Malta: Catamaran Private Day Charter with Skipper

The best Maltese views come from the water. This private catamaran charter lets your group of up to 15 sail between Malta, Comino, and Gozo with an experienced skipper handling the boat. I like the space and privacy of a private vessel, and I like that two stand-up paddleboards, snorkeling masks, Bluetooth audio, fuel, and unlimited mineral water are included. The main consideration is that food and drinks cost extra, and the captain may change the route if weather or sea conditions require it.

For eight hours, you get a relaxed day at sea rather than a tightly scripted sightseeing trip. You can swim, snorkel, listen to music, bring lunch, or choose catering. A verified booking from Switzerland praised the punctual departure and return and the plentiful drinks, though the fish in the catered meal could have been better. Jack from the United Kingdom gave high marks to the crew, boat, and generous seating space.

Key details before you book

• Private boat for up to 15 people: You get the catamaran to yourselves, which makes this a strong choice for families and groups of friends.
• Four hours around Comino: The suggested northern route may include the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, San Niklaw Bay, and nearby caves.
• Southbound option available: Depending on your preferences and the weather, the boat may visit Ħofriet, St. Peter’s Pool, and St. Thomas Bay instead.
• Useful water equipment included: Two stand-up paddleboards and snorkeling masks are provided, along with fuel and unlimited mineral water.
• Food is your responsibility: Bring your own meal and drinks for the fridges, or choose one of the available catering menus.
• Meet at Roland Marina Pontoon D: The listed departure point is 34 Ir-Rampa Ta’ Xbiex.

Starting at Roland Marina Pontoon D

Your day begins at 34 Ir-Rampa Ta’ Xbiex. Look for Roland Marina Pontoon D, where you meet the skipper and board the catamaran.

A marina departure keeps the start simple. You are not being collected from several hotels or moved by bus to a distant harbor. Still, give yourself enough time to find the correct pontoon. The meeting instructions are specific, but a marina can contain several piers and boats.

The skipper provides the practical start to the day, including the safety briefing. English is the listed language, so you should be comfortable receiving instructions and discussing your preferred route in English.

Because this is a private charter, the morning can begin with a conversation about priorities. Perhaps your group wants swimming time above all else. Perhaps you want to see Comino’s caves, play music, or spend more time in one bay. The route is intended to be flexible, but the captain has the final say when safety is involved.

What the private catamaran changes

A boat for up to 15 people gives you a very different day from a standard shared cruise. You are not working around strangers’ meal times, music choices, or preferred swimming stops. The skipper can shape the day around your group, within the limits of weather, daylight, sea conditions, and the planned cruising area.

The catamaran itself is designed for comfort. The supplied description emphasizes wide decks, generous seating, bright interiors, large windows, and indoor-outdoor areas. Some models also have an upper flybridge. The exact boat is matched to your group size, so the arrangement may differ from one booking to another.

The twin-hull design should appeal to anyone who wants room to spread out and a steadier platform than a narrow boat. It does not remove the possibility of motion sickness, however. Anyone prone to seasickness should think carefully before booking, as the activity is specifically not recommended for people with motion sickness or back problems.

The open deck is the main attraction. You can sit in the cockpit, stretch out on the foredeck, or use the interior when you need shade. There is also a sound system with Bluetooth connection, so you can create the soundtrack for the day without relying on a crew playlist.

Comino: the main four-hour sailing section

The sample itinerary allows about four hours around Comino. That is enough time to combine cruising, swimming, snorkeling, scenery, and perhaps a meal, without treating every stop as a rushed photo break.

The best-known possible stop is the Blue Lagoon. Its clear water and pale seabed make it one of Malta’s most famous swimming areas. Its popularity is also the catch. Depending on the season and time of day, the area can feel busy, so the value of arriving by private catamaran is having your own base on the water rather than needing to search for a small patch of shore.

