From Sliema: Private Comino and Gozo Boat Charter

A private boat puts you in charge. This seven-hour charter from Sliema gives your group a relaxed way to see Comino and Gozo, with time for the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, caves, and swimming stops. I like the freedom to shape the day with your skipper, and I like that fuel, a toilet, snorkeling gear, and cave entry are included. The main catch is simple: food and drinks are not included, and there is no bar on board.

The boat can take up to 16 people, making the $965 group price most attractive when you fill many of the seats. Split among 16, that is about $60 per person for seven hours, fuel, a skipper, and a private boat. Smaller groups will pay more per person, but gain plenty of room and control over the schedule.

Key points to know before booking

• Private itinerary: Work with your skipper to spend longer at the places your group likes best.
• Comino highlights: Visit the famous Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, St. Nicholas Bay, and nearby caves.
• Gozo option: Cruise to Hondoq ir-Rummien and Mgarr Port, with the choice to stop for dinner in Mgarr Harbor.
• Onboard comfort: You get a fridge, toilet, canopy for shade, sunbathing space, and Bluetooth music.
• Swimming equipment included: Snorkeling gear and cave entry are covered in the price.
• Best value for groups: The flat $965 rate works best for larger parties of friends or family.

Leaving Sliema for Comino and Gozo

You meet the boat at Sliema Ferries 4, a useful departure point for anyone staying in Sliema or nearby parts of Malta. The trip lasts seven hours and returns to the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride back from Gozo.

The boat is private, which changes the feel of the day. You are not following a fixed crowd from one stop to the next. Instead, you can tell the skipper where you want more time, ask to move on when a stop has had its moment, or accept a suggested plan that takes in the main sights.

That freedom matters most on a boat day. A lagoon may look perfect from the water, but your group may prefer swimming, cave visits, sunbathing, music, or a meal in Gozo. Here, you are not locked into one choice for the entire afternoon.

The captain is an important part of the experience. Marc is praised for being patient with a large group, while Tony is described as friendly and accommodating. Your own skipper may be different, but the format gives you a chance to explain what your group wants at the start.

Blue Lagoon: Malta’s famous water stop

The Blue Lagoon is the best-known stop around Comino, and it is easy to understand why it attracts so much attention. The water around Comino is intensely clear and blue, giving you a fine setting for swimming, floating, and photographs.

The private charter offers one advantage here: you can discuss timing with the skipper instead of treating the lagoon as a quick, fixed stop. The exact amount of time you spend will depend on your chosen plan and conditions, but the flexible schedule lets you give the Blue Lagoon the attention it deserves.

There is a practical point to remember. The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s most popular sights, so it may not feel quiet or private once you are in the water. The charter gives you a private boat, not exclusive control of the lagoon itself. If your group wants a calmer setting, ask about spending more time at another Comino stop.

Bring a towel, swimwear, sun protection, and a willingness to get wet. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, so you can look beneath the surface without hiring gear separately. You should still bring any personal items you prefer for comfort, since food and drinks are your responsibility.

Crystal Lagoon and Comino’s sea caves

Crystal Lagoon offers another chance to enjoy Comino’s clear water, with the boat providing access to places that are best seen from the sea. The charter includes cave entry, and the powerboat can take you close to caves around Comino.

This part of the trip gives the day some variety. The lagoons are about swimming and open water, while the caves add rock formations, shadows, and short boat approaches. You can use the snorkeling gear for a closer look at the water around the boat, provided conditions suit your group.

The powerboat format is useful here because it can reach spots that are awkward to visit on foot. You will not be tied to one beach or harbor. The skipper can guide the boat into the selected areas and help you decide how much time makes sense at each.

Do not expect a formal guided cave lecture or a long land excursion. The supplied information describes cave entry and boat access, not a detailed walking tour. This is best understood as an active sea outing, with your captain helping you reach the sights.

St. Nicholas Bay and the quieter side of Comino

St. Nicholas Bay is included among the possible stops, giving you another place to pause around Comino. Its value is the choice it adds to your day. If your group has had enough of the main lagoon, you can ask to spend time elsewhere.

The schedule is deliberately loose. You might use this stop for a swim, a break on board, or a change of scenery between the main lagoons and Gozo. The exact plan belongs to you and the skipper, so it is sensible to discuss priorities before the boat leaves Sliema.

I like this arrangement for groups with mixed interests. Some people can sunbathe under the canopy, others can swim, and the group can keep moving without the pressure of a public excursion schedule. The compromise is that you need to make choices together. A private charter gives you control, but it does not remove the need for a plan.

Crossing to Gozo and Hondoq ir-Rummien

The trip can continue to Gozo, Malta’s sister island, with Hondoq ir-Rummien among the possible stops. This adds a different setting to a day otherwise centered on Comino’s lagoons and caves.

Hondoq ir-Rummien gives your skipper another place to include for swimming or a pause by the water. Since the itinerary is flexible, you can decide if Gozo is a major part of your day or simply a scenic addition after Comino.

The most useful way to think about the route is not as a guaranteed checklist. The listed places are possible destinations, while your skipper helps build the final plan. Weather, sea conditions, your preferred pace, and time spent swimming can all affect how many stops fit comfortably into seven hours.

