Costa Pacifica leaving Grand Harbour© MTA - Mario Galea

Costa Pacifica and MSC Splendida visit Malta on their maiden voyages

MSC Splendida and Costa Pacifica, two magnificent cruise ships on their maiden voyage, have included Malta in their itinerary around the western Mediterranean. This endorsement proves that the ongoing investments in Grand Harbour by government and private enterprise is already giving a return.

Costa Pacifica with a gross tonnage of 115,600 carries 3,780 passengers in 1,500 state rooms, 521 of which have a private balcony. This mega cruise ship offers 5 restaurants, 13 bars 4 pools, a sports court and outdoor track as well as a 6,000sqm wellness centre on two decks and a theatre spanning 3 decks. The Costa Pacifica is calling on Civitavecchia, Savona, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tunis, Malta and Palermo. Costa Cruises is considered as Europe’s number one cruise line, with a fleet of 12 ships sailing in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, South America, the Baltic and Russia.

Carrying almost 4,000 passengers accommodated in 1,637 fine cabins, 1256 of which feature a private balcony, the MSC Splendida has a 1,600sqm spa, 5 swimming pools, 5 restaurants and 19 bars, a theatre, casino and disco. With a length of 330m and at 133,500 tonnes, the MSC Splendida is the largest ship to enter Grand Harbour. MSC Splendida is also calling on Barcelona, Tunis, Rome, Genoa and Marseille.

The Hon. Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, was welcomed on board the Costa Pacifica, on the ship’s maiden voyage and maiden call to Malta. It will be coming to Malta every Friday till November and it has already confirmed it will be coming to Malta in 2010 between April and November.

In a short address, Dr de Marco said that total cruise passenger traffic in Malta between January and April this year amounted to 69,747, i.e. an increase of 22.9 per cent over the same last year. He said that for 2009, the MTA, together with VISET and other stakeholders, is working hard to achieve positive results, bearing in mind the current economic scenario whereas projections for 2010 are showing positive trends.