Updated 12.35 - The huge MSC Fantasia has arrived in Malta on its maiden call. The cruise liner arrived off Grand Harbour at 8 a.m. and shall depart at 6 p.m.

The 138,000 ton cruise liner is owned and operated by MSC Cruises and together with its sister ship the MSC Splendida is the largest cruise ship ever built for a European ship owner.

With a length of 333 metres and 13 passenger decks this luxury cruise ship may carry up to 4,356 passengers.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco, visited the ship later in the morning. He noted that the Fantasia will call at Malta 27 times this year - once weekly - and MSC Cruises will have 37 calls in all, bringing a total of 107,000 cruise passengers.

Dr de Marco said the government and Valletta Cruise Port were continuing to invest to ensure that larger ships could continue to berth at Grand Harbour. Transport Malta would be investing €66m in harbour facilities over the next two years, including better facilities for cruise ships.

Norman Hamilton, local representative of MSC Cruises, said that the summer commitment for MSC was nearly fully booked.

MSC last year reached agreement with Valletta Cruise Port to bring 150,000 passengers to Malta annually.

 

Picture by Johann Cardona Schranz - mynews@timesofmalta.com

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