MSC World Europa Makes Maiden Call to Valletta

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The MSC World Europa arrived at the port of Valletta on April 19 as part of the ship’s inaugural seven-night West Mediterranean itinerary, according to a statement.

Angelo Capurro, executive director of MSC Cruises, said: “Malta has been an integral part of our operation for nearly 25 years, and we have brought hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers to visit this wonderful island.  We will continue to bring even more guests to Valletta in the future, and we are very proud that MSC World Europa, an ultramodern metropolis at sea, will be a weekly visitor for at least the next 18 months at her port of registry.” 

MSC Cruises also welcomed almost 200 guests onboard the MSC World Europa including government officials, Malta’s Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo and local tour operators and agents. 

 The ship, which can accommodate up to 6,762 passengers, will visit Malta’s capital city weekly throughout summer 2023, winter 2023-24 and summer 2024 while sailing seven-night voyages to Italy, Spain and France.

Stephen Xuereb, COO, of Global Ports Holding and CEO, of Valletta Cruise Port, said: “We are proud today to welcome another splendid MSC Cruises’ ship for the first time to our scenic grand harbour, MSC World Europa.  Valletta Cruise Port will host her this year on a further 36 calls as part of her inaugural Mediterranean season until May 2024 and throughout next year she will call Malta on another 52 occasions. 

MSC Cruises is the key cruise line calling Valletta, and it is our pleasure to collaborate continuously with MSC, a relationship which has, over the years, left an enduring mark on an evolving cruise industry.  On behalf of both Valletta Cruise Port and Global Ports Holding, we congratulate MSC Cruises on its achievements and look forward to many more years of fruitful joint cooperation.”

The World Europa is the ​​largest ship in the cruise line’s fleet and the first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

AIDAsol and AIDAmar Connect to Shore Power Simultaneously

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In a cruise industry first, AIDA Cruises marked the beginning of the season with a double call of the AIDAsol and AIDAmar in Rostock-Warnemünde, where the two cruise ships connected simultaneously to shore power, according to a press release.

“We are delighted by this successful shore power premiere in Rostock-Warnemünde. Thanks to the opening of further shore power facilities in European ports, we will be able to expand our commitment this year. Our goal is to be able to use shore power in all ports in the future. We, therefore, welcome the decisions of other ports to develop a corresponding solution. With our commitment to decarbonization, we are not only driving the energy transition in the cruise sector, but we are also providing an example of how to shape local value creation in our destinations sustainably,” said Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA Cruises.

The two ships using shore power to supply energy is an important contribution to reducing carbon emissions while ships are docked in port, AIDA said in a press release.

The first shore power facility for cruise ships opened in the Baltic Sea region in 2021 with the AIDAsol in Rostock-Warnemünde during the 12th German National Maritime Conference.

The shore power plant in Warnemünde can supply two ships simultaneously at berths P7 and P8.

Port of San Diego Advances Maritime Museum Redevelopment Plan

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The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners voted to advance a redevelopment project proposed by the Maritime Museum Association of San Diego to the environmental review phase, according to a press release.

The Maritime Museum, with historic ships including the Star of India, San Salvador, HMS Surprise, and others, is already an iconic cultural attraction on our San Diego Bay waterfront,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.

“If approved and constructed in the future, this project seeks to greatly enhance the area and bring even more people to our North Embarcadero where there are already so many fun and interesting things to see, do, and experience.” 

“Five generations of our community have contributed to making this one of the great Maritime Museums of the world, the place where we tell our story of the sea,” said President and CEO Ray Ashley, Maritime Museum of San Diego. “This stunning improvement to our waterfront is not only something worthy of that story, it projects a vision that our community can take pride in.”

The Maritime Museum’s plan is to redevelop its premises on the North Embarcadero to include galleries, an educational theatre, a museum store, terraces, a café for ticketholders and public and administrative offices.

The Maritime Museum presented the project to the Board of Port Commissioners on Tuesday, April 11. In addition to the changes above, the plan is also to reconfigure the dock area and mooring locations. The estimated cost of the proposed project is $28 million with funding from multiple sources including state grants, private financing, and private fundraising.