3 Island Cruise onboard Faith

Malta’s 3 Island Cruise aboard Faith is built around a simple pleasure: spend a full day on warm Mediterranean water, stopping to swim in Malta, Gozo, and Comino’s Blue Lagoon. The boat provides lunch, live commentary, showers, shaded seating, and air-conditioned areas, so you can make a day of it without arranging extra transport.

I like the generous time at the Blue Lagoon, where the scheduled stop lasts about three hours, and the fact that you also get quieter swimming time in bays around Malta and Gozo. The included meal adds real value at $90.12, though you should check the drink arrangements carefully, since some departures have not provided the advertised beer and wine.

• Three island route: Cruise past Malta, Gozo, and Comino, with stops in a Maltese bay, a Gozo bay, and the Blue Lagoon.
• Long Blue Lagoon stop: The planned three-hour visit gives you time to swim, snorkel, and enjoy the famous water.
• Lunch included: A Maltese-style meal is served during the cruise, with lunchtime drinks listed as included.
• Comfortable boat: Faith has showers, air-conditioned areas, shaded seating, and a snack bar.
• Weather matters: Strong sea conditions can change the route and prevent close views of coastal sights.
• Good for a relaxed day: The cruise suits you if you want swimming, scenery, and a meal more than a detailed sightseeing tour.

A full day on Faith from Sliema

The boat leaves from Sliema Ferries Terminal at 9:00 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point after roughly eight to nine hours. That makes this a full-day outing, not a quick harbor trip. You will spend much of the day at sea, with time divided between cruising, commentary, lunch, and swimming stops.

The advertised maximum is 100 people. That is large enough to feel like a shared excursion, but not necessarily packed. On a quiet departure, the boat can feel pleasantly spacious. On a busy summer sailing, the Blue Lagoon stop itself is likely to feel much more crowded than the boat.

I like the practical setup. You can sit outside for the views, move into an air-conditioned area when the sun gets tiring, and use the onboard showers after swimming. There is also a snack bar, useful when you want something between lunch and the next stop.

The crew is described as friendly, and that matters on a long day at sea. The main weakness is the commentary. It is delivered live, but the captain or guide can speak quickly, and some passengers have found the audio or accent difficult to follow. If the history and sightseeing narration are your main reason for booking, keep expectations modest.

The Malta bay stop: a short first swim

The first scheduled stop is in a bay around Malta and lasts about one hour. This is your chance to get into the water early, before the longer stop at Comino. Bring your swimsuit where you can reach it, rather than burying it in a day bag. One complaint about this outing was that swimming instructions were not always clear, and a short swim period can pass quickly.

The stop is more about water time than a shore visit. You should not expect a guided walk, a village visit, or time to explore on land. If you want a calm swim and a chance to cool off, it works well. If you are hoping to see several famous coastal sites from close range, the route may feel less satisfying.

The sea can also decide how close the boat gets to shore. With a swell, Faith may stay farther out for safety, making cliffs and coastal features harder to see. That is an important distinction: this is a cruise around the islands with swimming stops, not a guaranteed close-up tour of every landmark.

Gozo’s bay and the quieter side of the route

The second scheduled stop is at a bay on Gozo, also for about one hour. Gozo is often the calmer part of the day, especially compared with Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon. The stop gives you another chance to swim or snorkel, and the surrounding coast can feel less hectic.

You may be able to enjoy the view from the boat without the same crush of people found at the Blue Lagoon. Some departures have stopped at a quieter part of Comino as well, which adds to the sense that this trip is not only about the most famous swimming spot.

Still, the Gozo stop is not a land excursion. The supplied plan does not include time to tour Gozo’s towns or inland sights. If your goal is to visit the island properly, you need a separate Gozo day trip. Here, Gozo is part of a coastal cruise and a place to swim.

Three hours at the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the main event. The scheduled stop lasts about three hours, much longer than the earlier bay stops. That gives you time to swim, snorkel, sit in the sun, or stay aboard and enjoy the view without rushing back to the boat.

The water is warm and clear enough for swimming and snorkeling, which is a major reason to choose this cruise. You can spend the whole stop in the sea, though you should remember that the Blue Lagoon is very popular in summer. It can be crowded, and the famous name does not guarantee a peaceful beach experience.

This is also where expectations need careful handling. Some people book the cruise hoping to see Malta’s Blue Grotto, Popeye Village, St. Peter’s Pool, and other coastal sights at close range. The route may pass some places, but the boat does not promise a detailed visit to each one. Sea conditions can prevent the vessel from entering certain bays, and on some summer days the route is changed because of rough water.

If your priority is the Blue Lagoon and swimming, that change may not ruin your day. If your priority is photographing every major coastal attraction, you may be disappointed. I would treat the cruise as a water-and-scenery day, not as a complete tour of Malta’s shoreline.

