From Sliema: Private Comino and Gozo Boat Charter

Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon is only part of the story on this private seven-hour charter. You can work with your captain to spend more time at the places that suit your group, from the clear water of Crystal Lagoon to the caves and bays around Comino and Gozo.

I like the freedom to bring your own food, drinks, and music, and I like that fuel, snorkeling gear, cave entry, and a skipper are included. The main consideration is simple: this is a boat day, not a guided sightseeing tour with a fixed script, so your enjoyment depends on agreeing on a route with the captain and being ready for sun, swimming, and open water.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to 16 people: The $965 price is for the group, not each person, making the charter more attractive when shared by a larger party.
• Flexible seven-hour route: Choose where to linger, or accept the captain’s suggested plan for Comino and Gozo.
• Two famous lagoons: Blue Lagoon is the headline stop, while Crystal Lagoon offers another striking place for swimming and snorkeling.
• Caves and snorkeling included: The boat can enter Comino’s caves, and gear is provided for exploring the water.
• Bring your own refreshments: There is a fridge, but no bar, so stock up before boarding.
• Comfortable private setup: You get a toilet, shaded canopy, sunbathing area, and Bluetooth music connection.

Leaving Sliema for Comino and Gozo

You board at Sliema Ferries 4, a useful starting point for a day centered on the sea. The activity lasts seven hours and returns to the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride home from another harbor.

The boat is private for your group, with space for as many as 16 people. That changes the feel of the outing. You are not trying to keep up with a large crowd or waiting for strangers to finish swimming. You can talk with the English-speaking skipper about the kind of day you want, then adjust the pace as you go.

The route is deliberately flexible. You might follow a captain’s suggested day plan, or ask to stay longer at a favorite swimming spot. I see this as the biggest reason to choose this charter instead of a standard group cruise. If half your party wants to snorkel and the other half prefers sunbathing, the private format gives you room to negotiate a better balance.

Still, flexibility works best when your group makes a rough plan before departure. With only seven hours, you cannot treat every listed stop as a long visit. Decide if your priority is swimming, caves, a Gozo stop, lunch, or simply cruising with music. A clear preference helps the captain shape a day that does not feel rushed.

Blue Lagoon, the famous first choice

The Blue Lagoon is the stop most people have in mind when they picture Comino. Its clear blue water and rocky setting make it an obvious place for swimming, photographs, and time in the sun.

The advantage of arriving by private boat is not that you can expect the lagoon to be empty. It is a well-known place. The advantage is that you can choose how long to stay and can ask to move on if the area does not suit your group at that moment.

Bring your snorkeling gear from the boat and use your time in the water rather than treating the lagoon as a quick photo stop. The supplied equipment is included in the price, which saves you from arranging a separate rental.

The water is the star here, but the sun is strong. Use the canopy when you need shade, and plan your food and drinks before boarding. There is a fridge onboard, yet no bar, so you should not count on buying refreshments during the cruise.

Crystal Lagoon and Comino’s caves

Crystal Lagoon gives the day a second clear-water setting and helps prevent the outing from becoming a one-stop trip. You can swim, snorkel, and enjoy the rocky shoreline from the boat.

The charter also includes cave entry, with the powerboat able to take you close to Comino’s caves. This is a nice change of pace after time in the water. Instead of spending seven hours parked at one swimming area, you get a mix of cruising, cave visits, snorkeling, and relaxed time onboard.

The cave portion is especially useful for groups with different interests. Someone who is not eager to swim all day can still enjoy the boat ride and rock formations. At the same time, strong swimmers can make use of the snorkeling gear and clear water around the island.

You should keep expectations practical. Cave entry is part of a boat outing, not a lengthy walking tour or a formal cave expedition. Your captain controls the route and timing, and conditions on the water may affect exactly how close the boat can go. The experience is about seeing the caves from the sea and fitting them into a wider day around Comino.

St. Nicholas Bay and the quieter side of Comino

St. Nicholas Bay is another possible stop around Comino. Its inclusion gives your captain more room to shape the day around the weather, the sea, and your group’s mood.

A private charter is particularly useful here because you can ask for more swimming time in a bay rather than sticking to the most famous location. If the Blue Lagoon feels too busy for your taste, a different bay may provide a more comfortable pause, although the final choice belongs to the captain and the conditions.

This part of the trip is also where the boat’s practical features matter. You can move between the shaded canopy and sunbathing area, keep drinks cold in the fridge, and use the onboard toilet without ending the outing early. Those details sound small before departure. After several hours on the water, they become a real part of the value.

Gozo’s Hondoq ir-Rummien and Mgarr Port

The charter can continue to Gozo, Malta’s larger sister island. Hondoq ir-Rummien offers another coastal stop for swimming and sea views, while Mgarr Port provides a change from the open-water feel of Comino.

Gozo makes the trip feel broader than a simple Blue Lagoon excursion. You are not just visiting one popular swimming area and returning. You are using a private boat to connect two islands and see several coastal locations in one day.

Mgarr Port is also the suggested place to stop for dinner. Since food and drinks are not included, this option can solve the refreshment question if your timing allows it. You can also bring your own meal onboard, which may be easier for a group that wants to keep swimming and cruising instead of sitting down at the harbor.

The tradeoff is time. Going farther toward Gozo means less time at Comino or a shorter stop elsewhere. I would tell the captain early if Mgarr Port is important to you. If your group mainly wants the lagoons and caves, you may prefer to keep the route around Comino. If seeing Gozo is part of the appeal, accept that you will be covering more water during the seven-hour window.

