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Marella Cruises has one headline feature that wins over British holidaymakers instantly: drinks are included in the fare. As the cruise arm of TUI in the UK, it brings the all-inclusive package-holiday model that British travelers know from beach resorts to the water.
This is all-inclusive mass-market cruising for the British market. Drinks are bundled into the fare, the atmosphere is friendly and informal, and the mostly smaller, older ships reach a good range of ports. It is unpretentious, value-focused, and built around British package-holiday expectations.
Operated by TUI in the UK, Marella sits in the mass-market tier as a British all-inclusive specialist. Our verdict up front: if you are a British traveler who wants an all-inclusive, drinks-included cruise at a fair price with a familiar package-holiday feel, Marella is good value. If you want modern ships, glamour, or an international crowd, look elsewhere.
Quick Facts
| Fleet size | around 5 ships |
| Newest ship | Marella Voyager (joined 2023) |
| Capacity range | 1,200 to 2,800 guests |
| Home ports | Mediterranean and Caribbean fly-cruise bases, plus some UK sailings |
| Destinations | Mediterranean, Caribbean, Canary Islands, Asia, Northern Europe |
| Starting price | From $449 per person, all-inclusive drinks |
| Loyalty program | Marella loyalty benefits |
| Age policy | Mix of family-friendly and adults-only ships |
| Dress code | Casual, with some smart evenings |
| Our rating | 3.9 out of 5 |
Want to see what a Marella sailing costs in your dates? Check live Marella prices and sailings first. The figures below are accurate for 2026, and remember the fare includes drinks, so it covers more than a standard cruise price.
Who Marella Is For
Marella is for the British traveler who wants the all-inclusive package-holiday experience at sea: drinks included, a friendly informal atmosphere, and a fair price. As TUI’s UK cruise arm, it brings the familiar beach-resort all-inclusive model to cruising.
The crowd is overwhelmingly British, value-conscious, and there for the inclusive ease and the relaxed holiday feel. Marella splits its fleet between family-friendly and adults-only ships, letting it serve both couples and families within the same all-inclusive format.
Best for:
- British travelers
- fans of all-inclusive package holidays
- value-focused cruisers
- couples (on adults-only ships) and families (on family ships)
Not ideal for:
- Travelers wanting modern ships or glamour
- anyone seeking an international crowd
- those who want refinement
If you want a similar British experience with no-fly sailings and a larger fleet, compare Marella and P&O side by side.
The Fleet
Marella runs around five ships, mostly smaller and older vessels acquired from other lines, which keeps fares low while offering a comfortable all-inclusive experience.
The fleet ranges around 1,200 to 2,800 guests, with ships like Marella Explorer and the newer-to-the-fleet Marella Voyager (which joined in 2023) offering the more modern accommodation. These are mid-size ships, smaller than the mass-market megaships, with a friendly, manageable scale.
The ships are older than the flagships of the big lines, having sailed previously for other brands, but they are well-maintained and suited to the relaxed, all-inclusive British holiday format. The smaller size lets them reach a good range of ports.
The split between family-friendly and adults-only ships is useful, letting Marella serve both audiences within its all-inclusive model. It is much like P&O, though on a smaller and older fleet.
Dining
Marella’s dining is comfortable, British-leaning, and part of the all-inclusive value, with familiar favorites alongside international options. The quality is solid mass-market, pitched to the British holiday palate.
The main dining rooms and buffets serve the varied, familiar spread the audience expects, with British favorites well represented. Specialty dining adds variety on some ships, occasionally with surcharges, but the included range covers the holiday well.
The headline is the all-inclusive drinks, bundled into the fare, covering a good range of drinks throughout the day, which is the model British package-holiday travelers know and love. The included drinks and dining make the onboard experience genuinely spend-free for most guests.
Entertainment & Activities
Marella’s entertainment is friendly, familiar, and pitched to the British holiday market, with West End-style shows, familiar music, and the relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere the audience expects.
The ships offer the expected mass-market spread scaled to their mid-size: pools, a spa, a casino, and varied daytime activities. The family ships add kids’ clubs, all with a relaxed all-inclusive holiday feel. The adults-only ships offer a calmer program.
Daytime is relaxed and holiday-focused, built around the pools, the bars (drinks included), the activities, and the destination. The vibe is a friendly British all-inclusive holiday at sea rather than a glamorous or high-energy cruise, which suits the positioning.
Cabins & Accommodations
Marella cabins are comfortable and functional, suited to the value, all-inclusive positioning, with the newer-to-the-fleet ships offering more modern accommodation.
