Comino Blue Lagoon & Crystal Lagoon – 3 Bay Cruise

Three lagoons, one boat, lots of swim time. I like the way this cruise keeps the group tight, usually around 45 passengers even though the boat can hold 70, so you actually have room on deck. I also love the time mix, about 4 hours in the water across the stops, with snorkeling chances at every anchoring location. The one thing you need to plan for is Comino access rules, because if you want to step onto Comino Island and walk around, you must register through the official site after May 1, 2025.

You’ll depart from Marfa Bay and head straight toward Comino-area water, with a live English guide on board plus toilets and fresh-water showers. If you want a day that feels more like a swim day with sightseeing clips than a nonstop schedule, this one fits well.

Key points I’d focus on

• They cap the crowd on a boat built for 70, which changes the whole feel of the day
• 4 hours of swimming time spread across three anchoring stops
• Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and Ħalfa Rock each get their own water moment
• You can stay on the boat at Blue Lagoon, where the beach area can get hectic
• On-board facilities include toilets, fresh showers, and a bar for drinks and snacks
• You may see cave scenery on the way back, including Santa Marija caves

Why this 3-bay Comino cruise feels calmer than the usual day-trip scene

Comino is famous, and that means crowds can be the whole story if you pick the wrong tour. What I like about this one is the crowd-control at the start, with reports of a smaller group aboard than you’d expect from a popular route. With fewer people, you’re not constantly elbowing for space at the ladder, on the top deck, or near wherever you’re rinsing off.

You also get a day that’s built around water time. Instead of just posing at the shoreline, the cruise anchors for long enough to swim properly, then repeats that pattern again at the next bay. The effect is simple, you spend more of the six hours in the water and less time waiting.

One practical reality: the boat experience depends on sea conditions, and if you’re sensitive to motion you might feel the bounce more than on a larger vessel.

Meeting at Bluewaves watersports and what the first leg teaches you

You meet at the local provider office, Bluewaves watersports, and the cruise starts from the Marfa Bay area. The early minutes matter, because the plan is to get you into the Comino-region water quickly, not waste time circling offshore.

Boarding closes 15 minutes before departure, so don’t show up right at the start window and hope. If you’re bringing sunscreen and a towel, give yourself an extra 10 minutes to get sorted before you head down to the boat.

The crew is part of the vibe. In the reports I saw, the staff includes people like Danny and Ali, and they’re the kind of operators who explain what to expect at each stop, including how conditions look for swimming.

Crystal Lagoon: 1 hour of clear-water swimming and snorkeling

The cruise heads to Crystal Lagoon first, then anchors for about 1 hour of swimming and snorkeling. This stop is all about that “I can see my own toes” water feeling, and it’s a great place to ease into your day.

What you’ll likely do here is a mix of floating, swimming, and trying snorkeling for short bursts. If you’re new to snorkeling, this is a friendly time slot, because you’re not rushed by multiple transfers or a late-day crowds problem.

A smart move: treat the first swim stop as your warm-up. Get your legs moving, test the water with a relaxed swim, then save your longer snorkeling passes for the next anchoring location when you’ve settled in.

Blue Lagoon time: 2 hours of water plus your Comino on-foot decision

Next comes Blue Lagoon, with about 2 hours built in for free time plus swimming and snorkeling. This is the big name stop, and it’s also the one where you have to choose how you want to spend your time.

You have two options:

• Stay onboard where the anchoring spot is calmer to come and go from the ladder.
• Dismount at Blue Lagoon and explore Comino on foot.

Here’s the key planning detail about Comino. Effective May 1, 2025, if you want to step onto Comino Island and explore by foot from the Blue Lagoon area, you must register and buy an entry ticket through the official government system at www.blcomino.com. If you’re traveling close to peak season, I’d treat this as a must-do item, not something to wing.

In practice, staying on the boat can be the easier call. Many people prefer the water experience over fighting for space onshore, and you still get the dramatic lagoon views from the sea level.

Ħalfa Rock and the South of Gozo anchoring stop

After Blue Lagoon, you head to Ħalfa Rock, listed as part of the southern Gozo area. You anchor for about 1 hour of swimming and snorkeling here, which makes it feel like a second “main event” stop without eating up your whole day.

This is also a good place to keep an eye on how you feel physically. After two swims and a bit of moving around, you’ll be ready for one focused session, then you can let the day wind down without forcing a marathon.

