Note: This post is sponsored by Marella Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are my own based on my 8+ Cruises with Marella. My cruises with Marella were not press trips and I paid full price for them.
I have been on two Marella “Electric Sunsets” themed cruises, one in 2019 and one in 2022.
On my most recent trip I brought five first-time cruisers with me… which definitely raised the stakes!
Marella Cruises are now expanding its music-themed sailings, but what are they actually like?
Should you book one? And if so, which one?
In this article, we look at the available sailings and discuss whether a themed sailing would suit you.
Marella And Themed Cruises
Marella still mostly runs traditional cruises, but they also hold a few music-themed sailings.
Available to book now:
Electric Sunsets – a high-energy party cruise in April 2027.
Musical Med-ley’s – a musical-theatre themed sailing in October 2026.
These sailings will offer very different cruise experiences.
Find out all about the Marella themed cruises on offer here:
Electric Sunsets
What It Is:
I have been on two “Electric Sunsets” themed cruises.
They are short, high-energy music cruises built around 80’s, 90’s and 00’s nostalgia. There are big pool-deck performances, DJs, and fun fancy-dress participation.
The next sailing available is:
Electric Sunsets 80s vs 90s
My 2022 Experience
I’d been promising my friends this huge 90s party for years, but bringing five first-time cruisers made it feel a little risky.
For me, Electric Sunsets sailings are a great way to let my hair down, enjoy time with friends at what feels like a throwback party or festival at sea.
This was a very busy cruise, and nothing like a normal cruising experience at all.
The theme started immediately in the terminal with branded lanyards and performance schedules.
The crowd seemed heavily skewed toward first-time cruisers and was almost entirely British.
We were travelling in a big group. I was quietly hoping nobody would be turned away at the port because they had lost their passport or hadn’t got their documentation in order!
I am a very organised person, and always plan ahead to make sure I have everything I need. Some of my friends are not so organised…
The Atmosphere Onboard
Once onboard, this didn’t feel like a normal Marella sailing at all!
The vibe onboard was super lively. Because the cruise was so short, the schedule was absolutely packed with exciting events – we didn’t know which to go to first!
I had been expecting a party atmosphere, so this was no surprise to me.
Entertainment Highlights
My standout moment from my last Electric Sunsets cruise was seeing the Vengaboys perform by the pool – it was a genuine cruise highlight.
There were many other headline acts onboard. Advertising at the time said:
“Cruisers can expect to ‘Drop it Like it’s Hot’ with headliners including Atomic Kitten, Vengaboys, Artful Dodger, Vernon Kay and DJ Sash! Plus, a fierce and fabulous drag extravaganza with Gals Aloud, a tribute show paying homage to 00s icons Girls Aloud.”
Marella Cruises
Across the sailing, there were big-name acts, tribute performers and DJs running in multiple venues – often at the same time. It was impossible to go everywhere and see everything.
That intensity was part of the appeal – but it is also something you need to be aware of.
Have a look at what we got up to on my last Electric Sunsets cruise here:
Fancy Dress
Each night had a different costume theme, and we’d been planning outfits for months. Half of my suitcase was dedicated to fancy dress!
(It might be important to clarify for non-British readers what British guests term as “Fancy Dress”. Americans, for example, generally don’t use the term “fancy dress” to mean wearing costumes to a party; they might say”costume party” instead.
In the US, “fancy dress” might be misunderstood as very formal attire, such as a ball gown or black tie, rather than a themed costume).
I’d been buying fancy dress clothes and borrowing bits and pieces from friends and family members for weeks. I wore my dad’s old school tie as part of my Avril Lavigne costume, and my mum’s shoes when I dressed up as Velma!
I wouldn’t want to dress up like this on every cruise – but for three days, it was brilliant fun!
How Marella Adapts The Ship
Late-night food options were extended, with venues like Snack Shack staying open until around 2 am.
The food served at Snack Shack was mostly late-night favourites like chips and pizza, the sort of thing you might choose after a night out on land.
