With a lot for households to do on Malta, itโs simple to miss sister islands Gozo and Comino โ but it surely may hardly be simpler to go to them, with a large selection of journeys when youโre planning a Malta boat journey with youngsters.
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You could possibly additionally simply spend longer than someday on Gozo โ though little Cominoโs one massive attraction is the Blue Lagoon and thereโs a restrict to how far more you would do on the small island โ but it surelyโs additionally simple to hitch a ship tour to Gozo and Comino to get a style of them each.
And whereas a number of the massive title corporations 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, just some minutesโ stroll from the place we had been staying.
Malta boat journey with youngsters: visiting Gozo and Comino
Weโd 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 โ heat sufficient to discover, though not fairly heat sufficient in early April to need to swim within the Blue Lagoon.
Settled in at one of many cozy 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 best way, you possibly can see a string of sixteenth century watchtowers, dotted alongside the coast to protect in opposition to invasion โ initially they’d have had enormous bonfires to mild if an attacking drive was noticed.
You too can see Vallettaโs golden buildings, Maltaโs tallest constructing (all of 32 storeys excessive), Maltaโs aquarium, a desalination plant and tuna farm, and Maltaโs longest sandy seaside at Mellieha Bay (or Ghadira Bay) which stretches for barely lower than a kilometre.
All repeated in a number of languages, thereโs sufficient to maintain your consideration however when youโd quite chat, take a look at the views, play a recreation or do one thing else totally, you gainedโt 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 primary port at Gozo. Weโd booked the extra bus switch to the island โcapitalโ Victoria (or Ir-Rabat) which was positively transfer.
Technically itโs a bus tour, and it does additionally take you to one of many pretty viewpoints at Xlendi Bay, however realistically itโs simple transport to get you from the port to most important city and again โ saves ready within the enormous line for a bus or checking out various transport (although you possibly can) as we had been whisked onto a minibus and on the outskirts not a lot later.
You get virtually 2 hours to discover, and the Citadel itself is simply a 10-minute stroll (uphill) from the bus station the place we had been dropped off. If you happen toโve received youngsters who donโt fancy the hill, thereโs additionally a bit vacationer prepare which departs close by.
As we had been visiting on a Sunday (since that appeared greatest weather-wise), just a few locations had been shut, together with the cathedral and a number of the little outlets, however the primary 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 had 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 elements of the previous battlements, with Maltaโs 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 โ elsewhere, itโs simple to think about this being too busy to maneuver.
You too can head into the Customer Centre which supplies some background data on the historical past โ closed on Mondays, permit round half-hour to go to.
The joint ticket additionally provides entry to the Gozo Archaeology Museum, the Previous Prisons, Gran Castello Historic Home and the Nature Museum, though youโd wrestle to suit all of these in to your time.
On the base of the citadel, the previous city is house to all of the memento outlets you would 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.
Itโs shocking how briskly the time goes simply strolling round and earlier than we knew it, it was time to move again all the way 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 folks kayaking and snorkelling within the extremely clear water too.
The bay itself is simply down the coast from Dwejra Bay, as soon as house to Gozoโs well-known Azure Window, a rock arch which collapsed again into the waves in 2017.
Then itโs only a brief cruise to Comino. From my earliest visits to Malta, I bear in mind it being quiet and unspoiled, with just a few folks swimming within the dramatically turquoise water โ thereโs a cave and a bit 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 itโs virtually 20 years since I used to be final there, however thereโs no approach youโd name it unspoiled any extra.
The water remains to be the identical glowing aquamarine, the island remains to be dotted with wildlflowers and fairly rock formations โ however there are additionally a string of kiosks promoting meals and cocktails, principally served in a pineapple.
Iโd thoughts it much less if folks really threw their pineapples away within the bins offered quite than posing for images and dumping them on the cliff edge. Sure, I do know, Iโm previous and grumpy, however that is such a wonderful place, littering appears twice as dangerous.
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 a substitute.
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, attractive clear blue-green water and a fraction of the folks (plus extra entertaining Maltese lizards).
Thereโs just one set of steps to the world the place the larger boats dock, so we determined to move again a bit early and calm down with a non-pineapple drink again on the boat.
From a sensible viewpoint, it imply we additionally prevented the scrum getting again down and on board โ when youโre unfortunate, as we had been on arrival, we moored up concurrently one other boat, so there was a queue to climb up. Itโs price being conscious that you would simply discover a comparable scenario going again.
