Note: This post is sponsored by Marella Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are my own based on my 8+ Cruises with Marella.
If you live in the UK, you will probably have heard of Marella Cruises. Marella are a British cruise line that advertises widely in the UK.
Marella came into being when Thomson Cruises rebranded in October 2017.
Historically, the Thomson cruises brand was known for offering “fly-cruise” holidays. It was the UK’s third-largest cruise line before rebranding and becoming Marella Cruises.
The Origins: From Thomson to Marella
Thomson entered the cruise market in 1973, but because of rising fuel costs and market conditions, the venture wasn’t a success. Thomson terminated its cruise business in 1976.
In 1995, Thomson restarted their cruise line.
Airtours, through its Sun Cruises brand, was demonstrating the viability of a budget cruise offering and attracting many new customers.
Sun Cruises proved that there was a profitable market for British budget-friendly cruise holidays.
Their initial venture in the 1970s ended due to rising fuel costs and market conditions. But by 1995, conditions were more conducive to a successful return to the cruise industry.
In October 2017, the TUI Group announced that Thomson Cruises would be rebranded as Marella Cruises, with all of the existing fleet receiving a name change from Thomson or TUI to Marella.
When Thomson Cruises rebranded as Marella Cruises in late October 2017, the ships that were sailing under the Thomson name continued sailing for Marella. This included Thomson Dream, which became Marella Dream, and the Thomson Celebration, which became Marella Celebration.
The Thomson Spirit became the Marella Spirit for a short period, but was scrapped in December 2018.
Thomson Majesty also continued under its original name but was later known as just Majesty when she joined Celestyal Cruises in 2017.
Towards the end of 2018, she was sold to the Israeli firm Mano Maritime and, for the first time, lost her Majesty name as she was renamed Crown Iris. She remains in service as Crown Iris today.
Ownership: TUI UK and TUI Group
Marella Cruises is a product of the TUI Group (TUI AG).
Although the TUI Group is German, Marella itself is British and markets and sells to the British public.
People Muddle Up Marella Cruises And TUI Cruises…
TUI Cruises is a separate brand: a German-focused joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean.
50% of shares are owned by Royal Caribbean International and 50% by the German tourism company TUI AG.
People often confuse TUI Cruises with Marella, despite their distinctly different markets and operations.
Target Market and Brand Positioning
Marella primarily sells its cruises to UK holidaymakers.
Marella’s cruises are All-Inclusive, with flights, transfers, drinks and tips included as standard.
They have a fun, relaxed approach to cruising. There’s a variety of dress codes at different venues, so you can pick one that suits your mood.
This suits me very well, as I like to be able to relax and “go with the flow” when I cruise.
Marella cruises offer great value. Once you have paid your cruise fare, you need not spend any more money if you don’t want to.
Future Outlook and Market Developments
Marella’s future looks bright, with plans for greater expansion and the ordering of new ships.
They are expanding their itineraries for 2026 and offer a range of Cruise & Stay options.
We’re excited to be launching our winter 2026 itineraries with the return of sailing to some of our Tunisian ports. We are always looking for new ways to improve and adapt our customer offering, whether that’s through new destinations, itineraries, or ships.
Chris Hackney, Managing Director, Marella Cruises
Guests will be able to explore a wide range of ports and destinations in Morocco and Portugal, as well as the opportunity to take advantage of Marella’s Cruise & Stay programme, by extending their holiday at one of TUI’s hotels pre- or post- cruise.
Before You Go
You can now book a Marella cruise if you live outside the UK. Find out how here:
How to Book a Marella Cruise from Outside the UK – USA, Canada and Many More (Finally!)
Find out who would enjoy a Marella Cruise here:
7 People Who Would Love a Marella Cruise
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