From Sliema: Private Comino and Gozo Boat Charter

Sea time beats sightseeing lines. This private charter gives you seven hours to shape a day around Comino and Gozo, rather than following a fixed group schedule. I like the freedom to linger at the Blue Lagoon or Crystal Lagoon, and I like that the boat includes snorkeling gear, cave entry, fuel, and an English-speaking skipper. The main consideration is cost: at $965 for up to 16 people, it makes the most sense for a full group, not a couple or small party.

You can bring your own food and drinks, connect your music by Bluetooth, and use the boat’s fridge, toilet, canopy, and sunbathing area. That makes a long day on the water easier. Just remember there is no bar onboard, so forgetting refreshments means doing without until a stop in Gozo.

Key things to know before booking

• A flexible seven-hour route: Work with your skipper to spend more time at the places you care about, or follow a suggested plan.
• Comino’s famous water: The Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon offer the bright blue sea most people hope to see, with snorkeling gear provided.
• Caves by powerboat: Cave entry is included, giving you a closer look at Comino’s rocky shoreline.
• A private group of up to 16: You share the boat only with your own party, which suits families, friends, and celebrations.
• Bring your own supplies: There is a fridge but no bar, so pack drinks and food or plan to eat at Mgarr Harbor.
• Strong customer satisfaction: The 4.8 rating reflects praise for the freedom, comfortable boat, and friendly skippers, including Marc and Tony.

Why a private boat changes the day

The key word here is private. You are not being carried along on somebody else’s timetable. Your group can discuss the plan with the skipper and adjust it as the day goes on.

That matters around Comino. The Blue Lagoon is the headline stop, but you may want more time to swim, take photos, or use the snorkeling equipment instead of racing off to the next sight. With this charter, you can ask to stay longer. You can also follow the skipper’s suggested route if you would rather leave the planning to someone else.

This is a good middle ground between a fully rigid excursion and renting a boat without help. You get a professional skipper, fuel, and local handling of the route. You still have enough control to make the day feel like your group’s own outing.

The boat holds up to 16 people, so the value improves sharply as your party grows. Split among 16, the advertised price works out to about $60 per person for seven hours. With 11 people, it is about $88 each. For a group of four, the same charter becomes roughly $241 per person, which is a much harder sell unless privacy and control matter more than price.

Leaving from Sliema Ferries 4

The meeting point is Sliema Ferries 4. You board there and return to the same point at the end of the seven-hour activity.

Sliema is a practical departure point for anyone staying in or near the main Malta hotel areas, though the supplied details do not give a precise check-in time. You need to check availability for the starting times offered on your date. Plan to arrive with your food, drinks, swimwear, sun protection, and anything else you want for a full day at sea.

The boat has a canopy for shade, but that does not mean every person can sit under it at once. A sunbathing area is also provided, so the arrangement naturally suits a group with mixed preferences. Some people can sit in shade while others stretch out in the sun.

The private format also helps with small practical choices. Your group can organize its own music through Bluetooth, rather than listening to a playlist selected for a large public boat. Keep the volume friendly, though. A private boat gives you control, not a license to turn the Mediterranean into a nightclub.

Comino’s Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon

The two best-known water stops are the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon. Their appeal is simple: clear, bright sea and the chance to swim or snorkel from the boat.

The Blue Lagoon is likely to be the most anticipated stop. It is the place to enjoy the color of the water and take the classic Comino photos. The downside is that famous places can become the busiest part of a day, and the charter information does not promise quiet conditions. A private boat gives you more control over how long you stay, but it cannot make a popular location empty.

Crystal Lagoon offers a different reason to linger. The name points to the water itself, and the included snorkeling gear lets you see more than the surface. I would treat the equipment as a useful convenience rather than a luxury. You do not need to arrange a separate rental, and you can decide on the spot when you want to get in.

The boat also allows entry to caves around Comino. This is a strong feature because it adds variety to the day. You are not simply moving between swimming spots. You can see the island from the water, approach rocky openings by powerboat, and experience the coast at a closer range.

The exact amount of time at each place depends on your group and captain. If swimming is your main goal, say so early. If you prefer a mix of caves, bays, and Gozo, ask for a route that spreads the day more evenly.

St. Nicholas Bay and the quieter side of Comino

St. Nicholas Bay is another listed stop around Comino. It gives the skipper more room to build a route beyond the two famous lagoons.

That flexibility matters for groups with different priorities. One person may want a swim, another may want photographs, and another may simply want to sit under the canopy with music playing. A bay stop can help break up the day and keep the itinerary from feeling like a checklist.

The supplied details do not promise a particular activity at St. Nicholas Bay beyond visiting the location, so you should think of it as part of the scenic and swimming route rather than a formal guided attraction. Ask your skipper what works best on the day and how long the group should stay.

One useful point about this charter is that the skipper is not just a driver. You can use local input to shape the order of stops, then make the final call as a group. That is especially helpful when you have only seven hours and want to avoid spending too much time moving between places.

Crossing to Gozo and Hondoq ir-Rummien

The charter continues to Gozo, Malta’s larger sister island. Hondoq ir-Rummien is listed as one of the possible stops, giving you another coastal setting after Comino’s lagoons and caves.

For me, the value of including Gozo is the change of rhythm. Comino is closely tied to its famous water and rocky shoreline. Gozo adds a different island stop, so the outing feels like a two-island trip rather than a single swim transfer.

Again, the route is flexible. You can work with the skipper to decide how much of the day belongs to Gozo. A group that has already had enough swimming may prefer to spend more time near the harbor. A group that wants maximum sea time may keep the focus on bays and water access.

