Fernandes Cruise to Blue Lagoon in Comino and Gozo (VTT)

Clear water, good food, and a full day at sea. The Fernandes cruise combines Comino’s Blue Lagoon with a quiet Gozo bay, then adds a hot buffet, open bar, morning snack, and afternoon fruit. I especially like the generous 90-minute stops and the easy transport network covering more than 80 pickup points. The main concern is the pickup service, which has sometimes involved late arrivals or changed meeting points.

You get a lot for the $88 price, particularly if you want swimming time without arranging ferries, taxis, lunch, and drinks yourself. Still, this is a boat day, not a detailed Gozo sightseeing tour. You see the island from the water and stop at a bay, but you do not go ashore in Gozo.

Key points before you book

• Two 90-minute swim stops: You get unhurried time at Comino’s Blue Lagoon and San Blas Bay in Gozo.
• Lunch and drinks are included: A hot and cold buffet, beer, wine, water, and soft drinks are served on board.
• The boat is a Turkish gulet schooner: The Fernandes gives you a traditional sailing-boat setting rather than a basic ferry ride.
• Gozo is viewed from the sea: The stop is at a secluded bay, with no scheduled land visit or inland sightseeing.
• Hotel transport covers much of Malta: More than 80 pickup and drop-off points are available, with a separate walk-up option in Sliema.
• The optional cave trip costs extra: From June through September, the Comino caves boat trip can be purchased on board, but it is not part of the main fare.

What the Fernandes cruise actually offers

This is a full-day sea outing from Malta to its smaller neighbors, Comino and Gozo. The boat leaves from Sliema, usually during the spring to autumn season, and spends much of the day moving along Malta’s north-east coast.

The Fernandes is a Turkish gulet schooner, a broad wooden boat style suited to relaxed coastal cruising. You are not signing up for a fast transfer. The point is to sit back, watch the cliffs and coves pass by, eat on board, and swim at two carefully chosen stops.

The advertised duration is 7.5 hours. That gives you enough time to enjoy the water without turning the day into a rushed sequence of ten-minute photo stops. I like that balance. You get two proper breaks of about 90 minutes each, plus food and free time on the boat.

The experience is conducted in English. A restroom is available on board, which matters on a day with several hours at sea.

Getting from your hotel to Sliema

The transport arrangement is useful but needs attention. Pickup and drop-off are offered at more than 80 points around Malta, including hotels, churches, restaurants, resorts, and other recognizable locations. The vehicle may be an Oasis minivan or bus operated by Captain Morgan transport.

After booking, you receive the exact pickup time for your selected point. You are asked to arrive 10 minutes early, which is sensible. Malta’s road traffic and scattered resort areas make a little patience worthwhile.

There is one simpler option. If you are staying within a few minutes’ walk of The Strand in Sliema, you can walk directly to the Fernandes mooring opposite Sliema Hotel by ST Hotels at 59 The Strand. The requested arrival time there is 9:40 a.m.

This walk-up option can save you from the transfer system, but it is not always selectable during booking. A useful example comes from a passenger staying near Hilton Malta, who found the departure point only about five minutes away. If you are close to Sliema, check the location before accepting a pickup far from the harbor.

The weak point is communication. Pickup locations and times have occasionally changed at short notice, and one passenger reported waiting 45 minutes after being sent to the wrong meeting point. Another was taken more than a kilometer in the opposite direction from the harbor before the transport arrived late.

That does not ruin the cruise itself, but it can create a stressful start. Confirm your pickup point and time carefully, keep the operator’s contact details available, and do not assume the first meeting location you hear will be the final one.

Cruising Malta’s north-east coast

Once under way, the first part of the day is about the coast. You pass cliffs, coves, and narrow inlets along Malta’s north-east side while the boat heads toward Comino and Gozo.

The cruise is a good choice if you want the journey to be part of the experience. A standard ferry gets you from one island to another, but the Fernandes gives you more time to watch the shore and settle into the day. The boat’s open-water setting also makes the ride feel less like transport and more like a relaxed outing.

A morning snack is served during this period. Details of the snack are not specified, so you should not treat it as a full breakfast. If you need a substantial meal early in the morning, eat before pickup.

The route between Malta, Comino, and Gozo takes time. The listed sailing periods add up to several hours, so bring sun protection and something light to wear if you are sensitive to wind. You can also choose to stay on board rather than swim at either stop.

Comino’s Blue Lagoon, about 90 minutes

The Comino stop is the main attraction. The cruise description calls it the Blue Lagoon, while the detailed schedule labels the stop Crystal Lagoon. Either way, this is the crystal-clear swimming stop that most people have in mind when booking the trip.

You have about 90 minutes here. That is long enough for a proper swim, time on the shore, or a break on the boat. The choice matters because the Blue Lagoon can be a busy and visually intense place during the main summer season. You are not forced to spend the entire stop in the water or on land.

I like the fixed 90-minute period. Shorter boat excursions often allow just enough time to get wet before calling everyone back. Here, you can swim, sunbathe, and still have time to dry off and get organized.

The stop is not a private visit. The appeal is the water and the scenery, not solitude. If you prefer a quiet cove, the Gozo stop is likely to suit you better.

An optional Comino caves boat trip is available for an extra fee from June through September. It costs €15 according to one account and is not included in the cruise price. The value appears limited if your main aim is cave sightseeing. One passenger found the paid trip visited only three caves and did not pass through the cliffs, while a separate Gozo buggy excursion offered more cave views at no extra charge.

My advice is simple: treat the cave boat as an optional add-on, not a reason to book the Fernandes. Ask what the route includes before paying.

