Three Bay Cruise Including Blue Lagoon from Mellieha

Three lagoons, one easy morning on Malta’s water. This six-hour cruise from Mellieha gives you three proper swim stops, not a quick photo pause, and the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Halfa Rock each offer a different setting. I like the generous time at each bay, plus the pleasant crew and fairly priced onboard snack bar. The main catch is the new Blue Lagoon access-pass rule, which requires advance planning if you want to step ashore.

The cruise costs $47.66 per person, a fair price for a half-day of sailing, sightseeing, and roughly three and a half hours of swimming time. You should still pack food, water, sun protection, and your own snorkel gear if you have it, since the boat’s cash bar is small and food is not included.

Key points to know before you book

• Three swim stops: About 90 minutes at Blue Lagoon, one hour at Crystal Lagoon, and one hour at Halfa Rock Bay.
• Morning departure: Meet at Marfa Jetty in Mellieha for the 10:00 am sailing. Boarding closes 20 minutes before departure.
• Blue Lagoon pass required: Since May 2025, you need a government-issued access pass to step ashore at Blue Lagoon.
• Scenic return route: The way back passes Santa Maria Caves and Elephant Head rock formation.
• Boat facilities: Toilets, a shower, crew assistance, and a small cash bar are available onboard.
• Best for confident swimmers: The trip is not recommended for people with mobility impairments or those prone to seasickness.

Why this three-bay cruise works well

Many boat trips around Malta give you a look at the islands, then rush you through the swimming stops. This one is built around time in the water. You get approximately six hours in total, with the three principal stops taking up about three and a half hours before allowing for sailing time and the scenic return.

That matters because the famous Blue Lagoon can feel hectic in summer. A short stop may leave you frustrated just as you find a place to swim or settle on the boat. Here, the planned 90-minute visit gives you room to choose your pace. You can swim, snorkel, sit on deck, or walk on Comino if you have the required shore pass.

The route also avoids making the Blue Lagoon the entire event. Crystal Lagoon brings cliffs and sea caves, while Halfa Rock Bay on Gozo offers a quieter final stop. The three locations give the day some variety instead of repeating the same postcard view.

The boat holds a maximum of 55 people. That is not an intimate sailing, but it is also not an enormous party vessel. Your experience will depend on how busy the date is and where you settle onboard. Since the boat has a toilet, shower, and small bar, you can stay on board comfortably during any stop.

Starting at Marfa Jetty in Mellieha

The meeting point is Marfa Jetty in Mellieha, at X8PV+QPW. The scheduled departure is 10:00 am, but you should arrive well before 9:40 am because boarding closes 20 minutes before sailing.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to the jetty, which is near public transportation. Build in extra time if you are coming from another part of Malta, especially since missing the boarding window is not a good way to begin a day on the sea.

The morning start is useful. It gives you a full stretch of daylight for the bays and leaves the return journey in the afternoon. It also means you should eat something before boarding or bring suitable food with you. A small cash bar sells snacks and drinks, but meals are not included, and the selection is not meant to replace lunch.

Pets, large luggage, and large suitcases are not allowed. Bring a compact beach bag rather than a full suitcase. A towel, swimsuit, waterproof phone case, sunscreen, hat, refillable water bottle, and dry clothes will serve you better than extra baggage.

Blue Lagoon: the famous first swim stop

The first stop is Comino’s Blue Lagoon, reached after cruising along Malta’s northern coast. The water is known for its clear cyan color, pale sandy bottom, and good visibility for swimming and snorkeling. This is the scene most people picture when they think of a boat day around Malta.

You have approximately one hour and 30 minutes here. The boat anchors near the lagoon, so you can spend your time in the water or remain on deck. That flexibility is valuable. If the shore feels too crowded, the boat gives you another place to sit, sunbathe, and enjoy the view.

