A press conference on board the Malta-flagged TSS Sky Wonder, that is presently berthed at Grand Harbour Pinto Quay, was held to mark the return to Malta of Pullmantur Cruises, whose TSS Sky Wonder will be making weekly calls to Valletta until 31 October.
The press conference was addressed by Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea, Pullmantur’s director of port operations and excursions Gianluca Suprani, the ship’s captain Ivo Botica and Mondial’s general manager Michael Abele.
Dr Zammit Dimech expressed his satisfaction that the cruise liner industry is developing in Malta. He said that the increasing number of cruise liner passengers not only means an increase in major economic activity, but also that all the passengers visiting Malta for a few hours while their ship is berthed will be seeing what Malta has to offer firsthand.
Pullmantur has started operations with one of its larger vessels, TSS Sky Wonder, which carries 1,550 passengers and which will bring more than 25,000 tourists to Malta this year. For 2008, Pullmantur is already planning to increase its presence as it will start operations in May and is expected to have over 30 calls during the year.
Since its inception, Pullmantur Cruises wanted to create a new Spanish-Mediterranean style of cruising, emphasising a relaxed yet colourful cruise experience at competitive prices. Today Pullmantur has a fleet of seven vessels that offer cruises in the Mediterranean, the Baltic and the Caribbean.
In 2006, the world’s second largest cruise liner group, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) bought Pullmantur Cruises. RCCL plans to invest heavily in Pullmantur in the coming years and this will see further growth of the fleet and of the product range of cruises on offer.
RCCL owns and operates 36 ships under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Pullmantur Cruises brands. All Pullmantur’s ships are registered in Valletta and thus fly the Maltese flag.
Pullmantur is the first major cruise liner whose ships are
registered in Malta and it was revealed by Minister Galea that efforts are being made to attract more such prestigious
registrations to our country.
Pullmantur Cruises are also popular among Maltese holi-day-makers. When Pullmantur’s SS Oceanic used to call every week at Valletta, thousands of Maltese enjoyed cruises on her.
Following Pullmantur’s return to the Maltese market, for the summer of 2007, so far a total of 1,500 Maltese holiday-makers have booked a cruise on either the TSS Sky Wonder out of Valletta for western Mediterranean cruises, or the MS Zenith out of Venice or Athens for eastern Mediterranean cruises.
Pullmantur’s ships offer a unique all-inclusive concept whereby almost all drinks are free in all the ship’s bars and restaurants.