Malta: Private Boat Cruise with Caves, Beaches & Swim Stops

Malta’s best water experience may be the one that gets you away from the packed day boats. This four-hour private cruise takes your group around Malta and Comino by boat, with caves, rock formations, quiet swim stops, and clear Mediterranean water. You can follow the skipper’s plan or ask for the places you most want to see.

I like the small private group, which gives you room to play music, sunbathe, eat, and swim without sharing the deck with a crowd. I also like the flexible pace: you can stop for snorkeling, stay aboard for the views, or spend time ashore when conditions allow. The main consideration is the extra €89 fuel fee, payable in cash, and four hours may feel short if you want a full day at sea.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to seven: You share the boat only with your own family or friends.
• Comino swim stops: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, St. Maria, and St. Nikolaus Bay may feature in the route.
• Caves and coastal scenery: Expect rock formations, sea caves, and views from the water.
• Your skipper sets the final route: Weather, tides, shallow water, and safety can change the plan.
• Maltese food is optional: The platter includes bigilla, ftira, cheeselets, olives, dips, and pasta salad.
• Bring €89 in cash: Fuel is charged separately and cannot be paid by card onboard.

Why a private boat makes sense around Malta

The coast around Malta is best understood from the water. Pale cliffs, caves, small bays, and bright sea colors make more sense when you are moving past them instead of looking down from a crowded beach. This cruise gives you a boat, a skipper, and a four-hour window to see the coast at a more personal pace.

The boat is private for your group of up to seven people. That matters in Comino, where the Blue Lagoon can become crowded and noisy, especially during the warmer months. You will not have to compete for deck space or follow a fixed group schedule. You can ask for more swimming, more sightseeing, or simply a quiet ride with music and a drink.

The supplied Bluetooth sound system adds a relaxed touch. You can bring your own playlist, although you should still keep the volume considerate while near other boats and shorelines. An ice cooler with ice is provided, along with fresh water showers, a side ladder, swimming noodles, masks, and fins.

There is a practical cost detail to keep in mind. The advertised price is $397 per group, not per person, for as many as seven people. For a full group, that can be good value compared with booking several seats on a large shared boat. But the €89 fuel fee is extra and must be paid in cash onboard. Add that to the price before comparing this cruise with other boat trips.

Finding the boat at Cirkewwa

The meeting point is Sea Life Cruises at Cirkewwa. Look for the white and brown boat on the dock behind the Cirkewwa Cafe. This is useful to know because a busy waterfront can make boat operators hard to identify, and the instructions do not place you directly inside the cafe.

Arrive on time. The four-hour charter does not get extended for late arrivals, so a delayed start cuts into your swim and sightseeing time. Bring cash for fuel, sunscreen, beachwear, and a camera. You may bring food and drinks, though extra drinks can also be purchased.

Large bags and oversize luggage are not allowed. Leave high heels, non-folding strollers, and bulky suitcases behind. A boat deck is not the place for a heavy day bag, especially when you are moving between the ladder, swimming area, and seating.

The cruise returns to the same meeting point unless the skipper must change the route or landing point because of weather or sea conditions. One particularly useful service detail is that, when strong wind made a return to the original harbor unsafe, the provider arranged a taxi back to the hotel. That does not guarantee the same solution every time, but it shows why you should keep your phone available and stay flexible if conditions change.

The ride toward Comino’s caves and bays

The listed route includes two short speedboat segments of about ten minutes each, with departure and return at Sea Life Cruises. The exact order of the stops is not fixed, and the skipper may choose the safest and most enjoyable route on the day.

As you leave Cirkewwa, the point is not simply to get from one port to another. The boat gives you changing views of the Maltese coast, with cliffs, inlets, rock shelves, and sea caves best seen from water level. Your skipper can explain the formations and identify the caves as you pass them.

Comino is the main scenic prize. Its caves and unusual rock shapes give the trip more variety than a simple beach transfer. You may cruise close to the openings, look into the darker water beneath the rock, and stop for photographs before moving to a swimming area.

The speedboat can make the ride exciting, but it also means you should secure loose items. Keep cameras, phones, hats, and food in a safe place while the boat is moving. If you suffer from motion sickness, this experience is specifically not recommended for you.

Blue Lagoon and the best swim stops

The Blue Lagoon is the most famous stop, and its clear turquoise water is the reason many people choose a Comino cruise. The water can look almost unreal in good conditions, but the fame brings crowds. A private boat helps because your skipper can decide how long to stay and may steer toward another bay when the main area is too busy or conditions are less comfortable.

The available stops can include the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, St. Maria Bay, and St. Nikolaus Bay. These locations offer a mix of open swimming areas, sheltered water, and coastal views. The skipper may select two or more swim stops, depending on the weather, sea conditions, and the time available.

You enter the water using the side ladder. Swimming fins, masks, and noodles are supplied, so you do not need to pack a full set of gear. A fresh water shower lets you rinse off salt after swimming, which is a small feature that becomes very welcome after several hours in the sun.

The water may be the star of the trip, but do not treat the swim stop as a guaranteed fixed program. The skipper can change routes and stops because of tides, shallows, wind, or other legitimate safety concerns. If your group cares more about swimming than sightseeing, say so at the start. The skipper can then shape the day around that preference when conditions permit.

What the four hours feel like

Four hours is enough for a satisfying taste of Malta by boat. You can cruise, see caves, stop to swim, snorkel, eat, and return without giving up an entire day. It works especially well as a half-day plan alongside another Malta activity.

