My wife and I went on a Captain Morgan Round Malta tour early this month, on the Fernandes. My wife is in a wheelchair but neither the captain nor any other crew member stated that this trip was definitely not suited for persons sitting in a wheelchair at the time we came on board. So we thought everything was fine for the €90 trip.

After we stopped at the Blue Lagoon, the captain told us that it was going to be “a bit jumpy”, so it would be better to stay at the back of the boat. His statement was consistent with the weather forecast printed in the daily newspaper that morning.

What happened then is seared in our minds. My wife was afraid for her life as the Fernandes reached a nearly 45 degree angle and huge waves crashed into the boat again and again. A crewman slipped on the deck in the front of the ship as he tried to help other passengers. A table that was not tied down crossed the deck and things fell down. It was a true nightmare. We prayed to God.

After three hours we reached Valletta and I was exhausted, having held onto the wheelchair tightly the whole time to prevent my wife going overboard. This was the most terrifying experience I have ever had in my life.

One might argue that we should have better informed ourselves about boat trips, especially in that kind of ship. But should we have tried to judge the weather and the sea better than the captain of the boat? The captain is fully responsible for his passengers.