Valletta Cruise Port: Steady Growth and New Records
2025 proved to be a positive year for cruise traffic in Malta. Valletta Cruise Port closed the season with growth in both the number of calls and passenger movements, confirming the port’s central role in the international cruise landscape.
According to official data released by the port management, Valletta welcomed a total of 385 cruise ships in 2025, marking an 8% increase compared to 357 calls in 2024. Passenger traffic also reached very high levels, with 962,966 passenger movements, surpassing the already excellent result of the previous year, which saw 940,915 passengers. This represents a 2.3% year-on-year increase, consolidating the port’s positive trend and demonstrating the destination’s continued appeal.
Valletta Cruise port
These figures testify not only to the sector’s full recovery after the challenging pandemic years but also to Malta’s ability to strengthen its role within Mediterranean cruise routes. In recent years, Valletta has increasingly established itself as a strategic port of call for many cruise lines, thanks to the combination of cultural heritage, geographic location, and the quality of services offered to passengers.
A particularly significant aspect of the 2025 data concerns the distribution between transit and turnaround passengers. Of the nearly 963,000 passenger movements recorded, 772,664 were transit passengers—cruise guests who visited the city during a ship stop, going ashore for excursions and visits in the historic center and surrounding areas. The remaining 190,302 passengers were turnaround passengers, travelers who either began or concluded their cruise in Malta. This distinction is particularly important as it highlights Valletta’s growing role not only as a port of call but also as a starting or ending point for cruise itineraries.
The 2025 results are part of a growth trajectory that began in previous years. In 2024, Valletta Cruise Port had already recorded record numbers, surpassing 940,000 passengers, a result that had also exceeded the previous historical high set in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
MSc Worl europa in valletta cruise port
The positive trend has been made possible by several factors: the growing demand for cruises in the Mediterranean, strong interest from cruise lines in Malta, and investments made in recent years to improve port infrastructure and the passenger experience. Commenting on the results, Stephen Xuereb, Chief Operating Officer of Global Ports Holding and CEO of Valletta Cruise Port, emphasized that the growth recorded in 2025 reflects Valletta’s increasingly solid position in the Mediterranean cruise market.
According to Xuereb, one of the destination’s main strengths lies in the combination of the island’s rich historical and cultural heritage and its strategic location in the heart of the Mediterranean. This combination makes Malta a particularly attractive stop for cruise itineraries, allowing it to be easily included in routes between Italy, Greece, France, and Spain. The CEO also highlighted that the results achieved were made possible through ongoing investments in port infrastructure and passenger services, as well as collaboration with tour operators, local authorities, and cruise industry partners.
Another factor contributing to the port’s international reputation is the recognition it recently received in a study conducted by the insurance company All Clear Insurance. In this analysis, which evaluated the visual appeal of the world’s leading cruise ports, Valletta Cruise Port was ranked as “the most beautiful port in the world,” achieving a perfect score of 100%.
Valletta Cruise Port overview
The spectacular location of the port, nestled among the historic fortifications of Malta’s capital and overlooking the Grand Harbour, has always been one of the most appreciated features by captains, crews, and passengers alike. Arrival in Valletta by sea is considered one of the most memorable moments of many Mediterranean cruises, thanks to the unique panorama offered by the historic walls, baroque churches, and architecture that tell centuries of history.
Looking ahead, Valletta Cruise Port plans to continue this growth trajectory in the coming years. For 2026, new collaborations with international cruise lines and further enhancements to the passenger experience are already planned. The port management’s goal remains to develop cruise traffic sustainably while ensuring high-quality services and a positive impact on the local economy. The strategy aims to strike a balance between tourism growth, cultural heritage preservation, and residents’ quality of life.
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