Cruise passenger movements last month increased by around four per cent over the same month last year.

A total of 58,734 passenger movements were recorded compared to 56,602 in October last year.

This brings the total since January to 418,106 compared to 367,067 recorded between January and October 2009, an increase of around 14 per cent.

In terms of vessel calls, despite four cancellations in October, 236 cruise ships called Valletta during the first 10 months of this year, compared to 218 in the same period last year: an increase of 8.2 per cent.

The MV Delphin cancelled its call, after the owners, Delphin Kreuzfahrten, filed for bankruptcy. Two calls, one by MV Calisto and by Seabourn Spirit were cancelled because of bad weather encountered on their way to Malta.

October also saw the maiden calls of the MV Kristina Katerina, a cruise line company that specialises in the Finish market and the Seabourne Sojourn.

The Star Clipper sailed into Malta for the first time flying the Maltese Flag.

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