Hornblower Gozo Comino Cruise: Full Day From Bugibba Jetty

Hornblower Cruises

Malta Boat: Comino Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Gozo & Caves

★ 4.7 (7,667) · 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 Gozo Comino cruise is the one boat trip in my Malta set that covers three islands in a single day: a swim stop in the Blue Lagoon on Comino, free time on Gozo and a coastal run past the sea caves. It sails from St Paul's Bay and costs from $34 per person.

The attribute that most changes the decision is the split of the day. The listing gives 1.5 hours in the lagoon and roughly 3 hours on Gozo, so this is a sightseeing day with a swim, not a beach day.

If you want four-plus hours in the water, the sister Hornblower Blue Lagoon cruise is the better fit. More options sit on the Malta boat tours hub, and other cities are on the harbouradvisor.com home page.

What is the Hornblower Gozo Comino cruise and what do you see?

The Hornblower Gozo Comino cruise is a guided day boat that links Malta's north coast with Comino and Gozo, mixing commentary from the captain with swimming, sightseeing and time ashore.

The first leg follows the cliffs and coves west of St Paul's Bay, passes the St Paul's Islands and the statue marking the traditional site of the Apostle Paul's shipwreck, then slips into the Ahrax and Santa Maria caves. The boat then runs along Comino's north channel, past the Elephant's Head rock, to the lagoon.

• Caves: the boat noses into the Ahrax and Santa Maria sea caves for photographs; see Santa Maria Caves on Google Maps.
• Blue Lagoon: 1.5 hours moored in a quieter corner, with a 10 m slide and ladders; see Blue Lagoon, Comino, on Google Maps.
• Gozo: about 3 hours ashore, with an optional shuttle to Victoria; see Mgarr Harbour, Gozo, on Google Maps.
• Return leg: Comino's south channel, the Crystal Lagoon, more caves and St Mary's Tower; see St Mary's Tower, Comino, on Google Maps.

Where does the Hornblower boat leave from, and what must you do before boarding?

The boat leaves from Bugibba Jetty in St Paul's Bay, and you must redeem a free Comino landing pass before you walk down the jetty. The listing says to show the QR code to government officials at the jetty and choose the morning slot.

Passes come through the Blue Lagoon access site, blcomino.com. I could not open that site when I checked on 17 October 2026, so confirm the current rules there. If the code fails, the listing says to go straight to the boat, where the crew will help.

1. Get the pass: redeem the QR code for the morning slot before the trip.
2. Arrive by 9:45: boarding closes at 9:45 and the final cut-off is 9:55.
3. Find the boat: it is the first one on your right along the jetty, blue and white.
4. Do not phone: the crew are busy boarding and do not answer before departure.

What is the route and the timetable, stop by stop?

The day runs in six stages, and the firm times are the 10:00 departure plus the lagoon and Gozo allowances; the listing gives no return time, so ask the crew on the day.

For a rival departing from the same jetty with a different split, the Amazing Boat Trips Comino cruise sails at 9:00 and, according to one recent review, was back by 14:30.

What does the Gozo stop give you, and is the shuttle worth €5?

The Gozo stop gives about 3 hours, and the optional €5 shuttle (cash) is the practical way to reach Victoria and its Citadel without arranging your own bus.

The listing adds a photo stop at Qala Belvedere on the way. Reviewers in my sample were split on time: several called the allowance enough for lunch and the Citadel, one said the round trip leaves little else, and the marketplace's own review summary flags the stop as rushed. A transfer each way takes a large part of 3 hours.

• With the shuttle: Citadel, a late lunch and the Qala Belvedere, Gozo, on Google Maps stop; no beach time.
• On foot at Mgarr: harbour cafes and a short wander; see the Mgarr Harbour, Gozo, on Google Maps pin.
• Victoria sights: Victoria Citadel, Gozo, on Google Maps.

What is on board, what is included and what costs extra?

The $34 fare covers the cruise, the commentary, the slide and ladders, deck seating and the lagoon stop; everything you eat, drink or rent is paid on board.

Alcohol and drugs may not be brought on board, per the listing. Toilets, lockers and a snack bar are on the boat. Because upper-deck loungers go first come, first served, one reviewer advises arriving when boarding opens at 8:30.

How does the Hornblower trip compare with the other Malta boats?

The Hornblower Gozo Comino cruise ties for the lowest price per hour in my set at $4.9, but its lagoon stop is the shortest of the three Comino day boats.

If you would rather set the pace yourself, the snorkelling page and the sailing page cover private boats.

Is the Hornblower Gozo Comino cruise worth it against the other Malta boats?

Yes, if you want Comino and Gozo in one day without arranging ferries, because the price per hour is as low as any boat here and the Gozo stop replaces a separate trip.

For one day covering both islands, I'd book this one. For swimming, I'd move to the Blue Lagoon version. For a short boat, the Sliema harbour cruise costs $22 for 1.5 hours.

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

With visitor numbers at that level, the landing pass in the listing is a sensible rule, and booking the 10:00 departure with a lounger-friendly 8:30 arrival is the simplest way to start the day well.

When is the best time to book the cruise?

June to September gives the warmest swimming and May and October give lighter days; the listing runs the full-day tour at 10:00 with a separate 17:15 sunset half-day option.

Sea temperature on 17 October was a forecast mean of 24.5 °C, and October still averages 24 °C air highs with about 7 rain days. Winter is different: January averages 17 °C and 8.1 rain days, and the listing does not say how the trip changes outside summer, so ask the operator.

The next Maltese public holidays are 8 December (Immaculate Conception), 13 December (Republic Day) and 25 December, from the Nager.Date holiday API; the listing does not say whether the tour runs on them.

What do passengers say?

Passengers praise the crew and the lagoon, and the main complaint is time. Across the 10 reviews in my sample, all 5 stars (a positive-only sample), these patterns repeat.

• Crew and captain: named in 4 of 10 reviews, usually for humour and commentary.
• Cave speedboat: recommended in 2 of 10.
• Gozo shuttle: praised in 2 of 10 for saving time on the roads.
• Gozo time: called short in 1 of 10, and in the marketplace's own summary.

Who should skip this cruise?

Skip it if you want long swim time, a quiet day or a beach on Gozo. Choose the Blue Lagoon version for water time, or look at the hub for private charters.

• Weak swimmers: buoyancy aids are on board for a deposit, per the listing, but staying on deck is the safe choice.
• Anyone wanting guaranteed shade or a lounger: upper-deck seating is limited.
• Late arrivals: no refunds after 10:00.

How do you book the Hornblower Gozo Comino cruise?

Hornblower Gozo Comino cruise FAQ

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 215556 (checked 17 October 2026); Blue Lagoon Comino access site; NSO Malta, Inbound Tourism December 2025; Open-Meteo, Frankfurter and Nager.Date APIs; sunrise-sunset.org.