7% increase in cruise passengers in May

Cruise passengers in May totaled 59,000, an increase of seven per cent over May last year.

Since January, 127,418 passenger movements were registered at Valletta Cruise Port. This is 19 per cent less than the same period last year, when 157,253 passenger movements were registered.

As expected, the decline in passenger movements during the first months of this year has started to recede and a positive trend was expected over the coming months.

In May, there were 33 vessel calls compared to 34 in 2010 with an average of around 1,800 passenger movements per vessel call. This illustrates a sharp increase in the size of vessels calling in Malta.

Keeping up with the industry demand, the extension of berthing facilities at Lascaris Wharf were completed in late May by Transport Malta, enhancing the berthing facilities in the Port of Valletta. On June 5, Valletta Cruise Port hosted its first 300 m vessel on Pinto 4/5.

The newest addition to the upscale Celebrity Cruise Line fleet, the Celebrity Solstice, was on its maiden call. It is 317 metres long.

On May 1, Mein Schiff 1, called on its first homeport operation at Valletta Cruise Port.

The busiest day in May was the 11th, when around 6,000 passenger movements were handled.