Note: This post is sponsored by Marella Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are based on my own 7 cruises cruising with Marella.
You may have seen me posting about Marella Cruises and wondered whether Marella would be a good choice for you.
This might be particularly true if you are not a British traveller, as the ships are designed to suit the British audience.
This Is Who Marella Cruises Might Appeal To:
#1. The “Don’t-Want-To-Plan-A-Thing” Traveller
One of the great things about booking with Marella is that everything is included.
That includes flights, checked luggage, transfers to the ship, and all tips and gratuities once onboard.
This is great for people who want all the planning done for them.
The only thing you might want to book on top of the cruise package is excursions in port. Excursions can be booked online prior to the cruise or once onboard.
When I went on my last Marella cruise, I was looking for a totally stress-free experience, some winter sun, and just a chance to relax. Marella certainly delivered on that.
Find out about that cruise here:
#2. The Port Lover
Marella Cruises often have itineraries that have fewer sea days than other cruise lines.
This is great for travellers who want to get off and do stuff every day.
While I appreciate some people like itineraries where they can spend days onboard the ship, enjoying the many facilities, I enjoy seeing new places and doing different things.
You can pack a lot in, in one week, when you can visit a new port – and sometimes a new country every day.
On a Mediterranean loop cruise, you can visit Spain, France, Italy, and sometimes other islands too in a week.
#3. Brits Who Like Home Comforts Abroad
When I sail on an American cruise line, I really miss having a kettle in the cabin.
It’s nice to be able to have a cup of tea in bed in the mornings before I venture out, or have a cup of tea in the afternoon when I return from a busy day in port.
The tea bags are good too. Yorkshire teabags are available, unlike when I sailed with Carnival, where the only teabags available were Liptons. Liptons are like teabags for people who don’t like tea, in my opinion!
There are lots of British touches around the ship – from the pub, to quirky signs and comedians that have a more British sense of humour.
If you do buy anything extra – maybe a giant cookie in the Coffee Port, or an excursion, you will be charged in pounds, not dollars.
A Marella ship really feels like a home away from home.
(To pop, is a very British phrase)
#4. Cruisers on a Budget
Marella sometimes offers cabins at cheaper prices than some of their rivals. The cost of a balcony may be similar to the cost of an ocean view on other, larger cruise lines.
Although Marella doesn’t have designated solo cabins, you can sometimes find a good deal on a single cabin, which is essentially a standard cabin designed for two, providing you with plenty of extra space.
Have a look at those cabins in the article below:
Marella Cruises Single/Solo Cabins – Photo Guide and Review
Because drinks and tips are included, this massively cuts down on your onboard spending.
On many American cruise lines, you are charged a 20% gratuity on top of the cost of every drink you buy.
When you have already been charged a daily service charge onboard, this to me seems like double tipping.
In the UK, we don’t have the same tipping culture as in the USA.
#5. Families and First-Time Cruisers
Marella pricing is simple, with fewer added costs.
It is great for first-time or nervous cruisers because of this.
It is also great for family groups, although it has to be said they don’t offer reduced fares for children.
There are plenty of kids’ facilities onboard, though, kids’ clubs, kids’ dining, and family-friendly facilities onboard.
Marella Explorer 2 is the only adult-only cruise ship in the fleet, if you prefer to avoid children when you are on holiday.
Entertainment onboard is suitable for people of all ages. There is a fun vibe around the ship for cruisers of all ages. You might even see some animal mascots that seem to move around the ship by themselves!
You can fly from a number of regional airports, so wherever you live in the UK, you are likely to be able to fly from the nearest airport to you.
Marella has no itineraries sailing from the UK at present, although I have taken cruises with them from the UK in the past.
Find out more about Marella’s animal mascots here:
The Secret Life of Marella Cruises’ Animal Mascots (Yes, Penguins, Ducks, and Alpacas Are Involved)
#6. People Who Like Smaller Ships
The largest cruise ships can have 7,000+ passengers onboard at any one time. They are almost like small cities at sea.
Sometimes that can cause problems logistically. That is a lot of people to get off and on board in ports, and you might find queues or lines to get on and off. Big ships can’t even visit the smaller ports.
Marella ships hold under 2000 guests. That means it is easy to navigate the ships, it’s easier to get off in port, and they can visit smaller and more interesting places.
They have multiple entertainment venues onboard, as well as many restaurants – most of which are included in the cruise fare.
Marella ships are great for those who would find the mega ships overwhelming or have some mobility issues.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas has 20 decks. That is an awful lot of stairs if the lifts/elevators are full! Marella’s ships have around 11 to 14 decks.
Their ships are a great middle ground for those who prefer smaller ships.
#7. Cruisers Who Want More Quirky Routes
Marella cruises are great for those who don’t need go-karts or aqua coasters, they just want to visit interesting places.
Marella does some unusual itineraries and ports that the bigger ships don’t. To name but a few…
- Cape Verde – off the west coast of Africa
- Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura -The Canary Isles
- Cartagena, Cadiz, and Almeria – Spain
- Toulon, Villefranche – France
- St. Croix, Bonaire, Curacao – the Caribbean
- Charlotte Amalie, Frederiksted – US Virgin Islands
Marella occasionally offers rare, one-off sailings that sell out quickly. These are often around the Mediterranean or Canary Islands.
Themes include:
- Musical Med-leys – A musical themed cruise.
- Country Rhythms – A country and western themed cruise.
- Electric Sunsets – A 90s vs 00s Music Cruise
Find out about the last themed cruise I took with Marella here:
Before You Go
Find out what else Marella changed onboard their ships to make them more suited to a British audience here;
How Marella Cruises Transformed Ex-Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Ships
It is now easy to book a Marella cruise if you aren’t a UK resident! Contact my U.S. partner travel agents (from wherever you are in the world) to find out more:
How to Book a Marella Cruise from Outside the UK – USA, Canada and Many More (Finally!)
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