From Sliema: Three Bay Cruise with Lunch and Optional Transfers

If you want sea time without the hassle, this is a good pick. It’s a full-day Turkish gullet cruise out of Sliema, built around three real swim stops, plus a proper cold buffet lunch.

I like the pacing: you cruise the north coast in the morning, then you actually get breaks to swim and cool off. I also like the food and drinks setup, because the day is not just sightseeing, it’s genuinely timed for comfort.

The main thing to consider is the new rule for the Blue Lagoon disembarkation. You need a government-issued access pass in advance, and limited allocations can mean you must plan your timing.

Key highlights at a glance

• Three swim stops on the itinerary, with time to swim, snorkel, and relax.
• Lunch included with a cold buffet and unlimited local wine and beer during lunch time.
• Blue Lagoon requires an access pass for shore time, following Malta’s May 2025 directive.
• Comfort-focused boat experience with showers on board and an English commentary.
• Good value for a full day when you compare what’s included (water, snacks, fruit, lunch, and drinks).

Sliema to Comino and Gozo, the easy way

This is the kind of tour that works when you want Malta’s “postcard” bays, but you do not want to piece together ferries, local buses, and separate lunch plans. You leave from Sliema Ferries at 9:30 a.m., and you return back to the same meeting point when the day wraps up.

The route is designed to show you a wide slice of the north side of Malta first, then shift into Comino and Gozo water time. The boat itself, the Hera, is a Turkish gullet style vessel, and the experience stays structured around set swim moments rather than drifting all day.

You’ll also have English commentary during the cruise, so the long stretches between swim stops feel purposeful, not like you’re just sitting there.

The north coast view: St Julian’s, promenade bays, and the towns you pass

From Sliema, the cruise follows Malta’s north-eastern shoreline, with views of towns and bays that many visitors normally only see from a beach or a bus window. Early on, you pass areas connected to Sliema’s famous seaside walkway, including Balluta Bay, Spinola Bay, and St George’s Bay.

You also get the St. Julian’s Bay area and the surrounding look of this part of the island. St. Julian’s is known as a coastal town that connects to Sliema by a scenic promenade, so from the water you can understand how the whole strip of coastline functions like one long public “front yard.”

On top of that, you cruise through the general St. Paul’s Bay region and nearby resort areas like Qawra and Buġibba. You are not meant to hop on land for long stretches at every stop, but you do get that big-picture sense of where the tourist energy is concentrated and where the shoreline changes.

Practical note: parts of the itinerary can change based on weather and operational constraints, so keep expectations flexible on windy or choppy days.

St. Paul’s Bay swim stop: Selmun views and a classic shipwreck story

Your first swim break is timed for St. Paul’s Bay or beneath Selmun, depending on the weather. That matters because these little adjustments are how operators protect the day from rough conditions. If the sea is calmer off one side, you’ll go there, and you still get the same idea: a north-coast swim with strong views.

From here, the cruise also ties in one of Malta’s most famous maritime stories. St. Paul’s Island (often referred to as St. Paul’s Islands) sits off Selmun and is identified with the shipwreck story in the Acts of the Apostles. A statue of Saint Paul was erected there back in 1844, and the island is uninhabited since World War II.

Even if you do not care about the religious text angle, the value is simple: you’re swimming with a dramatic piece of coastline nearby, and you get a clearer sense of why the bay is so strongly associated with the legend. The bay itself also stretches along a promenade toward Qawra and Buġibba, so you can look back and recognize how the towns line up along the shore.

You’ll have about 1 hour for this first swim stop, with the ticket admission for the stop listed as free.

Gozo time without the full transfer stress

After cruising, you get scenic sailing toward the Gozo area for your second swim stop. The highlight here is Daħlet Qorrot Beach on Gozo, where the itinerary includes another 1-hour swim break.

This is a smart mid-day stop because it gives you a change in scenery after the Malta north-coast views. You go from the busier seaside towns and promenade stretches to a bay scene that feels more like a pocket within the island chain.

One thing to remember: you are on a cruise, so you depend on the operator’s timing and the sea state. This is not a slow, independent beach day where you can wander off and do your own schedule. Instead, it’s more like a well-run swim circuit, and that’s exactly why it’s so popular with people who hate logistics on vacation.

Comino and the Blue Lagoon: the hours that make the trip

Then comes Comino, the small uninhabited island between Malta and Gozo. The day includes a Comino stop and, later, the main Blue Lagoon swim time.

Comino is known for crystal-clear water and the famous Blue Lagoon bay. It has no cars, and the appeal is mostly about water color, short walks, and beaches you can only really reach comfortably by boat. If you are the type who likes to snorkel, swim, and reset between short bursts, this is where the day really pays off.

