Can You Walk From Cruise Ship Into Valletta?

Valletta, Malta is a compact and pedestrian-friendly city that allows cruise passengers to explore its historic streets, architecture, museums, and vibrant culture. It is possible to walk from the cruise ship terminal into Valletta in about 20 minutes, which is mostly flat and well-signposted. The journey usually takes around 30 minutes but can be made easier by renting a car, taxi, or taking one of the Upper Barrakka Lifts, which are free and take you up 190 feet to the ancient city of Valletta.

The regular ferry service connects Malta to Gozo Island, and the ferry terminal is located below Fort Cruise ships. The Valletta Waterfront Cruise Terminal is conveniently located just a 15-minute walk from the city center. The cruise port is located southeast of the heart of Valletta, and there are two passenger terminals and berths for up to seven cruise ships at a time. Taxis, local buses, and hop-on-hop-off buses are plentiful, but walking from the cruise terminal into the city is a must-do option.

The Barrakka Lift is a must-use for cruise ship passengers, as it is a steep climb or walk to the elevator. For the price of 1 Euro, it is well worth the price, as it beats having to walk up a huge hill. Valletta is walkable, and visitors can reach many major sights on foot. Taxis, local buses, and hop-on-hop-off buses are available, but walking from the cruise terminal into the city is a more convenient option. At the waterfront, there are shops and restaurants for wi-fi and refreshments.

Is Valletta a walkable city?

Designed by military architects, Old Valletta is contained within impenetrable defensive walls and bastions. This and the steep streets, and steps make it an eminently walkable city and very unfriendly to motor vehicles.

Here then are six highlights for a true Valletta experience…

1. Arrive by ferry from Sliema. The best way to approach Malta’s capital is on the Sliema-Valletta ferry. As you take the five minute trip across Marsamxett Harbour you are rewarded with the iconic skyline of Valletta with the large dome of the Manoel Theatre.

How do I get from cruise port to Valletta?

By Bus: A public bus service to and from Valletta, Route 130, is available. Get to the Valletta Terminus at Valletta City Centre from Valletta Cruise Port from the bus stop ‘Waterfront’.

Numerous transportation services are available to and from Valletta Cruise Port, thus making the Port of Valletta well-connected to Valletta itself and the rest of the Maltese Islands.

By Air: The Malta International Airport services major regional and international air carriers. Valletta Cruise Port is approximately a 15 minutes drive from the airport, where taxis are readily available.

By Taxi:A booking office is available on the Valletta Waterfront promenade providing taxi services and tours at established rates.

Can you walk to Split from the cruise port?

One of the many great things about visiting Split on a cruise holiday is the proximity of the city centre. The distance from Split cruise port to the city centre is between 0.5 to 0.7 miles, depending on where your ship docks, making walking an accessible option for many people.

Usually, there are no shuttle buses from Split cruise port to the city centre because it is so close. There are taxis available if needed. However, these cost around 27 euros for two to three passengers, one way.

Is there anything near Split Cruise Port?. Split’s historic Old Town has a history going back over 1700 years. It is just a ten-minute walk from Split Cruise Terminal, so there is plenty to see and do close to where your ship will dock.

One of the best activities by Split cruise port is discovering the extensive and fascinating Diocletian’s Palace. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to 305 AD, it is one of the most popular attractions in Split.

Where do cruise ships dock in Malta?

Established in 2002, Valletta Cruise Port is the only licensed cruise and ferry terminal operator in Valletta, Malta. Valletta Cruise Port, the gateway to Malta’s capital, Valletta, welcomes more than half-a-million cruise passengers into a city considered to be an open-air museum. Malta is strategically positioned in the center of the Mediterranean, offering endless possibilities for just about any itinerary in the Eastern or Western Mediterranean. The port of Valletta is the gateway to Malta’s rich historical and cultural experience.

The award-winning Valletta Cruise Port is situated in a natural deep water harbor, with year-round easy access to ships of all sizes. The port can accommodate 3 cruise ships simultaneously. There are three passenger facilities, with the main terminal located in the historic Magazino Hall, which is fully modernized and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Fiber optic and Wi-Fi links from the Magazino Hall to the ship allow for simultaneous onboard registration and check-in. The facilities are easily capable of processing at least 500 guests per hour. The small size of the island means all attractions are within close proximity of one another. Furthermore, Valletta Cruise Port is just 10 minutes away from Malta International Airport, ideal for turnaround operations.

While in port, passengers can step off the ship immediately on to the Valletta Waterfront, one of Malta’s most iconic landmarks. There are 19 beautifully restored 18th-century warehouses and bastions, built during the Baroque period. The exquisite gemstone buildings were originally constructed by Grand Master Pinto to be used as stores by the Knights of St. John, today restored to offer a host of diverse services.

How do you get to shore from a cruise ship?

While it’s true that some mega-ships are designed as destinations in themselves, one of the most exciting parts of cruising is disembarking your vessel to do some exploring ashore. But how do you get there, exactly? There are two main ways that cruise ships transfer their passengers to land: docking and tendering. Below we compare the two methods of debarkation and tell you how being docked versus tendered can affect your cruise experience.

