Hornblower Blue Lagoon Cruise: 4.5 Hours of Swim Time at Comino

Hornblower Cruises

Blue Lagoon & Comino Cruise – Snorkeling, Slide & Swim Stops

★ 4.7 (3,473) · from $34

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Prices and timetables checked 17 October 2026. This page contains affiliate links: I earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.

The Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise is a full-day boat from St Paul's Bay to Comino that spends most of the day in one spot. Of the 7 hours, the listing gives about 1 hour of cruising out and 4.5 hours in the Blue Lagoon, which makes it the swimming-first version of the Hornblower day.

The detail that most changes the decision is the swim-to-sail ratio. At $34 you pay about $4.9 an hour, and 64% of the day is lagoon time.

If you want Gozo as well, the Hornblower Gozo Comino cruise swaps most of those hours for time ashore. See the Malta boat tours hub for the full list, or the harbouradvisor.com home page for other cities.

What is the Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise and what do you see?

The Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise is a day boat that runs along Malta's north coast, enters two sea caves and anchors for 4.5 hours in the Blue Lagoon on Comino, with a swim, snorkel or slide at your own pace.

Before the lagoon, Captain Kevin points out the St Paul's Islands, Ahrax Point and the Elephant's Head rock, and takes the boat close to the Ahrax and Santa Maria caves. The boat moors in a less crowded part of the lagoon, per the listing, in water about 3 metres deep.

• Caves: a photo stop at the sea caves; see Santa Maria Caves on Google Maps.
• Lagoon: 4.5 hours with a slide, a 5 m jump and snorkel rental; see Blue Lagoon, Comino, on Google Maps.
• Return: past Gozo's Mgarr Harbour, then the Crystal Lagoon and St Mary's Tower; see St Mary's Tower, Comino, on Google Maps.

Where does the cruise leave from, and what do you need before boarding?

The cruise leaves from Bugibba Jetty in St Paul's Bay, and every passenger needs a free Blue Lagoon access pass with a QR code. The listing says you must pick both a morning and an afternoon slot when you request it.

Passes are requested through blcomino.com. I could not open that site on 17 October 2026, so check the current rules there. The pass is separate from the ticket, and the listing says visitors must show the code.

1. Request the pass for the day, choosing both slots.
2. Reach the jetty (St Paul's Bay waterfront on Google Maps); parking is limited in peak season.
3. Board early if you want a lounger: a reviewer boarded at 8:30 and says deck chairs go quickly.

What is the route, and how is the time split?

The day has three blocks: about an hour sailing to Comino, 4.5 hours moored in the lagoon, then a slower return past Gozo and the Crystal Lagoon.

The listing says the boat may change routes, start and end points for weather or sea conditions, and that the captain can cancel. One reviewer skipped the Gozo views and used the extra time to explore Comino instead.

What is on board, and what costs extra?

The fare covers the cruise, the commentary, the slide and jump, seating and toilets; the snack bar, rentals and the cave speedboat are paid separately in euros.

Outside food and drink may not be brought on board, and smoking is allowed in designated areas only. Bring a towel, swimwear and sunscreen.

How do you spend 4.5 hours at the Blue Lagoon without getting bored?

Split the stop into three blocks: a first swim while the water is quiet, a meal on board in the middle, and a last snorkel or slide session before the engines start.

• First 90 minutes - swim and snorkel early; one reviewer saw plenty of fish near the boat.
• Middle 90 minutes - eat at the snack bar or step ashore onto the sand; the shaded main deck is the cooler option at midday.
• Last 90 minutes - try the 10 m slide and the 5 m jump, which the listing says have unlimited use.
• Cave speedboat - the optional €15 ride is sold on site; two sample reviewers rated it worth the money.

UV is not in my weather data for Malta, so I cannot give an index for the lagoon. Cover up between roughly midday and mid-afternoon, and bring sunscreen as the listing advises.

How does the Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise compare with the other Comino boats?

The Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise offers the most lagoon time of the shared Comino boats in my data, and costs $5 less than the Amazing Boat Trips day.

For a private boat where the skipper picks quieter coves, see the snorkelling tours in Malta page.

Is the Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise worth it against other Comino boats?

Yes, for swimmers and families who want a long lagoon stop at a low per-hour price, and no, for anyone who dislikes shared boats or wants Gozo included.

My pick for families with older children is this one, because the slide and jump keep teenagers busy for 4.5 hours.

For couples who want a quieter boat, the capped group size of the Amazing Boat Trips day (50 passengers) is the alternative. The listing here does not state a capacity, and its review summary mentions the boat can feel crowded.

4,022,310 inbound tourists visited Malta in 2025, spending a recorded €3,904.4 million in total.

With tourist arrivals at that level, Comino's single lagoon is busy. The listing's own claim of a quieter mooring is the feature worth testing, and the access pass is the authorities' way of spreading visitors across slots.

When is the best time to book?

The best swimming window is June to September, when average daily highs reach 29-32 °C, and the sea was a forecast 24.5 °C on 17 October.

Rain falls on about 7 days in October and 10.9 days in November, against 0.3 in July. The listing does not state a winter timetable or whether the tour runs year-round, so ask the operator before booking outside summer.

Maltese public holidays on 8, 13 and 25 December (Nager.Date) may change schedules; the listing does not say.

What do passengers say?

Passengers like the crew, the food prices and the lagoon spot, and the complaint is crowding. In my sample of 10 reviews, all 5 stars (a positive-only sample), I count these patterns.

• Crew and family feel: mentioned in at least 4 of 10.
• Cave speedboat: recommended in 2 of 10.
• Deck chairs go early: 2 of 10 advise boarding at 8:30.
• Crowding: flagged in the marketplace's summary, with a wish for more top-deck seats.

Who should skip this cruise?

Skip it if you dislike crowded decks, want Gozo, or cannot swim at all. The Gozo and Comino version suits sightseers, and the hub lists private boats.

• Non-swimmers: use the buoyancy aid or the beach, per the listing.
• Smoke-sensitive guests: smoking is allowed in designated areas.
• Late arrivals: check the voucher for the no-refund rule.

How do you book the Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise?

Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise FAQ

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 215331 (checked 17 October 2026); Blue Lagoon Comino access site; NSO Malta, Inbound Tourism December 2025; Open-Meteo and Frankfurter APIs; Nager.Date; sunrise-sunset.org.