No 2007 Med return for SuperStar Libra - booked passengers can transfer to NCL Jewel

**Ally** · 11-08-2006, 08:57 AM

Star Cruises’ SuperStar Libra, currently sailing out of Mumbai on its second season of cruises from India, will not be returning to its summer Med base of Valletta in 2007.

The company has not yet issued an official statement as to where the ship will be based next summer but trade partners in Europe have been informed of the decision not to position the ship back in Malta, Mick Dupont, Star Cruises’ sales and marketing director, Europe told media at the World Travel Market yesterday in London. Malta sources attending the WTM confirmed that SuperStar Libra will not be returning in ’07.

Ironically it was at WTM last year that news of Star’s arrival in Europe was disclosed when Malta’s Minister of Tourism Francis Zammit Dimech announced that SuperStar Libra would use Valletta as a home base for 18 Med cruises between June and October 2006.

Dupont says his team is currently concentrating on promoting the longer 10-, 11- and 21-night cruises on SuperStar Gemini sailing from Singapore to destinations throughout Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and China. He added that Libra’s presence in the Med has given European passengers a chance to sample Star ‘closer to home’ and hopes it will encourage bookings for the Star product in Asia.

Passengers already booked on a Star Cruises seven-night Mediterranean cruise onboard the SuperStar Libra in 2007 will be offered the option to transfer their booking to Norwegian Cruise Line, for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise aboard the Norwegian Jewel sailing from Barcelona.