The Valletta Waterfront provides top quality leisure and entertainment facilities for tourists and the local public, as well as the ultimate cruise and ferry terminal facilities and services.
At the Valletta Waterfront, one can find a variety of food and beverage outlets including al fresco dining facilities, as well as retail outlets for all ages, pockets and tastes.
A passenger on board a cruise liner entering the Grand Harbour in Valletta cannot fail to acknowledge the dramatic beauty of the honey-colored limestone fortifications, and the beautifully restored Pinto Stores dating back to the late 17th century. The Port of Valletta is a witness to thousands of years of history from the Phoenicians to the Carthaginians, from the Arabs to the Romans, from the Knights of Malta to the French and the British, who set their eyes on this strategic Mediterranean port.
The realization of the Cruise Liner Passenger Terminal, a terminal offering state-of-the-art facilities, which are unique both for their location and for their historic value, has proved fruitful in enhancing Malta’s possibilities in attracting the major cruise operators in the Mediterranean region.
The Valletta Waterfront has a long list of esteemed cruise line clientele including AIDA Cruises, Ponant, Costa Crociere, Holland America Lines, Ibero Cruceros, MSC Crociere, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, P & O Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises, Princess Cruises and Oceania Cruises amongst others. 2008 has been a record year with over 540,000 cruise passengers visiting the Valletta Waterfront.
Now an established Mediterranean port of call, Valletta has all the necessary ingredients for a successful homeport operation.
Malta’s geographic and strategic location in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea is one of the main assets, giving cruise lines an opportunity to promote east, central and west bound cruises even during winter as the climate is very favourable.
The Valletta Harbour, a natural all-weather port, provides easy access to cruise vessels including the large new vessels currently under construction. The Malta International Airport is only 15 minutes away from the seaport, while Valletta and neighbouring towns and villages offer a vast range of hotel facilities including 5-star luxury hotels for pre- and post-stays.
Port services provided include baggage handling facilities, shorex, bunkering, ship repair facilities, chandelling and other services on a 24hr-365 days a year basis. The Port complies fully with the latest ISPS Code regulations. A whole range of services required for turnarounds and homeporting are available at competitive rates and most importantly Malta can offer its guests a unique experience.
Excursions vary from journeys through Malta’s rich 7,000-year history and culture to lazing around on the Maltese beaches or particularly active excursions including diving and abseiling and much more.
In 2009, turnaround operations from Valletta are once again significant with operations by Club Med, Kristina Cruises, Mauritius Island Cruises, Ponant, Saga Rose Shipping Co., Sea Cloud Cruises and Sea Dream Yacht Club amongst others. Partial turnarounds include weekly operations by MSC Splendida, Norwegian Gem and Costa Pacifica.
The passenger terminal is one part of the Valletta Waterfront project, aimed at revitalising the Harbour area, and turning it into one of Malta’s main social and cultural centres. Apart from the permanent leisure and entertainment facilities, the Valletta Waterfront is also set on making the area a prime location for diverse events, with the historic backdrops of Fort St Angelo and of Pinto Wharf providing a magnificent setting.
Along the Waterfront, various pubs, cafés and restaurants are located in the 252 year-old vaults built by Grand Master Pinto. These vaults which used to house various supplies for the Knights’ galleons, now offer a unique setting for the various food and beverage and entertainment outlets offering a variety of cuisines and atmospheres.
The Forni Shopping Area is located within the Forni Stores, built by Grand Master De Vilhena in the 1720’s, whereby the façade of the stores has been magnificently restored.
Management and staff at the Valletta Waterfront as quoted in www.vallettawaterfront.com give considerable importance to constant investment and progressive enhancements. The redevelopment of the first-ever Power Station in Malta, which includes various vaults, cisterns and a marvellous 800 square meter hall is one of these projects, with the restoration and redevelopment of the whole building set to be completed in the coming years.
