Special first day cover to mark MSC Splendida's maiden call

The MSC Splendida, described by its owners as the most beautiful ship in the world, sails into the Grand Harbour on Wednesday and will berth at the newly-rebuilt and extended Viset Waterfront quays 1 and 2.

To mark the event, Maltapost's Philatelic Bureau will issue a special second set of four stamps in the maritime series entitled Cruise Liners, a spokesman for the local agents, Hamilton Travel, says. This collection follows the first set released in November 2008 and which featured the MSC Musica.

The stamps were designed by Fabio Agius, from Maltapost plc and carry a face value of 37c, 68c, 91c and €2.

The 138,000-tonne mega cruise liner was christened by Sophia Loren, MSC's godmother, in Barcelona yesterday and its arrival here on Wednesday marks the 10th anniversary of MSC Cruise Liners' calling at Malta on a regular basis.

MSC Cruises and Hamilton Travel will be presenting personalised limited edition copies of the Splendida first day cover stamp to all invited guests on board.

MSC Splendida is the largest, newest and most luxurious cruise liner coming to Malta weekly this summer and apart from carrying 4,000 passengers and about 1,500 crew members will be embarking some 175 Maltese and Gozitan persons travelling on cruises from and to Malta every week, the local agents say.