Hera 3 Bay Cruise including the Blue Lagoon

Three bays, one long day, plenty of water. Hera’s cruise gives you a simple way to see Malta’s northeast coast, swim near Comino’s Blue Lagoon, and enjoy lunch and drinks without arranging boats, taxis, or beach logistics yourself. I like the pretty Turkish gulet and the friendly, professional crew. I also like the chance to swim at St. Paul’s Islands, away from the main Blue Lagoon stop.

The catch is space. The boat can feel crowded, especially in August or when the passenger count rises, and shade is limited. If you want a quiet sailing day, this may feel too busy. If you want an easy, social boat day with hotel pickup and plenty of swimming, it offers good value at about $90.11 per person.

Key points at a glance

• Blue Lagoon access now needs planning: From May 1, 2025, you need a government access pass to go ashore at the Blue Lagoon. The cruise recommends choosing the afternoon slot.
• Three swim areas fill the day: You visit Comino, swim near St. Paul’s Islands, and stop at another Maltese bay before returning to Sliema.
• A Turkish gulet adds character: The boat is more attractive than a plain ferry, with open deck space and mats for sunbathing.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Expect a buffet lunch, soft drinks, water, tea, and coffee. Beer and wine are served during lunch.
• Pickup begins early: Hotel pickup can start around 7:45 a.m., while the boat leaves Sliema Ferries at 9:30 a.m.
• Crowding is the main concern: The advertised maximum is 100 people, but operating comments indicate that some departures have carried more.

A full day on Malta’s northeast coast

This is an eight-hour outing built around the sea rather than sightseeing on land. You board at Hera Cruises in Sliema, near the ferry area, at about 9:30 a.m. The boat then follows Malta’s northeast shoreline, giving you views toward St. Julian’s Bay, St. Paul’s Island, Mellieha, and the villages along the coast.

I like this format because it removes much of the usual island-day fuss. You do not need to find a rental car, work out a boat connection, or carry lunch to a beach. The tradeoff is that you are following a fixed schedule, and the busiest parts of Malta’s coast are shared with many other boats.

The boat is described as a Turkish gulet, which gives the outing a more traditional sailing feel than a basic transfer vessel. The crew keeps the day moving between swimming, lunch, and cruising. One strong point is the crew’s attention to the water conditions. On at least one departure, the bays were checked for jellyfish before swimming began, a small detail that can make a difference when you are bringing children or simply prefer not to take chances.

Early pickup and the ride to Sliema

Hotel pickup is offered from a long list of areas. The earliest times are around 7:45 a.m. from Golden Sands and Mdina Gate. Pickup from Mellieha, Cirkewwa, Bugibba, Qawra, Valletta, and central areas generally falls between 8:00 and 8:45 a.m. Sliema pickups are listed around 8:45 to 9:00 a.m.

You should wait outside your hotel’s main entrance. The operator asks you to allow extra time because traffic can delay the vehicle. That warning matters, particularly if you are coming from Valletta or another area with a longer road journey. One difficult departure was delayed after a road accident caused a driver and passengers to get stuck, and the captain waited about 15 minutes for them.

Send your full name, cruise date, and complete phone number with country code when confirming pickup details. You are also asked to contact the operator before 24 hours if you need pickup arrangements confirmed. This is not a detail to leave until the morning of the cruise.

If you stay near Sliema, meeting at the boat may be simpler than taking the included transfer. Pickup is useful from farther away, but it adds an early start and a road journey before the boat even leaves.

Comino and the Blue Lagoon

Comino is the main attraction, and the Blue Lagoon is the stop most people have in mind when they book. The boat berths stern-first and gives you time for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, or walking around Comino.

The water is the star here. It is clear enough for a proper swim, and the rocky shore gives the stop a distinctly Mediterranean feel. The drawback is no secret: the Blue Lagoon is famous, and fame brings crowds, boats, noise, and limited space along the shore. You can have a memorable swim, but you should not expect a private cove.

A major change began on May 1, 2025. Anyone who wants to leave the boat and go ashore at the Blue Lagoon must obtain an access pass in advance through the official government website, blcomino.com. Passes are limited. For this cruise, you need to select the afternoon slot when applying.

If no pass is available, you can remain on the boat or swim toward shore. The practical choice is to arrange the pass before your cruise date rather than assume you can simply walk onto Comino. The rule comes from the Maltese government, not the cruise company, so it is outside the crew’s control.

The Blue Lagoon stop lasts long enough for you to settle into the day, but the area can feel untidy around the paths and rocks. Take your own rubbish with you and do not expect a polished beach setting. This is a busy natural site, not a private resort.

St. Paul’s Islands brings a second swim

After Comino, the cruise continues toward St. Paul’s Islands for another swimming stop. This helps the day feel like more than a single visit to the Blue Lagoon. You get another chance to enter the water, sunbathe on deck, or simply stay aboard and watch the coast.

The second stop may appeal more to you if Comino feels too crowded. It gives the crew another place to check conditions and gives swimmers more time in the water. At the same time, the boat may still be busy, and the ladder can become congested when many people return from swimming at once.

That matters if you are not a confident swimmer. The swimming setup is informal, with people entering and climbing back aboard from the boat. You should be comfortable in open water and follow the crew’s instructions. The published information says most people can participate, but it does not describe specialized assistance or a detailed accessibility setup.

The third bay and the afternoon return

The final stop is another bay on Malta. The exact bay is not identified in the available details, so you should think of this as a flexible coastal swim stop rather than a named sightseeing visit.

By this stage, the day has a pleasant rhythm: cruise, swim, rest, eat, then swim again. You can look back toward Malta’s shoreline and see villages and coastal features from the water. That view is one of the quiet pleasures of the outing, especially if you spend part of the cruise away from the loudest activity on deck.

