Asian cruise ship based here from June 6

Star Cruises will start their home-porting operations from Malta on June 6, the Asian cruise company's first foray into the Mediterranean, continuing weekly until September.

News that Star Cruises would base a ship here for the summer was first announced last November by Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

The company wants to offer Mediterranean cruises to customers who do not want to travel long-haul to Asia. European director of sales and marketing Mike Dupont said the repositioning from Mumbai to Malta would enable "cautious" travellers to experience the product.

Star is using Malta's central location to offer a range of cruises around Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia and Egypt. Most of the cruises leave Valletta at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays, spending the next day at sea. Some cruises will stop in Malta en route between different Mediterranean ports.

The cruises range from five to 13 nights and will use the 216m SuperStar Libra, which takes 1,480 passengers. The ship offers an outdoor golf driving range, an outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, basketball court and jogging track, as well as eight food and beverage outlets.

Star is represented in Malta by SMS Ltd.