Lunch, drinks, and onboard comfort

Lunch is included, and the meal is one of the better reasons to consider the price. The food is described as a hearty Maltese platter with a useful range of choices. A proper meal keeps the day from becoming a series of paid snacks, especially since you are away from shore for most of the afternoon.

The listed package includes unlimited beer, wine, water, and soft drinks during lunchtime. Read that wording carefully. The drinks are tied to the meal period, not necessarily available throughout the whole cruise. Some departures have served only soft drinks for a limited time, while beer and wine were not available. Alcoholic drinks are also listed as available for purchase, which adds to the confusion.

I would ask the crew at boarding exactly what is included on that day. Do not assume unlimited drinks means an all-day open bar. If the drink package is important to your decision, this is the one point I would confirm before paying.

The facilities are sensible for a long sailing. Showers help after swimming, air-conditioned areas offer relief from the heat, and shaded seating lets you enjoy the views without sitting in full sun for nine hours. These are not luxury touches, but they make a real difference on a full-day boat trip.

Commentary and what you actually see

Live commentary runs during the cruise, giving you context as Faith travels along the coast. I like having narration rather than simply looking at cliffs and bays with no explanation. It can help you understand the route and identify some coastal features as they pass.

The delivery is not always easy to follow. Several passengers have found the guide or captain rushed the information, and the audio may also be part of the problem. If you sit where you can hear clearly, you may get more from it, but I would not book this as a specialist history tour.

The distance from shore is another practical issue. A large boat may stay well offshore, especially when the sea is rough. That improves safety but makes small landmarks hard to recognize. Bring realistic expectations and enjoy the broad views rather than expecting a close look at every grotto, fishing village, or famous building.

The route can also change at short notice. One departure was postponed by a day, and rough conditions prevented another from reaching the intended coastal areas. The operator offers a new date or a refund when poor weather cancels the cruise, but a route change during the day can still mean you see something different from what you expected.

Is $90.12 good value?

At $90.12 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the water, but it bundles several costs into one day. You get the cruise, lunch, live commentary, and return to Sliema. Water activities, boat access, and a long stop at the Blue Lagoon are included rather than added one by one.

The value is strongest if you want a relaxed day with swimming and food already arranged. The boat’s facilities also matter. Paying for a long cruise with no meal, no shaded area, or no shower would make the day feel less comfortable.

The value is weaker if you are mainly interested in specific sights such as Popeye Village or the Blue Grotto. You might see parts of the coast from offshore, but the cruise does not guarantee close access to every attraction. A dedicated sightseeing trip may suit you better for that purpose.

I also would not count on a full day of free alcoholic drinks when comparing the price. The official inclusion covers lunchtime, and actual service may vary. Think of the meal and cruise as the core value, with drinks as something to verify.

Who should book this cruise?

I would choose Faith if you want an easy, full-day outing with a boat, warm water, swimming, lunch, and a few different coastal stops. It suits couples, families, and anyone who would rather enjoy Malta from the sea than plan several separate transfers.

It is also a good fit if you like flexibility during a stop. You can swim and snorkel, sit in the shade, use the air-conditioned area, or simply watch the coast from the deck. You do not need to take part in every activity.

I would hesitate if you need a precise sightseeing route. The boat can remain offshore, commentary can be hard to understand, and rough conditions may change the planned course. The optional cave tour by powerboat is not included either, so budget separately if you want that add-on.

The tour allows service animals, and most people can participate. Confirmation is provided when booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, while cancellations or changes made later are not refunded. The cruise requires suitable weather and a minimum number of participants.

My verdict on the 3 Island Cruise aboard Faith

Book this cruise for a comfortable day on the Mediterranean, not as a precise catalogue of Malta’s coastal landmarks. The strongest parts are the friendly crew, the useful onboard facilities, the included lunch, and the chance to swim at several points, with a long Blue Lagoon stop.

Before booking, confirm the drink policy and ask whether the planned route is operating in the current season. If you accept that sea conditions can alter the itinerary, $90.12 is a fair price for a long day of boat time, food, and swimming. If you want close-up sightseeing or dependable access to every famous bay, choose a more focused tour instead.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start and finish?

The cruise starts at Sliema Ferries Terminal in Sliema, Malta, and returns to the same meeting point.

What time does the cruise depart?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately eight to nine hours.

Which places does the cruise visit?

The planned route includes a bay in Malta, a bay on Gozo, and the Blue Lagoon at Comino.

How long is the Blue Lagoon stop?

The scheduled Blue Lagoon stop lasts about three hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the cruise price.

Are drinks included?

Beer, wine, water, and soft drinks are listed as unlimited during lunchtime. Alcoholic drinks are also listed as available to purchase. Confirm the exact drink service onboard, since it may vary by departure.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Later cancellations and changes are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather or the minimum number of participants causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.