The food served in the buffet was aimed at grab-and-go, with pizzas, chips, etc., and the times the food was available differed from those on other Marella cruises.
Marella definitely adapted and changed the food options to suit the party vibe of the themed cruise.
Despite the cruise’s busyness and intensity, the crew remained consistently friendly, even when they were obviously very busy.
The Reality
This wasn’t a relaxing sleepy cruise, it was like one big party – a festival at sea, if you like. It was so much fun.
It was busy, loud, short – and very enjoyable.
The cruise felt worlds apart from a normal Marella sailing.
I am delighted to say my first-time cruiser friends all enjoyed it. They even talked about booking their next themed cruise with Marella.
Explore Electric Sunsets cruises here:
Marella Cruises are constantly working to enhance the Electric Sunsets experience, so I’m excited to see what they have in store for 2027
Other Themed Cruises Scheduled:
Musical Med-ley’s Cruises (Very Different Vibe)
What Musical Med-ley’s Actually Is
Musical Med-ley’s is going to be Marella’s first dedicated musical-theatre themed cruise.
It will feature West End-style productions, sing-along moments and guest speakers from the theatre world.
I would expect this to be much less of a party cruise than the Electric Sunsets sailings.
The theme mainly centres around enhanced theatre entertainment, rather than a full ship-wide takeover.
I love musicals and enjoy trips to the West End to see shows whenever possible. I am sure I would really enjoy this theme.
What To Expect Onboard
Marella will be adding to their large-scale theatre productions that take place in the Broadway Show Lounge.
These will focus on famous musical hits and audience sing-along moments.
There will also be musical-theatre guest speakers hosting Q&A sessions and sharing behind-the-scenes stories from the industry.
Daytime activities and some programming will tie into the musical theme, but the overall cruise experience remains closer to a traditional Marella sailing.
Musical Med-ley’s is a five-night cruise. This is longer than the three-night Electric Sunsets party-style cruises. It will have a more traditional cruise structure and less of a festival vibe.
Find out more about Musical Med-ley’s here:
Electric Sunsets vs Musical Med-ley’s
Electric Sunsets is a short, intense and party-led themed cruise.
Musical Med-ley’s is an entertainment-focused cruise. It will be much closer to a normal Marella cruise – but with extra musical theatre content added in.
They are aimed at completely different audiences.
I am probably unusual as I feel I have a foot in both camps. I love the party atmosphere and festival vibe of Electric Sunsets, but I am a big musical theatre fan too…
Keep An Eye Out For Other Themed Sailings
Marella held a very successful “Country Rhythms” themed cruise in February 2026.
Given the popularity of these sailings, it is likely that they will plan more themed sailings for the future.
Should You Book One?
Electric Sunsets suit people who love 80’s/ 90’s music, fancy dress and a lively adults-only short break.
Musical Med-ley’s would be better for musical theatre fans and cruisers who want the usual Marella experience with additional great evening musical theatre shows – without the full party chaos.
The fares for both cruises include all flights, transfers, tips and a standard drinks package.
Themed cruises sell out quickly, as they aren’t held very often. If you want to experience one of these unique sailings, book them quickly would be my advice.
My Overall Verdict
I’ve now taken Electric Sunsets twice, and can genuinely say they were some of the most fun I’ve ever had on a cruise.
Musical Med-ley’s looks like a much softer themed option that will appeal to a different type of cruiser – not necessarily the party crowd.
Have a look at the first-ever Marella Electric Sunsets cruise I took from Newcastle, way back in 2019, here:
Before You Go
Have a look at Marella’s All-Inclusive 2026 drinks list below:
Marella Cruises All Inclusive Drinks List (and 2026 Menus)
Every Marella ship has different animal mascots onboard. Find out more about that here:
The Secret Life of Marella Cruises’ Animal Mascots (Yes, Penguins, Ducks, and Alpacas Are Involved)
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