American talk show diva Oprah Winfrey is in Malta for a day's visit, having arrived this morning on the Norwegian Gem cruise liner. She disembarked from the ship at about 11 a.m. some four hours after the cruise ship berthed in Grand Harbour. She was whisked away in one of two waiting vans. Security officials kept journalists some distance away and tried to shield the TV personality from photographers, but Oprah shouted a "Hi".

She is accompanied by her staff and their families whom she is treating to an all-expenses paid holiday. Their 10-day Mediterranean cruise started in Barcelona and includes stops in Italy, Turkey and Greece.

Oprah is believed to be paying over €583,000 in accommodation fees for her staff members and their families, according to The Daily Mail.

She is well known for her self-titled, multi-award winning talk show, where she employs over 100 people.

Her Chicago-based television production has catapulted her into fame and riches. In fact, Forbes lists her as the highest paid celebrity in the world and the second most powerful after Beyonce Knowels.

She has a personal fortune estimated at over €1.7 billion and her annual income tops €233 million.

Four years ago she took her staff on a trip to Hawaii.