The Comino catamaran: the comfortable full day

Two hulls change the whole day. A catamaran sits flat on the water, so the crossing to Comino, roughly an hour, is smoother, the deck is wider, and finding a spot to lie down does not become a competition the way it can on traditional single-hull boats. This one is among the most modern in the Bugibba fleet, with genuinely usable shaded seating, which on an August day is worth more than any other feature.

The stability point is not marketing. If motion sickness has ever ruined a boat day for you, the twin-hull design is the practical fix: it stays noticeably flatter in the channel than the speedboats or the traditional boats. Reviews and operators consistently steer seasickness-prone travellers towards the larger, stable catamarans over small speed boats, and this is exactly that boat at a mid-band price.

Departure from Bugibba Jetty, then a cruise along the northern cliffs, coves and rock formations towards Comino. At the Blue Lagoon you can swim from the boat, take the slide, or head ashore to explore Comino beyond the beach. The route earns its keep: the Blue Lagoon anchorage with time to swim, a Crystal Lagoon swimming stop from June to October (a scenic pass in the cooler months), and a photo stop at the Santa Maria Caves.

The bar and kitchen sell food and drinks all day, snorkel gear can be purchased on board or bring your own, and the shaded lounge areas rotate as the sun moves. Expect roughly seven hours out. The waterslide straight into open sea is the crowd-pleaser, and the wide deck means there is room to both sunbathe and find shade without staking a claim at dawn.

Going ashore on Comino at the Blue Lagoon needs the free government access pass: an online registration on blcomino.com that returns a QR code, capped at around 4,000 visitors a day to manage crowds. It is free and applies only to landing on the island, not to swimming from the boat.

This catamaran gives you the choice: swim and slide from the boat with no pass needed, or register in advance and walk ashore to explore Comino beyond the lagoon. In peak season the slots sell out, so if landing is part of your plan, sort the free pass a few days ahead rather than at the jetty.

The 30 euro fare includes the catamaran cruise, the Blue Lagoon stop with time ashore, the Crystal Lagoon swim stop in season, the Santa Maria Caves photo stop, seating in sun and shade, and the waterslide. Not included: food and drinks (onboard bar and kitchen), snorkelling equipment (buy on board or bring your own), towels, and the free Comino access pass if you go ashore.

At 30 euro this is mid-band for a full day, and the value case is specific: no other group boat matches the deck space, the shade or the stability at this price. You pay nine euro more than the budget boat for hardware, not itinerary. Base rate checked 2026-07-13; see the live calendar below for your date.

June to October is when the full itinerary runs, Crystal Lagoon swim included. July and August fill the deck, though this boat crowds more gracefully than most; June and September remain the connoisseur months with warm water and fewer boats. From November to May the Crystal Lagoon stop becomes scenic rather than swimmable and the cruise turns into a quieter sightseeing day. In peak summer, an early departure still beats the 11am to 4pm crush at the lagoon.

Departure is from Bugibba Jetty (open in Google Maps) on the St Paul's Bay promenade, an easy walk from the surrounding resorts and a direct bus ride from Sliema or Valletta. The crossing to Comino runs about an hour. The booking confirmation names the berth; fifteen minutes early is plenty. For area background, the official Visit Malta site covers transport to the northern jetties.

The catamaran's stable deck and shaded seating make it the easiest of the full-day boats for families and for anyone who wants to snorkel in comfort. The Blue Lagoon's shallow sand bank gives excellent visibility for beginners, and the Crystal Lagoon stop in the warm months adds deeper, dramatic water for confident swimmers. Bring your own mask and snorkel rather than buying on board, and if your children are new to snorkelling, the calm anchorage here is a forgiving place to learn.

For a comfortable day, pack water shoes for the rocky edges, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen even though the boat has shade, and a towel, which is not included. Carry water and cash for the bar and kitchen. Families should board early to claim a shaded spot and a table, and use the waterslide in the first lagoon hour before the queue builds. Because the boat is stable and roomy, it copes with a range of ages and swimming abilities better than the smaller boats, which is a large part of why we recommend it so often for mixed groups and multi-generation trips.

This is the boat for anyone who wants the full Blue Lagoon day without the scrum. Couples who plan to actually relax rather than compete for deck space; older travellers who value a stable boat and a real seat in the shade; and families whose children will live on the waterslide while parents keep a comfortable base. If motion sickness has ever spoiled a boat trip for you, the catamaran hull is the single most important reason to book this over any other tour on the list.

The audience it suits less is the strict budget traveller: you can do almost the same route for nine euro less on the traditional boat, and comfort is precisely what the difference buys. It is also not the boat for anyone set on a private, crowd-free anchorage or a bespoke route, which is the domain of the private speedboat. But for the largest group of visitors, those who want a comfortable, stable, full day covering the lagoon, the Crystal Lagoon and the caves, this catamaran is the sensible middle of the market and the one we recommend most often.

Board early and scout the shaded seats first; they are the boat's scarcest resource by noon. Bring your own snorkel to skip the onboard purchase, a towel, and reef-safe sunscreen. The slide queue is shortest during the first lagoon hour while everyone else is still swimming. If you want to walk to Santa Maria Bay or the tower on Comino, register the free landing pass the night before. And if seasickness is a real concern in your group, this is the boat to book: the catamaran hull is the most stable ride to Comino on our list, far calmer than the private speedboat option.