Crystal Lagoon offers another possible swim and snorkel setting. The name points to the clear water, but conditions vary with wind and sea movement. Use the supplied masks if the captain considers the water safe and suitable. You should not assume every named stop will be visited, since the route is a sample rather than a fixed promise.

Santa Marija Bay and San Niklaw Bay offer alternatives to the best-known lagoon. A quieter bay can be more enjoyable for a group that wants to swim without making the entire day about the most famous viewpoint. The skipper can advise on which stop makes sense on the day.

The caves around Comino add a sightseeing element to the cruise. From the catamaran, you can enjoy the rock formations and coastal views without turning the day into a long land excursion. This is one of the charter’s strengths: you get a broad look at the coast while keeping the pace easy.

Swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding

The included equipment is modest but useful. Two stand-up paddleboards give you a way to explore the water at a slower pace, while snorkeling masks let you look below the surface during suitable stops.

Two boards are enough for a little activity, not for 15 people to paddle at once. If you are booking for a full group, expect to take turns. The same applies to swimming and snorkeling gear, since masks are supplied but the quantity is not specified.

I would pack a towel, swimwear, sunglasses, and strong sunscreen. Malta’s sun can make a relaxed day on deck feel deceptively intense, especially when you are surrounded by reflected light from the sea. Bring a cover-up if you plan to move between the sunny deck and the shaded interior.

The charter is not suitable for non-swimmers or people with mobility impairments. Shoes are not allowed aboard, and high heels are specifically prohibited. Plan to board in easy-to-remove footwear and expect a barefoot boat environment.

The southbound alternative

The boat does not have to head north toward Comino. If the route goes south, possible stops include Ħofriet, St. Peter’s Pool, and St. Thomas Bay.

St. Peter’s Pool is known for its natural swimming setting and rocky coastal surroundings. Ħofriet and St. Thomas Bay provide additional choices for a southbound day, with time for swimming and coastal views rather than a fixed checklist of sights.

This flexibility matters if the wind makes the northern route less comfortable or if your group has already visited Comino. It also means you should book this charter for the overall day on the water, not because you need a guaranteed stop at one particular bay.

The captain’s judgment is important here. Weather can change the route, and safety adjustments are allowed. That is sensible on a private boat, but it is worth accepting before you pay. The experience promises a custom day, not a rigid sightseeing schedule.

Food, drinks, and the practical onboard setup

Food and drinks are not included in the listed price. You can bring your own supplies and use the onboard fridges, or select a catered food package.

Bringing your own meal gives you control over cost and menu. It also suits a group with children, dietary needs, or simple preferences such as sandwiches, fruit, and cold drinks. Unlimited mineral water is included, which is useful but does not replace the need to bring other beverages.

Catering is the easier option if nobody wants to shop, pack, and carry food to the marina. The available feedback suggests the meal was generally good, but one person felt the fish could have been better. I would treat the catering as a convenience rather than the central reason to book. The boat, crew, swimming time, and privacy are the real draw.

Alcohol is not specifically listed as included, so check the catering details before assuming anything. Intoxication is not allowed, smoking indoors is prohibited, and littering is forbidden. Those rules are practical on a boat, where spills, smoke, and waste quickly become everyone’s problem.

How the eight-hour schedule feels

The full charter lasts eight hours, with the sample Comino portion listed at four hours. The remaining time covers departure, sailing, route changes, stops, and the return to Ta’ Xbiex.

Eight hours is a generous amount of time for a sea day. You are less likely to feel pressured to swim immediately, eat quickly, and leave a bay before you have settled in. The catamaran gives you room to alternate between activity and rest.

It is also a long time in the sun. Make a realistic plan for shade, water, and breaks. If some people in your group are not keen swimmers, make sure they are comfortable spending long periods onboard. The spacious seating helps, but this is still a full day on the Mediterranean.

The listed itinerary includes sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, a barbecue possibility, marine-life viewing, and sunset scenery. These are possible elements rather than guaranteed events. Your actual mix depends on the chosen route, the captain’s decisions, and conditions at sea.

