Malta looks different from the sea. This 3 Island Cruise onboard Faith strings together Malta, Gozo, and the Blue Lagoon with live English commentary, plenty of time in the water, and the kind of simple day plan that fits real vacation schedules.

I like the comfort perks: air-conditioned areas and showers onboard mean you’re not trapped as a salty, sandy mess. I also like that you get narration as you cruise the coast, so you’re not just staring at rock formations hoping they come with subtitles.

The big thing to think about: rougher sea conditions can shrink what you can actually see or how close you get to certain sights, and that can affect the day’s payoff. So go in with a swim-first mindset, and keep expectations flexible.

Key points at a glance

Three swim-and-bay stops in one long day: Malta Bay (1 hr), Gozo Bay (1 hr), then Blue Lagoon (3 hrs).

Lunch plus water, soft drinks, and (during lunch) beer/wine: You’re fed without hunting down a café.

Onboard comfort isn’t an afterthought: Air-conditioned areas and showers help a lot after water time.

Live commentary in English: You’ll get context while you cruise, not just silence.

Weather matters: The cruise requires good weather, and conditions can change routes and visibility.

The Faith cruise: what you really get for about $90

At about $90.12 per person, this isn’t a bargain-in-a-hostel way to travel. But it can be good value if you want a single ticket that bundles transport by boat time, guided narration, a real lunch, and multiple water stops without doing extra planning.

The structure is straightforward. You leave from Sliema in the morning, you spend the day moving between bays, and you come back to the same spot. There’s no racing from one landmark to another. Instead, it’s more like: enjoy the ride, enjoy the water, eat well, repeat.

This kind of cruise is especially worth it when you’re trying to balance Malta sights with downtime. If you’re the type who wants the coast views without stacking bus transfers and timed entry tickets, you’ll likely appreciate the simplicity.

Faith onboard: comfort that helps you actually enjoy the water

One reason I’d pick this cruise over a purely sightseeing boat is that the onboard setup is meant for day-trippers, not just photographers.

You get showers and air-conditioned areas, which sounds minor until you’ve been out in warm saltwater and then must sit there for hours. Even if you skip the shower, the option alone makes the boat feel more livable.

You also get practical space to sit in the shade or cool off. In real summer conditions, that matters more than people expect. Hot sun plus salt air can wipe you out. The boat’s onboard layout is designed so you can alternate: sun for a bit, shade for a bit, then back in the water.

Getting oriented in Sliema: start smart, start on time

Your meeting point is Sliema Ferries Terminal, and the cruise starts at 9:00 am. That’s an early enough start that you should plan to arrive calmly, not sprinting with wet hair and sunscreen.

This also helps with one common cruise reality: if transport runs late or check-in lines are long, you don’t want to be stuck trying to catch up once everyone else is already onboard. Build in a buffer.

And since the trip ends back at the meeting point, it’s easiest if you keep your day plan around Sliema. Think of it as a full-day commitment centered on the waterfront.

Stop 1: Malta Bay for a swim break that resets your day

The first land base is a bay in Malta with about 1 hour on the schedule. Admission is free for the stop, which is nice because you don’t need to budget time or money for timed attractions.

What to do in that first hour:

• Get your swim gear situation handled fast (change, rinse, and pick a spot).
• If you’re snorkeling, treat this as your warm-up session.
• If you’re not swimming, this hour is still useful for relaxing and getting your bearings from the deck before the pace picks up again.

This is also a good point to remember a practical rule of boat days: the morning water time often feels best because the sun and crowds haven’t peaked yet.

Stop 2: Gozo Bay for coast views without the hassle of going inland

Next up is the Island of Gozo, again with a bay stop of about 1 hour. Like the Malta stop, you’re not dealing with a full day of commuting. You’re getting the Gozo feel from the water, with the chance to swim again.

This stop tends to work for different travel styles:

• If you love water time, you get your second chance quickly.
• If you prefer photos and scenery, you can enjoy the coast setting without a “tour day” pace.

There’s a catch, though. Because the schedule is time-boxed, you won’t have that slow, wandered-around feeling you might get if you were spending a half day or more on land. This is a cruise stop, not a replacement for exploring Gozo’s streets.

Stop 3: Blue Lagoon (Comino area) for 3 hours of real swimming

The main highlight is the Blue Lagoon, with about 3 hours in this famous area. This is where most people go for the water, and the schedule reflects that—long enough to swim, snorkel, and actually forget about your phone for a while.

A practical tip: July can be crowded, so you’ll want to manage how you experience it. If you like quiet water, consider:

• getting in and out quickly rather than waiting around in the hottest midday hours,
• aiming for a snorkeling loop instead of floating in one place,
• choosing where you stand or swim so you’re not stuck right in the busiest lanes.

