The Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism, the Hon. Christian Santos GMD MP, visited the Star Legend cruise vessel on Monday 9th November 2026, as part of an engagement organised in collaboration with local shipping agents MH Bland.

The visit provided an opportunity for Minister Santos to meet with passengers and crew, promote Gibraltar as a unique cruise destination and highlight the important contribution of cruise tourism to Gibraltar's tourism industry.

The Star Legend was undertaking a special 'mystery cruise', an itinerary where passengers are not informed of their ports of call in advance, adding an element of surprise and discovery to their journey.

During his visit, Minister Santos was given a guided tour of the vessel before being invited to the Compass Rose Lounge, where he participated in an interactive question-and-answer session hosted by the ship's Entertainment Manager.

The discussion explored Gibraltar's appeal as a visitor destination, including its rich history, cultural diversity and distinctive character. Minister Santos was also invited to share what he hoped first-time visitors would take away from their experience of Gibraltar, what makes the destination particularly surprising to visitors, and the importance of the cruise industry to Gibraltar's wider tourism offering.

Following the discussion, passengers were given the opportunity to put their own questions directly to the Minister, creating an engaging exchange and an opportunity to learn more about Gibraltar.

Minister Santos said: "It was a pleasure to visit the Star Legend and engage directly with passengers, particularly those discovering Gibraltar for the first time as part of this unique mystery cruise.

“Gibraltar has so much to offer, from our fascinating history and cultural heritage to our natural beauty and the warmth of our community. Opportunities such as these allow us to share what makes our destination special and to hear directly from visitors about their experiences.

“The cruise industry remains an important part of Gibraltar's tourism sector, and we value the continued collaboration with cruise operators and local partners such as MH Bland in promoting Gibraltar as an attractive and memorable port of call."