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.
If you are considering or taking a cruise, adding on a stay either before or after can be a great way to extend your trip.
You’ve already paid for the flights and spent the time on the plane, so you might as well make the most out of it.
It is a great way to get more value for your money and there are many other benefits you may not have considered.
In this article, we look at why you might want to consider a “Cruise & Stay” holiday with Marella, rather than just a cruise.
#1: You Get To See More of The Country, Not Just The Port
Although days in port are brilliant, they can be busy, especially in popular destinations during peak seasons. I’ve been on many cruises where I’ve tried to cover a lot of ground and see all the main sites in one day, it is often possible, but a challenge.
If you are staying in a hotel on land for a few days, you can visit these places in your own time at your own pace.
You can take a Cruise & Stay holiday in any place where Marella ships homeport. If your flight arrives late in the evening, and you are just taking a cruise, you won’t have any time to visit that port town or city. By taking a Cruise and Stay holiday, you will have time in that destination either before or after the cruise.
You can visit inland towns and beaches, enjoy local food and see places you would never get to enjoy on a ship’s schedule because they are too far away from the port.
Cruise stops are great to give you a taster of a region or country. I have visited many that I have thought I would like to return to and spend more time in!
#2 It Makes Embarkation Day Or Disembarkation Day Less Stressful
With Marella’s Cruise & Stay holidays, you can choose a hotel stay before or after your cruise.
You will be transferred to your hotel whenever your flight arrives at the destination.
If you choose to stay at a hotel after the cruise, transfers to your hotel will be arranged.
This will mean taking a relatively short journey from the hotel on Embarkation day rather than spending a day at the airport, travelling long distances and dealing with time zone changes. When you arrive for your cruise, you’ll be awake and ready to get started!
It is a really relaxing way to end your cruise holiday.
What’s a Cruise & Stay holiday all about?
Marella
Our Cruise & Stay holidays give you the best of both worlds. Enjoy a seven-night holiday on land before boarding the ship, or spend three, four, or seven nights in a hotel after your cruise. We’ll also sort all your transfers – to and from the ship, the hotel and the airport – so you can holiday hassle-free. Our TUI reps will be on hand throughout your holiday, and you can contact them via Navigate onboard and on the TUI app while at your hotel. So, if you’re looking to lie undisturbed on a beach in Barbados or fancy discovering more of Dubrovnik’s history, a Cruise & Stay holiday has you covered.
#3 It Can Work Out Cheaper Than You Expect
Adding a few hotel nights isn’t always expensive.
Your flights are already covered, transfers are covered, so it’s much cheaper than booking a separate trip and having to fly again.
There are a range of different hotels to choose from, so you can choose something that suits you and your friends and family well.
Choose from:
- TUI BLUE
- TUI BLUE hotels include options for adults-only stays and family getaways.
- Platinum
- These premium hotels are the cream of the crop, they’re all rated 4T and above, and receive consistently great feedback from customers. (TUI has a 1-5 T rating system)
- Small & Friendly
- Small & Friendly hotels are mostly family-run and are great if you like your holidays with a dose of local authenticity
#4. You Can Ease Into – Or Out Of – Your Cruise Holiday
If you book a land stay before the cruise, it will help you slow down, adjust to the climate, sleep properly, and arrive onboard already relaxed.
Embarkation day can often be a bit of a whirlwind. You land, take a transfer, board the ship, unpack – and suddenly you are in full holiday mode!
It can be nice to have a couple of chilled hotel days first. This works really well for people who say cruises feel a bit “full-on” at the start.
Alternatively, book a hotel stay at the end of the cruise. Then you can have a few days relaxing on land before returning home to the stresses of everyday life.
#5. It Lets You Mix Two Very Different Holidays Into One
Really, you are getting two holidays rolled into one.
You can enjoy a land-based holiday with leisurely time to enjoy sites of interest, soak up the local culture and enjoy the local food.
The cruise offers convenience, good entertainment, and the opportunity to visit multiple destinations in a short period.
Marella Cruises work particularly well for this type of Cruise & Stay holiday. TUI offers many hotels to choose from, which can be easily combined to create a perfect Cruise & Stay experience.
(Marella is a part of the TUI Group, a major global travel company).
If you have the time to spare, I would highly recommend a Marella Cruise & Stay holiday.
You get the best of both worlds at an affordable price.
Personally, I’m a fan of a pre-cruise stay, but both options are great. I always feel like I’m better able to make the most out of embarkation day if I haven’t travelled on the same day.
Before You Go
Why not enjoy a Cruise & Stay holiday at the wonderful island of Mallorca? It is a place I have returned to again and again. The port itself is very easy to sail from. Find out more about why I love it so much here:
Why Palma de Mallorca is One of the Easiest (and Best) Cruise Ports to Sail From
Find out why Marella were my first choice when I wanted to take my mum away on a cruise here:
5 Reasons Why I Booked a Marella Cruise For Me and My Mum
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