What is being billed as the most beautiful ship in the world, the MSC Splendida, will enter one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbours, the Grand Harbour, at 8am on 15 July to berth at the newly rebuilt and extended Viset Waterfront quays 1 and 2.

The Splendida, the brand new 138,000 tonne mega cruise liner, will be on her maiden call at Malta and to mark the occasion Maltapost plc’s Philatelic Bureau is issuing a special second set of four stamps in the Maritime series entitled ‘Cruise Liners’. This collection follows the first set which was issued in November 2008 and which among others featured the MSC Musica.

MSC Cruises have entered a new era with their Splendida, combining the most advanced technology with an innate sense of beauty. The Splendida, to be christened by Sophia Loren at a grand celebration in Barcelona on 12 July, will be berthing in the Grand Harbour on the 10th anniversary of MSC cruise liners calling at Malta on a regular basis.

The stamps were designed by Fabio Agius, from Maltapost plc and carry a face value of e0.37, e0.68, e0.91, and e2.00. The first day cover of this set of stamps will have the date of Splendida’s maiden call at Malta. The stamps will be on sale on 15 July at all Maltapost branches, from the Maltapost mobile van, from the Philatelic Bureau as well as from Maltapost’s special kiosk at the Valletta Waterfront.

MSC Cruises and Hamilton Travel will be presenting personalised limited edition copies of the Splendida first day cover stamp to all invited guests on board, when Austin Gatt, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, will also present sets of stamps to the Splendida’s captain – Commandante Giuliano Bossi and MSC’s commercial manager emerging markets – Alfredo Spadon.

The President and Mrs Abela, together with the Prime Minister and Mrs Gonzi, Opposition Leader and Mrs Muscat as well as the Archbishop, Mgr Pawl Cremona, OP will be among the distinguished guests. Tug Malta will have tugboats performing water displays as they accompany the Splendida to her berth at Viset’s Valletta Waterfront.

The Splendida carries 4,000 passengers and around 1,500 crew. She is 333.3 metres long, which is nine metres more than the Eiffel Tower is high. Hamilton Travel of 4, St Publius Street, Floriana are the exclusive general sales agents for MSC Crociere and responsible for shore excursions for the passengers on board.