Cruise from Marfa Bay to explore three of Comino’s best-loved bays in one relaxed 4-hour trip. You’ll swim and snorkel in clear water at Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and Santa Marija Bay, with plenty of time to enjoy the coastline from the comfort of a cabin cruiser. It’s a great option if you want a shorter Comino boat tour that still includes several high-quality swim stops.
Your trip starts at Marfa Jetty in Mellieħa, where you board a white cabin cruiser and get settled on deck or in the shaded areas. Once everyone is on board and boarding closes, the skipper sets a steady course from Marfa Bay towards Comino. You’ll pass low cliffs and open water on a short coastal run before reaching the west side of Comino and your first stop at Crystal Lagoon. Here the boat anchors for roughly 45 minutes so you can swim straight from the ladder or platform. Crystal Lagoon is known for its clear water and high rock walls, making it a favourite spot for snorkellers and those who enjoy swimming close to the cliffs. You’ll have time to get in the water, explore the bay around the boat, and use the freshwater showers before moving on.
From Crystal Lagoon the cabin cruiser continues around Comino to the Blue Lagoon, where you stop for about an hour. Guests with a valid government access pass can go ashore to find a spot by the water or walk a short way across the island for a different viewpoint. If you prefer to stay on board, you can use the boat as your base: swim off the stern, float in the shallows, or relax on deck while you watch the activity in the bay. This is a good time to use snorkel gear if you bring it, as the pale seabed and clear water make it easy to see fish and rock features beneath the surface.
After the Blue Lagoon, the boat runs along Gozo’s coastline, giving you a view of its harbour at Mġarr and the higher ground above the port. The route then passes the Santa Marija sea caves, where you can see how the sea has cut into the limestone, before heading to the quieter Santa Marija Bay. This sheltered inlet on Comino’s north side usually feels calmer than the main lagoon and is ideal for a final swim or snorkel from the boat in shallower water. Once everyone is back on board, the skipper points the bow back towards Marfa and returns you to the jetty, where you can step ashore and continue your day in Mellieħa or elsewhere on Malta.
The cruise departs from Marfa Jetty, opposite the Riviera Spa Resort in Mellieħa, on the northern tip of Malta. This area is well placed for accessing Comino and Gozo, with clear views across the channel. When you reach the jetty, you should look for the white cabin cruiser named “The Blue Lagoon”; staff will direct you on board and confirm boarding times. Parking, hotel shuttles, or public transport connections around Mellieħa make it relatively straightforward to reach Marfa from other parts of the island, but you should allow enough time so you arrive before boarding closes.
On the water, you will move between three different parts of Comino: Crystal Lagoon on the west coast, the Blue Lagoon between Comino and the small islet of Cominotto, and Santa Marija Bay on the northern side of the island. Each bay has slightly different character and depth, so you experience a mix of deeper and shallower swims in one outing. The route also skirts the Gozo coastline and Santa Marija sea caves, so even when you are not in the water there is plenty of coastal scenery to take in from the decks.
This activity is graded easy, but you should be comfortable on a boat and happy around deep water if you plan to swim at all three stops. You do not need to be an advanced swimmer; however, entering and exiting the water is done via boat ladders or platforms, and the depth can drop away quickly from the hull, especially at Crystal Lagoon. If you prefer not to swim, you can stay on board for the full duration and simply enjoy the views, but you should still be steady on your feet when moving around the deck.
To go ashore at the Blue Lagoon you must hold a government-issued access pass, booked in advance via the official website blcomino.com for the appropriate morning slot. Without this pass you will need to remain on the cabin cruiser during the Blue Lagoon stop; you can still swim from the boat, but you cannot use the beach or shore area. The boat is stroller accessible but not suitable for wheelchairs, and the trip is not recommended for guests with significant mobility issues or for those who are very prone to seasickness, as you will be on a relatively small vessel for four hours.
This three-bay route is designed for guests who want more than a simple out-and-back ferry to one lagoon. In four hours you visit Crystal Lagoon, the Blue Lagoon, and Santa Marija Bay, so you get a good mix of swim environments: deeper water beside cliffs, the clear shallows of the main lagoon, and a quieter inlet with space to move around the boat. Shorter stops encourage you to make the most of each location without feeling rushed, while the cabin cruiser’s showers and toilets keep the practical side straightforward.
Starting from Marfa also makes this a convenient option if you are staying in the Mellieħa area or travelling on to Gozo later in the day. The itinerary balances time in the water with time on deck watching the coastline of Comino and Gozo, so both strong swimmers and those who prefer to stay aboard can enjoy the outing. For visitors looking for a compact Comino boat trip that still delivers multiple high-quality swim stops and clear access information about the Blue Lagoon pass system, this cruise is a very solid choice.
Most people with basic water confidence will be fine on this trip. The swim stops are from the boat, using ladders or steps to enter and exit the sea. At Crystal Lagoon the water gets deep quickly, so you should be comfortable floating and swimming away from shore. At Santa Marija Bay and near the Blue Lagoon, conditions are usually a bit calmer and shallower around the boat, which suits less confident swimmers.
If you are not a strong swimmer, you can still join the cruise and enjoy the views from the deck. You are not required to go in the water, and plenty of guests simply stay aboard, take photos, and relax while others swim. If you plan to enter the sea but are unsure about your ability, bringing a buoyancy aid such as a swim vest or noodle can make things more comfortable and give you extra confidence.
