We sailed on Azura at the end of August 2025, so towards the end of the summer season. She was based in the Mediterranean during this time, completing 7-night round-trip voyages from Valletta, Malta. As we sailed in to the first week of September, there were not many families on board as technically the school term commenced mid-cruise, but the price was so much cheaper, three days of missed school was worth the sacrifice for us (Teddy was only 5 years old, so he wasn’t missing anything critical)!
Outbound Flight (British Airways from London Gatwick)
This was our first time using a cruise line’s own charter flights for a fly-cruise, and I have to say, the service from P&O was seamless. We were flying from Gatwick with British Airways, and as we pre-paid to select our seats, we were able to take advantage of the Twilight Check-in service. This meant we got our boarding passes and dropped our hold luggage off at the airport the night before, then we could sail straight through to security in the morning with no delays. This was a huge load off my mind as we had an early morning flight, an anxious first-time flyer (my mother) and an excited child (my son) to wrangle! Though the flight itself was chartered exclusively for P&O passengers, the service was typical of any other British Airways flight. Polite cabin crew, plenty of in-flight hospitality (payable of course) and a well maintained aircraft. What more could you ask for?
Arrival in to Malta
When we arrived in Malta, there were P&O cruises representatives everywhere holding signage pointing you towards the luggage carousels, then again to the air conditioned coaches waiting to shuttle you to the cruise port. After a scenic drive through Valletta, we arrived at the picturesque port, and the check-in and boarding procedure was the smoothest I’ve ever seen. Unlike boarding in a large passenger terminal like Southampton, the small but perfectly formed terminal building reminded me of something out of a Bond movie – it was in a tunnel! Cool in both temperature and architecture, the queue was set up to process vast amounts of people, however we walked straight up to the desks. The steady stream of flights and coaches throughout the day meant passengers could be processed efficiently, and there was no need for any extra amenities as we were on board within a few minutes!
Disembarkation
In keeping with standard procedure for ocean cruises, we left our suitcases outside the cabin before going to bed on our final night on board. Our luggage was then whisked away in the night, appearing as if by magic at the dock the next morning. We enjoyed our last breakfast in the main dining room, then when our time was up, we were swiftly disembarked, moved through the luggage collection area and efficiently loaded onto our coach. As expected, we arrived at the airport in plenty of time for our lunchtime flight. P&O’s logistics team were clearly running a very tight ship – 10/10 for efficiency!
Departures at Valletta Airport
Despite a great experience on the outbound, the return journey was a little less pleasant. Valletta airport seemed to be running at maximum capacity, and when you add to this that almost all flights were delayed, things got very frustrating very quickly. The shopping and dining area before customs is compact on a good day, so we were relieved when our flight was called for boarding, however it was all just a ruse! Flights were being called forward with no aircraft in sight in an attempt to spread people out, and once you had passed through the gates at customs, you were stuck in limbo! With nowhere near enough seating for everyone, the extra few hours stuck between customs and boarding was not exactly a holiday highlight. We managed to find a seat for my mother and son, but Joe & I had to make do with a vacant floor tile!
Return Flight (TUI to London Gatwick)
Once we were finally on board, the service with TUI was good. Staff were apologetic about the delay and sympathetic to people’s needs. In our immediate area onboard was a young family with dietary requirements, and the cabin crew were very accommodating to their needs. The tea was hot and available, and now that I finally had a somewhere to sit down, I was happy again!
In Summary
Would we do another fly-cruise with P&O again? Absolutely!
A fly-cruise is a great value alternative to a typical package holiday. This kind of itinerary tends to involve better weather and more port days, so if either of these things are important to you, a fly-cruise could be just what you need. P&O’s friendly fuss-free service and expert logistical planning make the whole experience seamless from start to finish. It is worth noting that booking a flight inclusive package directly with the cruise line offers greater protection for your holiday should anything go wrong.
Useful Links
Gatwick Airport Check-In Information: gatwickairport.com
P&O Cruises Fly-Cruise Itineraries: pocruises.com/fly-cruises
P&O Cruises Help Hub: pocruises.com/help-hub/centre/flights
Valletta Airport (MLA): maltairport.com
If you found this article useful, check out our other Cruising posts here!
Have you tried a fly-cruise or are you strictly ‘Ex-UK’? What is your favourite fly-cruise itinerary? Let us know in the comments – we love hearing your cruise tales!
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