Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

7 1 Saint John Paul II Virtu Ferries’ high-speed ro-pax catamaran was built at Incat’s Tasmania shipyard and was deployed between Malta and Sicily in March 2019. With a dead weight of 1,000 tonnes, capacity for 900 passengers, and a garage for 167 cars, Saint John Paul II is the largest vessel of its kind operating in the Mediterranean and the second largest in the world. Onboard facilities include five lounges, gift shops, gaming lounge, bars and shop. The ferry is the fifth newbuild delivered to Virtu Ferries since it began its high-speed service in the region in 1988. It is named after Pope John Paul II, following a visit by the pope onboard San Frangisk in 1990, a ferry operated by Virtu-owned Venezia Lines. We would like to thank all those who voted for Saint John Paul II as the Ship of the Year 2020 in the high-speed ferry category. Saint John Paul II is a magnificent ship. She has surpassed our expectations and, after 30 years of operating fast ferries on international routes, our expectations are extremely high. Francis Portelli, Virtu Holdings Alfred F E RRY WINNER Saint John Paul II H I GH - S P E ED F E RRY WINNER