The big rule change: the Blue Lagoon access pass

Here’s the part you must get right. Since Malta’s May 2025 directive, you need a government-issued access pass to disembark at the Blue Lagoon. The pass is limited, so you should secure it in advance through the official site blcomino.com.

For this specific trip, you are required to book the afternoon timeslot when applying for your pass. If you do not have the official pass, you will not be allowed to get ashore at the Blue Lagoon. The tour provider also notes there will be no refunds if you cannot disembark because you do not have that pass.

I strongly suggest you treat this as a checklist item before you even pack. Everything else in the day is flexible based on weather, but the access rule is not.

How long you get at the Blue Lagoon

Your Blue Lagoon stop is longer, about 2 to 2.5 hours. That window is important. It gives you time to do the whole cycle, swim, snorkel, dry off, then settle in on the water’s edge or on the boat depending on conditions.

During your time there, you can also choose quieter options like relaxing on the boat or taking a walk in Comino’s countryside areas, since the day is built to let you do more than just jump in and out.

Admission ticket is listed as free for the stops, but the access pass requirement still controls whether you can step ashore at Blue Lagoon.

Lunch, drinks, and the comfort details that matter

On most boat days, food can be an afterthought. Here, lunch is part of the structure. You get a mid-morning snack and then a cold buffet lunch.

The drinks are also a real part of the value. The day includes unlimited mineral water and soft drinks throughout the cruise. During lunch time, there is unlimited local wine and beer, so you do not need to decide what to buy or how much to spend to feel relaxed.

In the afternoon, you get fresh fruit, which is a small detail that helps you avoid the crash you can get after the second swim. It also works well if you snack lightly between swim stops.

On-board comfort is supported by practical features like fresh water showers and other on-board facilities. That matters because salt water and sunscreen buildup are real, and having a way to rinse off makes the ride back to Sliema feel cleaner and more comfortable.

Also worth knowing: there is a cash bar on board for snacks and other beverages not listed in inclusions. Payments by cash and credit card are accepted at the bar.

The boat day reality check: timing, seasickness, and what to bring

This tour can work for most people, but it’s not universal. It is not recommended for travelers with mobility impairments and it is not recommended for those prone to seasickness, so be honest with yourself about how you handle waves.

If you do get even mild motion sickness, pack the usual helpers ahead of time. The itinerary is water-focused, and the cruise involves multiple swim stops, so you will be on the water for long stretches.

Snorkeling equipment is not fully included. You can hire a mask and pipe (no fins) for around €5, and it’s first-come, first-served. If you are particular about your gear, bring your own if possible, especially your mask.

For what to pack, keep it simple:

• Swimsuit and a towel, since you’ll be wet more than once.
• Sunscreen, plus something to protect your shoulders for time on the water.
• A light layer for the boat ride, since evenings and breezy conditions can cool down.
• Your Blue Lagoon access pass saved offline.

Also, the operator lists a few restrictions: pets are not allowed, and large luggage or large suitcases are not allowed on the boat. If you are traveling with a lot of gear, travel light.

Price and value: does $76.89 make sense?

At $76.89 per person, this is priced in the range where you want to feel you’re getting a lot of real inclusions. For this day, you get: the cruise on a Turkish gullet, three swim stops, unlimited water and soft drinks, a mid-morning snack, a cold buffet lunch, unlimited local wine and beer during lunch, fresh fruit later, and English commentary.

If you try to recreate that on your own, the biggest costs are often the transport and a day’s worth of organized access to multiple swim locations. This tour bundles the boat, the timing, and the on-board food into one price, which makes budgeting easier and keeps the day low-stress.

So who gets the best value? People who want:

• multiple swims in different bays,
• an all-in-one day plan,
• and lunch plus drinks handled for them.

If you only care about one beach, you may find it’s harder to justify the full-day structure. But if you want the whole north-coast to Comino arc with real swim time, the inclusions help the price feel fair.

The boat is also listed with a maximum of 110 travelers, which generally helps keep the day from feeling chaotic when combined with the structured schedule.

Should you book the Three Bay Cruise from Sliema?

I’d book it if you want a well-run sea day with three timed swim stops, lunch that is part of the plan, and a route that shows you Malta’s north coast before you hit Comino water time. The big win is that you get both scenery and swim breaks, and the on-board setup handles the basics like drinks, showers, and food.

I would not book it if you know you get seasick easily, or if you are not willing to handle the new Blue Lagoon access pass requirement in advance. That pass rule is the one make-or-break detail.

If you can plan that access pass early and you’re happy with a structured day on the water, this cruise is a strong choice for a first trip to Malta’s north side and the Comino water that everyone talks about.