Our route again took us previous Cominoโs caves โ theyโre solely accessible by boat however realistically if you’d like a close-up view, youโll want a smaller boat tour, as we cruised previous quite than going inside or shut by.
Then you definitely retrace your steps alongside the shoreline again to Sliema โ or, within the case of fairly just a few folks on board, have a nap! Iโm unsure if itโs the pineapples, the ocean air or the completely relaxed feeling, however for a chilled-out day exploring, this positively did the trickโฆ
Which simply left our pretty crew to show us the Maltese phrase for bye โ โsahhaโ, which additionally interprets as wishing somebody good well being โ as we disembarked again into the bustle of Sliema once more.
Luzzu Cruises Malta boat journey with youngsters: must know
Reserving tickets
You may e-book tickets with free cancellation, in addition to โreserve now pay laterโ choices, on Get Your Information โ this got here in very useful for us because the climate forecast was a bit unpredictable for our vacation in early April. That meant we may make a selection after we had a greater thought of whether or not it actually would possibly rain โ the tour sticks to the schedule regardless (except itโs so dangerous it must be cancelled)
As we had been making an attempt to get one of the best climate, we ended up reserving on Sunday, so itโs price being conscious that fairly just a few locations on Gozo itself had been closed, together with the cathedral and a number of the little outlets throughout the Citadel.
I believe Comino was additionally a bit busier than it may need been on a weekday, though as Comino was a LOT busier than the final time I visited (and might be even busier in the summertime months), possibly that didnโt make a number of distinction.
If you happen toโre staying within the north of Malta, youโre 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 will be simple to go to Gozo independently. Thereโs additionally a quick ferry from Valetta to Gozo and boat excursions from Bugibba to Gozo and Comino
You will get buses which run from the ferry port to Victoria or you possibly can decide 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 employees round to make sure we had been queueing for the correct one too.
Youโre requested to reach half-hour early at 9.30 for the 10am journey โ we turned up round 9.20 and round half the folks appeared to have boarded already.
Exterior seats on the highest deck had been hottest, and as we needed a desk inside, we didnโt 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 take a seat
There are seats up prime however be ready for sturdy solar when youโre travelling in the summertime, and for it to get fairly breezy (as I found once I went as much as take images). The within has home windows you possibly can open and comfortable seats by tables, so for a Malta boat journey with youngsters, Iโd vote for that myself.
For one of the best views, it pays to take a seat on the left hand facet of the boat on the best way to Gozo and on the correct hand facet on the best way again. At Comino, one of the best views are from the land anyway.
Services
There are bogs on board (one male, one feminine) which had been nicer than your common boat bogs โ unsurprisingly they had been in demand at instances.
Thereโs additionally a bar on board which offered some scorching meals, gentle drinks, alcohol and chilly drinks โ 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 best way, stating just a few landmarks and key points of interest, earlier than arriving round 11am on the busy ferry port.
Thereโs an choice to purchase tickets together with a bus โtourโ if you e-book, plus it was additionally being supplied for five Euros on the day (though there could also be a restrict to numbers) โ youโll get a unique colored wristband relying when youโve booked the bus or not.
Whereas itโs not a tour as such, it made attending to the capital Victoria (additionally identified by its older title of Ir-Rabat) very simple, plus thereโs a cease to take just a few images at Xlendi Bay as nicely. We had virtually 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 best choice and thereโs time to wander round, seize just a few souvenirs and cease for lunch.
If you happen to significantly need to go to the seaside at Ramla Bay or the temples at Ggantija (or arenโt bothered about exploring Gozo in any respect, though that will be a disgrace), youโre dropped off later however nonetheless have a number of hours to discover underneath your personal steam โ simply be sure youโre again to board once more in time.
They do rely numbers on and off, however we left barely early once more, so I wouldnโt count on them to hold round.
Itโs then only a brief cruise to Comino the place you’ve gotten round 90 minutes to swim, wander around the island or calm down โ or you possibly can keep on board when you desire. The boat stays moored, so you possibly can come again if you could as nicely through the 90-minute interval.
To complete, you cruise previous a number of the caves alongside the coast of Comino, then reverse your route down Maltaโs east coast again to Sliema. In all, the tour takes round 7 ยฝ hours and โ unsurprisingly! โ we had been again barely early.
For extra of one of the best issues to do in Malta with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee. I paid for my Malta boat journey with youngsters myself, and all opinions are my very own
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