Search "private boat charter Malta cost" and you get a wall of "from €199" prices with little explanation of what that number buys. The honest answer: a full-day private charter usually lands in the four-figure range for a small group — but the price depends on a handful of clear factors, and the cheapest headline rate is rarely the full cost. This guide breaks down what you're actually paying for, with a real worked example.
What drives the price of a private charter
Six things move the number more than anything else. Once you understand these, almost any quote you receive makes sense.
- Boat size and type. A small RIB or open speedboat costs a fraction of a 48ft motor yacht with a saloon, galley and shaded deck. Bigger, more comfortable boats cost more to buy, berth, insure and run — and that flows straight into the day rate.
- Crew. A skippered or fully crewed charter includes a professional captain (and often a hostess) for the whole day. That's a real cost, but it's also why you don't need a licence and can switch off completely.
- Duration. A two-to-four-hour trip is much cheaper than a full eight-hour day. Most of the Comino, Blue Lagoon and Gozo itineraries that people actually want need a full day to do without rushing.
- Fuel. A motor yacht burns more fuel than a sailing boat. Reputable operators bake a sensible cruising range into the price; watch for charters that quote a low rate and then add a separate fuel surcharge on the day.
- Season. Peak summer (roughly June to September) carries the highest rates and the tightest availability. Shoulder months are quieter and often better value.
- Group size. With a private charter you pay for the boat, not per head — so the price is the same whether two of you go or you fill all eight seats. That's what makes the per-person cost fall as your group grows.
Whole-boat pricing, not per-person
This is the single most important thing to understand about a private charter, and it's where the "is it expensive?" question really gets answered. A shared trip charges per person. A private charter charges per boat. The total looks bigger, but you're buying the entire vessel — and the per-head cost can be very reasonable once you've got a full group.
As a rough market reference for 2026, a full-day skippered private charter for a small group to Comino and the Blue Lagoon commonly sits in the region of several hundred to over a thousand euros for the boat, depending on the vessel and season. Treat any single headline figure with suspicion until you've checked what's included — that's where charters differ most.
What's usually included — and what costs extra
"Included" varies a lot between operators, so always read the breakdown. A well-specified day charter typically covers the essentials so there are no surprises at the dock.
Typically included in a good day-charter price
- Professional skipper for the day
- Crew or hostess on board
- Fuel for a sensible cruising range
- Drinking water and soft drinks
- Light snacks through the day
- Use of the boat's facilities and deck space
Commonly charged as extra
- A catered lunch or custom food order
- A restaurant stop ashore (e.g. a Gozo marina detour)
- Premium drinks or alcohol
- Watersports toys beyond the standard kit
- Separate fuel surcharges on charters that quote a low base rate
The two things to nail down before you book are the cruising range covered by the fuel and whether food is included or arranged separately. Both are easy to confirm with a direct message to the operator.
A worked example: the Bandama day charter
It's easier to see the maths with a real charter. The Bandama day charter is a 2019 Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 — a 48ft luxury motor yacht — that departs Ta' Xbiex Creek, a short hop from Sliema, for a full day around Comino, the Blue Lagoon and the south coast of Gozo. It takes up to 8 guests with a professional skipper and crew, and the total is a flat €1,850 for the whole boat.
Bandama — full-day private charter, up to 8 guests
Included in the €1,850: professional skipper, crew/hostess, fuel for up to 30 nautical miles of cruising, mineral water, soft drinks and snacks for the day. A catered lunch or a restaurant detour to Gozo can be arranged at extra cost — agreed with the captain in advance.
Now the per-head maths, which is where private starts to look sensible:
- 8 guests: €1,850 ÷ 8 = about €231 per person for a full crewed day, all the essentials included.
- 6 guests: about €308 per person.
- 4 guests: about €463 per person.
Fill the boat and the cost per person for a full crewed day on a 48ft motor yacht is in the same ballpark as a busy shared trip — except the boat, the route and the day are entirely yours.
Private vs shared: an honest cost comparison
A shared trip — the large group boats and ferry-and-tour day trips you'll see advertised everywhere — is genuinely cheaper per ticket. There's no point pretending otherwise. The trade-off is what you give up. Here's the fair version.
| Shared trip | Private charter | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Per person, per ticket | One price for the whole boat |
| Up-front cost | Lower per head | Higher total; falls per head with a full group |
| The boat | Shared with strangers, often busy | Just your group |
| Route & timing | Fixed schedule and stops | Flexes with you and the weather |
| Crowds | Arrive when everyone else does | Beat the rush; pick your spots |
| Best for | Solo travellers, couples on a budget | Families, groups, special occasions |
If it's just two of you watching the budget, a shared trip wins on price. If you're a family or a group of friends — especially anywhere near a full boat — a private charter often costs a similar amount per person while giving you the whole vessel, your own pace, and no jostling for a spot in the Blue Lagoon. The bigger your group, the more obviously private wins.
Still weighing it up? Read the full comparison: private vs shared Blue Lagoon boat trip.