Also, think of Blue Lagoon as the “main event,” and treat the other bays like appetizers. If sea conditions limit sightlines from the boat, Blue Lagoon usually still delivers because you’re focused on the water itself.

Lunch plus drinks: good value, but check your expectations on alcohol

Here’s where the trip’s value can really shine. Lunch is included, and you get unlimited beer, wine, water, and soft drinks during lunchtime. That can make the day feel like a floating beach club deal.

But there’s also a mismatch that you should plan for: some passengers have reported that alcohol wasn’t available as expected. So don’t treat the drink part as guaranteed beyond what’s officially listed. If alcohol is a key reason you booked, I’d verify directly with the operator the day before (or on board, at the start of service).

What I think matters most for your day:

• If you’re happy with the included soft drinks and water, you’re set.
• If you’re specifically counting on beer and wine, arrive with flexibility and be ready to adjust if the situation changes.

Even if the alcohol piece disappoints, the fact that you’re covered for lunch is still a real advantage. On a day like this, feeding everyone on board avoids the usual costs and time waste of searching for food near the water.

Live commentary in English: helpful, but sound can be an issue

The cruise includes live commentary on board in English. That’s a big plus compared with audio-only narration because you can get context on what you’re seeing as it passes by.

Still, clarity can vary. Some people have found the guide harder to understand, likely due to language mixing, speed, or how sound carries over open water. If you’re the kind of traveler who hates straining to catch every word, you might want to position yourself where you can hear better—toward the front or near the staff when narration starts.

One more reality: many famous coastal sights are hard to see in full when you’re looking from a moving deck at a distance. You may spot only parts, or miss a landmark entirely if it’s off-angle or visibility isn’t perfect.

When the sea gets rough: why “good weather” is not a small footnote

This experience requires good weather. That’s not just paperwork. Malta boat routes depend on how choppy the water is, how safe it is to approach certain bays, and how comfortable it is to let passengers swim.

When conditions aren’t ideal, the day can shift in two ways:

• You might not get as close to certain viewpoints as you hoped.
• Swim time might get adjusted, shortened, or moved to more open water.

The cruise can still be a good day even if the scenery feels less close-up. But if you booked expecting a particular famous shoreline stop, keep your plan mentally anchored in swimming and the cruise ride rather than pinpoint sight perfection.

If the operator cancels due to poor weather, you’re offered another date or a full refund, which is exactly what you want to hear before you commit.

Price and value: who this fits best

At $90.12, you’re paying for a full-day boat outing with meals and narration. That’s a better deal than trying to assemble your own day trip when you factor in:

• lunch included,
• water and soft drinks included during lunch,
• the time and convenience of round-trip boat transport from Sliema.

This is also one of those cruises that can work whether you’re:

• a relax-and-swim person,
• a snorkeling hobbyist,
• or a scenery-watcher who wants the coast views without land logistics.

What I’d avoid it for:

• If you need an ultra-structured, museum-style tour where you get every landmark in perfect view.
• If you expect a quiet, private experience at peak season (Blue Lagoon can be crowded).

Small group feel: when the boat isn’t packed

The maximum group size is 100 travelers. That’s not tiny, but it can still feel manageable compared to large mass-market cruises.

On some sailings, people have described the boat as very lightly loaded. Even without betting on that, a smaller or moderate onboard crowd usually means:

• easier seating,
• fewer people fighting for shade,
• smoother movement during swim times.

If you tend to get annoyed by packed tour buses, this is the kind of day where you’ll probably feel more comfortable than you would in a city tour.

Should you book the 3 Island Cruise onboard Faith?

I’d book it if you want a single ticket that gives you Malta + Gozo from the sea plus a serious Blue Lagoon swim window, with lunch and onboard comfort built in. The value is strongest if you like water time and you’re fine with coastal sightseeing being partly distant and partly dependent on sea conditions.

I wouldn’t book it if your top priority is seeing specific shoreline attractions up close no matter what. Weather and swell can change what you can approach or how close you’ll be to certain sights.

If you do book, go in with the right mindset: sunscreen, swimwear ready, a flexible view of what’s visible from offshore, and a plan to treat Blue Lagoon as the main event. That’s when this cruise lands as a fun, practical Malta day.

FAQ

What time does the cruise start?

The cruise starts at 9:00 am.

Where do I meet the cruise?

You meet at the Sliema Ferries Terminal in Sliema, Malta.

How long is the tour?

The duration is about 8 to 9 hours.

How long are the stops at each place?

You have about 1 hour at a bay in Malta, about 1 hour at a bay on Gozo, and about 3 hours at the Blue Lagoon.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited beer, wine, water, and soft drinks are included during lunchtime. Alcoholic drinks are also listed as available to purchase.

Is there live commentary?

Yes, there is live commentary on board, offered in English.

What happens if weather is bad?

The cruise requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.