Full Day Fernandes Cruise with Lunch

Malta looks best from the water. I like this cruise for its two swimming stops, one in a quiet Gozo bay and one at Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon. I also like that the $88.72 price includes hotel transport, a morning snack, buffet lunch, water, and a drink. The main drawback is comfort: seating may be limited, especially on a busy sailing.

You get about eight hours on the sea, with a fully stocked bar available for extra purchases. The plan is simple and appealing, but this is not a small, quiet sailing trip. With up to 80 people aboard, you should expect a social boat day and bring patience along with your swimsuit.

Key points to know before booking

• Two long water stops: Plan for roughly four hours around Gozo and four hours around Comino, including the cruise time between them.
• Gozo comes first: The boat anchors in a secluded bay where you can swim before lunch is served onboard.
• Blue Lagoon time follows lunch: You get ample time to explore Comino and swim in its crystal-clear water.
• Pickup is available from selected hotels: The operator confirms the exact pickup place and time after booking.
• Lunch and basic drinks are included: A morning snack, buffet lunch, water, and one drink are covered, but extra food, drinks, and spirits cost more.
• Seating may be the weak point: One detailed complaint described too many people and not enough places to sit, with some people standing while others occupied sunny or shaded spots.

The Fernandes departs from The Strand, Sliema quay, at 10:00 a.m. Hotel pickup begins earlier, with a stated meeting time of 9:30 a.m. Pickup is offered only from selected hotels, so do not assume your accommodation is included. After you book, check your email for the exact time and location.

This timing matters. A boat departure is not the place to arrive casually at 9:58. If you are using the pickup service, keep an eye on your messages and contact the operator if you have not received the details at least 48 hours before departure.

The route heads northwest toward Gozo. From the start, the appeal is the view: Malta’s coast, open water, and the changing shape of the islands are the main entertainment between swims and meals. The cruise gives you a broad look at Malta without asking you to change hotels, rent a car, or organize separate ferries and beach stops.

The boat can carry up to 80 people. That is a useful number to know because the experience will feel more like a full-day group cruise than a private yacht outing. You may find a place to sit, stretch out, or find shade, but seating is not guaranteed for everyone at every point.

The first stop is Gozo, where Fernandes anchors in a secluded bay for swimming. This is a pleasant choice for the first water stop. You are not thrown straight into the busiest part of the day at Comino. Instead, you begin with a slower pause and a chance to get comfortable in the sea.

The word secluded should not be taken to mean empty or private. The boat itself can have up to 80 people, and other boats may be in the wider area. Still, anchoring away from a major town gives this part of the day a calmer feel than a standard harbor visit.

You will want your bathing gear close by, not buried under a bus seat or tucked deep into your luggage. A towel and sunblock are specifically recommended, and both are practical essentials. The sun can be strong on open water, and a full day outside gives you little relief if you forget protection.

This is also a good place to think about your own swimming ability. The trip requires a moderate level of physical fitness and is not suitable for people with mobility difficulties. The experience centers on moving around a boat, getting ready to swim, and spending time in the water, so it is less suitable if you need easy step-free access or close assistance.

Lunch is served aboard the boat after the Gozo swimming stop. The package includes a buffet lunch, a morning snack, water, and a drink. That makes the price easier to judge, since you are not paying for a full-day cruise and then having to find your own midday meal on an island.

A buffet also suits a day with a mixed group. You can choose what appeals to you and eat onboard rather than losing time searching for a restaurant. The exact menu is not provided, so I would not book this expecting a particular dish or a special dietary spread.

The bar is fully stocked, but that does not mean every drink is included. Additional food and drinks cost extra, and spirits are not part of the package. If you want alcoholic drinks beyond the included offering, budget for them separately.

There is a practical tradeoff here. Eating onboard keeps the schedule moving and makes the day simple, but a buffet line can become crowded when many people are collecting food at once. The limited-seating complaint also matters at lunch. Some people may be seated in sun or shade while others have less comfortable standing space, especially if everyone tries to eat at the same time.

I would treat the meal as useful fuel, not the central reason to book. The water stops and the route are the real attractions. The included lunch adds good value and saves you from carrying food, but it should not be confused with a fine-dining cruise.

After lunch, Fernandes continues to Comino for the day’s better-known stop: the Blue Lagoon. This is where the tour delivers its most recognizable Malta scene, with clear water suited to swimming and time to explore the island.

You are given ample time here rather than a rushed photo stop. That matters because Comino is more than a quick look from the railing. You can get into the water, find a place to sit, and walk around during the stop. Bring your towel and sunblock ashore or keep them easy to reach, since you will want both after swimming.

The Blue Lagoon is famous for its water, but fame brings pressure. Even without adding facts beyond this cruise, the group size tells you what to expect: this is a shared stop, not a private patch of sea. With up to 80 people from your boat, the mood can be lively and the best spots may not remain open for long.

I would save your main swimming energy for Comino if that is your priority. The Gozo stop gives you a quieter opening, while the Blue Lagoon is the headline stop and the place where you may want extra time in the water. If you would rather explore than swim, the itinerary also allows time to walk around Comino.

Do not expect the tour to turn Comino into a guided historical visit. No guide names or formal island tour are provided. The experience is built around the boat ride, swimming, food, and free time. That is a strength if you like flexibility, but a weakness if you want detailed commentary or a tightly organized walking tour.

The advertised duration is about eight hours. The itinerary assigns four hours to the Gozo portion and four hours to the Blue Lagoon portion, though those blocks include cruising, anchoring, swimming, eating, and moving between locations.

That length gives you a proper day at sea rather than a short coastal outing. You have time to swim twice, eat without rushing, and see Malta and its neighboring islands from offshore. I like that the schedule avoids squeezing several tiny stops into one hurried loop.

The cost is $88.72 per person. For that amount, the value depends on how much you would otherwise spend arranging the day yourself. You receive round-trip transport from selected hotels, the cruise, a morning snack, buffet lunch, water, and a drink. You also avoid separate planning for Gozo and Comino.

The value is weaker if you dislike group boats, rarely swim, or mainly want independent time on land. You are paying for a packaged day with fixed stops. Someone who prefers a quiet beach, a private charter, or a long meal ashore may find the format less appealing.

I would also factor in the seating issue before paying. One score of 3 out of 5 described the boat as too crowded, with insufficient seats and some people standing while others had places in the sun or shade. That is only one detailed complaint among 19 ratings, but it points to a real comfort question. The maximum of 80 people supports taking it seriously.

This outing suits you if you want an easy, all-day water excursion with the major pieces arranged in advance. Hotel pickup, food, swimming stops, and the return trip are bundled together, which is useful when you would rather not build your own island-hopping plan.

It is also a good match for swimmers and sun-seekers. The day is organized around the sea, and both Gozo and Comino offer time to get in the water. Bring a towel, bathing gear, and sunblock, then keep a little money for optional drinks or food.

The cruise may work well for a group of friends or adults who enjoy a busy boat atmosphere. The English-language offering keeps the basic arrangements straightforward, and the itinerary does not require you to follow a long guided walk.

I would be cautious if you need a lot of personal space, guaranteed seating, or easy mobility. The experience is not suitable for younger children or people with mobility difficulties. It also requires moderate physical fitness, so think honestly about how comfortable you are moving around a boat and managing a full day outdoors.

Keep your confirmation and pickup information handy. The operator contacts you with the exact hotel pickup place and time, and you should follow up if you have heard nothing 48 hours before the start.

Arrive ready for water. Wear or pack bathing gear, bring a towel, and apply sunblock before you board. A small personal bag is more useful than a large suitcase, especially when seating and storage may feel tight.

If shade matters to you, act early when the boat stops. The limited-seating complaint specifically noted a split between sunny and shaded places, with some people left standing. I cannot promise where you will sit, so do not count on a particular spot.

Carry payment for extras. The included drink and water help, but additional food and drinks are not covered, and spirits are excluded. The package is generous enough for a basic day, but it is not an all-inclusive bar service.

Keep expectations in the right place. You are booking a scenic boat day with swimming, lunch, and free time, not a small luxury sailing or a guided cultural tour. That simple distinction will make the price and the group setting easier to judge.

The cruise requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The operator also requires a minimum number of participants, and if that number is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

For your own cancellation, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows Malta’s local time.

The Full Day Fernandes Cruise is a solid choice if you want Malta’s coastal views, two swimming stops, an included lunch, and hotel transport in one package. I especially like the quieter Gozo opening and the generous time at Comino. I would book it for an active day on the water, but I would skip it if limited seating and a group atmosphere would spoil the experience for you.

FAQ

Where does the Fernandes Cruise depart?

The cruise departs from The Strand, Sliema quay, at 10:00 a.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is provided from selected hotels. The exact pickup time and place are confirmed after booking.

What food and drinks are included?

The package includes a morning snack, buffet lunch, water, and a drink. Additional food and drinks cost extra, and spirits are not included.

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours. The itinerary allows about four hours for the Gozo portion and four hours for the Comino and Blue Lagoon portion.

Can I swim at the Blue Lagoon?

Yes. The Comino stop includes ample time to explore the island and swim in the Blue Lagoon.

What should I bring?

Bring bathing gear, a towel, and sunblock. The activity requires moderate physical fitness and is not suitable for younger children or people with mobility difficulties.