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’ve just disembarked a cruise with my friend and business partner Matt. It wasn’t his first cruise, but it was his first Marella cruise.
Matt’s used to the more classic, formal cruise lines, so I was really curious to see what he’d make of Marella’s more relaxed, all inclusive style. Not nervous – just excited to share something I’ve always enjoyed and see it through his eyes.
I always feel more pressure when I’m bringing somebody else along on a cruise. Because I’d already been on the ship, and cruised the same itinerary with Marella before, I was confident it would be a good cruise.
When Matt cruised in the past, he cruised on traditional, formal lines, the kinds with strict dress codes and fixed dining times. I knew that Marella would be much more relaxed and casual than the cruises he’d taken before.
What Cruise Did We Take?
Our cruise was 7 nights long and sailed from Tenerife.
We were onboard Marella Voyager and sailed in January/February 2026.
Canarian Flavours from Gran Canaria
Below is our itinerary:
- DAY 1 – Cruise departed from Arrecife, Lanzarote.
- DAY 2 – Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura.
- DAY 3 – At sea.
- DAY 4 – Funchal, Madeira.
- DAY 5 – San Sebastian, La Gomera – Port missed due to bad weather.
- DAY 6 – Santa Cruz, Tenerife.
- DAY 7 – Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
- Day 8 – Arrecife, Lanzarote.
Our flights and transfers were included in the cruise fare, and before we’d even got to the ship, Matt mentioned how seamless and well everything had worked so far.
I hoped that that wouldn’t be tempting fate, but I’m happy to say that everything was really well organised from start to finish.
Like most cruises, especially those sailing in winter, it didn’t all go exactly to plan.
We did end up with a port change due to bad weather, but it was handled really well, and we ended up having an extra sea day, which was fine by us.
Cruising out of peak season was great, the weather was around 25 °C, which was perfect for us, and because of the price saving compared to peak season, I was able to upgrade my cabin to a large balcony cabin.
I paid £1322 for the cruise, including flights, transfers, drinks and all gratuities.
Having not cruised with Marella before, Matt was surprised by how happy and friendly the crew seemed, and I do think that’s one of the best things about Marella Cruises.
They do things slightly differently, like having the housekeeping teams work in groups rather than alone, and I think it makes a big difference to the feeling onboard.
Marella don’t have fixed dining times. There’s no table sharing or strict formal dress codes, and that suited us all really well.
This was my 8th Marella cruise, so I loved feeling like I already knew how everything worked.
One of Matt’s favourite areas on the ship is an area called the Summer House. This is a venue at the back of the ship and it used to be a swimming pool when the ship was originally owned by another cruise line back in the 1990s.
It was transformed into a lounge and there would often be live music in here. It’s one of my favourite venues too.
On the sides are two restaurants, a pizzeria (Nonna’s) and a Mexican restaurant (Abuela’s). Both are included in the cruise fare and I loved eating here.
When I cruised on the ship in July I didn’t ever see the roof retracted but that was probably because it was so hot during the cruise. This time it was much cooler so the roof was often retracted, it was such a lovely venue to spend some time in.
Matt really enjoyed the included Mexican restaurant, the trivia quizzes (aimed at a British audience) and his cabin.
He had booked a junior suite onboard. Suite perks included a coffee machine, slippers, a dressing gown, upgraded toiletries, and a choice of pillows.
Seeing something I love through somebody else’s eyes was so much fun, and it confirmed to me why Marella is one of my personal favourite cruise lines.
Check out the Marella deals on their website below, it’s possible to cruise for as little as £1000 per person on a very similar cruise next January, but that price won’t last long so don’t miss out.
I took a cruise on Marella Voyager with my Mum just last year. I enjoyed it so much that I thought it was the perfect choice for Matt. Have a look at that first cruise on the ship here:
Before You Go
Find out more about Marella Cruises here:
Who Exactly Are Marella Cruises? (And How They’re Different from TUI)
Find out whether a Marella cruise would suit you here:
7 People Who Would Love a Marella Cruise
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