San Blas Bay in Gozo, about 90 minutes

The second major stop is San Blas Bay in Gozo, described as a secluded bay. Here you again get around 90 minutes for swimming, sunbathing, or relaxing on board.

This stop gives the day a useful change of pace. Comino is the famous swimming site, with its bright water and strong name recognition. San Blas Bay is presented as the quieter coastal pause, and it lets you enjoy Gozo without the pressure of a scheduled inland tour.

There is an important limitation: you do not go ashore in Gozo as part of this cruise. You see the island from the water and stop at the bay, but there is no Gozo village, church, citadel, or countryside visit. If you want to explore Gozo itself, book a separate land tour or choose an excursion that includes transport around the island.

For a sea day, this arrangement works well. For an island tour, it will feel incomplete. I would book it for swimming and coastal views, not for a cultural introduction to Gozo.

Lunch, open bar, and snacks on board

Food is one of the strongest parts of the package. A hot and cold buffet is prepared, cooked, and served on board. You also receive a morning snack and fresh fruit in the afternoon.

A buffet is practical on a boat. You can choose what you want, eat at your own pace, and return for more if needed. The details of the dishes are not provided, so do not book this expecting a particular menu or specialty meal. The important value is that lunch is included and you do not need to leave the boat in search of food.

The open bar includes unlimited beer, wine, water, and soft drinks. Liquors and spirits are not included. For an excursion lasting 7.5 hours, that makes a real difference to the final cost. Buying lunch, bottled water, beer, and wine separately at popular coastal stops could quickly add up.

The open bar also shapes the mood. This is a social cruise, not a silent sightseeing boat. You can enjoy a drink while watching the coast, but anyone seeking a quiet, formal sailing experience may find the atmosphere more lively than expected.

Please pace yourself. The boat, sun, swimming, and alcohol make it easy to feel worn out before the return journey. Water is included, so use it.

Is $88 a fair price?

At $88 per person, the cruise is reasonably priced for a full day that includes transport, boat travel, two long swimming stops, morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, and an open bar.

The value is strongest if you need hotel transport and plan to have a few drinks with lunch. You are also paying for convenience. The operator handles the route between three islands, the meal, the swim stops, and the return to Malta.

The value is weaker if you are already staying near Sliema, do not drink alcohol, or mainly want to visit Gozo on land. In that case, a simpler boat transfer plus a separate island visit might suit you better, though you would lose the buffet and organized swimming schedule.

I would also compare the fare with your plans for the rest of the week. If this is your only day on the water, the broad mix of scenery, swimming, food, and transport makes the price easier to justify. If you have already booked several cruises, the experience may feel repetitive.

Who will enjoy this day most?

I would recommend the Fernandes cruise to you if you want:

• A relaxed full-day boat outing from Malta
• Clear-water swimming at Comino
• A second swim stop in Gozo
• Lunch and drinks included in one price
• Minimal planning once you reach the pickup point
• Coastal views without committing to a land tour

It suits couples, families, and groups of friends who want a simple day at sea. The two 90-minute stops are especially helpful for families because you are not constantly packing up and moving on.

I would be more cautious if you want an active cultural tour, a small boat with a quiet atmosphere, or a detailed visit to Gozo. You will not explore Gozo’s towns or inland sights during this outing.

Swimmers should also note that the main focus is free time in the water. If you prefer to remain dry, you can relax on board, but you may find the day less rewarding than someone who enjoys swimming and sunbathing.

What to pack and what to watch

Pack a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a light cover-up. Bring only what you need, since your day includes walking to the pickup point, boarding, swimming, and moving around a working boat.

Wear shoes that are easy to remove. Keep your phone protected from spray, especially during boarding and the stops. The operator provides food and drinks, but it is sensible to carry any personal medication you may need during the 7.5-hour outing.

Confirm the pickup details the evening before. Be ready 10 minutes early, and save the operator’s contact number. If the vehicle has not arrived within 10 minutes of the confirmed time, the instructions advise contacting the operator by phone or SMS, WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram.

The cruise offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if the weather or your Malta plans are still unsettled.

Should you book the Fernandes cruise?

Book it if you want an easy, all-day sea experience with two generous swim stops, a buffet lunch, and an open bar. The strongest part is the combination of time on the water and useful inclusions. You can spend the day looking at Malta’s coast, swimming at Comino, pausing at a Gozo bay, and returning without arranging several separate services.

Skip it if your priority is seeing Gozo on land, visiting many caves, or avoiding organized pickup transport. The optional cave trip is not essential, and the transfer system has shown some reliability problems.

For most visitors, I would call this a good-value boat day rather than a full Malta sightseeing tour. Book it for the sea, the food, and the swimming. Keep your expectations clear, confirm your pickup, and you will know exactly what you are paying for.

FAQ

How long does the Fernandes cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately 7.5 hours, including transport on the water and the two scheduled stops.

Where does the boat depart from?

The Fernandes moors on The Strand in Sliema, directly opposite Sliema Hotel by ST Hotels at 59 The Strand. If you are staying nearby, you should arrive at the mooring by 9:40 a.m.

Are hotel pickups included?

Yes. Transport from and back to your Malta accommodation or the closest available pickup point is included. More than 80 pickup locations are offered, unless you are within easy walking distance of the Sliema mooring.

How much time do you get at Comino and Gozo?

You get approximately 90 minutes at Comino’s Blue Lagoon, also identified as Crystal Lagoon in the detailed schedule, and approximately 90 minutes at San Blas Bay in Gozo.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A hot and cold buffet lunch is prepared and served on board. A morning snack and fresh fruit afternoon snack are also included.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited beer, wine, water, and soft drinks are included in the open bar. Liquors and spirits are not included.