We had booked a cruise with my daughter and her family last year, but it got cancelled. So this was the new date. My wife and I, my daughter and her hubby and grandchildren Theo (13 ) and Imogen (11).

The flight from Manchester to Valletta was at 2.05 pm. and because it was late taking off we didn't arrive at Valletta airport until 7.30 pm - their time. Collecting Luggage and embarkation went easy enough but it was still too late to use the main dining room because we didn't have any suitable clothes yet. We don't like using the buffet but on this occasion we had to and it was ok. And of course, because you're on the last flight to arrive there's a good chance you'll be on the last flight home and we were. You have to amuse yourself for the last day as the journey to Valletta airport wasn't until 4.45pm. All your hold luggage is collected from outside your cabin on the night before departure and you don't see it hopefully until you get to Baggage Reclaim at Manchester Airport. That means that on that final day, you have to wear what you are travelling home in or carry spare clothes in your hand luggage if you have the room. You have to vacate your cabin at 8.00am but you can have a shower in the Oasis Spa, later in the day. My daughter and her family decided to get off and walk round Valletta during the morning and seemed to enjoy it even though it was about 35 - 40C.

Unlike my Norwegian Fjord trip a week earlier, this one had wall to wall sunshine, whilst we visited Rome, Livorno, Villefranche and Ajaccio and the grandkids were in the pool for the duration apart from the times we had a walk around the port. They much preferred the pool! Read more