MSC Opera, the flagship of MSC Cruises, makes its debut visit to Malta today when it enters Grand Harbour for the first time.

The MSC Opera is currently cruising from Genova to Split, Piraeus, Alexandria and Tripoli. The cruise-liner will leave Malta for Naples later today and on Sunday she will arrive in Genoa before crossing the Atlantic and heading for the Caribbean for the winter season.

The MSC Opera will make 30 visits to Malta between 7 April and 23 October next year, during which it will operate its seven-night cruises from Genoa, calling into Monte Carlo, Valencia, Malta, Tunis and Civitavecchia (Rome).

Three of MSC Cruise’s cruise-liners will be visiting Malta during 2006. In addition to the back-to-back visits of the MSC Opera to Malta, the MSC Armonia will also dock in Grand Harbour today on an 11-night cruise to Croatia, Greece, Egypt and Libya.

The MSC Melody will also call into Malta three times during a series of 11-night cruises to Sicily, Greece, Egypt and Libya.

Altogether, MSC Cruises will be sending a grand total of 63,000 passengers to Malta on board these three luxurious cruise-liners during 2006.

Hamilton Travel Co. Ltd have been the exclusive general sales agents for MSC Cruises in Malta for the past seven years. Hamilton Travel are also responsible for organising shore excursions and for the booking of hotel accommodation in Malta for MSC passengers.