Valletta Cruise Port Sees Strong Passenger Growth in 2025

Valletta Cruise Port recorded continued increases in both cruise traffic and passenger volumes throughout the 2025 season.

The port handled 385 cruise calls during the year, up 8 percent from the 357 calls recorded in 2024. Passenger numbers also reached a new high, with 962,966 travelers passing through the port in 2025. This surpassed the 940,915 recorded the previous year and marked a year-on-year increase of 2.3 percent.

“The sustained growth recorded in 2025 reflects Valletta’s strong positioning within the Mediterranean cruise market. Malta’s unique combination of rich cultural heritage and close proximity to other key destinations continues to make Valletta an attractive and highly sought-after cruise port,” said Stephen Xuereb, chief operating officer of Global Ports Holding and chief executive officer of Valletta Cruise Port.

“This performance is further supported by ongoing investment in port infrastructure and passenger services, as well as close collaboration with our industry partners, which together have strengthened Malta’s appeal to cruise operators and passengers.”

Of the total passenger movements, 772,664 were transit guests spending the day ashore, while 190,302 were turnaround passengers starting or ending their cruise in Malta.

Valletta Cruise Port also received international recognition in 2025 after being named the world’s most beautiful cruise port in a study by All Clear Insurance. The study assessed the visual appeal of cruise ports worldwide, with Valletta Cruise Port taking first place and earning a perfect score of 100 percent.

The latest results build on strong momentum from 2024, when the port welcomed more than 940,000 cruise passengers, exceeding its previous pre-pandemic record set in 2019.