Valletta Cruise Port Hits Nearly One Million Passengers

Malta’s Grand Harbour has reached a landmark moment. Valletta Cruise Port has marked a significant milestone, presenting a commemorative retrospective publication to Prime Minister Robert Abela, highlighting the port’s transformation into a leading Mediterranean hub for sustainable cruise tourism.  

The port handled close to one million passenger movements in 2025, a record year that has cemented Malta's reputation as one of the Mediterranean's most important turnaround and transit destinations. Nearly 400 cruise calls were received, with almost 200,000 passengers using the islands as either the start or end point of their cruise, underlining Malta's growing importance not just as a port of call, but as a homeport in its own right. 

The achievement is about more than numbers. Valletta Cruise Port has been recognised as one of the Mediterranean's most sustainable cruise facilities, with the introduction of shore-side electricity infrastructure allowing large vessels to connect to Malta's national grid while docked, reducing emissions in one of Europe's most cherished historic cities. The port's environmental credentials have been matched by sustained commercial recognition. 2026 marks at least a fourth consecutive year in which Valletta has received awards as a global port of call, reflecting both the visual drama of arrival through the Grand Harbour and the quality of local services.

The retrospective presented to the Prime Minister closes with a forward-looking vision centred on sustainability, digitalisation and visitor experience, signalling that Valletta's ambitions extend well beyond the milestone it has just reached.