Malta: Blue Lagoon, Comino & St Paul’s Islands Cruise

The best part of this cruise is the chance to reach Comino’s Blue Lagoon by boat, then spend a generous three and a half hours swimming, snorkeling, walking, and relaxing. The Mermaid is a smaller family-run boat, so you get a more personal outing than on Malta’s biggest excursion vessels.

I like the friendly crew and relaxed music, plus the open-air shaded area, a sensible refuge from Malta’s strong sun. I also like the close look at the caves and the final stop at St Paul’s Island, where you can swim or walk up to the famous statue.

The main drawback is the long day on the water and the need to arrange your own free entry ticket for Comino before arrival. The boat has toilets, Wi-Fi, and food for sale, but you should still bring cash, water, sun protection, and your own towel.

Key points to know before booking

• The Blue Lagoon stop lasts about three and a half hours, giving you real time for swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and a walk around Comino.
• The Mermaid is a small red, white, and blue boat, with an open-air shaded area and onboard toilets.
• The cruise includes Santa Maria Caves or Crystal Lagoon Caves, depending on the route and conditions.
• St Paul’s Island provides a quieter final swim stop, plus a chance to walk up to the statue of St Paul.
• Food and drinks cost extra, though you can buy them onboard at the snack bar.
• You must arrange Comino’s entry ticket online in advance, and the captain may change the route in poor weather.

Setting out from Bugibba on the Mermaid

Your day begins at L-Menqa, the Bugibba Jetty. Look for the small red, white, and blue boat called the Mermaid, with a harbor full of docked boats around it. The activity finishes at this same point, which keeps the logistics simple if you are staying in or near Bugibba.

This is a full-day cruise, lasting roughly seven to seven and a half hours. That sounds lengthy, but the schedule breaks the day into moving views and several stops. You are not sitting in one place for the entire outing, though you should be comfortable spending most of the day aboard a boat.

The cruise is led in English. The captain and deckhand handle the practical side of the trip, while commentary helps point out the coast and the main sights. The tone is informal rather than formal, with music, a friendly crew, and time to enjoy the sea without a packed sightseeing script.

The Mermaid has a toilet onboard, free Wi-Fi, and life-saving equipment. Those details matter on a long cruise. A clean toilet means you do not need to cut short your time at sea, while the shaded open-air area gives you somewhere to sit out of direct sun. Seating and shade can make a big difference on a bright Maltese day.

The first hour along Mellieha’s coast

After leaving Bugibba, the boat follows the Maltese coastline toward Comino. The first sightseeing cruise lasts about an hour, giving you time to settle in and watch Mellieha pass from the water.

From the boat, the coast becomes a different kind of sightseeing experience. Instead of roads and buildings, you see cliffs, sea inlets, and rock formations from the angle that boats have used for centuries. Keep your camera ready, but also take a few minutes simply to watch the changing color of the water.

This first section is not a guided visit with a long stop. It is travel time with views. If you want the best photos, stay alert as the boat approaches rocky points and small coves. The crew’s commentary adds context, but the main pleasure here is the open water and the slow change from Malta’s populated coast to Comino’s quieter setting.

Three and a half hours at the Blue Lagoon

The main stop is the Blue Lagoon on Comino. You have about three and a half hours here, which is the strongest feature of this outing. Many boat trips offer only a short swim, but this schedule leaves enough time to enjoy the water without rushing through lunch or changing clothes.

The water is famously clear and bright. You can swim from the boat, snorkel, or simply sit on deck and enjoy the view. The boat also allows you to make a splash by jumping into the sea, provided you follow the crew’s safety instructions and use the designated access points.

This stop works well for people who want freedom rather than a tightly managed group activity. You can spend part of the time in the water, then dry off, eat, walk around Comino, or return to the shade. If you are traveling with family or friends who do not all want the same pace, the long stop gives everyone room to choose.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a hat. The sun can feel intense on the water, even when a breeze makes the air comfortable. A hat is useful between swims, and sunscreen needs regular attention. Cash is also worth packing because food and drinks are available for purchase, but they are not included in the price.

You also need to arrange a free entry ticket for the Island of Comino through the Maltese Government website before your trip. This is a separate requirement, not something included automatically with your cruise booking. Do not leave it until the last minute, and keep the ticket available on your phone.

The Blue Lagoon can be the busiest part of the day because it is Malta’s best-known swimming spot. This cruise’s smaller boat helps create a more relaxed feel onboard, but it cannot make the lagoon itself private. If your priority is peaceful scenery, use some of the long stop for walking or find a quieter place away from the main water access points.

Santa Maria Caves and the rocky coast

After Comino, the Mermaid continues along the coast for another sightseeing section of about 15 minutes before reaching the cave area. The scheduled stop is Santa Maria Caves, though the captain may visit the Crystal Lagoon Caves instead.

The boat’s size is useful here. A smaller vessel can approach the caves more closely than some of the larger ships, giving you a better look at the openings, rock walls, and shadows inside. You can take photos from the boat and enjoy the scenery without needing to leave the vessel.

This part of the cruise is shorter than the Blue Lagoon stop, so think of it as a scenic visit rather than a long cave walk. You are mainly viewing the caves from the water. The captain may adjust the exact route according to weather and sea conditions, so the named cave stop is not guaranteed on every departure.

The caves add variety to the day. You get a break from swimming and see a less polished side of Malta, where wind and water have shaped the coast over time. If you enjoy photography, this is one of the moments when it pays to have your camera ready before the boat reaches the entrance.

