BBQ Bay Cruises: Elephant Rock, Blue Lagoon, Gozo & Comino

Comino is at its best from the water, where a private boat can slip past the crowded Blue Lagoon and pause at coves, caves, beaches and snorkelling spots chosen around the day’s weather. This three-hour charter gives you your own boat for up to six people, with Captain Mário among the named crew praised for being especially attentive.

I like two things here: you can shape the route instead of following a fixed group schedule, and the price is per boat, making it sensible for a small family or group of friends. The main catch is the advertised $223 price does not include the skipper, fuel, food, drinks or barbecue, so your real bill will be higher.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to six: You pay for the vessel, not individual seats.
• Comino by sea: Expect Blue Lagoon, Elephant Rock, coves, caves, beaches and snorkelling stops, subject to conditions.
• Flexible route: The skipper can adjust the timing and stops for weather, tides and shallow water.
• Three hours on the water: Enough for a focused coastal outing, but not a full-day cruise.
• Captain Mário praised for care: Recent feedback specifically highlights his attentive, helpful approach.
• Bring the picnic: Food, drinks, barbecue supplies and the barbecue itself are extra.

Setting out from Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour

You can join the boat in Malta at Cirkewwa or in Gozo at Mgarr Harbour. The Cirkewwa meeting area is close to the kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal, while the Mgarr departure area is near Sicilia Bella Restaurant at the harbour terminal.

You should arrive 30 minutes early. That matters here because a three-hour charter has a fixed departure window, and late arrival does not add time at the end. The operator also says pickup is included, but the supplied details identify these two departure points rather than a broad hotel pickup service, so check the exact meeting instructions when booking.

The boat is private, with comfortable seating, a sun deck, canopy shade, safety equipment, an ice cooler, Bluetooth speaker and free WiFi. Those are useful touches for a small group. You can sit in the sun, retreat under cover, play your own music and keep drinks cool, although you must supply the drinks and food yourself.

The boat also carries masks and snorkels. That saves you from packing a full set of gear, but bring your own equipment if you need a particular fit.

Three hours around Comino

The central appeal is freedom. Rather than being tied to a large boat’s timetable, you can discuss what matters most with the skipper: a swim, snorkelling, a cave, a beach stop or a quieter stretch of coast.

That flexibility is not unlimited. The skipper has the final say on the route, departure time and stopping points. Weather, wind, tides, shallow water and sea conditions can all change the plan. That is a sensible safety rule, not a minor footnote, especially around rocky shores and narrow coastal passages.

The itinerary may also change the location where you leave or return to the boat. If you have your heart set on one exact cove, treat it as a preference rather than a promise. The better approach is to tell the skipper what kind of outing you want and let local conditions guide the final choices.

Blue Lagoon, with a private-boat advantage

The Blue Lagoon is the name that draws most people to Comino, and its clear turquoise water is well suited to swimming and snorkelling. A private charter gives you a way to enjoy the area without committing to a full boatload of strangers.

Do not read away from crowds as a guarantee of having the lagoon entirely to yourself. Blue Lagoon is famous, and conditions and timing affect how quiet it feels. The advantage is control: you can ask for a suitable stop, spend time in the water and move on when the area feels too busy.

You should also keep expectations sensible for a three-hour trip. The boat may visit the Blue Lagoon along with other points around Comino, but the exact amount of time at each stop depends on the skipper’s judgment and the sea. If swimming is your priority, say so before departure.

Elephant Rock, caves and the Comino coast

The coastline around Comino is the real reason to choose a boat instead of a land-based outing. From the water, you can see rocky formations such as Elephant Rock, travel along sections of shore that are awkward to reach on foot and look into coastal caves.

These stops are scenic rather than heavily structured. You are not being led through a long museum visit or a formal historical tour. The experience is about the shape of the coast, the changing color of the water and the simple pleasure of pausing where conditions look right.

Caves and shallow areas require care. The skipper may alter the route if tides or water levels make a passage unsuitable. That means you may not see every listed feature, but it also means the itinerary is being adjusted for the conditions on the day.

Gozo is part of the advertised route as well. The charter allows you to see Comino and nearby Gozo from the sea, adding variety to a short cruise. Since the outing lasts only three hours, you should ask how much time can realistically be spent near Gozo if that is your main interest.

Swimming and snorkelling from the boat

Masks and snorkels are included, and the boat is designed around swimming stops. You can expect opportunities to enter the water at selected locations, but the precise snorkelling site is not fixed in advance.

I like this arrangement because it puts the skipper’s local judgment to work. Water conditions, wind and tides can make one cove much more pleasant than another on a given day. The tradeoff is that you are choosing flexibility over a guaranteed list of stops.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses and sunscreen. Cash is also listed as something to bring. The Mediterranean sun can feel strong even when the boat’s breeze keeps you cool, so the canopy is useful and sunscreen is not optional.

If anyone in your group is not a confident swimmer, discuss that before leaving. The supplied information confirms safety equipment is on board, but it does not describe lifeguard supervision, flotation aids or a dedicated swimming instructor.

