Private 8 Hours Boat Charter Trip in Malta

Comino’s Blue Lagoon is the headline here, but the real treat is having a private boat for the full day. You can swim in clear water, use the snorkeling gear and stand-up board, and move on when the crowds or sea conditions make a spot less appealing.

I like the freedom to shape the day, and I like the practical extras: unlimited water and soft drinks, fuel, a skipper, and water equipment are covered. The main consideration is cost. At $842.88 for up to 12 people, it can be good value for a full group, but food costs €30 per person and alcohol €40 extra.

Key points

• Two hours at Blue Lagoon: Plenty of time for swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying Comino’s famous clear water.
• Two hours at Crystal Lagoon: A quieter stop framed by rocky cliffs, with time for a swim and a look at the surrounding caves.
• Private boat for up to 12: Your group does not share the boat with strangers, giving you more say over the pace.
• Useful water gear included: Snorkeling equipment and a stand-up board are supplied, along with fuel and a skipper.
• Flexible crew: Captains including Ryan, Kelo, and Ibrahim have adjusted routes for weather, children, and sea conditions.
• Food is separate: A BBQ is available, but food costs €30 per person and alcohol costs €40 per person.

A private start from Ta’ Xbiex at 9:00 a.m.

You meet at Kanpai Charter Office 1, Crown Marina Apartments, Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1027. The boat returns to this same meeting point at the end of the day.

That location matters because this is not a simple beach pickup. You are beginning an eight-hour boat day, and the total time includes travel between stops. Bring the right frame of mind: the journey itself is part of the experience, not just transport between swimming areas.

The charter is private, so your group of up to 12 people has the boat to itself. That makes a major difference for families, birthday groups, and friends who want to swim, eat, or pause without matching the schedule of a larger cruise.

The crew includes a skipper and deckhand, depending on the boat and booking. Ryan has served as captain and host on some trips, while Kelo and Ibrahim have led others. Their role is more than steering. The crew can explain the sites, help with equipment, and adjust the route when the wind or waves change.

Blue Lagoon: Malta’s famous first swim

The Blue Lagoon on Comino is the most famous stop, and the two-hour visit gives you enough time to do more than take a quick photo. The water is shallow and clear, making it inviting for a swim and suitable for people who prefer to stay close to the surface.

With snorkeling equipment provided, you can look beneath the water for marine life and underwater features. The stand-up board adds another option for people who would rather stay above the water than swim continuously.

The beauty comes with a practical warning: Blue Lagoon is famous for a reason, so it can feel busy. A private charter helps because you are not tied to a large boat’s fixed routine. Your captain may choose the best available place to stop, or shift the timing if conditions and crowd levels make another bay more pleasant.

Do not expect two hours of private silence. This is one of Malta’s best-known swimming spots. The value is having time there, access by boat, and the ability to combine it with quieter locations rather than spending the whole day in one crowded area.

Crystal Lagoon and Comino’s rocky coves

Crystal Lagoon receives another two-hour stop, which is unusually generous for a boat trip covering several places. Its setting is more enclosed, with rocky cliffs and rough stone around the water. That gives the stop a different feel from Blue Lagoon.

This is a good place to use the snorkeling equipment, swim in calmer water, and take in the shapes of the coast from the boat. Some groups have also explored caves near their final bay, though the exact cave stop depends on the route and sea conditions.

The main advantage of Crystal Lagoon is variety. You are not simply repeating the same swim twice. Blue Lagoon offers Malta’s famous postcard scene, while Crystal Lagoon gives you a more sheltered setting with cliffs close around you.

Sea conditions still matter. A boat captain may adjust the route or replace a stop with another bay if conditions are uncomfortable. That flexibility is useful, but it means you should treat the named locations as the planned route rather than an absolute promise that every stop will look identical on every day.

Gozo for a change of pace

The charter allows about one hour for Gozo, Malta’s larger neighboring island. The focus here is coastal scenery and beaches, including the possibility of seeing places such as Ramla Bay or quieter San Blas Bay.

One hour is enough for a coastal look or a short stop, but it is not enough for a full Gozo sightseeing tour. You should not book this boat expecting inland villages, museums, churches, or a broad land tour. The Gozo portion is about the sea, shore, and beaches.

That shorter visit also helps explain the shape of the day. Most of your time is reserved for swimming at Comino, while Gozo adds a second island and a change of scenery. If you care most about water time, this balance works well. If Gozo is your main goal, you may want a separate land-based visit.

The route can change. One group of 11 adults and a child had a vehicle transfer arranged back to its starting point because of sea conditions. That detail shows why it pays to stay flexible. A safe, comfortable return matters more than forcing the original plan.

Food, drinks, and the BBQ question

Unlimited water and soft drinks are included, which is a welcome detail on a full day under the Maltese sun. You do not need to budget for every bottle of water, and the crew can keep basic refreshments available while you swim.

The boat also includes use of a BBQ. Food itself costs €30 per person, so clarify what that fee covers before booking. Alcohol is separate at €40 per person, and the minimum drinking age is 18.

Some groups have brought their own food and drinks, storing them in a fridge and using the boat’s kitchen, plates, and cutlery. Since the official inclusions separately list food and alcohol charges, confirm the current arrangement with the operator before you shop or plan a full meal.

