The move is widely welcomed in Malta. The service will be operated by the Costa Concordia – a magnificent cruise ship with a maximum passenger capacity of more than 3800. The Concordia will bring 32 visits to Malta between mid-April and mid-November, delivering a total of slightly over 100 000 cruise passengers to Malta during the course of the season.

The discussions between Orange Cruises and Costa began after a large number of former cruise passengers enquired about the possibility of offering cruises originating in Valetta.

Costa (Europe’s top-selling cruise line) already had a dedicated following among the Maltese, who loved the distinct Italian-Mediterranean ambiance of its ships, the magnificent food, the on-board entertainment and the informal atmosphere combined with good service. These people will therefore no doubt be delighted to hear about the new arrangement.

The Concordia is one of Costa’s 5-star cruise ships. It weighs in at 115 000 tonnes. With 1500 luxurious cabins it can easily carry 3 800 passengers. The number of on-board entertainment options are nearly too numerous to mention. There are four swimming pools, including one that is completely covered. The 5 jacuzzis, 6 000 square metre spa and multi-purpose sports pitch ensure that everyone can indulge in his/her own way of spending a quiet day.

The ship’s journey westwards from Malta will take it to interesting locations such as Civitavecchia (for visits to Rome), Barcelona (Spain), Palermo, Palma de Mallorca and Savona (for visits to Portofino).