You can also walk on Comino during this stop, but there is an important rule. Since May 2025, anyone stepping ashore at the Blue Lagoon must obtain an official government access pass in advance through blcomino.com. The daily allocation is limited, and this particular cruise requires you to select the morning time slot when applying.

This is not a minor detail. Without the pass, you will not be allowed to disembark, and no refund is provided if you fail to obtain one. You can still use the boat and swim from the designated area, but anyone hoping to walk around the lagoon should handle the pass before travel day.

The Blue Lagoon is the most famous stop, but it may also be the busiest. I would treat it as the big opening view rather than assume it will be the quietest part of your day. The long stop helps, yet the atmosphere can change with weather, season, and the number of boats in the area.

Crystal Lagoon and its sea caves

After Blue Lagoon, the boat continues to Crystal Lagoon on Comino’s western side. The stop lasts about one hour and is especially suited to swimming and snorkeling, with cliffs around the water and wide views across the bay.

Crystal Lagoon feels different from the first stop. Instead of focusing mainly on pale water and open swimming space, the setting is framed by rock and sheltered water. You can look toward the cliffs, swim along the edges, and explore sea caves from the water if conditions allow.

The cave portion is best approached with care. You need to be comfortable in the sea, and the crew may change the order or details of the route if wind and waves make a particular approach unsafe. The boat’s crew provides assistance, but this is still a water-based activity rather than a guided walk through a cave.

One hour is enough for a refreshing swim and some snorkeling, though it will pass quickly if you want to explore every corner. Bring your own mask and snorkel if you care about fit and visibility. The tour information does not promise equipment rental, so do not assume gear will be available onboard.

Halfa Rock Bay on Gozo

The final swim stop is Halfa Rock Bay on Gozo’s southeast coast. A small islet sits off a pebbly beach, giving the bay a more secluded feel than the famous Comino stops. The water and shore are framed by a pretty cove, and the location is described as quieter when other bays become crowded during summer.

This is a good final stop because it changes the mood of the day. Blue Lagoon is the headline sight, Crystal Lagoon offers caves and cliffs, and Halfa Rock Bay gives you a calmer place to spend the last hour in the water.

Do not expect a broad sandy beach here. The beach is pebbly, so water shoes may be useful if you plan to go ashore or enter the sea near the beach. The boat’s facilities also mean you can stay onboard if rough footing, sun, or swimming is not appealing.

The one-hour stop is long enough to swim and relax, but the day is not designed for a full Gozo visit. You are seeing one coastal bay from the boat and water, not touring villages, churches, or inland sights. Book this cruise for the sea, not as a substitute for a land tour of Gozo.

The return past caves and Elephant Head

The cruise back to Marfa Jetty includes a sightseeing pass by Santa Maria Caves and Elephant Head rock formation. These views are included in the route rather than offered as separate stops, so keep your phone or camera ready.

This part of the day helps round out the experience. You have already spent time swimming, and the return gives you a chance to dry off, sit back, and see more of Comino’s rocky coast from the water. The boat returns to the same place where you started.

The exact order of the visits can change. Robert Arrigo & Sons reserves the right to adjust the route for weather, sea conditions, wind, or other operating concerns. That is normal for a coastal cruise, and it is better to have a flexible order than a fixed plan that ignores unsafe water.

What the $47.66 price really covers

At $47.66 per person, the price is reasonable if you want a full half-day on the water rather than a short sightseeing ride. You are paying for a scenic cruise, three scheduled swim stops, crew support, use of the onboard toilet and shower, and the return route past the caves and rock formation.

The strongest value comes from the time at the bays. The first stop lasts about 90 minutes, followed by about one hour at Crystal Lagoon and another hour at Halfa Rock Bay. That is a better fit for people who want to swim and snorkel than for those who only want photographs from the deck.

Food and drinks are extra. The small cash bar sells snacks and beverages, and one available review specifically praised it as pleasant and not overpriced. Still, I would not rely on it for a complete meal. Bring something practical if you know you will be hungry after several hours in the sun.