A boat set up for a long day outside

The boat is arranged for a full day rather than a short transfer. You get a sunbathing area, a canopy for shade, a fridge, toilet facilities, and Bluetooth connectivity for your own music.

The music option is a fun detail for a private group. A family can keep things calm, while a group of friends can set a soundtrack for the cruise. Bring the device and music you want to use, since the activity only states that you can connect your own music through Bluetooth.

The canopy matters just as much as the sunbathing space. You will likely want both during seven hours on the water. The ability to move between sun and shade makes the day easier for mixed groups, especially when some people want to swim and others want to rest.

There is no bar onboard. That point deserves attention because it is the clearest practical limitation. Bring your own drinks and food, and use the fridge to keep them cool. You can also plan a dinner stop in Mgarr Harbor in Gozo, but that should be arranged as part of your route rather than assumed.

What the private format is really worth

The group price is $965 for up to 16 people. At full capacity, that works out to about $60 per person for seven hours, before your own food and drinks. For 10 people, it is about $97 per person, and for a smaller group of six, about $161 per person.

That makes the charter strongest for larger parties. A group of friends, a family gathering, or a celebration can share the cost and gain a private boat, a skipper, fuel, snorkeling equipment, cave entry, and the ability to set the pace.

For two or three people, the price is harder to justify unless privacy and control matter more to you than saving money. A standard shared cruise may cost less, though it will not offer the same control over stops or music. The value here is not simply transport. You are paying for space, flexibility, and a full day built around your group.

The included fuel is important because it keeps the advertised group price from being only a starting figure with a large fuel surcharge waiting later. Snorkeling gear and cave entry are also included, so the main extras to budget for are refreshments and any meal in Gozo.

How the captains shape the day

Your skipper is central to the experience. The captain handles the boat, suggests the route, and helps you decide how to use the limited seven hours.

Names associated with this charter include Marc and Tony, though your assigned captain may be different. Marc is described as patient with a large group, while Tony is described as friendly and accommodating. Those qualities matter on a private trip because the captain is not just steering you between fixed stops. The captain is helping a group make decisions.

A good approach is to tell the skipper your priorities at the start. Say if you want more swimming, more caves, a Gozo harbor stop, time for lunch, or a relaxed cruise with music. You can then ask how many stops fit comfortably instead of trying to force every named location into the day.

One large group of 14 friends used the private setup to bring its own food and drinks and choose what to do. Another group of 11 enjoyed a comfortable boat, a jump rock, and even saw dolphins during its outing. Those details are not guaranteed features, but they show the kind of open-ended day the format can allow. A jump-rock stop or dolphin sighting depends on the captain, conditions, and luck, so treat them as possible extras rather than promises.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would choose this trip for a group that wants the sea to be the main event. Swimmers, snorkelers, sunbathers, and friends who enjoy setting their own pace will get the most from it.

It is also a good match for a larger family group. The private boat gives you room to keep your own food and music onboard, while the toilet and canopy make seven hours more manageable. People can take breaks without needing to leave the boat or follow a group schedule.

This is less suitable if you want a detailed cultural tour of Gozo. The emphasis is on bays, lagoons, caves, and cruising, not museums, villages, or inland sights. It may also disappoint anyone who expects a full-service boat with a bar and included meals.

Before booking, check that everyone in your group is comfortable with a day on the water. The boat has shade, but this is still an outdoor activity with a strong focus on swimming and sun. Bring practical clothing, sun protection, food, and drinks. The activity provides snorkeling gear, so that part is covered.

Simple planning for a better seven hours

Start with a food plan. You can bring your own meal and drinks, keep them in the fridge, or arrange time for dinner at Mgarr Harbor in Gozo. Since there is no bar, waiting until you are onboard to solve this problem is not wise.

Next, agree on your top two or three stops. Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon may be the priorities for one group. Another may prefer caves, St. Nicholas Bay, and Hondoq ir-Rummien. The captain can help shape the route, but you will make better use of the day if your group has already discussed its preferences.

Use the flexibility sensibly. If everyone is enjoying one location, stay longer. If a stop is not working for your group, ask about moving on. That is the reason to pay for a private charter.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Malta plans are still shifting, but you should still check the available starting times before you commit.

Should you book this private Comino and Gozo charter?

Book it if you have a medium or large group and want control over the day, especially time for swimming, snorkeling, caves, and music. The price becomes much more reasonable when divided among 10 to 16 people, and the included skipper, fuel, gear, and cave entry remove several extra costs.

I would hesitate if your group is small, wants a low-cost boat trip, or expects meals and drinks to be included. I would also choose another type of excursion if your main goal is guided sightseeing on Gozo rather than coastal stops.

For the right group, this is a practical way to see Comino and part of Gozo without being tied to a fixed route. Bring provisions, discuss your priorities with the skipper, and leave enough room for the day to change with the sea.

FAQ

Where does the boat charter start and finish?

You board at Sliema Ferries 4, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point in Sliema.

How long does the charter last?

The private boat charter lasts seven hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers a private group of up to 16 people.

Is food or drink included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, and there is no bar onboard. You can bring your own provisions, and the boat has a fridge.

What equipment is included?

The charter includes snorkeling gear, fuel, a skipper, and cave entry. The boat also has a canopy, toilet facilities, a sunbathing area, and Bluetooth connectivity for your own music.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you book without paying immediately.