The boat is scheduled to return to Sliema Ferries at about 5:30 p.m. In practice, delays are possible. Traffic can affect the morning pickup, and late arrivals or a longer stop can push the return later. Do not schedule a tight evening flight, dinner reservation, or ferry connection immediately afterward.

What lunch and the open bar really offer

The price includes a buffet lunch, water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee. Beer and wine are available during lunch only. That makes the fare useful for a full day on the water, since you do not need to budget separately for a meal or keep buying drinks at the bays.

The food is best viewed as straightforward boat lunch rather than a culinary event. One strong departure included a nice lunch and a breakfast sandwich, while another found the lunch disappointing and the serving process crowded. Your experience will depend partly on how many people are aboard and how smoothly the buffet is organized.

I would board with a light breakfast, especially because pickup can be early. Bring a reusable water bottle if you prefer one, although water is included. Also bring sun protection. The deck has limited shade, and one departure left many people exposed to the sun for much of the day. A hat, high-factor sunscreen, and a light cover-up are more useful than fancy beach clothing.

Space, shade, and passenger numbers

Crowding is the biggest question to settle before booking. The advertised maximum is 100 people. The operator has also stated in different responses that the boat is licensed for as many as 150 or 180 people, while saying it normally takes around 105 or 115 on some departures.

Those figures do not line up neatly. The sensible conclusion is that the boat may feel comfortable on a lighter departure and crowded when demand is high. August is specifically identified as a difficult period because of demand.

The deck includes mats, which some people appreciate for sunbathing. Others may find that the mats reduce walking space when many are laid out. On a busy day, people can end up sitting close together, and the swimming ladder may develop a queue.

Shade is another weak point. The operator has said it was working on adding more shade, but you should plan as if cover will be limited. If you burn easily or dislike sitting in full sun, this is a real consideration, not a minor complaint.

The atmosphere also depends on the people aboard. The crew can control safety and service, but not every passenger’s behavior. A serious incident involving inappropriate nudity was handled by asking the person to dress, but it shows that a shared boat day can include unpredictable moments.

Is $90.11 good value?

At about $90.11 per person, the price is fair if you use the inclusions. You receive hotel pickup and return, a full day on the water, several swim stops, lunch, and an open bar with nonalcoholic drinks. Arranging those elements separately could take more time and may not save money.

The value drops if you mainly want a quiet Blue Lagoon visit. You are paying for transport, food, and convenience, but you will also accept a fixed route, possible crowds, and a limited amount of personal space.

I see this as a practical midrange choice. It is not the most private way to see Malta’s bays, yet it offers more than a basic ferry ride. The gulet, friendly crew, multiple swimming stops, and included food make the price reasonable for an active day.

The strongest value comes when you are staying outside Sliema and want pickup. The weakest value comes when you have your own boat plans or want to spend a peaceful morning on a single beach.

Who will enjoy this boat day?

I would recommend it to you if you want:

• A simple way to visit Comino without arranging transport yourself
• Several chances to swim during one day
• Included lunch and drinks
• A social boat atmosphere
• Hotel pickup from many parts of Malta
• A traditional-looking boat rather than a plain ferry

I would think twice if you want:

• A quiet or private sailing trip
• Guaranteed shade
• Plenty of room around your seat
• A tightly controlled schedule
• A polished, uncrowded Blue Lagoon visit

Families and active adults can find plenty to enjoy, but you should judge your group honestly. Children need to be comfortable around open water, boat ladders, sun, and a busy deck. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation, but detailed accessibility information is not provided.

English is the operating language. The group size is intended to be no more than 100, though the operator’s own capacity comments suggest that actual numbers can vary.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

Book ahead if your schedule is fixed. The cruise is often booked around nine days in advance, and the Blue Lagoon pass has its own limited allocation. The access pass is separate from the cruise booking.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded. The cruise also depends on suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for either reason, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

I would also confirm pickup before the final day and keep the operator’s contact details handy. Traffic is a known issue, so wait outside the hotel entrance and allow some patience if the vehicle runs late.

Should you book Hera’s three-bay cruise?

Book it if you want a convenient, full-day Malta outing with swimming, food, drinks, and a pleasant boat. The crew receives strong praise for being kind and professional, and the combination of Comino, St. Paul’s Islands, and another bay gives you more variety than a single beach transfer.

Skip it if crowding would ruin your day. The passenger numbers, shade, buffet organization, and swimming ladder can all feel tight on a busy departure. Before paying, check the Blue Lagoon access pass, prepare for strong sun, and leave room in your evening schedule for a late return.

For most people who value convenience over privacy, this is a sound way to put Malta’s coast into one easy day. Just book it for the swimming and scenery, not for solitude.

FAQ

How long is the Hera 3 Bay Cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately eight hours. It leaves Sliema Ferries at about 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to return around 5:30 p.m.

Where does the cruise start?

The meeting point is Hera Cruises at Sliema, Malta. The listed location is WG54+7F8, Sliema.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from listed areas across Malta. Pickup times range from about 7:45 to 9:00 a.m., depending on your location.

What should I do for Blue Lagoon access?

From May 1, 2025, you need a government access pass to go ashore at the Blue Lagoon. Apply through blcomino.com and select the afternoon slot for this cruise.

Can I still swim if I do not get a Blue Lagoon pass?

Yes. You can remain on the boat or swim toward shore. The pass is required for visitors who want to disembark ashore.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included. Water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee are also included, while beer and wine are available during lunch.

Is the cruise offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

How many people can join the cruise?

The advertised maximum is 100 people. Operator comments indicate that some departures have carried more, so the amount of space may vary.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may also lead to a rescheduled experience or full refund.