Back to Business and cruise to Malta

It looks like that our airline troubles are over. We at www.cruise.co.uk did all we could do to inform and assist our customers. One more time, this proves that you might be best off when you book a cruise line package, including the (longhaul) flight. In this case, the cruise line will be responsible to get you to the ship and if that is not possible, they will re-book you to another cruise or refund your money. When you book your own flights, it is up to you to get on time at the port of departure. If you fail to meet the departure time, no refunds will be provided by the cruise line.

For now, lets get back to business and respond to some questions about cruising to good old Malta. I found some useful information, so have a look when you like to visit Malta island.

Malta Overview
Sailing into Malta is akin to stepping through the pages of a J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy; once you are in the protected harbor of Valletta, it feels as though modern civilization has disappeared. Oh, you can see a car or two driving on the winding streets amid the limestone battlements, crenellated castles and hillside structures, but they seem terribly out of place and unexpected.

Never mind that the country, which has 7,000 years of intriguing history behind it, is fully modernized and contemporary. What you see when entering Valletta Harbor is cream-colored buildings climbing twisting streets and hillsides, pockmarked from centuries of cannon fire; ancient forts guarding the harbor entrance; and Malta’s own colorful luzzo boats, fishing craft resembling nothing less than an elf’s shoe.

This tiny Mediterranean country is actually part of an archipelago of five islands, only three of which are inhabited (the other two are Gozo and Comino). But it’s the island of Malta and the port of Valletta (designed by a colleague of Michelangelo) at which the cruise ships call. Knowing a bit of the history of this destination is helpful and makes the experience more meaningful.

Where You’re Docked
Cruise ships dock in Valletta, about half a mile below the main shopping street of the city at the newly renovated Pinto Wharf.

Language
Both Maltese and English are the official languages of Malta (the spoken Maltese language appears to have an Arabic base, but the written language uses a standard Latin alphabet). English is widely spoken.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money
Currency is the euro. U.S. dollars are not accepted, but major credit cards are good for most items in most shops and restaurants.

There are several banks in Malta and several well-placed ATM’s on the main shopping road and in the new Valletta Waterfront complex at the cruise ship terminal.

Best Souvenir
Gozo Glass: A specialty made on the island of Gozo but sold in better shops throughout Malta, these silky, swirly and opaque glass creations use centuries of artistic skills passed from one artisan to another. You can purchase small items like perfume bottles or larger blown-glass sculptures.
Silver Filigree: Handcrafted jewelry made of fine silver wire in the Maltese tradition, which dates back to the time of the Knights and has been passed down through generations of goldsmiths and jewelers.

Hanging Around
The final stages of the Valletta Waterfront project are almost complete, making the Grand Harbor cruise terminal an enjoyable destination in its own right. Filled with shops, restaurants and bars, the Valletta Waterfront is also a destination for local residents. On any given day there might be a festival of some sort or another, or musical performances: for example, a jazz band conclave or a classical recital. Filled with retail shops, bars and restaurants, you can take your time reboarding while you relax at the Hardrock Bar, or pick up some last-minute purchases at Pedigree Toys, the Agenda Bookshop or a branch of Mdina Glass. There are several banks and ATM’s in the center as well.

Getting Around
From the waterfront area you have three choices for getting around: on foot, by taxi or by horse-drawn carriage. The latter two are very expensive (10 euros to go up the hill in a taxi and about 50 euros to go on a horse and carriage ride). Walking into town is very difficult for anyone who is even minimally mobility-impaired as it is a steep and arduous climb; additionally, where your ship docks can add as much as a quarter of a mile to the trek just to the exit gate and there are no benches for resting. It also gets quite hot in Malta during the spring and summer months; plan accordingly.

There are reasonably priced public buses that can take you to various spots on the island (you catch them in the city) and ferries that can take you to Gozo and Comino. Pay careful attention to the timetables so you don’t miss your ship’s departure time!

