Sliemast Paul Ferry Review: Gozo, Comino & Blue Lagoon Cruise

Planning a trip to Malta? Then you absolutely, positively should consider a boat trip to Gozo and Comino, including a swim in the famed Blue Lagoon, because who goes to Malta without visiting the islands’ sister gems? There are loads of different tour companies that offer very similar packages, that is, yet one operator you might look at is Sliemast Paul. This is just a heads-up about what to expect, some pointers to maybe help you have a great time, and like your honestly opinions about this particular cruise, it’s almost your own personal trip advisor right here.

Booking and First Impressions

You can, naturally enough, book Sliemast Paul tours online or from any number of tourist shops right across Malta, I suppose that’s how most people actually do it. Doing it online could be very simple as well, and you might actually get some slight discounts too, it tends to be like that. So, that could be something you want to check out beforehand. Yet if you’re walking around Sliema or Bugibba, someone’s going to try to sell you a ticket, is that right? Anyway, that’s Malta. It’s generally all pretty above board. The prices really don’t tend to vary all that much between the different vendors either.

Initial feelings really matter, of course. We showed up that day at the Sliema ferry point, and it was a little bit crowded but seemed reasonably organized, well for Malta anyhow. You do get a sense of how many other people are also ready to see the Blue Lagoon. The staff appeared fairly friendly and competent, in some respects I believe that’s important. The boat looked, so, adequately seaworthy, as I was saying, maybe not luxury liner stuff but just pretty functional.

The Cruise to Gozo

The boat trip over to Gozo, well, it takes maybe an hour or so, I mean it is depending on sea conditions actually, you see. It’s actually really rather scenic in places, in that case I remember that. You will pass by some cool little islands and rock formations that way, so you might want to have that camera very ready.

Sliemast Paul generally makes a quick stop at Comino first to let off passengers wanting to see just that little island, you know. The views of Comino as you approach are really pretty dramatic, more or less I thought. That little island’s landscape looks really harsh and rugged, it often gives off very real pirate movie vibes.

When you arrive in Gozo, Sliemast Paul offers an optional bus tour of the island for a very small extra cost. The bus tour seemed just fine. It hits a couple of different main sites in Gozo such as the Citadel in Victoria, and maybe the Azure Window ruins area, it tends to be sites like that, anyway. A very tiny word of advice here is that the tour isn’t particularly lengthy, actually just very short indeed, that way you’re back at the ferry terminal with time to grab some grub before going off to Comino later. In hindsight you actually might consider doing your own thing in Gozo actually, anyway, like grab a cab or local bus, so, because it may be much better for seeing what you might want to actually see. It is arguably a matter of preference.

Comino and the Blue Lagoon

The main reason people book these boat trips really must be Comino’s Blue Lagoon. Seriously, it looks just really pretty special from the photos. Anyway, and very often, in real life, the approach will not fail to impress too it’s almost certain to do that to you, is that so. That water is honestly something else. I will have to say that when it’s bathed in sunshine, the blues are so intensely turquoise, literally like some kind of tropical paradise in the middle of the Mediterranean. It really is great.

As a matter of fact you might just expect, still, the Blue Lagoon can get extremely busy indeed. We went in maybe the shoulder season, still, and it was totally rammed by the time we got there at noon, and that is not really great if you were wishing to experience a quiet moment with nature, but then if you’re coming at peak season that’s obviously even much worse then. If it really is total solitude and tranquility you dream, anyway, about you definitely will not find it in that little area, as I was saying, still.

Anyway Sliemast Paul drops anchor for maybe a couple of hours right at the Blue Lagoon that way you have, like, swimming and sunbathing time. I’d personally say the boat itself can get also somewhat crowded during this stop, but, then that’s just something I expect on these trips right now. Anyway loads of folks use the boat for diving right into that clear water, just a little, some use it just as base to keep their stuff you see.

Food and Drink Onboard

Sliemast Paul typically runs a bar on board and that’s really very important because it’s how they tend to make most of their money, that’s totally my feeling, or in other words, that’s what I imagine. Drinks prices looked quite reasonable too, honestly enough. They might serve maybe very cheap snacks like pizza slices and sandwiches too, usually they do serve things like that at the bar. Very much in that case I suggest you can bring your own food and drink actually, anyway, if you’re trying to keep to some kind of budget that way.

I will have to mention that for the Blue Lagoon stop there really are quite a few food and drink vendors right on the shore, still, in some respects, because honestly if you do not feel like hauling all your beach junk it is something. Food there I might note is generally more on a faster and a cheaper eats kind of vibe – think hot dogs, burgers, that sort of thing and stuff you know?

Overall Comfort and Facilities

Let’s chat some then about what the Sliemast Paul boat actually offers in terms of general comfort, because honestly if you are out on any boat for any lengthy periods this really is something that will register very much. To get to it, seating typically comprises really basic plastic chairs that’s how they make it really cheap and still efficient, I assume. Like you might think about getting there earlier to, in that case, bag yourself an extremely good spot, particularly if, honestly, you have bad hips. If, basically, you want shade there really is some undercover seating at the back of the boat or on the lower level, more or less so depending on the type of boat I see. If, that is, honestly you’re sun-seeking – and let’s face it, if you’re in Malta you could, that is, well be – then you might just head for the upper deck, as I was saying that would make quite some sense actually.

I would really rather guess there really are toilets on board, naturally enough, I think, because otherwise things might get really quite dire on longer sailings still, but still do not really expect any kind of luxury spa type facilities here that way you don’t suffer any bitter dissapointments you know?

Value for Money

I feel that most of the Gozo and Comino boat cruises look, so, reasonably priced for just what they offer. Actually a day out on the water including some sightseeing, also a swim in the famous Blue Lagoon. That way just budget very appropriately to include any add-ons really such as the Gozo bus tour actually, and the refreshments actually.

Actually one question is whether that bus tour in Gozo is really worth what you get, because that would maybe be better spent alone really and that might honestly make things a bit easier actually, naturally enough. In some ways this is all dependent on your personality of course, because honestly if that sounds really stressful or not really up to planning travel for yourself then maybe that tour works just nicely anyway.

In fact there will be quite some hidden cost that you won’t take into consideration. Naturally there will be sunscreens and perhaps also that unexpected need for plenty of ice cold soft drinks or maybe also for some beer, and those cocktails with just some delicious lunch near to the beach so perhaps bringing some snack or water could be really an affordable alternative, very, if budget is quite a concern to your pocket that’s what I suggest, in short.

The Overall Verdict

Actually taking the Sliemast Paul tour can offer you what a very cool way really to just visit Gozo, Comino, but that does also really depend so, on what, specifically, you personally are just looking for. A pretty big plus I might say can be that very great value to you as tourist.

You might want to manage your feelings very right that way to prepare, really for potential crowds particularly there will be loads of them at Blue Lagoon but with a bit great preparation can work wonders.

However, it can still totally prove a really good option too that could show, really some iconic spots. Actually go along to see Blue Lagoon and Comino because well actually those definitely, positively just should not just simply be left aside. Still think whether that just short tour time suits right what things specifically that is really on your wish list because otherwise grab maybe that option just explore yourself actually anyway to that way.

Key Takeaways

• Value for money.
• Possible Gozo Add-On tour not totally awesome, so you want to check better
• Crowds that definitely show at peak travel season, you’ll have to prepare for this to enjoy the best trip ever.