The 290 metres long cruise ship “Emerald Princess” arrived in Valletta yesterday for the very first time. Launched in 2007, “Emerald Princess” is one of the largest ships in the Princess fleet with a capacity to accommodate over 3,000 passengers.

The occasion was celebrated by the traditional plaque ceremony whereby Thomas Smith Group and Valletta Cruise Port officials presented Captain Nick Nash with commemorative maiden call plaques. Officials present for this ceremonial exchange included Mr. Stephen Xuereb, Chief Executive Officer at Valletta Cruise Port Plc, together with Mr. Charles Duncan, Port Services Manager, and Mr. Fotis Konidaris, Terminal Services Manager; as well as Mr. Anton Buttigieg, Port Agency General Manager at Thomas Smith, together with Ms. Liana Cachia, Marketing Manager at Thomas Smith Group.

As the grand-class cruise ship left Valletta’s port, guests looked on while an In-Guardia Parade took place on the quay – this constituted a re-enactment of the of the inspection of the fort and garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St. John in charge of Military Affairs. The ship, together with its crew and passengers, was then greeted by a full cannon salute from the Old Saluting Battery as it sailed past St. Peter and St. Paul’s bastions at Barrakka Gardens.

“Emerald Princess” is currently sailing a 17-day cruise, with a total of 9 days at sea. The cruise ship visited the ports of Southampton, and Cadiz prior to Valletta; and will continue its journey to Venice, Koper, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Gibraltar, and finally towards point of origin Southampton. Its next journey will be towards the Baltic Sea. 

Thomas Smith Group is the Princess Cruises port agent in Malta since 1980s.

Thomas Smith Group is one of the longest established service group of companies on the island, specialising in international shipping services and logistics - with operations in Malta, Libya, Algeria and Tunisia - and insurance. The Group holds a leading market position in most shipping-related services, namely port agency, freight forwarding, project cargo, logistics, reefer cargo, airfreight, groupage, trailers and full load containers.