Cruise passengers down but port operators still confident

Cruise passenger movements in April marked a 20 per cent drop over the same month last year, standing at 45,105 as opposed to 56,213.

The movements for the period between January and April were down by 33 per cent over 2010, according to Valletta Cruise Port, which has attributed the decline to the late start of the season and Easter holidays.

The number of vessel calls last month amounted to 31, compared to 33 last year, with three booked liners cancelling, amounting to a loss of about 5,500 passengers.

Valletta Cruise Port said it was, nevertheless, still confident 2011 would be positive for the company and the cruise industry in general.

It has just welcomed the Mein Schiff 1 on its first homeport operation, during which more than 3,000 passengers were handled and transferred in a day, including 1,500 passengers who were checked in at the terminal before embarking on their cruise.