Still, you should set realistic expectations. A four-hour cruise is not a complete tour of every Maltese island and every named bay. The more time you spend swimming, the less time remains for cruising and shore visits. If your group wants long stops, several beaches, a leisurely meal, and extensive sightseeing, a longer charter would be more comfortable.

The private setup lets you avoid the usual large-boat problem: waiting for dozens of people to board, disembark, or return from a swim. You can make better use of the clock. One group spent the full trip with music playing, swimming, and viewing the cliffs from the boat, while another saw dolphins and a sunset on the way back. Those sights are possible, not promised, so book this for the boat day itself rather than for a specific wildlife encounter.

You may also disembark to explore an island area if the route and conditions allow. Ask the skipper how much shore time is practical before leaving the boat. A short walk can be pleasant, but a longer stop will reduce time in the water.

The Maltese platter and onboard supplies

You can select the cruise with an authentic Maltese platter. It includes bigilla dip, white beans, stuffed olives, sun-dried tomatoes, water biscuits, traditional ftira, local dips, Maltese cheeselets, and pasta salad, with a drink included in that option.

This is a useful addition if you want lunch without interrupting the cruise. It also gives you a taste of familiar Maltese foods rather than relying only on snacks bought at the Blue Lagoon. Bigilla is a seasoned bean dip, while ftira is a local bread that works well with the dips and cheese.

If you do not choose the platter, bring your own food and drinks. Extra drinks are available for purchase, but you should not assume that every item you want will be available at every stop. The Blue Lagoon has a place to get food and drinks, but the cruise is more enjoyable when you already have water and snacks aboard.

Use the cooler for drinks, but remember that the boat is exposed to the sun. Sunscreen, a hat, and a camera are more useful than a large amount of luggage. The boat has a sound system, but it does not replace basic comfort items such as a towel and sun protection.

Your skipper and the private-group advantage

The skipper is more than a driver on this outing. The route depends on local sea conditions, and a good skipper can decide when to move, where to anchor, and which swim stop makes the most sense. Skippers named Francis or Frances have received especially warm praise for being attentive, helpful, and willing to adapt the day.

You can tell the skipper at the beginning if your group wants caves, swimming, snorkeling, photography, or a mixture of everything. The information provided says you can choose preferred locations or trust the skipper to take you around the islands. That is a real advantage over a fixed shared cruise.

The boat also suits families and close friends who want their own space. You can sit together, listen to music, share food, and decide how active the day should be. Families should count infants and children in the total group of seven, and every person needs a place aboard.

The private format does not remove the need to follow instructions. Wear the supplied life jacket when directed, use the ladder carefully, and listen if the skipper changes course. Sea conditions can shift quickly, and a safe change of plan is better than forcing a particular bay.

Who should book this cruise

I would choose this trip for a group of friends, a family, or a couple traveling with others who want privacy and flexibility. It is also a good pick if you dislike large excursion boats and want more control over the balance between swimming and sightseeing.

It is less suitable for anyone who needs wheelchair access, has significant mobility problems, suffers from motion sickness, or has back problems. The activity is also marked as unsuitable for pregnant women and people over 70. These restrictions relate to the boat and sea conditions, so take them seriously rather than treating them as a minor footnote.

You should also be comfortable with boarding by a side ladder and moving around a boat deck. Children and infants count toward the group limit, and the experience is not designed for oversized luggage or non-folding strollers.

Is the private Malta boat trip good value?

At $397 for up to seven people, the price makes the most sense when you fill most of the available places. Split among seven, the base cost is roughly $57 per person before the €89 fuel fee. With a smaller group, the per-person cost rises, but you gain the privacy and flexibility that shared cruises cannot offer.

The included equipment adds value. You get a qualified skipper, life jackets, snorkeling masks, fins, noodles, an ice cooler, fresh water showers, a ladder, and use of the boat for four hours. The Maltese platter is available as an option rather than included in every booking, so check which version you select.

The real value is the control over your time. You can avoid spending the whole morning following a crowd, and you can ask for a different balance of caves, beaches, and swimming. The extra fuel charge means the headline price is not the full cost, but it is clearly stated and easy to plan for if you carry €89 in cash.

Final decision: book it if flexibility matters

Book this private cruise if you want Comino’s clear water and caves without committing to a large shared boat. It offers the strongest value for groups of five to seven, especially if you plan to swim, bring food, and make use of the private space.

Choose another option if you want a guaranteed fixed itinerary, a full-day outing, or a low-cost solo experience. The skipper may change the route, the Blue Lagoon can be crowded, and four hours passes quickly. For the right group, though, this is a relaxed and practical way to see Malta from the water, with enough structure to feel organized and enough freedom to make the day your own.

FAQ

How long is the private boat cruise?

The cruise lasts four hours. Check availability for the available starting times.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private boat accommodates a group of up to seven people. Children and infants must be included in the total number of participants.

Where does the cruise start and finish?

The cruise starts and ends at Sea Life Cruises in Cirkewwa. Look for the white and brown boat on the dock behind the Cirkewwa Cafe.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Masks, swimming fins, and swimming noodles are provided. The boat also has a side ladder and fresh water showers.

Is the Maltese food platter included?

The Maltese platter is included only if you select the option that includes it. It contains bigilla, white beans, stuffed olives, sun-dried tomatoes, water biscuits, ftira, local dips, Maltese cheeselets, pasta salad, and a drink.

What extra fee must be paid onboard?

Fuel consumption costs €89 and must be paid in cash onboard. Extra drinks are available for purchase, and you can also bring your own food and drinks.