By
Alex Smith |
Valletta Cruise Port closed the 2025 cruise season with a record 962,966 passenger movements, the highest annual total ever recorded by the port.
The port reported that it handled 385 cruise calls during the year, an increase of 8 per cent compared with 357 calls in 2024. Passenger movements rose by 2.3 per cent year-on-year, surpassing the previous record of 940,915 set in 2024 and exceeding pre-pandemic peak levels recorded in 2019.
Of the total passenger movements, 772,664 were transit passengers visiting Malta during port calls, while 190,302 were turnaround passengers embarking or disembarking in Valletta.
“The sustained growth recorded in 2025 reflects Valletta’s strong positioning within the Mediterranean cruise market,” said Stephen Xuereb, chief operating officer of Global Ports Holding and CEO of Valletta Cruise Port. “Malta’s unique combination of rich cultural heritage and close proximity to other key destinations continues to make Valletta an attractive and highly sought-after cruise port. This performance is further supported by ongoing investment in port infrastructure and passenger services, as well as close collaboration with our industry partners.”