We chose this cruise as it stayed overnight in Madeira for the Flower Festival and what a treat that was, we could not believe that we were the only cruise ship that stayed overnight. Celebrity left on the day of the flower festival and the MSC and Aida both arrived the day after - well done Fred Olsen and thank you.

As always we found the food and staff to be the same excellent standard as we have experienced in the past. There was plenty of choice both at lunch time and in the evenings and no meals were repeated. Indeed we were on the Balmoral in January, and the meals were quite different.

All the staff from the waiters, to the entertainment staff to the Show Company were outstanding, especially as they did have to cope with the dreaded Norovirus and all the extra work that it entails for all on board. They were still cheerful and always had time to talk to you. It doesn't help when passengers who are infected with norovirus leave their cabins and go into the shops, spreading the disease further, and one lady refusing to use soap after visiting the toilet - then we wonder why these incidents keep happening. Perhaps the people should be banned from cruising and thrown off the ships. Read more