A boat cruise to Comino and the Blue Lagoon is one of the best single days you can have in Malta. The standard formula – catamaran, Blue Lagoon swim, Crystal Lagoon, sea caves and often Gozo – runs from around €30 and covers more coastline in six or seven hours than most visitors manage on land in a week.
The best tours sell out in peak summer, so it pays to book ahead. For anything beyond the lagoon, the Comino island guide covers the shore-access slot system and what else there is on the island.
- 01The Sea Trips 'Gozo & Comino' day tour (from ~€30, 7 hours) is the most-reviewed Malta boat trip on GetYourGuide with tens of thousands of bookings – the safest default choice.
- 02The Hornblower day cruise covers a similar Gozo + Comino + Blue Lagoon + caves route at the same price and earns a slightly higher rating across thousands of reviews.
- 03For a Comino-only day, the Sea Trips Seabreeze catamaran is the dedicated pick: 6 hours, Blue Lagoon + Crystal Lagoon + sea caves, no Gozo stop.
- 04The Hornblower Sunset Cruise offers a 3.5-hour Blue Lagoon swim at golden hour from ~€30 – top-rated and far better value than most sunset products.
- 05The Hera II party boat (€65, 4 hrs, open bar + DJ from Sliema) is the evening option for groups who want atmosphere over scenery.
The most-reviewed day tour: Sea Trips Gozo & Comino (7 hours)
For a first Malta boat day, the Sea Trips "Gozo & Comino Islands, Blue Lagoon & Seacaves Tour" is the default recommendation. It has more verified bookings than any other Malta cruise on GetYourGuide – marked "Likely to sell out" in season – earns a 4★+ rating, costs ~€30 per person and runs 7 hours from Bugibba Jetty.
The route covers both islands: Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon on Comino, the rugged coastline past the sea caves, and time on Gozo. Audio guide included in English, French, German, Italian and Polish. If a group or first-timer asks which cruise to book, this is the answer.
One thing worth knowing: Crystal Lagoon is on the route from June to October in fair weather; outside that window the operator may adjust the route or switch to a larger sailing vessel. Full refund for bad-weather cancellations.
The Hornblower alternative: same price, slightly higher rating
Hornblower Cruises runs a competing day tour covering the same Comino Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, sea caves and Gozo circuit from Bugibba, also from ~€30 and in a similar 6–7 hour format. It earns a 4.5★+ rating across thousands of reviews – fractionally higher than Sea Trips – and the boats are known for a waterslide, pineapple cocktails and a well-run onboard bar.
If the Sea Trips tour is sold out on your date, this is the immediate alternative. Book: Malta Comino Blue Lagoon, Gozo & Caves Cruise.
Comino-only: Sea Trips Seabreeze catamaran (6 hours)
If you've already done Gozo and want the full day focused on Comino, the Sea Trips Seabreeze catamaran runs a tighter 6-hour route: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and the sea caves from Bugibba, skipping the Gozo stop. It earns a 4★+ rating across thousands of reviews and shares the same audio-guide setup (EN/FR/DE/IT/PL).
The dedicated catamaran hull means more deck space and a slightly different feel from the larger day-trip vessels. Book: Comino Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and Seacaves Tour.
Sunset swim: Hornblower Sunset Cruise (3.5 hours, ~€30)
The standout in the short-trip category is the Hornblower "Blue Lagoon Sunset Cruise" – a 3.5-hour swim and snorkel session at the Blue Lagoon timed for golden hour, departing from Bugibba Jetty. It earns a 4.8★ "Top rated" badge with over a thousand reviews, and at ~€30 costs the same as the full-day tours.
You get a full-service bar, deck chairs and a waterslide onboard – it's a proper swim trip, not just a scenic cruise. The short duration makes it the smart choice if you've already done a day cruise or want to keep the evening lighter. Book: Blue Lagoon Sunset Cruise – Swim, Snorkel & Slide.
Party boat: Hera II (4 hours, €65, open bar and DJ)
For groups after a proper evening out on the water rather than a swim day, the Hera II Sunset Boat Party departs from Sliema Ferries at 18:30 and runs until 23:30 – four hours with a live DJ, unlimited open bar and food in the €65 ticket. It's a floating party more than a cruise and earns a lower rating than the sightseeing options.
It suits anyone based on the south side of the island, since it departs from Sliema rather than Bugibba. Book: Hera II Sunset Boat Party with Open Bar and Food.
What to bring and what to expect
Pack a towel, sunscreen, waterproof footwear and cash. The larger day boats have toilets, freshwater showers and onboard bars; snorkelling gear is typically extra or bring-your-own – check the listing before booking.
Traffic to Bugibba Jetty can be heavy on summer mornings, so budget 15–20 extra minutes or take an early bus from Valletta or Sliema. Boarding closes before departure and operators don't refund for missed boats due to late arrival.
Weather can change the route – Crystal Lagoon and the sea cave passes are the stops most likely to be adjusted.
Featured image: NH2501 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