Standard Inside, Ocean View, and Balcony cabins are clean and straightforward, comfortable for the relaxed holiday format. The decor is familiar and unpretentious rather than plush, fitting the package-holiday character.
The more recently acquired ships, such as Marella Voyager, offer more contemporary cabins and some better accommodation tiers, while the older ships are more basic. Suites add space but remain mass-market in standard.
Across the fleet the accommodation prioritizes comfort and value within the all-inclusive model. It fits a holiday where guests spend their time at the pool, the bars, and ashore rather than in the cabin.
Destinations & Itineraries
Marella operates largely as a fly-cruise line, basing ships in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Canary Islands. British travelers fly out and join the ship locally, in the familiar package-holiday model. It also runs some sailings closer to home and reaches Asia and Northern Europe.
The fly-cruise bases in the Mediterranean and Caribbean let Marella offer warm-weather all-inclusive holidays year-round, which suits the British audience escaping the weather. The itineraries hit the popular, well-loved holiday ports.
Marella favors the popular sun-and-sea ports, fitting the package-holiday model. You can build your Marella itinerary by region. Since most sailings are fly-cruise, see where to stay before or after your cruise near the Mediterranean or Caribbean base to extend the holiday.
Pricing & Value
A Marella sailing starts around $449 per person. With drinks included in the fare, it is genuinely good value for British travelers who would otherwise pay extra for an all-inclusive drinks package.
Here’s a realistic all-in for two on a 7-night 2026 fly-cruise. The fare for two, with drinks included, runs roughly $1,500 to $2,200 depending on season and ship. Gratuities are typically included on Marella, and the main extra is the flight to the fly-cruise base.
The included drinks and gratuities make the onboard cost genuinely all-inclusive, with little to add beyond the flight and any excursions. For a couple, a week lands in the low-to-mid four figures all-in plus flights. Watch the current Marella deals for all-inclusive fly-cruise packages and shoulder-season value.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- All-inclusive drinks bundled into the fare
- Gratuities typically included too
- Familiar British package-holiday format
- Split fleet offering both family and adults-only ships
- Mid-size ships with a friendly, manageable scale
- Warm-weather fly-cruise bases year-round
- Good value for British travelers
Cons
- Older ships acquired from other lines
- Overwhelmingly British; limited international appeal
- Lacks modern facilities and glamour
- Most sailings require a flight to the base
- Mass-market quality rather than refined
The Verdict
Marella brings the British all-inclusive package holiday to sea, and for its audience that is exactly the appeal: drinks included, gratuities included, a friendly informal atmosphere, and a fair price. The ships are older and smaller than the big lines’ flagships, but they suit the relaxed, spend-free holiday format well. The split fleet sensibly serves both families and couples.
Book Marella if you are a British traveler who wants an all-inclusive, drinks-included cruise with a familiar package-holiday feel at a fair price, on either a family or adults-only ship. Skip it if you want modern ships, glamour, an international crowd, or refinement. In those cases P&O or a mainstream line fits better.
Rating: 3.9 out of 5. Good all-inclusive value for British travelers who want a spend-free holiday at sea.
Ready to look at real sailings? See this week’s Marella deals or compare Marella against another line before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marella Cruises all-inclusive?
Yes, that is its headline feature. Marella includes drinks in the fare, covering a good range throughout the day, and gratuities are typically included too. This brings the British all-inclusive package-holiday model to cruising, making the onboard experience essentially spend-free for most guests.
Who owns Marella Cruises?
Marella is the cruise arm of TUI in the UK, part of the same TUI travel group behind the package holidays many British travelers know. It brings TUI’s all-inclusive holiday model to the water for the British market.
Are Marella ships new?
No, mostly older. Marella’s ships were largely acquired from other cruise lines and are older than the big lines’ flagships, though well-maintained. The more recently added Marella Voyager offers more modern accommodation. The mid-size ships suit the relaxed, all-inclusive British holiday format.
Does Marella fly you to the ship?
Usually, yes. Marella operates largely as a fly-cruise line, basing ships in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Canary Islands, so British travelers fly out and join the ship locally. This is the familiar package-holiday model, and the flight is the main cost on top of the all-inclusive fare.
How does Marella compare to P&O?
Both serve British travelers, but differently. Marella is all-inclusive with drinks in the fare and operates mostly fly-cruise on older mid-size ships. P&O is larger, sails no-fly from Southampton, and includes gratuities but charges for drinks. Marella suits all-inclusive fly-cruise holidaymakers; P&O suits no-fly travelers wanting a bigger fleet.
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