Malta’s port of Valletta has welcomed MSC Fantasia on its maiden call on April 20.

The vessel was hailed with a full salute from the quay by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, a voluntary organisation active in the field of heritage preservation. Meanwhile a fifteen-piece village band cheered the liner and its guests with a number of lively tunes including a number of Italian and Maltese compositions. Period soldiers on the Valletta Waterfront promenade gave out information leaflets about Malta and Gozo.

The customary plaque exchange ceremony took place on board the ship, together with MSC Fantasia’s Master Mattia Manzi; Dr. Stanley Portelli, CEO of Transport Malta; Mr. Norman Hamilton, Chairman and Managing Director of Hamilton Travel; Dr. Anton Micallef, Chairman of Valletta Cruise Port; Mr. John Portelli, CEO of Valletta Cruise Port, as well as the Hon. Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism.

In the evening, prior to the ship’s departure, guests onboard were treated to an Inguardia re-enactment, showing events happening during the Knights of St John period, courtesy of the Malta Tourism Authority.