If you’re hoping for the kind of scenery that looks great from multiple angles, rocks like this are ideal. They tend to give you more varied-looking sea walls and swim paths than a flat sandy patch.

Santa Marija caves sightseeing on the return leg

On the way back, the cruise includes sightseeing and can pass by areas such as Santa Marija caves. This part is less about swimming and more about shifting from water time to scenery time.

It helps to think of it like the visual garnish at the end of a swim-focused day. Your brain is already soaked with lagoon colors by now, so even a short cave sighting gives you a different kind of payoff.

If you like photography, this is when you’ll want to be ready with your phone or camera, because the light can change quickly on a boat at sea.

Boat comfort you’ll actually notice: toilets, fresh showers, space

A lot of boat tours look good on paper. This one gets praised because the comfort isn’t an afterthought. Even though the boat has capacity for up to 70, reports describe it as usually limited to about 45 passengers, which means you can find a seat and move around without constant crowd bottlenecks.

You also have practical items that make a big difference after swimming:

• Toilets on board
• Fresh-water showers to rinse off salt and sunscreen
• Sunbathing areas on deck
• A bar setting where you can buy drinks and snacks

The bar details people bring up include things like coffee, cocktails, soft drinks, and snacks. Some reports even mention drink prices that feel reasonable for a boat setting, like an Aperol Spritz around €5, water around €1.50, and soft drinks around €2.

If you want to be extra comfortable, bring your own towel and keep your sunscreen in a waterproof or sealed bag. Saltwater and sunscreen can make belongings sticky fast.

What’s included, what you should pack, and how to plan your day around it

The cruise includes the boat ride with the three swimming stops, plus toilets, fresh-water showers, and a sightseeing component. What’s not included is food and drinks.

That’s important because it affects how you should plan lunch. If you want proper food instead of just snacks, you may need to eat before you start, or you might choose to grab something when you’re allowed to go ashore at Blue Lagoon. Note that the onshore area can get busy, so if you’re sensitive to crowds, you might prefer to stay on the boat and bring your own snacks.

For what to bring, stick to the basics that make swimming easier:

• sunglasses
• sun hat
• swimwear
• towel
• sunscreen, and if possible choose biodegradable sunscreen
• anything you use for snorkeling if you prefer your own setup

Also check the “not allowed” list for your peace of mind. High-heeled shoes, weapons or sharp objects, intoxication, bikes, and scooters aren’t permitted. It’s a standard safety approach, but it’s worth reading so you don’t show up with the wrong footwear or a bag that includes something you shouldn’t bring.

Price and value: why $47 can make sense here

At about $47 per person for a 6-hour cruise, the value comes from the time structure. You’re not just touring the coast from the deck and taking one quick swim. Instead, you get three separate anchoring stops and roughly 4 hours in the water total, spread across Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and Ħalfa Rock.

That water time is the real product. The boat is also kept from overcrowding, which means you’re paying for a better experience, not just access to the same route as everyone else.

Bring your own snacks if you want to keep spending tight, because food and drinks are not included. That said, onboard drink and snack pricing is described as reasonably priced, and rental items like masks may be available on the boat for a small fee, which can be handy if you didn’t pack gear.

If you’re doing a Malta trip and you want one signature sea day without turning it into an all-day grind, this price often feels fair for what you get.

Who this cruise is best for (and who should rethink it)

This fits best if you:

• want a swim-forward day with snorkeling opportunities
• like a smaller feel, with less crowd pressure on deck
• prefer spending time at the waterline rather than long land walks

It’s also a good option for mixed groups, because the boat vibe isn’t described as party-only. There are reports of families and older travelers, and the crew communication helps keep everyone oriented.

If you’re traveling with mobility needs, note that it’s listed as not suitable for wheelchair users. Also, if you’re very prone to motion sickness, keep in mind boats can bounce, and one report specifically warned that the ride may not be for sea-sick travelers.

Should you book the Comino Blue Lagoon & Crystal Lagoon 3 Bay Cruise?

I’d book it if your top priority is time in the water and you care about how crowded the boat feels. The big selling points are the smaller group size, the multiple anchoring swims, and the fact that you can choose to skip the busiest onshore moment at Blue Lagoon by staying on board.

I’d pause before booking if you definitely want to walk around Comino Island, because the May 1, 2025 registration rule means you should plan ahead. And if you’re highly sensitive to waves or motion, consider your comfort level with boating before you commit.

If you want a practical, good-value Malta sea day that actually delivers swim time, this one is easy to recommend.