Malta

To cruise to the island of Malta is to discover the quintessential Mediterranean island. Yet this most Mediterranean of holiday islands is more English than most despite its rich and colourful history.

Apart from the many natural attractions - reason enough for MSC cruise ships to travel to this pretty island - Malta has a tradition of mysterious legends, including the Maltese Falcon and the Knights of St John, also known as the Knights of Malta who wear black gowns adorned with the white Maltese cross. The Maltese falcon, as in Dashiell Hammett's novel and the subsequent film, is actually the peregrine falcon and now extinct in Malta, although it breeds elsewhere.

Along Malta's coastline you'll find lovely beaches with clear blue waters, rugged cliffs and historic ruins are just some of the sights that we can introduce to you when you participate in our excursion programme.

MSC's cruise ships call at Malta’s stunning capital, La Valletta where visitors can admire elegant Baroque architecture (this is  UNESCO world heritage site) and, thanks to its many monuments is almost an ‘open air museum’. Stroll the city’s elegant squares, relax with a coffee in the many stylish cafés or shop for souvenirs (the Euro is the local currency) from your vacation such as lace and the traditional filigree jewellery.

See the Grandmaster’s Palace and Caravaggio’s gruesome masterpiece, which is housed in St John’s Co-Cathedral.