I KNEW that celebrating my father's 60th birthday aboard Ventura, one of the largest ships in P&O's fleet, was going to be memorable. Bringing my entire family ranging from eight months to 60 - well, that could have been a disaster.

I needn't have worried. Any initial anxieties at whether the 3,000-plus supership could satisfy the expectations of our diverse 10-person party eased the moment we stepped aboard.

Click here now for amazing offers to Gibraltar!

The first thing that struck me was the newness of the ship, which launched in 2008; in the spectacular central atrium with its stained-glass ceiling the lifts and staircases literally glistened.

The crew's warm welcome felt sincere and, mirroring their smiles, we knew we were about to embark on a wonderful adventure. Our group was divided into four cabins.
My husband and I were pleasantly surprised by the space and storage in our contemporary cabin. A long wardrobe provided ample space for all our clothes, including the all-important dinner suits and dresses we would wear on formal nights.

The balcony, with room for several guests as well, provided a great spot for relaxing before evening activities and taking in the ever-changing views.

Friends had told me that one of the highlights of a cruise is the food. They weren't wrong.

It was plentiful, delicious and - unfortunately for those of limited willpower - constant.

Combining casual-style lunch with evening silver service at Saffron (one of the Club Dining restaurants) allowed us to enjoy a complete experience of the Ventura's culinary delights, ranging from the simplicity of a beautifully cooked steak to the complexity of an authentic curry.

Want incredible Mediterranean cruise deals? Click here now...

At Saffron, a bustling, spacious restaurant opposite the central atrium, the staff became friends over the course of the holiday; Ruth and Allison proved adept at distracting the grandchildren so that we could enjoy our con fit of lamb or lobster tail. To celebrate my father John's big day we indulged in the relaxed and luxurious setting of Marco Pierre White's The White Room and the food was as exquisite as the service. It was a treat to enjoy fine dining without incurring the costs you would expect if eating in such a top restaurant at home.

The variety of entertainment was fantastic. One night we enjoyed some comedy at show lounge The Tamarind; the next we were testing our brains in a quiz at the traditional-style English pub The Exchange.

The Reef (the name given to the various children's clubs) proved a hit with my nephew Jack, two, and son Finley, eight months. Toddlers to teens were catered for with various activities to keep them amused, including discos, pool parties, arts and crafts, nursery games and even an interesting reworking of Snow White.

Grandad even enjoyed dancing alongside his two-year old grandson at one of Noddy's popular parties, which included classic games such as pass the parcel and musical chairs.

Despite being great for children, the size of the ship meant it was far from overrun.

Adult-only areas included the casino and a pool, one of an astonishing five on board.

After departing Southampton there were seven ports of call on our round trip: Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Palma, Valencia and Gibraltar.
Among our favourites were Barcelona and Palma, where we enjoyed two brilliant excursions organised by P&O.

Barcelona by bike was fantastic. Our excellent tour guide navigated our group of 20 through the bustling streets and past landmarks such as La Sagrada Família and the resplendent Gothic-style cathedral with its spire that dominates the skyline.

In Palma another trip took us to Soller, a town which is one of the most enchanting on the island of Mallorca.

Other options included the Oceanographic Park in Valencia, while The Rock Revealed in Gibraltar appealed to those not put off by heights and the extremely narrow streets which twisted and turned all the way to the top.

On board there were so many events, such as the chef parade in which the cooking staff walked through the Saffron restaurant to raucous applause from the diners. And we all enjoyed drinks on the top deck at sunset as we sung We Are The Champions with Freddie Mercury (the tribute variety), as well as excellent theatre shows in the 785-seater Arena.

And the birthday boy? Well, he had wanted to celebrate turning 60 in some of the most beautiful countries in the Mediterranean alongside his loved ones - and that's exactly what he did.

Yet really he got far more than that, because now he has a set of memories to cherish for years to come.

THE KNOWLEDGE P&O Cruises (0845 355 4444/ www.pocruises.com) offers a 14-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Ventura from £1,361pp (two sharing), full board. Departs Southampton, August 20, 2011.