If you want to see every named location, tell the skipper early. If your priority is a long swim and an unhurried lunch, say that instead. You will get more from the charter when you treat the itinerary as a menu rather than a promise to visit every item.

Mgarr Port and a meal option in Gozo

Mgarr Port is another suggested stop, and the boat can also allow time for dinner in Mgarr Harbor. This is useful because food is not included on the charter and there is no bar on board.

You can bring your own food and drinks and keep them in the onboard fridge. That is likely the simplest plan for a group that wants to maximize time on the water. Pack items that are easy to serve, easy to store, and not too messy around a moving boat.

Stopping in Mgarr Harbor gives you a different rhythm. Instead of eating lunch from a cooler while anchored, you can ask about having a meal ashore in Gozo. The information provided does not promise a particular restaurant or meal, so you will need to make that choice independently.

The stop is especially useful for a long day with children, mixed-age groups, or anyone who wants a proper meal. It does use part of your seven-hour charter, though. If swimming and caves are your main goals, eating onboard may leave more time for the sea.

What the private boat includes

The boat is set up for a full day on the Mediterranean, though you should think of it as practical rather than luxurious. The included features cover the basics that make seven hours on the water easier:

• A fridge for your own drinks and food
• Toilet facilities
• A canopy for shade
• A sunbathing area
• Bluetooth connection for your music
• Snorkeling equipment
• Cave entry
• Skipper and fuel

The canopy matters in Malta’s strong sun. You can enjoy the open water without spending every minute in direct sunlight, and the sunbathing area gives you a place to stretch out when you are not swimming.

Bluetooth music lets your group set the mood, but remember that you need to connect your own device. A shared playlist can be a good idea for a group of friends, especially since music is one of the few ways to personalize the ride beyond the route itself.

The fridge is another small but important feature. Since the boat has no bar, you need to bring your own drinks. Keep enough water for the full outing, along with any food your group wants, and ask before boarding if you have questions about storage.

The $965 price and who gets good value

The price is $965 for a private group of up to 16 people. At full capacity, the cost works out to roughly $60 per person. For a group of 11, it is about $88 per person, and for a group of 14, about $69 per person.

That is a reasonable structure for a private boat day because the rate covers the vessel, skipper, fuel, snorkeling gear, and cave entry. You are also paying for control over the route, which can be worth more than a lower-priced shared cruise if your group has specific priorities.

The value drops for very small groups. Two or four people will carry most of the group price themselves, even if they use only a fraction of the available capacity. In that case, compare the total cost with shared boat options before booking.

For large groups of friends, family reunions, or celebrations, the math improves quickly. One group of 14 had a comfortable day, stopped at impressive locations, enjoyed a jump rock, and even saw dolphins. Those sightings are not guaranteed, but the account shows how a private boat can create room for spontaneous moments.

A day suited to groups that want control

This charter fits you best if you enjoy making decisions as you go. It is a good match for a group that wants to swim, listen to music, bring its own picnic, and choose how long to stay at each stop.

It also suits groups with different energy levels. One person can rest under the canopy while another snorkels. Some may prefer the sunbathing area, while others will want repeated swims and cave visits.

The experience is less suited to anyone who wants a tightly narrated sightseeing tour. The skipper is there to operate the boat and help shape the route, but the main attraction is the sea, not a long series of historical explanations.

It may also be a poor fit if you want everything included. Food and drinks are extra, and the onboard fridge is only useful if you bring supplies. Plan this part before departure, rather than assuming refreshments will appear on the boat.

Practical tips for a smoother seven hours

Talk with your group before boarding and agree on three priorities. For example, you might choose Blue Lagoon, cave entry, and dinner in Gozo. A short list helps the skipper shape a realistic day.

Bring food, drinks, swimwear, towels, sun protection, and a phone or music player if you want to use Bluetooth. The boat has shade, but you should not assume you will stay under it all day.

Ask about the order of stops at the start. The route can be flexible, but seven hours passes quickly once you add cruising, swimming, cave visits, and a possible meal stop.

If a named stop matters most to you, say so early. The charter includes places such as Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, St. Nicholas Bay, Hondoq ir-Rummien, and Mgarr Port, but a flexible plan means your group decides how to divide its time.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

Should you book this private Comino and Gozo charter?

Book it if you have a large group and want a day built around your own pace. The strongest reasons are the private setting, flexible route, included snorkeling gear, onboard shade, and the chance to combine Comino’s famous water with selected stops in Gozo.

I would be especially keen to book for a group of 10 to 16 people. At that size, the flat rate becomes much easier to justify, and the boat gives everyone room to take part without splitting up.

Think twice if you are traveling as a couple or a very small group, or if you want meals, drinks, and a formal sightseeing commentary included. For everyone else, this is a practical way to turn Malta’s best-known sea stops into a personal day, with enough structure to be easy and enough freedom to keep it from feeling mechanical.

FAQ

Where does the boat depart from?

The boat departs from Sliema Ferries 4.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Sliema.

How long does the charter last?

The charter lasts seven hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private group can include up to 16 people.

Is a skipper included?

Yes. A skipper, fuel, and the full-day private boat charter are included.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You need to bring your own food and drinks. There is a fridge on board, but no bar.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is included, along with cave entry.

Can the itinerary be changed?

Yes. The itinerary is flexible, and you can work with the skipper to spend more time at the places your group wants to explore.