With a lot for households to do on Malta, it’s simple to miss sister islands Gozo and Comino – nevertheless it might hardly be simpler to go to them, with a large selection of journeys for those who’re planning a Malta boat journey with youngsters.
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You could possibly additionally simply spend longer than sooner or later on Gozo – though little Comino’s one large attraction is the Blue Lagoon and there’s a restrict to how way more you could possibly do on the small island – nevertheless it’s additionally simple to hitch a ship tour to Gozo and Comino to get a style of them each.
And whereas a few of the large identify firms like I See Malta additionally run boat excursions to Gozo and Comino from Malta, we determined to e-book with Luzzu Excursions, departing from the harbour at Sliema, only a few minutes’ stroll from the place we have been staying.
Malta boat journey with youngsters: visiting Gozo and Comino
We’d been umming and aahing about which day would have one of the best climate for a ship journey to Gozo, however in the long run, the solar shone all day – heat sufficient to discover, though not fairly heat sufficient in early April to wish to swim within the Blue Lagoon.
Settled in at one of many comfortable indoor tables on the boat, we had a fast commentary as we cruised up the east coast of Malta, crusing boats on the horizon and jetskis zipping previous.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll be able to see a string of 16th century watchtowers, dotted alongside the coast to protect in opposition to invasion – initially they’d have had large bonfires to gentle if an attacking drive was noticed.
You can even see Valletta’s golden buildings, Malta’s tallest constructing (all of 32 storeys excessive), Malta’s aquarium, a desalination plant and tuna farm, and Malta’s longest sandy seaside at Mellieha Bay (or Ghadira Bay) which stretches for barely lower than a kilometre.
All repeated in a number of languages, there’s sufficient to maintain your consideration however for those who’d somewhat chat, have a look at the views, play a sport or do one thing else solely, you received’t be lacking an excessive amount of element.
It takes round an hour to achieve the channel south of Comino, earlier than cruising previous the little island and heading to the principle port at Gozo. We’d booked the extra bus switch to the island ‘capital’ Victoria (or Ir-Rabat) which was positively a very good transfer.
Technically it’s a bus tour, and it does additionally take you to one of many beautiful viewpoints at Xlendi Bay, however realistically it’s simple transport to get you from the port to foremost city and again – saves ready within the large line for a bus or checking out various transport (although you’ll be able to) as we have been whisked onto a minibus and on the outskirts not a lot later.
You get nearly 2 hours to discover, and the Citadel itself is simply a 10-minute stroll (uphill) from the bus station the place we have been dropped off. If you happen to’ve bought youngsters who don’t fancy the hill, there’s additionally somewhat vacationer prepare which departs close by.
As we have been visiting on a Sunday (since that appeared finest weather-wise), just a few locations have been shut, together with the cathedral and a few of the little outlets, however the principle spotlight of the Citadel is wandering by means of the slim previous alleys and having fun with the views out throughout the island and to the coast.
The primary fortifications have been constructed right here in round 1500, though the current golden stone fortress dates from the early 1600s, and you may climb excessive up onto numerous components of the previous battlements, with Malta’s flag flapping within the breeze above the cathedral.
On a Sunday it appeared very quiet, however that made it all of the lovelier to wander round – elsewhere, it’s simple to think about this being too busy to maneuver.
You can even head into the Customer Centre which provides some background info on the historical past – closed on Mondays, enable round half-hour to go to.
The joint ticket additionally offers entry to the Gozo Archaeology Museum, the Previous Prisons, Gran Castello Historic Home and the Nature Museum, though you’d wrestle to suit all of these in to your time.
On the base of the citadel, the previous city is residence to all of the memento outlets you could possibly need in addition to a number of locations promoting ice cream, someplace promoting pizza by the slice and numerous cafes. Look out for the beautiful theatres as you stroll round too.
It’s stunning how briskly the time goes simply strolling round and earlier than we knew it, it was time to move again right down to seize a fast lunch within the park close to the bus station, then hop again on the minibus.
From right here, it was one other brief drive to Xlendi Bay for a fast cease to look out over the ocean to the dramatic cliffs (and spot just a few little inexperienced Maltese lizards basking within the solar and scuttling underneath the flowers). We noticed just a few individuals kayaking and snorkelling within the extremely clear water too.
The bay itself is simply down the coast from Dwejra Bay, as soon as residence to Gozo’s well-known Azure Window, a rock arch which collapsed again into the waves in 2017.
Then it’s only a brief cruise to Comino. From my earliest visits to Malta, I keep in mind it being quiet and unspoiled, with just a few individuals swimming within the dramatically turquoise water – there’s a cave and somewhat seaside on a small island simply reverse the Blue Lagoon itself, which I swam over to.
So I used to be in for a little bit of a shock this time. Admittedly it’s nearly twenty years since I used to be final there, however there’s no approach you’d name it unspoiled any extra.
The water continues to be the identical glowing aquamarine, the island continues to be dotted with wildlflowers and fairly rock formations – however there are additionally a string of kiosks promoting meals and cocktails, principally served in a pineapple.
I’d thoughts it much less if individuals really threw their pineapples away within the bins supplied somewhat than posing for pictures and dumping them on the cliff edge. Sure, I do know, I’m previous and grumpy, however that is such a good looking place, littering appears twice as unhealthy.
We had debated swimming however the little seaside was packed and because it was early April, mixed with a powerful breeze, we determined to take a stroll across the island as an alternative.
On a earlier journey, I walked across the total coast however you want round two hours to do this, so we headed up the hillside and walked round to the opposite facet of the harbour the place a lot of the boats docked, and the place there are some fairly rock arches, beautiful clear blue-green water and a fraction of the individuals (plus extra entertaining Maltese lizards).