Don’t Miss
The Great Siege of Malta and the Knights of St. John: Join this interactive experience for a historic tour of the history of Malta, the Knights of Malta and the origins of the Maltese Cross. At entry, you’ll be handed a portable CD player; you can choose from one of 11 different languages, and do the tour at your own pace. During this audio-visual presentation you will join a group of pilgrims in 12th-century Jaffa, travel to Jeruselem, get attacked by Bedoins, meet the Knights during the Crusades and travel with them to eventually end up in Malta. The tour will only take about 45 minutes, is located in the middle of Valletta, and barely puts a dent in your shopping and walking time.

Upper Barracca Gardens: Take some time to explore the gardens located at the edge of the Valletta shopping and dining area. The bluff-side location offers an incredible vista over the harbor and across to the Three Cities on the other side. The gardens themselves are peaceful and beautiful, and offer shady respites from the Mediterranean summer heat.

St. John’s Co-Cathedral: The odd designation “co-cathedral” refers to a church that shares its Bishop’s seat with another. In this case, the designation was not applicable until the early 1800’s, when the Bishop of Malta, whose seat is actually at the cathedral in Mdina, was allowed to use this one as an alternate when visiting in Valletta. Located near the center of Valletta, the austere exterior of the building belies its lavish interior, one of the finest examples of Baroque design in the world. This was the church of the Knights; it houses exquisite artwork, including the masterpiece The Beheading of St. John the Baptist by Caravaggio. It’s free to enter, open Monday through Saturday (but closes on Saturdays at noon). It’s important to note the importance of Roman Catholicism in Malta — 98 percent of the country’s population is Roman Catholic.

Palace of the Grand Masters: Get another overview of the storied Knights of Malta, an internationally known Catholic fraternity, by visiting this grand old palace in Valletta with artwork and “apartments” from the period of the Knights. There are many displays depicting the Great Siege, and a room devoted to Gobelin tapestries.

Republic Street: One of the main shopping streets in Valletta, it’s fun to browse. Stop for a coffee in one of its leafy squares, just to sit and people-watch.

Been There, Done That
Mdina: This ancient walled and moated city is rich with history and architectural wonders. Take a bus out of Valletta to Mdina and its neighboring community of Rabat and wander through the medieval streets. It’s a transforming experience because of its historical significance, and because of the unique architecture and layout of the city. You can still see the walls of the 10th-century “fortified belt” that the Arabs constructed to isolate the city (at that time named Medina), and view the opulent homes and castles of the Maltese nobility which settled here during the time of the Knights. You can also visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Bishop’s seat and center of religious life on Malta. Cruise ships offer the tour as a shore excursion, but buses to Rabat and Mdina leave Valletta frequently, are quite reasonably priced, and take about half an hour to arrive.

Victoria, Gozo: More placid and verdant than the island of Malta, Gozo is easily accessed by ferry, which takes approximately 30 minutes from Valletta Harbor. There is an open-air flea market in Victoria at It-Tokk, Victoria’s main square. The Ggantija Temple, quite possibly the oldest manmade structure still standing in the world today (built around 3,600 B.C., more than a thousand years earlier than Stonehenge), is worth a visit.

Marsaxlokk Bay: Take a bus to this quaint village for a peaceful walk around the harbor and a terrific photo op of the colorful Maltese luzzo boats, with their curved prows and single eye painted on to safely guide the fishermen. This is Malta’s main fishing harbor; early in the morning the streets are filled with open-air fish markets to showcase (and sell) the day’s catch. The bus only takes about half an hour; plan on two hours in the village.

Shore Excursions
Best Overall Tour: Vittoriosa and the Blue Grotto. This tour takes participants on a scenic drive around the island, stopping at the Blue Grotto, the Dingli Cliffs (Malta’s highest point, with sweeping views) and the famed dome of Mosta.

Best Overall Runner-Up: A Taste of Malta. This excursion is a motorcoach trip to Marsaxlokk to shop and wander and photograph the luzzo boats, and then continues on to the Ta’ Qali’ winery for a tour and tasting after which guests are taken to see the production of hand-created glass at the Mdina glass factory.

Off the Beaten Track: Malta safari in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. This trip is fun for the adventurous, stopping at Popeye Village (where the movie, starring Robin Williams, was filmed) and then at Golden Bay, where Brad Pitt recently romped in “Troy.” It also takes you to sites of Knights of Malta artifacts not seen by most tourists, and includes — weather permitting — a swim near Golden Bay.