Malta has so far this year attracted more cruise passengers than 2008, which was a record year, the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco, said today.

He made his comment as he visited the Silver Spirit, a six-star cruise ship which today made its maiden call at Grand Harbour.

Cruise visitors this year reached 155,000 in the first five months of this year.

The Silver Spirit, 36,000 tons, was commissioned last year and is the flagship of Silversea Cruises. It can carry up to 540 passengers. It was built at the Italian shipyard Fincantieri and is decorated throughout in art deco.

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