Are Marella Cruises Worth The Money? Real Comparisons With Other Cruise Lines

Marella cruises often look more expensive upfront than some other cruise lines. But then you need to consider just how much is included in the cruise fare.

You might get what you think is a cheap, bargain cruise, but by the time you have added on all the essential “extras”, it turns out not to be such a bargain after all!

You need to factor in the cost of daily service charges (per person) and any drinks you buy at the very least. Excursions, WiFi and speciality meals are all likely to come at an additional charge too.

At the end of your cruise, you might end up with quite a large onboard account to settle.

The lovely thing about a Marella cruise is that a wide range of alcoholic and soft drinks are included in the cruise fare, and all flights and transfers are covered too. No nasty surprises!

They are very popular with British cruisers, offering an easy, well-orchestrated fly-cruise experience.

It is perfectly feasible to get off the ship and have a £0 bill at the end of your cruise.

I have sailed with Marella multiple times. In this article, we look at whether they offer genuinely good value for money or whether you would be better off considering different cruise lines.

What Marella Cruises Include In The Price

Included in the price of your cruise fare is:

• Flights from the UK
• Transfers
• All tips/gratuities
• A standard drinks package
• Entertainment
• Meals
• Accommodation

Some things do cost extra, but it is entirely up to you whether you think you will benefit from paying extra for them:

• Speciality dining
  • There are many free dining venues onboard the ship, but if you want an extra special dining experience, there are multiple speciality dining venues to choose from.
  • These charge extra per head.
• Premium drinks packages
  • If you prefer canned soda or a particular spirit, you can upgrade to the premium drinks package.
  • This comes at a fraction of the cost of most other alcoholic drink packages on other cruise lines.
    • Alcoholic drinks on an American cruise line can cost well over $100 a day. (And then service charges of up to 20% are added on top!)
• Excursions
  • I often prefer to get off and “do my own thing” in ports.
  • If there is something you particularly want to see or are nervous about exploring alone, Marella excursions may fit the bill.
• Wi-Fi
  • Marella Cruises doesn’t make you pay for WiFi for the entire length of your cruise.
  • You pay for a set amount of data, and you can buy more if you need it. This is different from most other lines, which charge by the day.

I can use my phone’s mobile data at no additional charge in most ports.

If you just need to keep in touch with those at home, or want to do a bit of light browsing, you might be able to do that when you are in port at no extra cost. Check your mobile/cell phone package.

It will only be on sea days that you are totally out of contact with the world.

Find out how to avoid running up extra charges for things you probably don’t need here:

6 Things First-Time Cruisers Get Tricked Into Paying For (That You Don’t Actually Need)

Remember, you don’t need to buy WiFi to use Marella’s Navigate App. Connect your phone to the ship’s free, complimentary Wi-Fi network to access daily schedules, menus, and booking features.

How Marella Prices Compare To Other Cruise Lines

At first glance, Marella Cruises won’t appear to be the cheapest cruises available.

You need to take into account all the other add-ons that some other cruise lines charge.

As an example, I looked at how much a cruise in May 2026 cost.

Marella Mediterranean/Greek Island Prices:

These Marella fares were for an inside cabin and included all flights, transfers, a standard drinks package and all tips and gratuities.

P&O Similar Deal – Mediterranean/Greek Islands

Compare that to the cost of a similar cruise in May 2026 on P&O Azura, a ship built in 2010.

P&O are a cruise line that also appeals to and sells to the British market, so it is probably the most similar for comparison purposes.

(A drinks package has been included separately as a paid extra).

That is at a price of £1272 per person per cabin, with flights, transfers, and a classic drinks package included. So slightly more expensive for a very similar experience.

Compare That To An American Cruise Line…

Compare that to a cruise on an American cruise line.

I love to sail with Norwegian. I love their relaxed “Freestyle dining”, the ships, and the whole atmosphere onboard. There are plenty of extra charges to consider when booking, though.

This is how much it cost for a seven-day cruise in May on the 2006 ship, Norwegian Pearl. The newer ships tend to be more expensive (and more popular) than the older ones.

This was the price for the cruise only – no flights, transfers, drinks or service charges were included.

$20/£15 service charges for an inside cabin (or higher for a suite or a Club Balcony) would also be added. So add another £105 per person to the initial cost.

Allow approximately £200 for flights and transfers from the UK to Italy; the total cost would be around £1450 per person. Flights from the USA would, of course, be far more expensive…

What The Ships Are Really Like

All of Marella’s ships have had previous lives, sailing for other well-known cruise lines before being refurbished to suit the British market.

Their ships are mid-sized and have a friendly, casual atmosphere.

The Marella theatre shows are very good, and the theatre cast performs 12 different shows over a two-week period. If you are onboard for a fortnight, you won’t end up seeing the same shows twice.

British trivia and quizzes are held daily, and the entertainment is clearly designed for a British audience.

