time wording, and carry a little extra money for drinks or snacks.

Swimming and snorkeling, with practical preparation

The warm water is one of the clearest reasons to choose this cruise. You can swim and snorkel at the bays and the Blue Lagoon, subject to the schedule and sea conditions.

Pack your swimsuit, towel, sun protection, and a change of clothes. The boat has showers, but you still want a dry layer for the ride home. Keep valuables secure and bring any personal swimming equipment you specifically need, since the available facilities and rental arrangements are not described.

The swimming periods are not always equal. The Blue Lagoon receives the longest planned stop, while the Malta and Gozo bays each receive about an hour. A rough day may reduce that time or turn the stop into a brief open-water swim.

If you do not swim, you can still enjoy the cruise from the deck. The boat has air-conditioned areas, shaded seating, sunny spaces, lunch, and coastal commentary. That flexibility makes the outing suitable for a group with mixed interests, though anyone who dislikes long periods on a boat may find the schedule tiring.

A cave tour by powerboat is not included. It is an optional extra, so check the price and availability onboard if you want that addition.

How much value do you get for $90.12?

At $90.12 per person, the package is fairly priced when you use the inclusions. You get a full day at sea, lunch, meal-time drinks, live commentary, local taxes, onboard facilities, and three planned island-area stops.

The value is strongest when you want variety without arranging separate transport, food, and boat tickets. One booking covers the day, and you return to the original meeting point. A quiet departure with a good lunch and generous swimming time can feel like a very good deal.

The value weakens if you are booking mainly to see Malta’s famous coastal sights from close range. If rough water keeps the boat offshore, you may spend long stretches looking at cliffs from a distance. Extra drinks, optional activities, and possible transport delays can also add cost or inconvenience.

The price should also be compared with your priorities. A person who wants a carefree day with swimming and food may find it worthwhile. Someone who wants a small boat, quiet coves, or a detailed coastal tour may prefer a more specialized experience, even if it costs more.

Who should book the Faith cruise?

I would point this cruise toward you if you want a one-day overview of Malta, Gozo, and Comino with minimal planning. Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the choice between swimming, sitting in the shade, using the air-conditioned areas, and eating lunch onboard.

It also suits people who like a social boat day rather than a private or intimate excursion. The group can reach 100, so the atmosphere will depend on the departure. A smaller sailing may feel relaxed, while a full boat will naturally be livelier around lunch and the lagoon.

You should think twice if you need a fixed route. The coastal portion can change with the weather, and the commentary may not always be easy to follow. You should also reconsider if your main aim is a close look at the Blue Grotto, Popeye Village, St. Peter’s Pool, or other named sights.

The provider allows service animals, and most people can participate. Confirmation is supplied when you book. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, while poor weather or a failure to reach the minimum number of participants may lead to a new date or a full refund.

My call: book it for the water, not a checklist

I would book the Faith cruise if you want a comfortable, food-included day with several chances to swim and a long stop at the Blue Lagoon. The lunch, showers, air-conditioned spaces, and return to Sliema make the day easy to manage, and the Malta and Gozo bay stops add variety.

I would not book it on the promise of seeing every famous coastal landmark close up. Sea conditions can change the route, summer crowds can take the edge off the Blue Lagoon, and the drink offer is limited to the lunch period as described.

Choose this cruise for a relaxed island day with good practical value. Choose another tour if precise sightseeing, quiet coves, or a small group matters more than lunch, facilities, and a broad route.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start?

The cruise starts at Sliema Ferries Terminal in Sliema, Malta.

What time does the cruise begin?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.

Where does the cruise finish?

The activity ends back at the original meeting point, Sliema Ferries Terminal.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately eight to nine hours.

Which places does the cruise visit?

The planned stops are a bay in Malta, a bay on Gozo, and the Blue Lagoon in Comino.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the cruise price.

Are drinks included?

Beer, wine, water, and soft drinks are listed as unlimited during lunchtime. Alcoholic drinks are also available to purchase, and drinks outside the included period may cost extra.

Is the cave tour by powerboat included?

No. The cave tour by powerboat is not included in the cruise price.