The barbecue question: read the inclusions carefully

The barbecue theme sounds central, but the costs need careful reading. The boat, seating, shade, cooler, speaker, WiFi, snorkelling equipment, permits, taxes, port fees and marina fees are included. The food and barbecue are not.

The exclusions list food, drinks, party food, party beverages, barbecue food, barbecue beverages, the barbecue itself, fishing equipment and a fishing cooler. In plain terms, you should not assume that a cooked feast, grill or drinks will be waiting on board.

The description presents the chance to enjoy barbecue food and select a preferred barbecue spot, but the separate exclusions mean you need to confirm exactly what the operator permits and what equipment is available before you buy supplies. Do not arrive expecting a catered meal.

For a small group, the simplest plan is to ask in advance what you may bring, how food can be prepared and which items the boat supplies. The included ice cooler helps with cold drinks and picnic items, but it is not the same as a food service.

This is a useful distinction when comparing the price with other cruises. A higher-priced charter that includes lunch may offer better value for some groups. If you already plan to bring your own picnic and mainly want the boat, route and privacy, this arrangement may suit you well.

What the $223 price really means

The listed rate is $223 per group of up to six, not $223 per person. For six people, that is about $37 per person before additional charges, which can make a private boat appealing. For two people, the same boat price works out much higher per head.

Two extra charges are listed: €75 for the professional skipper and €75 for fuel consumption. That brings the known cost to at least $223 plus €150, before food, drinks and any barbecue arrangements. Because the base price is in dollars and the additions are in euros, check the final currency conversion and payment details before booking.

The price includes port and marina fees, taxes and lagoon permits, so you are not starting with a bare boat rental and a long list of routine harbor costs. It also includes safety equipment and a canopy, which add practical value on a sunny day.

The best value comes when six people share the boat, want privacy and care about choosing their own swimming pace. It is less compelling if you are alone, traveling as a couple, or mainly want a short visit to the Blue Lagoon at the lowest possible cost.

Captain Mário and the personal touch

The strongest specific praise attached to this outing concerns the guide. Dafne described Captain Mário as extremely attentive and helpful, and another recent booking gave a simple top rating while calling the guide pleasant.

That fits the design of a private charter. You are not just buying a seat and a loudspeaker announcement. You are paying for someone to manage the boat, watch the conditions and help shape the route within the limits of the sea.

The listed tour languages are English and Maltese. If your group has particular needs, it is wise to raise them before departure, since the supplied details do not promise other languages.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would recommend this boat to a small group that wants control and time in the water. It suits friends who want their own music, families who prefer a private setting and couples willing to share the cost with other people in their party.

It is also a good fit if you care more about coves, caves and swimming than a formal commentary-heavy tour. The outing provides a skipper and route guidance, but the heart of the day is the coast itself.

You should think twice if you need a fully catered barbecue, a guaranteed exact route or a full-day trip. Three hours passes quickly once you allow for departure, cruising, swimming and returning. The operator can also modify the plan or cancel and postpone the charter when weather and sea conditions make it necessary.

For the best chance of a calm, enjoyable outing, keep your schedule flexible. The skipper may adjust your chosen start time to match better conditions and the group’s needs.

Practical details before you book

Pack swimwear, towel, sunscreen and sunglasses. Bring cash, plus whatever food and drinks you plan to use after confirming the boat’s barbecue rules.

The booking allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. The tour is offered as a private group experience, with a separate entrance that lets you skip the line.

Remember the key cost detail: the rate applies to the boat, not each passenger. Add €75 for the skipper and €75 for fuel, then allow for your own meal and drinks.

Should you book the Comino BBQ cruise?

Book it if you have up to six people, want a private boat and would rather choose your swimming stops than follow a fixed group route. The included snorkelling gear, shade, cooler and lagoon permits make the base package practical, and Captain Mário’s attentive manner is a welcome sign for a personal outing.

Skip it if you want a ready-made barbecue or need every listed sight guaranteed. The advertised price is only the starting point, and the weather-sensitive itinerary demands some flexibility. For the right small group, though, this is a smart way to see Comino from the water without surrendering the day to a large boat schedule.

FAQ

How long is the BBQ Bay cruise?

The private boat charter lasts three hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join the private boat?

The listed price covers one group of up to six people. The rate applies per boat, not per passenger.

Where does the boat depart?

You can depart from Cirkewwa in Malta, near the kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal, or from Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, near Sicilia Bella Restaurant.

Is a professional skipper included?

No. The professional skipper is listed as an additional €75 charge.

Is fuel included in the price?

No. Fuel consumption is listed separately at €75.

Is food or a barbecue included?

No. Food, drinks, barbecue food, barbecue beverages and the barbecue itself are not included.

What equipment is provided?

The boat includes safety equipment, a canopy for shade, an ice cooler, Bluetooth speaker, free WiFi and snorkelling equipment with a mask and snorkel.