We have just come back from a seven-day cruise on the MSC Splendida and I’m still nursing a very bad cold I got while there, as the air-conditioning throughout was freezing cold apart from our cabin and on deck.

This isn’t really about the merits or otherwise of the MSC Splendida but to find out whether the Maltese are really a biased lot where people with special needs are concerned.

I happen to have a mobility problem, which also makes getting up from chairs, sofas, wheelchairs and so on a nightmare. I had stopped flying abroad as it’s even more difficult in the confined space of an aeroplane.

Two years ago we thought we’d give a cruise a try and I must say that the MSC Sinfonia we went on was a treat as they really looked after me really well especially when embarking or disembarking.

Back in October 2007 when I had booked a cruise for July 2008, I had asked for a cabin for people with special needs but was told that none would be available since the very few they had are usually booked from abroad before the ship gets here. I had made enquiries when on board and had been told that it’s up to the Maltese agent to pre-book such a cabin.

Anyway, again in October 2008 I booked a cruise for July 2009 thinking that nine months was more than enough for the agent to book me such a cabin, but again I was told that none would be available. Since I had found out that the Splendida had more than 40 such cabins, I kept insisting with the agent that surely this time I would be able to get one but it was not to be.

I was finally told that the local agent couldn’t afford to pre-book such a cabin as he’d have to have it for the duration of the season and if there were no people with special needs travelling he’d make a loss, as “normal” Maltese passengers would not want such a cabin.

On our second day on board, my 18-year-old son came to ask me why I hadn’t booked a cabin for people with special needs, as he’d just made friends with three young ladies travelling with their parents (not Maltese) who, without having asked for it, were in this beautiful cabin for people like me. None of these three young ladies had special needs but they were so happy with their cabin that they kept inviting all their friends to see it.

He said it was really spacious and comfortable, didn’t have bunk beds like ours but a very big double bed and another big sofa bed. There was no step to get into the shower, a fold up seat in the shower cubicle and a handrail near the toilet. I couldn’t see what there was for “normal” people to object to especially when they could get such a nice cabin at no extra cost

All the public toilets on board ship were accessible to wheelchair users and all had a handrail next to the toilet. I’m sure that no Maltese people or otherwise raised any objection to using these toilets so why would Maltese passengers object to a fold up seat in the shower?

I am now wondering whether Maltese people are really so biased and if yes, why?

As we are now hooked on these cruises, I would like to know whether there are any cruise agents in Malta who do cater for people with special needs and from whom we can book a cabin for next year’s cruise. If yes, I really would like to hear from them through The Malta Independent on Sunday and thank them in advance.

Margaret Camilleri-Pace

SLIEMA