Celebrity newcomer sees Valletta’s series of firsts

A number of firsts were registered at the port of Valletta with the maiden call of the magnificent Celebrity Solstice cruise liner yesterday.

Not only was it the first time the top-end liner visited Malta but it was also the first time a 300-metrelong vessel berthed at Pinto 4 and 5, works on which have just been completed by Transport Malta to accommodate the larger ships coming on stream.

The works included an extension in front of Lascaris Wharf, which involved dredging, infrastructural works and the installation of two 60-tonne bollards.

Never before had 6,500 passenger movements from two vessels been registered in one day, Valletta Cruise Port CEO John Portelli noted. Normally, about five vessels would be required to tot up that amount.

The other vessel at the port was the TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff, which has a home-porting operation and calls every Sunday.

Speaking on board the 16-storey liner, Mr Portelli said provisional figures for May showed it was the first month that was registering an increase over last year, with an estimated 59,000 passengers as opposed to 54,000 in 2010.

The year had got off to a slow start but Mr Portelli was confident “we have turned the corner” and it would be better than the last.

Celebrity Solstice, which is less than three years old, will be making six more calls throughout the summer season. It arrived at about 7 a.m. and left at 3.30 p.m. on its way to Barcelona.

Nevertheless, the amount of business generated in those few hours was substantial, said Joe Cappello, executive director of SMS Group, the ship’s agent.

Listing the “tremendous spin-offs”, he said that, for that single day, the company had organised 25 large coaches, 30 guides and several jeep safaris, not to mention many supplies.

Celebrity Solstice is the third Malta-registered vessel of Celebrity Cruises, whose parent is Royal Caribbean Cruises, with a fourth on the way. The latest addition, Silhouette, which will be launched in July, will also make a maiden call to Malta.

About 70 per cent of Celebrity Solstice’s 3,000 guests are American and they are taken care of by1,250 crew from 67 nations.

One would normally smell the sea up on deck but on Celebrity Solstice a smell of grass lingers in the air. Guests can feel the fresh blades – not the sand – between their toes. Among the many attractions of the floating luxury hotel is a lawn, perched on the 15th floor.

Glass-blowing exhibitions are carried out in a studio on the ship and guests have a varied choice of eateries and a massive theatre for their entertainment.

Speaking from the Sky Observation lounge, with spectacular 180-degree views of either side of Grand Harbour, representatives of Royal Caribbean Cruises and TM chairman Mark Portelli highlighted the long-standing relationship between the company and Malta and the potential for further growth.

Captain Yannis Berdos had been to Malta 10 years ago and was impressed with the developments at the port, saying he was happy to be alongside and did not expect this to be possible for such a big ship in Malta.