St Paul’s Island and the final swim

The final major stop is St Paul’s Island, reached after another hour of sightseeing from Comino. You have around 30 minutes here, enough for a last swim, a few photos, or a short walk toward the statue of St Paul.

This stop feels different from the Blue Lagoon. Comino is about bright water and a long swim break, while St Paul’s Island adds a historical point of interest to the end of the route. You can stay near the boat and swim beside the island, or use the short visit to see the famous statue from closer up.

Thirty minutes is useful but limited. I would decide before arrival whether swimming or walking matters more to you. Trying to do both may leave you hurried, especially if you want time to get back aboard comfortably.

The stop also gives you one more chance to enjoy Malta from sea level. St Paul’s Island is a fitting final pause before the boat begins its return to Bugibba. After a day of bright water and rocky coast, the ride back offers a quieter chance to rest.

What the onboard setup is really like

At $28 per person, this cruise offers good value if you want a full day on the Maltese coast without paying for a private charter. The price covers the boat trip, English commentary, Wi-Fi, a toilet, and life-saving equipment. It does not cover your food, drinks, or the required Comino entry ticket.

The value comes mostly from the time at Comino. Three and a half hours gives you much more flexibility than a quick stop, and the route adds caves and St Paul’s Island without requiring separate transport. You are paying for a complete day of coastal sightseeing and swimming, not just a transfer to the Blue Lagoon.

Food and drinks are available from the snack bar onboard. The information supplied does not promise a full meal, so I would bring cash and treat the onboard food as a convenience rather than assume a large lunch selection. One useful detail from the boat setup is that drinks are available, while snack choices may be limited.

The Mermaid’s open-air shaded area is another practical advantage. You can enjoy the breeze without spending the entire day in direct sun. Music is part of the atmosphere, and the overall style is casual, friendly, and social rather than quiet or luxurious.

The boat is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Boarding, moving around a boat, swimming access, and getting back aboard can all require steady footing. If you have mobility concerns, ask the provider directly before booking rather than relying on the general description.

What I would bring for a better day

Pack lightly, but bring the things that make a day at sea easier:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunscreen and a sun hat
• Cash for food and drinks
• A phone or camera in a waterproof pouch
• Your Comino entry ticket on your phone
• A light layer if you dislike wind during the return cruise

You do not need to bring snorkeling equipment according to the supplied details, so check with Mermaid Cruises if having your own mask and snorkel is important to you. The main requirement is to arrive ready for water, sun, and several hours outside.

Keep your belongings secure while swimming. The boat has facilities, but the details do not state that lockers are available. Bring only what you need and use a waterproof bag for anything valuable.

Weather matters on this route. The captain can cancel or alter the trip when conditions are unsafe. That may change the cave visit, swimming stops, or the overall route. This is a normal part of a sea excursion, but it is worth keeping your schedule flexible.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would choose this outing if you want to combine Malta’s coast, Comino, swimming, and a few historical sights in one day. It suits couples, families with confident swimmers, and friends who prefer a relaxed boat atmosphere over a formal sightseeing tour.

The generous Blue Lagoon stop is particularly useful for mixed groups. One person can swim, another can eat lunch, and someone else can remain in the shade or walk around Comino. The smaller boat also appeals to anyone who wants a less crowded feel than the biggest cruise vessels.

This may not be the right choice if you dislike sitting on a boat for long periods, want a silent nature trip, or need a fully accessible vessel. It also is not ideal if you want a private experience, since this is a shared cruise.

The English-only format is straightforward for English speakers. If you need commentary in another language, this activity does not provide that option in the supplied details.

Booking flexibility and the small print

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Starting times vary, so check availability when choosing your date.

Remember that the meeting point is L-Menqa in Bugibba, not a hotel pickup. You need to make your own way to the harbor and identify the Mermaid by its red, white, and blue colors.

The cruise has an overall rating of 4.4 from 211 ratings, which fits the experience described: a well-liked, good-value day with a friendly crew, pleasant music, useful shade, and plenty of time at the main stop. The strongest reasons to book are the crew’s welcoming style, the boat’s manageable size, and the unusually long Blue Lagoon visit.

Should you book the Mermaid cruise?

Book it if you want a budget-friendly full-day boat trip with swimming, caves, and St Paul’s Island, and you are happy to spend much of the day outdoors. At $28, the combination of coastal sightseeing and a long Comino stop is hard to dismiss.

I would be especially comfortable recommending it to confident swimmers and first-time Malta visitors who want to see several famous coastal sights in one outing. Just arrange the Comino ticket in advance, bring sun protection and cash, and accept that the captain may change the route if the weather turns.

Skip it if you need easy mobility access, dislike shared boats, or want a quiet private charter. For everyone else, the Mermaid offers a cheerful, practical way to experience Malta from the water without a high price tag.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start and finish?

The cruise starts and ends at L-Menqa in Bugibba. Look for the small red, white, and blue boat called the Mermaid at the harbor.

How long does the activity last?

The cruise lasts about 7 to 7.5 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

How much does the cruise cost?

The listed price is $28 per person. Food, drinks, and the Comino entry ticket are not included.

Is food available on the boat?

Yes. You can purchase food and drinks from the onboard snack bar. Bring cash, since food and drinks are extra.

Do I need an entry ticket for Comino?

Yes. You must sign up through the Maltese Government website and obtain the free Blue Lagoon entry ticket separately.

What stops are included?

The route includes a sightseeing cruise from Bugibba toward Comino, about three and a half hours at the Blue Lagoon, a cave visit or pass by Santa Maria Caves or Crystal Lagoon Caves, and about 30 minutes at St Paul’s Island.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The live tour guide and commentary are in English.

Is the cruise suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.