Yes. To step ashore at the Blue Lagoon you must purchase a government-issued access pass in advance from the official website blcomino.com. For this particular cruise you need to select the morning time slot, as the Blue Lagoon stop falls during that window. Pass numbers are limited each day, so it is best to arrange this before your holiday or soon after you arrive in Malta.
If you do not hold a valid pass, you will have to remain on the boat during the Blue Lagoon stop. You can still swim from the cruiser and enjoy the views, but you will not be allowed to use the shore area or walk on the main beach. No refund is provided if you cannot disembark because you do not have a pass, so it is important to decide in advance whether going ashore is essential for you and book accordingly.
The cabin cruiser is set up for short coastal trips with multiple swim stops. On board you will find toilet facilities and freshwater showers, which are useful for rinsing off salt after each swim. There is a mix of indoor and outdoor areas, with space to sit in the open air or in more shaded parts of the boat, depending on how much sun you want during the cruise.
There is no tour guide providing running commentary; this is a straightforward sightseeing and swimming trip. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket, and there may not be a full bar service, so you should bring your own refreshments. The focus is on simple, practical facilities that make it easy to get changed, use the toilet, and freshen up between bays.
Pack for a half-day on the water and in the sun. Swimwear, a towel, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat or cap are essential, particularly in the middle of the day when UV levels are highest. Comfortable shoes or sandals are useful for walking along the jetty and moving around the boat’s decks, and light, quick-drying clothing will feel better if there is sea spray.
You should also bring some water and a few snacks, especially if you are travelling with children, as food and drinks are not included. If you have your own snorkelling kit, this is the ideal trip to use it, as Crystal Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay both offer clear water and interesting rock features. A small dry bag or waterproof pouch is helpful for keeping phones and valuables protected while you are swimming.
This experience can work very well for families. The four-hour duration is long enough to feel like a proper outing without reaching the length of a full-day cruise, and the three different swim stops keep things varied for children who enjoy being in the water. Parents should be confident supervising their children in open sea conditions, especially at deeper stops like Crystal Lagoon.
Pushchairs (strollers) are allowed on the boat, which makes boarding and moving around simpler with younger children, but remember that the cruiser itself is not child-proofed, so you will need to keep a close eye on them near railings and stairs. Life jackets for non-swimmers or very young children are strongly recommended. If your child is nervous of waves or boat movement, staying near the centre of the vessel tends to be more comfortable than the bow.
The boat is stroller accessible but is not suitable for wheelchairs, and the cruise is not recommended for guests with significant mobility impairments. Boarding involves stepping from the jetty onto the deck, sometimes with a small height difference, and moving between areas of the boat requires negotiating steps and narrow walkways. The vessel can also move unexpectedly with waves, which demands reasonable balance.
Getting in and out of the water is done via ladders or platforms, which may be challenging if you have knee, hip, or back problems. If you have mild mobility limitations but can manage stairs and steady yourself on railings, you may still find the trip enjoyable by staying on deck and skipping the swimming. If your mobility is more restricted, a larger, more accessible boat or a land-based viewpoint at Dingli or similar might be a better option.
If you know you suffer from seasickness, you should think carefully before booking. The cabin cruiser is smaller than a large ferry, so you will feel the motion of the sea, particularly if there is swell or wind. Even on calmer days there can be some rolling and pitching as the boat moves between bays and sits at anchor.
If you are only mildly affected and still want to join, consider using motion-sickness remedies recommended by a pharmacist and take them before boarding. While on the boat, staying in the open air, looking at the horizon, and avoiding heavy meals or alcohol before departure can all help. If you begin to feel unwell, tell a crew member; they can often suggest the part of the boat where movement feels least intense.
The planned schedule usually offers around 45 minutes at Crystal Lagoon, about an hour at the Blue Lagoon, and a further swim stop at Santa Marija Bay, all within a four-hour round trip from Marfa Bay. This gives you time to swim, take photos, and get a feel for each location without making the day too long. The order is Crystal Lagoon first, then Blue Lagoon, then Santa Marija Bay.
However, sea and weather conditions can require changes. The skipper may shorten a stop, adjust the sequence, or switch to a different sheltered area if one of the lagoons is too rough or crowded. Safety and comfort come first, so flexibility is built into the itinerary. If any adjustments are needed, the crew will explain what is happening and why.
Yes. You are welcome to stay on the boat during all three stops if you prefer not to enter the water. Many guests choose this cruise purely for the coastal scenery around Comino and Gozo, and they are able to enjoy the bays from the deck while others swim. The multiple anchor points still provide different perspectives on the island’s coastline.
If you plan to remain dry, you should still wear appropriate clothing and sun protection, as you will be outside or in lightly sheltered areas for several hours. Bringing a light jacket is sensible in cooler months, as it can feel noticeably cooler when the boat is under way or in shade. A camera or binoculars can also make your time aboard more enjoyable if you like watching boats, cliffs, and local birdlife.
The standard policy is that cancellations made one day or less before the tour incur a 100% fee, as your place on the boat will already have been allocated. If your plans change, you should aim to adjust or cancel your booking earlier than this wherever possible. Late no-shows on the day are treated as cancellations and are also non-refundable.
If the operator has to cancel the trip due to poor weather, strong winds, or unsafe sea conditions, you will usually be offered the chance to move your booking to another date. If rescheduling is not possible during your stay, you should receive a full refund. Weather-related decisions are made with safety in mind, particularly because swim stops require the boat to remain at anchor in relatively open water.
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