Note: This post is sponsored by Marella Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I’ve paid full price for this cruise.
I have been on many Marella cruises in the past, so when it came to booking a cruise for me and my Mum, Marella was the obvious choice.
The itinerary, the ship, and the many included extras all made me decide this would be a really stress-free break for us both.
These are the reasons why Marella was the perfect choice for this mother-daughter trip:
#1.We Could Fly In On the Day
If you book a Marella cruise from the UK, all flights and transfers are included.
Marella is part of the TUI group, so TUI (and other third party airline) flights are included from a range of regional airports.
Included flights mean if there is a delay with the flight, a problem at the airport, issues with the transfers – anything really, it is Marella’s problem to sort things out, not mine!
This takes away a lot of the stress and worry that can come with travelling. As long as I get to the airport on time, I know that I can just relax from there on in.
There is no need to incur extra cost by booking a hotel the night before, as I often do when sailing with other cruise lines.
It’s a relaxing start to the holiday – with no unnecessary faffing about!
#2.The Fare Includes Pretty Much Everything
Once you have paid your cruise fare, you don’t really have to pay for anything else.
Flights and transfers to the ship are included. Approximately 20 kg (44 lbs) of checked luggage is included.
When I book to go on a cruise from Europe with a low-cost airline, there are often extra baggage charges.
Checked baggage, pre-booked seats, priority boarding all cost extra. They even charge for printing out your boarding pass if you have forgotten to do so. It’s not a few pounds/dollars either, it can be over £20/$25! With Marella I don’t have to think about any of that.
Luggage, flights, tips, food, and drinks are all sorted for you, which is great if you’re planning a trip for a family member or friend. It is an all-inclusive package that suits pretty much everybody.
#3. No Need to Spend Another Penny Onboard
Once you get on board, all tips are included, so no daily service charges to factor into your cruise budget.
There is a range of drinks included in your fare – soft drinks, beer, wines, and cocktails etc.
Find out more about that here:
Marella Cruises All Inclusive Drinks List
If you have a particular favourite drink that isn’t included, there is the option to upgrade to a premium drinks package.
A premium drinks package on an American cruise line can cost well over $100 a day. When I last sailed on Marella, upgrading to premium drinks cost me £13 ($17.50) a day. That is very good value.
Find out more about that here:
I Upgraded to Marella’s Premium Drinks Package – Here’s Why
I really enjoy the entertainment around the ship. Shows in the theatre, live music in many venues onboard, and pub quizzes are a daily occurrence.
You can totally relax, knowing you don’t have to keep a close eye on your cruise budget. You won’t automatically have a large onboard account to pay at the end of your holiday.
When you sail with a mainstream American cruise line like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian or Celebrity, you may be tempted to splash out on expensive “Speciality meals”.
This is a restaurant where there is a cover charge for every diner, or they charge per item on the menu.
On Marella ships, there are lots of different places to eat that are included within the cruise fare. You don’t have to stick to eating in one main dining room or the buffet every night.
Find out more about that here:
This Cruise Ship Has 6 Restaurants Included in the Cruise Fare (I Tried Them All)
#4. We Like Ships This Size
We find the size of Marella’s ships perfect for us. They aren’t too big to be overwhelming, but not too small to be boring.
Mum and I really don’t need go-kart tracks or rollercoasters to keep us entertained.
The ships are easy to navigate, and with fewer guests onboard, you may find less queues.
Marella ships have previously sailed for other mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. This makes them feel familiar and comfortable for me.
Find out more about Marella’s ships here:
Marella Cruises, Ships by Size – Photo Guide and Reviews
#5. The Itinerary
We picked a week’s Western Mediterranean cruise itinerary. This has lots of interesting port stops in Spain, France and Italy.
A flight to Spain to board the cruise is only around two hours from the UK, but it is like stepping into another world! Sunny skies, blue seas, warm weather, what’s not to like?
There is one sea day, which suits us perfectly. It is at the beginning of the cruise, so will give us time to unwind and get over the journey.
We will have plenty of time to explore the ship before we reach our first port of call.
We can see and do as much as we want, without feeling rushed.
For me and my mum, this cruise ticked every box – simple, good value, minimal planning needed, on a ship we’ll feel comfortable on. I can’t wait!
Have a look at the last minute, out of season trip I took with Marella to the Canary Islands below. I really enjoyed the cruise, it was just what I needed:
Before You Go
Have a look at what Marella did to ex Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships to ready them for a British cruise market here:
How Marella Cruises Transformed Ex-Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Ships
You can now book a Marella cruise if you live outside the UK! Marella have been very hard, if not impossible, to book if you don’t have a UK address and credit card. Finally, my partner travel agents can help! Find out more here:
How to Book a Marella Cruise from Outside the UK – USA, Canada and Many More (Finally!)