Similarities Between Docking and Tendering. Obviously, both tendering and docking will allow passengers to head from the ship to shore. Both also require standard exit procedures, which involve the swiping of your onboard card as you leave the ship, and standard reboarding procedures, which might involve waiting in line at peak times, but that’s basically where the similarities end.

Differences Between Tendering and Docking. The first and most common type of debarkation is docking, when a vessel ties up at a pier and cruisers exit the ship with the help of a ramp or gangplank. The second, tendering, takes place when no pier facilities are available or when the water is too shallow for ships to get closer to shore. Vessels drop anchor a short distance away and use small boats, called tenders, to shuttle passengers to terra firma. Although most tender rides are generally short in duration, the boats are tiny and often stuffy, which might be unpleasant for some passengers prone to seasickness.

Can you get off a cruise ship and explore?

In most cases, you don’t need to book a shore excursion to explore a port of call. You can simply walk off the ship and stroll into town or catch a cab to take you wherever you want to go.

However, in some destinations, a shore excursion, or independently operated guided tour, is highly encouraged. This could be in places where it’s difficult to navigate as a foreigner who can’t speak the language or understand street signs or where the tourism infrastructure is not yet fully developed.

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Can I walk to Valletta from the cruise port?

How to Get to Valletta From the Valletta Cruise Port. Located southeast of the heart of Valletta, the cruise port is about a 15-minute walk to the City Gate. Buses and taxis are available for getting around the island, and local ferries connect Malta to nearby Gozo and Comino.

Can you come and go from a cruise ship?

Not necessarily. Feldman said cruise ships typically leave the gangway open all night for guests. “You can come and go as you please,” he said. “And if you want to go out and, let’s say, party until 3 in the morning, you can do that and then come back.”

Do you have to leave the cruise ship on port days?

Can I come and go as I please between ship and shore?. There are likely to be some parameters when it comes to time, but you are more or less free to come and go as you wish. You will usually be told a time from which you can depart the ship, and a time to be back on board, but what you do with the time in between is up to you. Many guests choose to come back to the ship for their meal, before heading back out again to explore after lunch, for example.

How can I find out more about the cruise ports I will visit?. To find out more about visiting the cruise ports on your itinerary, you can find information on our destination pages. Alternatively, you may wish to buy a guidebook – or borrow one from the library when you’re on board. The Daily Program also contains some basic information.

Getting off your ship. How do I get off the ship when visiting a port?. You will be given all the information you need regarding leaving the ship via your Daily Program. The Captain may also give details in his or her daily announcement over breakfast, and signage may appear in lobbies directing you to the disembarkation deck. Depending on the location of your suite or stateroom, you may be given an allocated time to get off the ship, to reduce foot traffic. Remember, the crew are always on hand to answer questions if you have any!

What is the name of the port in Valletta?

The Grand Harbour or, in Maltese, Il-Port il-Kbir, lies mainly beneath Valletta, the capital city of Malta, and the Three Cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa and Senglea.

The Harbour mouth faces North East. Sheltered at the north by St.Elmo’s Point breakwater, Ricasoli Breakwater arm is found at the south. Its North West shore is formed by the Sciberras peninsula (over which Valletta, and its suburb Floriana, were built). This peninsula also divides the Grand Harbour from a second parallel natural harbour, Marsamxett Harbour. The main waterway of Grand Harbour continues inland to Marsa. The south eastern shore of the Harbour is formed by a number of inlets and headlands, principally Rinella Creek, Kalkara Creek, Dockyard Creek, and French Creek, which are covered by Kalkara and the Three Cities: Cospicua, Vittoriosa, and Senglea.

The Port of Valletta, a natural deep-water harbour, extends for about 3.6 kilometres inland. Its two-arm breakwater renders it a safe, all-weather port throughout the year, open on a 24 hour basis, although entrance may be restricted during strong Easterly winds. The Port of Valletta is a multi-purpose port equipped to offer a large spectrum of maritime services including:

• Various cruise/ferry and cargo berths
• Specialised grain and cement silos
• Petroleum installations, bunkering facilities
• Ship repair and building yards
• Ship chandelling
• Reception facilities
• Other ship related services

Do you have to pay to enter Valletta?

No, there are no toll roads in Malta, but you will have to pay a congestion charge to enter the capital Valletta between the hours of 8am and 6pm on weekdays.

Can I go ashore from a cruise ship?

Disembarkingwhen your ship’s at anchor is a very different experience to when it’s docked portside. Getting ashore in this instance often involves the use of the ship’s tender, which is accessed via the steps of a secure gangway.

Your safety and wellbeing are, of course, our main concern, and we want you to be as comfortable as possible when getting on and off your cruise ship. There are approximately 25 steps from the ship to the tender on our vessels.For health and safety reasons, wheelchair-bound guests, or those requiring more than minimal assistance to board/alight a tender will be unable to go ashore on these occasions.

Each cruise has it’s own page, where you will find the detailed itinerary including any ports that will be at tender on your specific sailing.