Find out what Marella did to their ships before they entered the fleet here:

How Marella Cruises Transformed Ex-Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Ships

The Onboard Experience

There are many different restaurants you can eat in at no additional cost. Marella’s food is of good quality, but it definitely has a British audience and British tastes in mind.

The crew onboard are friendly and welcoming. The cabin stewards work in teams rather than individually, and leave chocolates on the pillow at turndown, along with some wonderful towel animals.

The atmosphere onboard is relaxed, as is the dress code.

There are families, couples, and groups of friends onboard. Most passengers are British, as it isn’t easy for customers from elsewhere in the world to book.

Pros Of Marella Cruises

I love Marella Cruises because they:

• Have a genuinely all-inclusive feel
• Sell easy fly-cruise packages
• Have a sociable and friendly atmosphere
• Are good for first-time cruisers because everything is taken care of.
• Have great entertainment onboard to keep you occupied.
• Are good value because flights on their own can be expensive.

Cons To Be Aware Of

Things you need to be aware of:

• The ships are not the newest in the industry, although they are nicely refurbished.
• Cabins can be compact on some ships, and there aren’t as many balcony cabins as on newer vessels.
  • This can impact the cost of balcony cabins, as they are at a premium price.
• They don’t offer attractive discounted fares for children, as some other cruise lines do.
• The WiFi isn’t the best.
  • It can be hard to work from the ships sometimes, but it shouldn’t be a problem for casual web browsing.
  • WiFi is sold by the megabit/megabytes rather than by the day, so you might run out and have to buy more.
• Older ships may be more prone to maintenance issues, such as plumbing problems or inefficient air conditioning.

Have a look at the last Marella cruise I took with my Mum here:

Who Marella Cruises Are Best For

Marella may be a good fit for:

• UK fly-cruise holidaymakers
  • They have flights from several regional UK airports.
• First-time cruisers
  • Everything is taken care of, so it is a very easy cruise experience.
• All-inclusive fans
  • No big bills to pay at the end of the holiday!
• Those on a budget who don’t want to find themselves paying for unexpected extras.

Who Might Prefer Other Cruise Lines

Marella are less suitable for:

• Ultra-luxury seekers
  • Although the ships are nicely refurbished, they are old and not particularly luxurious.
• People wanting to sail on brand-new mega ships
  • There are no new ships in the Marella fleet.
• Those who like very quiet, peaceful holidays.
  • They can be quite full-on and party-like, particularly on themed or peak-season sailings.
• Cruise purists who are chasing cutting-edge ships
  • There is nothing new or cutting-edge in the Marella fleet
• Those who don’t like crowds.

I have heard Marella’s peak-season cruises described as “Butlins at Sea.” I don’t agree with that, but find out how cruises compare to holiday park breaks here:

Butlin’s at Sea? Here’s How Cruises Compare to Holiday Parks

Are Marella Cruises Good Value?

• They can be excellent value if you want a fly cruise with all transfers and drinks included.
  • Off-peak winter sailings come at very competitive prices.
• They provide an average value if you are sailing in peak season, and the prices are higher.
• They may not be the cheapest choice if you are sailing with children.
  • You might find better value and better facilities for children on a large MSC ship, for example.

Quick Tips Before Booking A Marella Ship

Things to think about when booking your Marella cruise:

• Check the cabin location on each ship before you book.
  • You probably don’t want to be right under the theatre or the buffet, as they can be noisy.
  • On any ship or cruise line, picking a cabin surrounded by other cabins is often the best bet.
• Compare prices by sailing date.
  • You might get a better deal if you are flexible with travel dates.
• Look at themed cruise sailings.
  • Marella are one of the few cruise lines that offer themed cruises. Themes vary from year to year, but could include:
    • Electric Sunsets – Go back to the 80s and 90s on a music-themed mini cruise.
    • Musical Med-leys – musical-themed mini cruises.
    • Country Rhythms – country music-themed cruises.
• Remember, book popular itineraries early.
  • If there is a particular itinerary or date you need, book early.
  • Cruises in UK school holidays sell out quickly
  • If you are flexible and don’t mind where you sail to, last-minute deals are often available.
• Check the Marella website for discount codes.
  • You can often make a saving by entering a discount code at the checkout; it is well worth doing.
  • These codes won’t be entered automatically, and they can sometimes reduce the price by hundreds of pounds.

Find out more about that here:

How To Find Discount Codes For Marella Cruises

Still not feeling confident about booking your cruise? Watch this comprehensive video next. It will tell you everything you need to know!

Before You Go

Have a look at the sort of cabins you might be allocated when you book the cheapest cabin onboard a cruise ship:

What It’s Really Like to Stay in The Cheapest Cabins on Cruise Ships (5 Examples)

When is the best time to book your cruise to get the best deal? Find out here:

When Are Cruise Prices At Their Cheapest? Hints and Tips To Help You Book At The Right Time