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Feedback from recent travelers on this cruise--interested in May 2026 cruise South to North
We are seriously considering booking this trip, however, because blog comments on this cruise were from 2023, it was not very valuable feedback. Our date is May 2026 and the ship listed is the LeDumont D'urville. Recent travelers: what was the overall experience--food on the ship, excursions especially wanting to know if anyone took the tour to La Maddalena; accommodations on the ship, were all Tauck travelers?
Hotels currently listed in Malta: Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa or The Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta; in Marseille: InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu or Sofitel Marseille Vieux-Port (we prefer hotels closer to city center);
Thank you so much for the feedback. R&J
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We did this trip North to South so we started in Marseille. We stayed at the Intercontinental in Marseille which used to be a hospital. We learned later that half the people in Marseille were born there.. For reasons never learned, or perhaps for no reason at all, we were upgraded to the Presidential suite in the hotel which made for an interesting stay. It had sixteen foot ceilings, two bathrooms, five rooms total, with an amazing entrance hall. The location was good with many shops and restaurants nearby. I remember at check in that the receptionist was funny. We showed our passports, and she immediately said, “Have I got a room for you!”
I'm looking at that cruise for 2026, also. I agree about the hotels. Last time we were in Malta (on a Tauck Tour) we stayed at the Phoenicia, which was very well located and an excellent hotel. I think the hotels are offered as a "package". That is, if you take Package A, you get a certain hotel in Malta and a corresponding one in Marseille. If Package B, you get the other two.
Are you looking at the May 1st (northbound) or the May 8th (southbound) cruise?
We did this cruise in 2023. The cruise was wonderful….. the Sofitel in Marseille not so much. The hotel needed a refurbishment in my opinion. The only good thing about the hotel was the view from the window of the harbor.
Mike, we have not decided yet. Is there a reason? Weather?
The two cruises are only a week apart so I guess weather won't be a lot different. We're thinking of going north just so we can go a few days early and see more of Malta. Of course, that could be done at the end of the cruise. Right now, we're favoring starting in Malta.
If you're interested in history, the Ottoman Empire attempted to capture Malta in 1565, and failed. A good book about the siege is "The Great Siege, Malta 1565". You can find it on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GP3HWW/
A short version is on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Siege_of_Malta
Malta was also important in World War II but I haven't found any good books about it. One of the important "battles" was Operation Pedestal, which was a convoy to carry supplies to Malta. The Axis forces did everything they could to stop the convoy but enough got through. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pedestal
If the supplies had not gotten through Malta might have had to surrender or starve.
Great ancient ruins on Malta. Don't forget Gozo too. It was hot when we went even though it was just April.
We also did this trip North to South and stayed in Nice 5 days before the tour started and then we took the train from Nice to Marseille where we met the tour. Nice was beautiful.