3 Island Cruise onboard Faith

Sun, sea, and three very different stops make this a full Maltese day out. I like the generous time at the Blue Lagoon and the fact that lunch, soft drinks, and round-trip cruising are included. I also like the comfortable Faith, with shaded seating, air-conditioned areas, showers, and room to spend the day your own way.

The main catch is weather and sea conditions. Rough water can change the route, keep the boat farther from shore, or turn planned sightseeing into extra swimming stops. The promise of unlimited beer and wine also needs care: the published details say these drinks are included during lunchtime, but some departures have reportedly offered only soft drinks, or charged for drinks outside the meal.

Key things to know before booking

• The Blue Lagoon gets the longest stop: Plan on about three hours there, though it can be very crowded in July and other peak summer periods.
• Two other swimming stops add variety: One bay is in Malta and another is in Gozo, each scheduled for about an hour.
• Lunch is included: A Maltese-style platter or hearty meal is served, with drinks listed during lunchtime.
• The cruise is built for comfort: Faith has showers, air-conditioned areas, a snack bar, and seating in both sun and shade.
• Commentary is in English: The live narration provides coastal context, though the pace or sound quality may make some details hard to follow.
• Sea conditions can reshape the day: Sights such as Popeye Village, the Blue Grotto, or St. Peter’s Pool may be seen only from a distance, or skipped altogether.

What the day on Faith is really like

This is an 8 to 9 hour boat day beginning at 9:00 a.m. from the Sliema Ferries Terminal. You return to the same meeting point, so the trip works best when you want one long, easy excursion rather than a short sightseeing ride.

The appeal is simple. You board once, settle into a seat, and let the Maltese coast pass by while the crew handles the route, food, and stops. You get a mix of open-water cruising, coastal views, swimming, and a long pause at Comino’s Blue Lagoon.

I like this format for a first look at Malta from the water. It gives you a broad sense of the islands without arranging several separate boat trips. It is also a useful choice for families or mixed groups, since one person can swim while another stays aboard in the shade or air conditioning.

Still, this is not a precision sightseeing tour. It is a day at sea with a sightseeing element. If your main goal is to step ashore at every famous coastal site, you may find the experience frustrating.

Leaving Sliema at 9:00 a.m.

Sliema Ferries Terminal is the fixed start and end point. The advertised meeting time is 9:00 a.m., and any transport connection should be treated seriously because one reported pickup arrived about 30 minutes late. Some passengers also expected a hotel drop-off and were left nearby instead, so confirm exactly where any optional transfer ends.

Once underway, the live English commentary provides information about the coast as Faith moves between stops. The narration is a useful extra, but do not rely on catching every word. Several accounts describe the guide or captain as speaking too quickly or being difficult to understand, possibly because of the audio system, accent, or both.

That matters because the boat may pass famous places without stopping. The cruise can offer a look at sites such as Popeye Village, the Blue Grotto, fishing villages, or St. Peter’s Pool, but the view may be distant and brief. If one of those places is high on your Malta wish list, book a dedicated land or boat visit instead of assuming this cruise provides a close look.

The first Malta bay, about one hour

The opening stop is in a bay around Malta and lasts about an hour. This is where the day starts to feel less like a sightseeing transfer and more like a swimming holiday.

You can use the time to enter the warm Mediterranean water, snorkel, or simply stay aboard and enjoy the views. The facilities make that choice easier. Showers are available after swimming, and air-conditioned spaces offer relief when the sun becomes strong.

The stop is not presented as a major land visit. Think of it as a water break rather than a village walk or historic site. Bring your swimsuit in an accessible part of your bag, not buried under dry clothes. One complaint about the experience came from someone who had not realized a swimming stop was planned and felt the time in the water was too short.

The length can also vary in practice. Rough seas may make a planned bay difficult to enter, and some departures have replaced sheltered coastal stops with swimming in open water. If you are not a confident swimmer, ask the crew about the exact conditions before entering.

Gozo by boat, with another hour in a bay

The second scheduled stop takes place in a Gozo bay and lasts about an hour. This gives you another chance to swim or snorkel, and it breaks up the longer crossing to Comino.

I like having two separate swimming opportunities before the Blue Lagoon. You are not forced to spend all your water time in one crowded place, and the Gozo stop may feel calmer than Comino during busy summer dates. One particularly positive account described the quieter stops as a strong part of the day, especially compared with the packed Blue Lagoon.

Do not expect a full visit to Gozo. The stop is in a bay, not a town, and the experience does not provide time for inland sightseeing. You will get a coastal view and time in the water, not the island’s churches, villages, or countryside.

If swimming is not your priority, this is the point when the long boat format may test your patience. The overall day includes several hours of cruising, and the route may keep you offshore. Sit near a good viewing area if the coast matters to you, but accept that the boat’s purpose is broad coastal viewing rather than close-up touring.

Three hours at Comino’s Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the centerpiece. The scheduled stop lasts about three hours, far longer than the two earlier bay visits.

That gives you time to swim, snorkel, dry off, eat, and enjoy the famous water without rushing straight back aboard. The water is warm and clear enough for a pleasant swim, and the lagoon provides the strongest setting for the classic Malta postcard moment.

The tradeoff is crowds. In July, the Blue Lagoon can be extremely busy. The water remains beautiful, but the sense of space disappears quickly when many boats and day visitors arrive. If you want quiet coves and an uncrowded shoreline, this stop may disappoint you in summer.

The longer pause does give you flexibility. Strong swimmers can spend more time in the water, while others can remain on Faith and use the facilities. The boat includes shaded areas, sunny seating, an air-conditioned section, showers, and a snack bar, so you are not dependent on finding a perfect patch of shore.