What the crew adds to the day

The experienced skipper is included in the price. That matters because your group can focus on enjoying the boat instead of navigating, managing fuel, or working out which bay is safe to enter.

A strong skipper also makes the flexible route more useful. You can explain what you want, then receive practical guidance about where the boat can go comfortably. The available feedback is especially positive about the crew, with Jack praising how much they improved the day.

The boat was also praised for its room and seating. That is important for a private charter with several people onboard. A vessel can look impressive in photos but feel cramped once everyone has a bag, towel, meal, and snorkel mask. The comments suggest this catamaran provided plenty of space.

The operator is Suncat Malta. No individual skipper’s name is supplied, so you should not expect to request a particular captain based on the information available.

Is $1,348 good value for 15 people?

The listed price is $1,348 per group of up to 15. At full capacity, that works out to about $90 per person for eight hours before food and drinks. For a smaller group, the per-person cost rises quickly, so the value depends heavily on how many people share the charter.

For 10 people, the cost is about $135 each. For six people, it is roughly $225 each. That may still be reasonable for a private catamaran and skipper, but it is no longer a casual budget outing.

Fuel is included, as are the skipper, two paddleboards, snorkeling masks, Bluetooth sound system, onboard amenities, and unlimited mineral water. Those inclusions reduce the number of add-on costs, though you still need to budget for lunch, drinks, and possibly catering.

I see the best value for a family reunion, birthday, small company outing, or group of friends that would otherwise book several separate activities. If your group only wants a short swim and a quick look at Comino, an eight-hour private charter may be more than you need.

The booking also allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms make planning easier, though they do not change the basic cost calculation.

Who should book this charter?

This is a good match for families with older children, couples traveling with friends, and groups that want a private day rather than a shared sightseeing cruise. You will get the most from it if you enjoy making your own pace and are happy to spend much of the day on the water.

It suits confident swimmers and people who like mixing rest with light activity. The paddleboards, masks, and music create enough variety for a relaxed group day.

I would be cautious if anyone has serious back trouble, limited mobility, strong seasickness, or little swimming ability. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed, and the boat rules are strict about shoes, smoking indoors, intoxication, fire, fireworks, and litter.

Bring sunscreen, swimwear, towels, sunglasses, food, and drinks. Leave high heels at home, and expect to remove shoes when boarding.

Final verdict: book it for the boat day

Book this charter if you want privacy, space, and control over the pace. Its strongest features are the roomy catamaran, attentive crew, flexible route, and useful water equipment. The high ratings are supported by specific praise for punctual departure and return, plentiful onboard water, generous seating, and a crew that made the day better.

Think twice if you are mainly interested in a particular meal or a guaranteed visit to one exact bay. Food is extra, the fish in one catered meal was only average, and the route can change with weather.

For a full group of up to 15, the price can make good sense. You are paying for eight hours, a private boat, skipper, fuel, and the freedom to enjoy Malta’s northern or southern coast without sharing your day with strangers. For a small group, compare the per-person cost carefully. If that figure works for your budget, this is a polished and flexible way to spend a full day on Malta’s sea.

FAQ

How long does the private catamaran charter last?

The charter lasts eight hours.

How many people can join the private group?

The price covers a private group of up to 15 people.

Where does the charter depart?

The meeting point is Roland Marina Pontoon D at 34 Ir-Rampa Ta’ Xbiex.

Is a skipper included?

Yes. An experienced skipper is included in the price.

Is fuel included?

Yes. Fuel is included.

What water equipment is provided?

The charter includes two stand-up paddleboards and snorkeling masks.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You may bring your own supplies and use the fridges, or select a catered menu.

Is mineral water included?

Yes. Unlimited mineral water is included.

Can the route include the Blue Lagoon?

Yes. If the boat sails north, possible stops include the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, San Niklaw Bay, and nearby caves.

Can the route change because of weather?

Yes. The suggested route is only a sample, and the captain may adjust the plan for safety and weather conditions.