Do not expect a detailed land tour of Gozo from the information provided. This is a boat charter, not a walking tour or a full island sightseeing circuit. The Gozo portion is best for seeing the coast from the water, stopping at listed locations, and taking a break at Mgarr if that suits your group.

Mgarr Port and the food question

Mgarr Port is both a listed destination and your main food option if you do not want to bring everything onboard. The charter allows you to stop for dinner in Mgarr Harbor in Gozo.

There is no food or drink included, and there is no bar on the boat. This is the practical detail most likely to affect your comfort. Bring enough water and food for your group, especially if you plan to spend most of the seven hours swimming and sitting in the sun.

The fridge is helpful for keeping drinks and packed food cool, but it is not a substitute for planning. You should not assume that a meal stop will fit your preferred schedule, since the itinerary is flexible rather than fixed. If dinner at Mgarr is important, agree on that plan with the skipper early in the day.

Bringing your own provisions can also improve the value. You avoid paying for meals at a stop and can eat when your group wants. On the other hand, a harbor meal gives you a break from the boat and removes some of the work of packing for a large party. Both approaches fit this charter.

What the boat provides for a full day

Seven hours is a long time to spend on any boat, so the included facilities matter. You get a canopy for shade, a sunbathing area, a fridge, toilet facilities, Bluetooth music connection, and snorkeling gear.

The toilet is especially useful on a full-day trip. The canopy matters just as much. Malta’s sun can make a beautiful day tiring if you have nowhere to get out of it, so use the shaded area rather than treating it as decoration.

The Bluetooth connection adds a personal touch for groups of friends. You can bring a playlist and set the mood for the cruise. Keep a backup plan in mind, since the main reason to book this trip is the water, not the sound system.

A boat described as comfortable by one group carried 11 people well, while another group of 14 used the charter for a day of their own choosing. Those numbers suggest the boat can work for sizeable parties, though the experience will naturally feel more crowded near the maximum of 16 than with a smaller group.

Snorkeling gear and cave entry are included, along with fuel and the skipper. That keeps the headline price from growing through several common add-ons. Food and drinks remain your responsibility.

What the skipper adds

The skipper is central to the experience because the route is not locked. You need someone who can help balance sightseeing, swimming, cave visits, and the crossing to Gozo.

Marc received direct praise for being patient with a group of 14 friends. That is a useful quality on a private charter, where different people may want different things. Tony was also described as friendly and accommodating by a group of 11, which fits the kind of service this flexible setup requires.

Those names may not be your assigned skipper, so do not book on the assumption that Marc or Tony will operate your boat. Still, they show the sort of interaction to hope for: a skipper who listens, explains the options, and gives your group room to enjoy the day without making you manage the route alone.

If you have a priority, say it clearly. Tell the skipper if you want extra snorkeling time, more caves, a Gozo stop, a harbor meal, or a slower cruise with music. The charter works best when you treat the itinerary as a conversation.

A day suited to groups, not everyone

This charter is a natural fit for groups of friends, families, and parties who want privacy. The ability to bring your own food and music makes it feel more personal than a standard sightseeing cruise. It also works well for a group that cannot agree on one fixed activity, since the route can change during the day.

It may suit you if you want:

• A private boat for up to 16 people
• Time at the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon
• Snorkeling without arranging separate equipment
• Cave visits around Comino
• A skipper who can suggest and adjust the route
• The option to eat onboard or stop at Mgarr Harbor

It is less attractive if you are traveling alone or as a pair and mainly want the lowest possible price. You also need to be comfortable planning your own food and drinks. This is not an all-inclusive boat day.

The charter is also not designed as a detailed cultural tour of Gozo. If your main interest is inland sights, museums, or a guided history program, this water-focused trip may not cover enough ground for you.

Cancellation and booking flexibility

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also helps if you want to hold the plan while keeping your cash available until closer to the date.

The activity lasts seven hours, and starting times depend on availability. The driver speaks English, and the group is private. These details are simple, but they matter when you are coordinating a larger party.

For the smoothest day, settle three things before boarding: how much time you want around Comino, how much time you want in Gozo, and where lunch or dinner fits. Once those choices are clear, the captain can help turn them into a workable route.

Should you book this Comino and Gozo charter?

I would book it for a group of at least 10 people that values privacy, flexibility, and a full day on the water. At that size, the price becomes reasonable, and the included skipper, fuel, snorkeling gear, and cave entry add real value.

The strongest reasons to choose it are the freedom to shape the route and the chance to combine Comino’s lagoons and caves with Gozo stops such as Hondoq ir-Rummien and Mgarr Port. The most important warning is the lack of onboard food and drinks. Bring your own supplies or plan a harbor stop.

If your group wants the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, snorkeling, music, and the option to linger instead of follow a crowd, this is a well-targeted choice. If you want a cheap transfer, a guaranteed quiet lagoon, or a guided land tour of Gozo, choose a different kind of excursion.

FAQ

Where does the boat charter start?

You board at Sliema Ferries 4. The activity also ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the charter?

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

How many people can join the private group?

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

Which islands does the charter visit?

The route explores Comino and Gozo, Malta’s sister islands.

Can the itinerary be changed?

Yes. The program is flexible, and you can work with the captain to spend more time at the places your group prefers or follow the captain’s suggested plan.

Does the charter visit the Blue Lagoon?

Yes. The Blue Lagoon is one of the listed stops around Comino.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is included.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, and there is no bar onboard. You can bring your own supplies or stop for dinner at Mgarr Harbor in Gozo.

What facilities are available on the boat?

The boat has a fridge, toilet facilities, a canopy for shade, a sunbathing area, and Bluetooth connectivity for your own music.