The exact arrangement of the Blue Lagoon stop can be affected by conditions. One account describes a day with only about 1 hour and 40 minutes there after two open-water swimming stops, while another describes the planned three-hour visit. That difference is important. The advertised plan is clear, but wind and swell can force changes.

There is also an optional cave tour by powerboat. It is not included in the cruise price, so treat it as an extra purchase rather than part of the standard Blue Lagoon experience.

Lunch, drinks, and the practical value of $90.12

At $90.12 per person, the cruise is not the cheapest way to reach the water, but it includes more than a basic boat transfer. Your price covers the cruise, local taxes, lunch, live commentary, and the scheduled stops.

The meal has received strong praise, particularly the Maltese-style platter and the range of food. One description calls it tasteful and more elaborate than expected, while another singles out the hearty lunch. That makes a real difference on an 8 to 9 hour outing. You are not forced to organize a separate midday meal while moving between islands.

Drinks are the confusing part. The written inclusions specify unlimited beer, wine, water, and soft drinks during lunchtime. Alcoholic drinks outside that arrangement are listed as available to buy. Yet one departure reportedly had no beer or wine at all, and soft drinks were limited to the lunch hour, with cans costing about 2 euros afterward.

I would book on the assumption that lunch drinks are limited to the meal period and confirm the alcohol arrangement before departure. If complimentary beer and wine are central to your decision, this is worth clarifying with Supreme Travel Ltd. before paying.

The value is strongest if you plan to use the full package: lunch, swimming stops, showers, air conditioning, and a full day on the water. It is weaker if you mainly want a close view of one famous site, since a dedicated Blue Grotto or Popeye Village excursion may suit that purpose better.

Comfort aboard Faith

Faith appears designed for a long day rather than a short harbor ride. The available shaded seating is important in Malta, where sitting in full sun for hours can wear you down. Air-conditioned areas provide a practical escape, especially after swimming or during the hottest part of the afternoon.

Showers are another small feature with real value. You can rinse off salt water before lunch or the return cruise, which makes the final hours more comfortable. The snack bar gives you another option when you want something between meals, although the included drink arrangement should not be assumed to cover the entire day.

Capacity is listed at up to 100 people, while one departure had only 31 passengers against a much larger maximum capacity. That shows how different the feel can be from one date to another. A lightly booked sailing should feel easier and less crowded, but you should not count on that level of space.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and a way to keep valuables dry. These are practical recommendations based on the amount of swimming planned, not extras supplied by the operator. You should also bring patience for a long day and sensible expectations about the route.

The route can change when the sea turns rough

The most important condition is the weather. The company states that the experience requires good weather and may be canceled if conditions are poor. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Even when the cruise sails, swell can change what you see. The boat may stay farther from the coast, avoid smaller bays, or skip close approaches to places such as Popeye Village and the Blue Grotto. Some departures have spent more time looking at cliffs from offshore, while others reached quieter parts of Comino and had a better balance of stops.

This is not necessarily poor operation. Malta’s exposed coastline can be difficult in wind and swell, and safety has to come first. The problem is expectation. Promotional descriptions can make the day sound like a close tour of every famous site, while the actual experience may be a panoramic cruise with swimming.

I would avoid booking this as your only chance to see a specific attraction. Use it as your broad Malta and Comino day, then arrange a separate visit for anything you absolutely must see up close.

Who should book this cruise

I think this trip suits you best if you:

• Want a simple full-day outing with transport, food, and stops handled for you
• Enjoy swimming and snorkeling more than walking through towns
• Prefer a boat with shade, air conditioning, showers, and a snack bar
• Are happy to see coastal sights from the water rather than visit each one
• Want time at the Blue Lagoon but can accept summer crowds
• Are traveling with a mixed group of swimmers and non-swimmers

It is less suitable if you dislike long periods aboard a boat, need a quiet beach, or want a tightly timed sightseeing route. It may also disappoint you if the advertised drinks are a major reason for booking and you do not confirm what will be served on your sailing.

The mobile ticket and English commentary keep the arrangement straightforward. Confirmation is provided at booking, service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The maximum group size is 100, so this is a shared cruise rather than a small private outing.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The minimum number of participants also needs to be met, and weather-related cancellations offer a different date or a full refund.

Should you book the 3 Island Cruise onboard Faith?

Book it if you want a value-focused day on the water with lunch, swimming, commentary, and a long Blue Lagoon stop in one package. The friendly crew, comfortable boat, good meal, and warm water are the strongest reasons to go.

Skip it if your priority is a close visit to the Blue Grotto, Popeye Village, St. Peter’s Pool, or another named attraction. Also think twice if you expect unlimited alcoholic drinks all day or quiet water at the Blue Lagoon in July.

My practical advice is to confirm the exact route and drink service before departure, pack your swimwear where you can reach it, and treat the coastal sightseeing as an extra rather than the main event. With that mindset, the cruise can be a pleasant, well-priced day around Malta, Gozo, and Comino.

FAQ

Where does the 3 Island Cruise start and finish?

The cruise starts at Sliema Ferries Terminal in Sliema, Malta, at 9:00 a.m. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts approximately 8 to 9 hours.

Which stops are included?

The cruise includes a bay stop in Malta for about one hour, a bay stop in Gozo for about one hour, and a stop at the Blue Lagoon for about three hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the tour price.

Are drinks included?

Water, soft drinks, beer, and wine are listed as unlimited during lunchtime. Alcoholic drinks outside the included arrangement are available to purchase. The exact beer and wine service should be confirmed before departure.

Is the cave tour included?

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

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts.