Private 8 Hours Boat Charter Trip in Malta

Malta looks best from the water. This private charter gives you a full day of swimming, snorkeling, and coastal scenery around Comino and Gozo, with your own skipper, drinks, snorkeling gear, and stand-up board. I especially like the small-group privacy and the crew’s willingness to adjust the route for weather, sea conditions, and your group’s needs. The main consideration is cost: at $842.88 for up to 12 people, it makes the most sense when shared by a larger party.

I also like the generous eight-hour schedule, which leaves time for long swims instead of a rushed photo stop. Captains and crew, including Ryan, Kelo, and Ibrahim on different outings, have been praised for friendly service, cooking, and keeping families comfortable. The drawback is that food and alcohol cost extra, and the exact route can change with the weather.

Key points to know before booking

• Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon each receive about two hours, giving you real swimming time rather than a quick pass-by.
• The charter is private for your group, with space for up to 12 people and no unrelated passengers joining you.
• Snorkeling equipment, a stand-up board, fuel, a skipper, water, and soft drinks are included.
• Food costs €30 per person and alcohol €40 per person, although the boat has a kitchen and some groups have brought their own supplies.
• The crew can adapt the day, changing bays or arranging a return transfer when sea conditions make the original plan impractical.
• The meeting point is in Ta’ Xbiex at 9:00 am, and the boat returns there after the approximately eight-hour outing.

Why a private boat works so well in Malta

Malta’s best swimming spots are small, rocky, and exposed to the mood of the sea. A private boat gives you something a large sightseeing cruise cannot: room to change plans. If one cove feels crowded or the water is choppy, you are not tied to a fixed deck schedule.

The charter is priced at $842.88 per group, up to 12 people. That sounds steep for one person, but the calculation changes quickly with a full group. Split twelve ways, the base cost is about $70 per person before food and alcohol. For six people, it is about $140 each. A smaller party pays more for privacy, space, and control over the day.

You also avoid paying separately for several useful extras. Fuel, skipper service, snorkeling equipment, a stand-up board, unlimited water, and soft drinks are included. That matters on a hot day, when buying drinks one by one can become surprisingly expensive.

The charter has a 5 out of 5 rating from nine listed ratings, with repeated praise for the crew’s friendliness, flexibility, cooking, and care with children. That does not remove the normal risks of a sea outing, but it points to a strong service element, not simply a boat ride with a driver.

Starting at Ta’ Xbiex at 9:00 am

Your day begins at Kanpai Charter Office 1, Crown Marina Apartments, Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1027, Malta. The tour starts at 9:00 am and ends back at the same meeting point.

Ta’ Xbiex is near public transportation, which makes the start reasonably practical if you are staying elsewhere in Malta. Give yourself enough time to reach the marina without cutting it close. A private charter depends on the boat leaving on schedule, and the listed eight hours includes travel time.

The group limit is 12 people. That is a useful size for families, birthday groups, and friends who want a private day without hiring a much larger vessel. One outing comfortably handled 11 adults and a child, while another had four adults and four children with plenty of space.

A private boat does not mean silence or total seclusion. The famous lagoons can still be busy, especially at popular times. The advantage is that your own group controls the mood, can settle into a swimming stop, and can speak directly with the skipper about the route.

Blue Lagoon: Malta’s famous turquoise stop

Blue Lagoon on Comino is the headline attraction. Its clear, shallow water and pale rocky surroundings create the bright turquoise color seen in nearly every Malta brochure. The water is calm enough for an easy swim when conditions are favorable, and the visibility makes it a natural place to use the provided snorkeling equipment.

The planned stay is about two hours, which is generous by sightseeing standards. You can swim, snorkel, use the stand-up board, and relax without treating the stop as a ten-minute picture break. The lagoon’s shallow edges are especially appealing for people who prefer to ease into the water.

The catch is fame. Blue Lagoon is not a secret, and its popularity can work against the peaceful setting shown in photographs. A private charter helps because you can spend less time following a crowd and more time making your own choices, but it cannot guarantee an empty lagoon.

Bring sun protection, a towel, and secure footwear for moving around a boat and rocky coastal areas. The provided water and soft drinks are useful, but you should still plan for a long day in direct sun. If you have children, the calm water and private setting can be easier to manage than a crowded public boat, though normal supervision is essential.

Crystal Lagoon for a quieter swim

Crystal Lagoon offers a different mood from Blue Lagoon. It is framed by rocky cliffs and feels more enclosed, with a setting that favors swimming, snorkeling, and quiet time on the boat. The planned two-hour stop gives this part of the route enough weight to feel like a proper destination.

This is where the included snorkeling gear matters most. Clear water and rocky edges can reveal small marine life and underwater features, although visibility depends on conditions. The stand-up board gives active swimmers another way to enjoy the water, while less energetic members of your group can remain aboard with a drink.

Crystal Lagoon is also a good reason to choose the private format. The skipper can judge where the boat is most comfortable and adjust the order of stops if the sea changes. Several outings were altered to suit conditions, and that practical flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to book a charter rather than a rigid group excursion.

Do not expect the two lagoons to feel completely different in every possible weather pattern. Both are coastal swimming stops, and the day remains dependent on the sea. Still, the contrast between the open fame of Blue Lagoon and the more enclosed feel of Crystal Lagoon gives the itinerary a sensible rhythm.

Gozo: one hour of island scenery

The Gozo portion is listed as one hour, shorter than the two lagoon stops. It introduces you to Gozo’s beaches and coves, including the golden sands of Ramla Bay and the quieter San Blas Bay. The appeal here is less about one long swim and more about seeing a broader slice of the island’s coast.

Gozo is known for clear water, rocky bays, and beaches with a calmer feel than Malta’s busiest resort areas. From the boat, you get a coastal view that is difficult to appreciate from a road. You might see different bays or nearby caves depending on the sea and the skipper’s judgment.

The shorter Gozo time is worth noting before you book. If your main aim is to spend hours ashore on a beach, this is not a full Gozo sightseeing tour. It is a boat day that includes Gozo as one part of the route.

Some outings have started from Gozo, reaching Blue Lagoon quickly, while this booking information gives Ta’ Xbiex as the start and finish point. That suggests the precise route and travel time can vary. Confirm the day’s plan with the charter company, especially if a particular Gozo bay or cave is important to you.

A crew that can shape the day

The skipper is more than a person steering the boat. On a private charter, the crew’s judgment affects where you stop, how long you stay, and how comfortable the day feels. Ryan has been praised for hosting, cooking, and looking after the group, while Kelo and Ibrahim have been singled out for taking a birthday group to quieter bays and caves.

That personal service is a recurring strength. The crew has adjusted routes for weather, sea conditions, children, and general comfort. One group with a young toddler appreciated the care shown to a mixed-age party. Another group was able to request fishing, with no difficulty mentioned.

A well-run private charter should also explain what you are seeing without turning the day into a lecture. The captain has been described as keeping the group informed about sites and locations. You can expect the balance to be more conversational than formal.

Sea conditions can force changes. One group received a vehicle transfer back to the starting point later in the day because of the water conditions. That is a useful sign of practical problem-solving, but it also reminds you that a boat trip is not fully predictable. Ask about the fallback plan if you are arranging a tight connection afterward.

Food, drinks, and using the boat well

Unlimited water and soft drinks are included, which is valuable in Malta’s strong sun. The boat also has a BBQ and kitchen, and the equipment includes plates and cutlery according to the experience details provided by past groups.

Food is listed at €30 per person, and alcohol at €40 per person. Treat these as substantial add-ons when calculating the real cost. For a group of 12, both charges could add €840 to the bill, almost doubling the base price.

There is some flexibility around meals. Groups have brought their own food and drinks, stored supplies in the fridge, and used the kitchen. Because the official inclusions list food and alcohol as extra, ask the operator in advance whether you may bring your own provisions and what the €30 and €40 charges cover.

A BBQ lunch can be a pleasant part of a long charter because it keeps you from losing time looking for food on shore. It also suits a birthday or family gathering. If you want a quiet, simple day, bring or arrange only what your group will actually use. A large meal, bottles, towels, and swimming equipment can quickly fill a boat.

The crew’s cooking has received strong praise, so the food option may be worth considering for convenience. Still, the price should be clear before departure. The base rate includes drinks, not a full meal.

Who will get the most from this charter

I would recommend this trip most strongly for groups of six to 12 people. The private rate becomes more reasonable as more people share it, and the boat offers enough room for adults, children, and mixed activity levels.

It suits families because the group stays together, the route can respond to children’s needs, and the crew has experience making a day comfortable for a toddler. It also suits birthday groups and reunions, when a private boat gives everyone a shared setting without asking strangers to join the celebration.

Snorkelers and swimmers will get the most from the itinerary. You have two major lagoon stops, equipment supplied, and time to stay in the water. People who prefer sightseeing can enjoy the cliffs, bays, caves, and Gozo coastline from the boat.

I would be more cautious if you are traveling alone or as a couple. You can still book, but the per-person cost will be high. A large public boat may offer better value if privacy is not important.

This is also not the right choice if you need a fixed, weather-proof schedule. The itinerary is shaped by sea conditions, and the tour duration includes travel time. Flexibility is a benefit, but it requires you to accept that the exact route may change.

Booking details, cancellation, and practical planning

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The experience is commonly booked around 20 days ahead, so reserve early if you need a particular date, especially for a birthday or a full group of 12.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 9:00 am start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and cancellations inside that period are not refunded.

Good weather is required. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The weather rule is important for any Malta boat booking, so keep some flexibility in your holiday schedule.

The activity is suitable for most people, but the data does not provide detailed mobility information. If anyone in your group has specific access needs, ask the operator before paying. Alcohol consumption requires a minimum age of 18.

Should you book the private Malta boat charter?

Book it if you have a group that values privacy, swimming time, and a flexible route. The combination of Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Gozo, snorkeling gear, a stand-up board, drinks, and an attentive skipper makes this a strong full-day choice for families and groups.

The value improves sharply with eight to 12 people. Before booking, add the food and alcohol charges to your group budget, confirm the meal arrangement, and accept that weather may change the route. If you do that, this charter offers a relaxed way to see Malta’s best water without spending the day packed onto a large excursion boat.

FAQ

How long is the boat charter?

The charter lasts approximately eight hours, including travel time.

What time does the experience start?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 am.

Where does the boat depart from?

It departs from Kanpai Charter Office 1, Crown Marina Apartments, Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1027, Malta.

Where does the experience end?

The boat returns to the original meeting point in Ta’ Xbiex.

Is the charter private?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the boat can accommodate up to 12 people.

Which places are included in the route?

The planned stops are Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and the island of Gozo.

How long is the planned stop at Blue Lagoon?

The scheduled time at Blue Lagoon is about two hours.

How long is the planned stop at Crystal Lagoon?

The scheduled time at Crystal Lagoon is about two hours.

Is food included in the price?

No. Food is listed at €30 per person. The boat has a BBQ and kitchen, and you should confirm arrangements with the operator.

Are drinks and snorkeling equipment included?

Unlimited water and soft drinks are included. Snorkeling equipment and a stand-up board are also included.

Is alcohol included?

No. Alcohol is listed at €40 per person, and consumption requires a minimum age of 18.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Poor weather cancellations offer a different date or a full refund.