Should you do a Malta Harbor Cruise Excursion?
Next time you are in Valletta, Malta, should you try a Harbor Cruise?
Bit of Info on Valletta, Malta first…
The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's packed with history and culture. You can wander the narrow streets, visit the many museums and churches, or simply relax and enjoy the views.
Here are some of the things you can expect when visiting Valletta:
History: Valletta is a city with a rich history, dating back to the 16th century. You can visit the Grand Master's Palace, the St. John's Co-Cathedral, and the Lascaris War Rooms, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Culture: Valletta is a vibrant city with a thriving cultural scene. There are many museums, theaters, and art galleries to explore. You can also catch a performance at the Manoel Theatre, one of the oldest theaters in Europe.
Food: Valletta is a foodie's paradise. There are restaurants serving everything from traditional Maltese cuisine to international fare. You can also find plenty of cafes and bars where you can relax and enjoy a drink with a view.
Views: Valletta is situated on a hill, so you'll get stunning views of the Grand Harbour and the surrounding countryside. You can also see the Three Cities, a group of fortified towns across the harbor.
View from the harbor cruise
What’s it like on the Valletta, Malta Harbor Cruise?
You’ll board a motorboat to explore Malta's impressive natural harbor. Along the way, you will pass by the lovely Cottonera area, which is made up of the Three Cities: Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa.
Harbor cruise boat in Malta is a small to medium-sized boat, with a capacity of around 50-100 people. The boats have a variety of amenities, including comfortable seating, a bar, and a toilet. The boat we were on also had a sundeck.
The boats departs from a pier in Valletta, and they cruise around the Grand Harbour, passing by the Three Cities, the Saluting Battery, and other landmarks. The cruises typically last for about an hour and a half, and they offer a great way to see the city's beautiful harbor and learn about its history.
Covered area: The boats have two decks and bottom deck is fully covered protect passengers from the sun and rain. This is a great feature, especially if you are traveling during the summer months. And we didn’t have any issues getting great pictures from the bottom covered area.
Comfortable seating: The boats have comfortable seating, so you can relax and enjoy the cruise.
Bar: The boats typically have a bar, where you can purchase drinks and snacks.
Toilet: While small, the boats also have a toilet, so you don't have to worry about finding a restroom on land.
What did we like?
Covered section - We liked that there were options for seating. Top was uncovered and bottom was covered. It gave passengers options to choose how much sun they wanted for the next hour and half
Friendly crew - The crew members were friendly and accommodating. Most crew members also spoke English.
Great way to see large area of Valletta/Grand Harbour
Calm boat ride - The boat didn’t rock or move too fast. Important for us prone to sea sickness.
What didn’t we like?
We went in April and it was fairly chilly on the boat. Make sure to bring a jacket if you are going on this tour in the Spring or Fall.
While drinks and snacks were available on the boat for purchase, it would have elevated our experience if there were complimentary beverage to enjoy while on the tour.
Valletta is going thru a transformation and there was a lot of construction. Some sections were noisy with construction.
Verdict?
Comfort - 8
Convenience - 9
Value for the money - 8.5
Luxury - 8
On the scale of 1 - 10, we give this one: 8.4 🔥 🔥 (It was a good excursion and would recommend.)