For a group, the food option can be worthwhile. An eight-hour charter is long enough for hunger to become a real issue, and a shared meal helps break up the swimming. For a smaller party, €30 per person adds noticeably to the total, so bringing permitted food may make better financial sense.

Do not assume alcohol is needed to enjoy the day. The water, soft drinks, snorkeling gear, and paddleboard already provide plenty to do. Families with children may prefer the included drinks and their own food, while adult groups celebrating a birthday may find the alcohol package convenient.

What the boat setup means for your group

The boat is intended for groups of up to 12 people, and space has worked well for parties of 11 adults and one child as well as groups with four adults and four children. That capacity is useful, but it does not mean 12 people will have unlimited personal space at every moment.

A boat day works best when your group is comfortable sharing the deck, changing activities together, and keeping belongings organized. The private format gives you control, but it also means your group sets the mood. If everyone wants a different plan, agree on priorities before departure.

The equipment list is strong for a swim-focused day:

• Snorkeling equipment
• Stand-up board
• Unlimited water and soft drinks
• Fuel
• Skipper
• BBQ access

The boat’s kitchen, fridge, plates, and cutlery have also been useful for some parties. Ask about the exact vessel and onboard setup if meals are important to you, since the supplied details do not specify a boat model or cabin layout.

A good choice for families and celebrations

This charter suits groups that want a relaxed private day rather than a standard sightseeing cruise. A birthday group can use the boat as its own moving base, with swimming, food, and time together built into the schedule.

It also works for families. The crew has handled groups with young children and adjusted the plan to suit comfort and conditions. Still, parents should remember that this is a boat and swimming experience, not a supervised children’s activity. You remain responsible for children throughout the day.

The stand-up board gives older children and adults another way to enjoy the water. Snorkeling equipment helps people who want to explore below the surface, while less confident swimmers can simply enjoy the scenery and stay aboard.

The private setup is less useful if you are alone or traveling as a couple and do not care about exclusivity. The price is charged per group, not per seat, so the value improves as your party gets closer to the 12-person limit.

Weather changes can improve the day

The sea decides more than the printed schedule does. Wind, waves, and comfort can affect which bay you visit, how long you stay, and how you return.

That is not a flaw in this type of excursion. It is part of boating in Malta. A crew that changes the route can give you a better day than one that follows a fixed plan at all costs. Captains have adjusted trips for sea conditions and chosen different bays when needed.

One group visited Blue Lagoon and Paradise Bay instead of following the planned stops exactly. Another had a vehicle transfer arranged in the afternoon because conditions affected the return. Those changes show the practical side of a private charter: you may lose a planned location, but you gain a crew paying attention to safety and comfort.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. For your own planning, avoid placing this trip on the final day of a short Malta visit if a weather change would leave you with no backup.

Is $842.88 good value for 12 people?

At $842.88 per group, the base cost works out to about $70 per person if 12 people join. That is a reasonable figure for eight hours of private boat time, fuel, a skipper, soft drinks, snorkeling gear, and a paddleboard.

The calculation changes sharply for smaller parties. With six people, the base cost is about $140 each before food or alcohol. With four people, it is about $211 each. The charter is therefore strongest for a full family group, a reunion, or a large circle of friends.

Add the optional charges carefully. Food is €30 per person, and alcohol is €40 per person. A full group choosing both would add €840, so ask exactly how those packages work before committing.

You are paying for privacy and flexibility, not simply transport to the Blue Lagoon. If your priority is the lowest possible price for a short swim, a shared boat may suit you better. If you want your own skipper, your own group, a long day, and the option to adjust the route, the group price becomes easier to justify.

Booking details worth knowing

Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking and is subject to availability. The experience is near public transportation, and most people can participate, but the supplied information does not give detailed accessibility specifications for the boat.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. Cutoff times use Malta’s local time.

The booking is made for one private group, and the activity returns to the Ta’ Xbiex meeting point. Since the duration includes travel time, expect the eight hours to include cruising between Comino, Gozo, and the return marina, not eight hours of uninterrupted swimming.

Who should book this Malta boat charter?

I would choose this trip for a group of eight to 12 people that wants a full day on the water and values privacy. It is especially well suited to birthdays, family outings, and friends who want swimming, food, and quiet time without joining a large cruise.

I would think twice if you are a small party, watching every euro, or mainly interested in exploring Gozo on land. The extra food and alcohol costs can also make the final bill much higher than the advertised group price.

Book it if you want Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon with time to swim, useful equipment, and a crew that can respond to the sea. Just confirm the food arrangement, ask about the exact boat setup, and keep your route flexible. For a well-sized group, this is one of the more comfortable ways to turn Malta’s best water stops into a full private day.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

It starts at Kanpai Charter Office 1, Crown Marina Apartments, Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1027, Malta.

What time does the charter begin?

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

Where does the experience end?

The activity ends back at the Ta’ Xbiex meeting point.

How many people can join the private charter?

The boat can accommodate one private group of up to 12 people.

What is included in the price?

The price includes unlimited water and soft drinks, snorkeling equipment, a stand-up board, fuel, a skipper, and use of a BBQ.

Are food and alcohol included?

No. Food costs €30 per person, and alcohol costs €40 per person. Alcohol is available only to people aged 18 or older.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.