There’s just one set of steps to the world the place the larger boats dock, so we determined to move again somewhat early and chill out with a non-pineapple drink again on the boat.
From a sensible standpoint, it imply we additionally prevented the scrum getting again down and on board – for those who’re unfortunate, as we have been on arrival, we moored up similtaneously one other boat, so there was a queue to climb up. It’s value being conscious that you could possibly simply discover a comparable state of affairs going again.
Our route again took us previous Comino’s caves – they’re solely accessible by boat however realistically if you would like a close-up view, you’ll want a smaller boat tour, as we cruised previous somewhat than going inside or shut by.
You then retrace your steps alongside the shoreline again to Sliema – or, within the case of fairly just a few individuals on board, have a nap! I’m undecided if it’s the pineapples, the ocean air or the completely relaxed feeling, however for a chilled-out day exploring, this positively did the trick…
Which simply left our beautiful crew to show us the Maltese phrase for bye – ‘sahha’, which additionally interprets as wishing somebody good well being – as we disembarked again into the bustle of Sliema once more.
Luzzu Cruises Malta boat journey with youngsters: must know
Reserving tickets
You’ll be able to e-book tickets with free cancellation, in addition to ‘reserve now pay later’ choices, on Get Your Information – this got here in very helpful for us because the climate forecast was a bit unpredictable for our vacation in early April. That meant we might make a selection once we had a greater thought of whether or not it actually would possibly rain – the tour sticks to the schedule regardless (except it’s so unhealthy it must be cancelled)
As we have been attempting to get one of the best climate, we ended up reserving on Sunday, so it’s value being conscious that fairly just a few locations on Gozo itself have been closed, together with the cathedral and quite a lot of the little outlets inside the Citadel.
I think Comino was additionally a bit busier than it might need been on a weekday, though as Comino was a LOT busier than the final time I visited (and shall be even busier in the summertime months), possibly that didn’t make quite a lot of distinction.
If you happen to’re staying within the north of Malta, you’re a lot nearer to the ferry port at Cirkewwa to Gozo with ferries (together with automobile ferries) crossing the slim stretch of sea, so it could be simple to go to Gozo independently. There’s additionally a quick ferry from Valetta to Gozo and boat excursions from Bugibba to Gozo and Comino
You may get buses which run from the ferry port to Victoria or you’ll be able to choose up a cab with Bolt (or comparable) for about 10 Euros to Victoria or Ramla Bay.
Assembly Level
The assembly level for the cruise is on Sliema Harbour, and we got fairly exact instructions the place to go and which boat to look out for. There have been workers round to make sure we have been queueing for the appropriate one too.
You’re requested to reach half-hour early at 9.30 for the 10am journey – we turned up round 9.20 and round half the individuals appeared to have boarded already.
Outdoors seats on the highest deck have been hottest, and as we needed a desk inside, we didn’t wrestle to get one. The boat additionally left barely early (presumably everybody who had booked had been counted on board!) so do be on time.
The place to sit down
There are seats up high however be ready for robust solar for those who’re travelling in the summertime, and for it to get fairly breezy (as I found once I went as much as take pictures). The within has home windows you’ll be able to open and cozy seats by tables, so for a Malta boat journey with youngsters, I’d vote for that myself.
For one of the best views, it pays to sit down on the left hand facet of the boat on the way in which to Gozo and on the appropriate hand facet on the way in which again. At Comino, one of the best views are from the land anyway.
Amenities
There are bogs on board (one male, one feminine) which have been nicer than your common boat bogs – unsurprisingly they have been in demand at instances.
There’s additionally a bar on board which bought some sizzling meals, mushy drinks, alcohol and chilly drinks – a beneficiant glass of wine was 2,50 Euros. Deliver money although to pay for it.
What the day contains
Departing from Sliema, it takes simply over an hour to get to Gozo, with some commentary in a number of languages alongside the way in which, declaring just a few landmarks and key points of interest, earlier than arriving round 11am on the busy ferry port.
There’s an possibility to purchase tickets together with a bus ‘tour’ while you e-book, plus it was additionally being provided for five Euros on the day (though there could also be a restrict to numbers) – you’ll get a special colored wristband relying for those who’ve booked the bus or not.
Whereas it’s not a tour as such, it made attending to the capital Victoria (additionally identified by its older identify of Ir-Rabat) very simple, plus there’s a cease to take just a few pictures at Xlendi Bay as effectively. We had nearly two hours to discover earlier than we needed to be again on the minibus, then time to go to Xlendi Bay and return to the boat earlier than 2pm.
If you wish to discover the Citadel and Ir-Rabat, that is positively the simplest possibility and there’s time to wander round, seize just a few souvenirs and cease for lunch.
If you happen to significantly wish to go to the seaside at Ramla Bay or the temples at Ggantija (or aren’t bothered about exploring Gozo in any respect, though that may be a disgrace), you’re dropped off later however nonetheless have a number of hours to discover underneath your individual steam – simply be sure to’re again to board once more in time.
They do rely numbers on and off, however we left barely early once more, so I wouldn’t anticipate them to hold round.
It’s then only a brief cruise to Comino the place you could have round 90 minutes to swim, wander around the island or chill out – or you’ll be able to keep on board for those who favor. The boat stays moored, so you’ll be able to come again if you should as effectively throughout the 90-minute interval.
To complete, you cruise previous a few of the caves alongside the coast of Comino, then reverse your route down Malta’s east coast again to Sliema. In all, the tour takes round 7 ½ hours and – unsurprisingly! – we have been again barely early.
For extra of one of the best issues to do in Malta with youngsters, take a look at my high picks
Disclosure: This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. I paid for my Malta boat journey with youngsters myself, and all opinions are my very own
Photographs copyright MummyTravels