If you are considering a cruise with Marella Cruises, you might be wondering about the types of laundry services that they offer onboard.
I’ve cruised with Marella multiple times and have just returned from a cruise on the Marella Explorer 2.
Do Marella Have a Self-Serve Laundry?
Marella Cruises do not have self-serve laundries on any of their cruise ships. Marella does offer a variety of laundry services but all come with a charge.
Marella cruises do not include laundry but they do include a variety of food, drinks, and more. If you are taking your first cruise with Marella and are wondering what is included, check out this post: Marella Cruises, what does ‘all inclusive’ include?
How Much Does Laundry Cost on a Marella Cruise?
Washing and ironing a pair of jeans with Marella Cruises averages at around £4.50, for a t-shirt this costs £3.60. Shorts cost £3.70. A dress costs around £7.60 and underwear can be washed for as little as £0.85.
The table below was created using data from the Marella Explorer 2. This is designed to give you a rough idea of how much things cost and should not be taken as being exact.
| Wash Cost | Press Cost | |
| Shirt | £2.40 | £1.70 |
| T-Shirt | £2.40 | £1.20 |
| Dress | £4.00 | £3.60 |
| Skirt | £3.00 | £2.40 |
| Underwear | £0.85 | – |
| Trousers | £2.70 | £1.80 |
| Shorts | £2.20 | £1.50 |
| Jumpers | £2.40 | £1.70 |
| Socks (Pair) | £0.85 | – |
| Swimsuit | £1.60 | – |
| Suit Jacket | – | £2.40 |
| 2 Piece Suit | – | £3.60 |
| 3 Piece Suit | – | £4.20 |
Note: Marella doesn’t offer any service to press socks, swimsuits or underwear.
The prices of laundry (and all things on cruise ships) change regularly.
Laundry is usually returned the next day by 7pm, if you would like your clothes returned the same day there is a 50% extra charge.
Laundry Deals Available With Marella Cruises:
Unlike other cruise lines, Marella doesn’t offer laundry packages where you can purchase a certain number of items being laundered for a certain amount of money.
Instead, Marella offers a ‘fill a bag’ promotion.
Marella’s Fill a Bag Promotion:
One of the most cost-effective ways to do laundry on a Marella cruise is to take part in their fill a bag promotion. (includes same day service)
The fill a bag promotion costs £14.95 and this includes the washing of all items that can be fit in the laundry bag. The clothes are not pressed but are instead returned folded.
The laundry bag will be in your cabin and it is a paper bag roughly the size of a pillowcase.
Be careful not the rip the bag though, as they are quite fragile!
How to use this promotion:
- Fill in the same laundry slip and place your items into the bag. This is so that the laundry knows how many items you have put in the bag. They will also add little tags on to your clothes with your cabin number. These tags are quite sticky and I’ve had a few which have stayed on for months after getting home.
- Place the full bag on the bed with the label before 9am. Your room steward will pick up your laundry bag for you and take it to the laundry.
- Your laundry will be returned to you after 7pm on the same day.
In the past, I have managed to fit more than 15 items in a fill a bag promotional laundry bag. If I was to pay for these separately it would have cost in the region of £40.
How do You Use The Pay Per Item Laundry with Marella Cruises?
If you aren’t doing the full bag promotion you must fill out the laundry sheet and total up the amount that you are spending. I’m sure that the laundry checks this but it’s always good to have an idea of how much you are spending too. It’s also important that you sign the form.
Marella Cruises Laundry Terms:
In the case of loss or damage, the maximum liability of an item is 10x the price charged to wash and press that item.
If you have a particularly expensive dress or suit I would recommend that you don’t have this laundered by the cruise line.
Marella doesn’t accept any responsibility for your clothes if they shrink or become discolored.
Free Alternatives to Cruise Line Laundry Services
If at all possible I do try to avoid paying for laundry when I cruise. I usually make use of my free bag and wash any other items myself.
When I cruise I usually pack a little sachet of travel wash like this: US Link, UK Link.
I use the travel wash to wash things like t-shirts and socks in the cabin sink. It’s easy to do and almost free!
How to Use Travel Wash:
Using travel wash is really easy and doesn’t take long at all. Start by filling the sink with warm water then add a very small amount of the travel wash.
Move your clothes around in the wash and then put them to the side. I like to wash all clothes in the same bubbly water before moving on to rinse them off. Rinsing some clothes in the sink can be a bit tricky but rinsing them in the shower is always a good option.
Once you’ve washed your clothes, try to wring out as much of the water as possible, so that they can dry faster.
There is usually a line for hanging your clothes in the shower so I do this. Cruise lines do try to dissuade guests from hanging clothes on their balconies to dry because they can blow away and become a danger.
Can You Borrow an Iron From Marella?
Guests are usually able to borrow an iron on Marella cruises by asking their room steward.
If you do want to iron your clothes yourself I’d recommend that you do this at the start of the cruise. That way you can get the ironing out of the way and get on with your cruise!
Can You Bring an Iron on a Cruise?
You cannot bring an iron on a cruise. Irons are banned on cruises because they pose a safety risk and if you do try to bring one on board with you it will be confiscated.
All luggage is scanned on cruise ships to look for things like alcohol and dangerous items.
How to ‘Iron’ Your Clothes Without Using an Iron
Use gravity to drop out the creases
There is not a lot more annoying than carefully picking out your outfit and realizing that you look like you need a good iron! Keeping clothes wrinkle-free when they’ve been packed into a suitcase is quite a challenge.
To get rid of the worst of the wrinkles I like to have a shower and then hang the clothes in the bathroom.
This can be tricky if the coat hangers in your closet are attached to the closet but generally speaking it’s usually quite easy to take out a coat hanger and hang your clothes on the inside of the bathroom door.
The creases mostly drop out as the bathroom dries. It isn’t perfect but it is a lot better than just wearing your freshly creased clothes!
If you are worried about wrinkles in your clothes it may be worth buying something like this: US Link, UK link.
By spraying this onto your clothes before having a shower and leaving the creases to drop you can maximize the effect.
Bringing an iron on a cruise is a very common first cruise mistake, to find out more about what happens if you do this, watch the video below:
Is It Worth Paying For Laundry on a Marella Cruise?
If you are going to wash more than 4 or so items I’d recommend that you wait for the fill a bag promotion as it’s much better value. If you do only want to wash 1 or 2 items it could be worth just doing this on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Make sure you take advantage of any discounts offered to you through the latitudes program.
If you are only wanting to wash a few t-shirts, maybe some gym clothes, socks, etc I’d strongly recommend that you do your own laundry in the cabin sink. It’s cheap and easy!
| Marella Laundry Recommendations | |
| 1-4 Items | Pay as you go or cabin sink |
| 4+ Items | Fill a bag promotion |
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