Hotel transfers are also extra because they are not offered. If you are staying in Mellieha or can reach Marfa Jetty easily, that keeps the total cost sensible. If you need a long taxi ride to the departure point, include that in your budget before comparing this cruise with other options.

Comfort, swimming, and sea conditions

This is an active day, even though much of it is spent sitting on a boat. You will deal with sun, salt water, boarding, and three separate swim opportunities. The shower is useful after the final stop, while the toilet makes the six-hour duration easier to manage.

The trip is not recommended for people with mobility impairments. Getting on and off a boat and reaching the water may be difficult, especially at a rocky or pebbly bay. If you have a mobility concern, contact the provider before booking rather than assuming crew assistance will solve every problem.

It is also not recommended for people prone to seasickness. The route depends on sea conditions, and even a beautiful day on Malta can feel uncomfortable on open water. If you know you are sensitive, consider your usual precautions and choose a seat with good airflow if available.

The tour requires good weather. Strong winds, poor weather, or rough sea conditions can lead to cancellation. In that case, you can reschedule for another date or receive a full refund if rescheduling does not work.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this cruise to you if swimming is a major reason you are visiting Malta. The schedule gives you real time in the water rather than treating each bay as a five-minute stop.

It also suits couples, families with confident swimmers, and friends who want a simple day with no complicated changes between locations. The crew is described as pleasant and friendly, and the maximum group size of 55 keeps the outing manageable while still offering the social feel of a shared boat.

You may prefer a different activity if you want a quiet private boat, a full tour of Gozo, or a land-based visit to the Blue Lagoon. This cruise does not include hotel transfers, lunch, or a guided exploration of the islands.

It is also a poor match if you dislike open water, have trouble with boat motion, or want guaranteed access to shore at Blue Lagoon without arranging a pass. The pass is your responsibility, and the limited daily allocation makes it an essential part of planning.

Booking, cancellation, and practical timing

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience ends back at Marfa Jetty. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

That policy makes it wise to check the forecast before your final day to cancel. Weather-related cancellations are handled differently: you will be offered another date, or a full refund if you cannot reschedule.

The most important booking tip is to deal with the Blue Lagoon pass separately. Apply through blcomino.com, choose the morning time slot required for this cruise, and do it early because passes are limited. A cruise booking alone does not grant shore access.

Should you book the Mellieha three-bay cruise?

Book it if you want three generous water stops, a six-hour outing, and a fair price without arranging several separate boat transfers. The combination of Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Halfa Rock Bay gives you Malta’s famous water views along with a quieter Gozo cove.

Skip it if you want a private or highly flexible trip, a full Gozo sightseeing day, or a guaranteed walk ashore at Blue Lagoon without advance paperwork. For confident swimmers who plan ahead and arrive early at Marfa Jetty, this is a well-balanced way to spend a morning and afternoon around Comino and Gozo.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Marfa Jetty in Mellieha, Malta. The location code provided is X8PV+QPW.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 am. Boarding closes 20 minutes before departure, so arrive before 9:40 am.

How long does the cruise last?

The activity lasts approximately six hours, including sailing time and all three swimming stops.

How long is the stop at Blue Lagoon?

The Blue Lagoon stop lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes. The boat anchors nearby, so you can swim or relax onboard.

Do I need a pass for the Blue Lagoon?

Yes. Since May 2025, you need a government-issued access pass to step ashore at Blue Lagoon. You can obtain it through blcomino.com, and you must select the morning time slot when applying for this cruise.

What happens if I do not have the Blue Lagoon pass?

You will not be allowed to step ashore at Blue Lagoon without the official pass. No refund is issued if you cannot disembark because you did not obtain one.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. A small cash bar onboard sells some snacks and beverages.

Can the cruise be cancelled because of weather?

Yes. Poor weather, strong winds, or unsafe sea conditions can lead to cancellation. You will be offered another date, or a full refund if you cannot reschedule.