Marella Cruises
Mainstream Cruising
Marella is the best-value all-inclusive cruise from the UK, full stop. Flights, drinks, meals, and tips are all baked in, so there are no nasty surprises at the end. The ships are older and refurbished rather than new-builds, but TUI keeps them in good shape, and the adults-only Explorer 2 is a genuine hidden gem for couples who want a grown-up atmosphere without the premium price tag.
Marella Cruises is TUI UK’s dedicated cruise brand — formerly Thomson Cruises, rebranded in 2017 with a name meaning “shining sea” in Celtic. It is the third-largest cruise line in the UK and has carved out a distinctive niche as the go-to all-inclusive option for British travellers. Unlike most cruise lines where the fare covers only the cabin and meals, Marella includes flights from 22 regional UK airports, all meals, selected drinks, entertainment, and gratuities as standard. For budget-conscious cruisers, the transparency is a genuine selling point: there is no bill to settle at the end of the voyage.
The fleet consists of five mid-size ships — Marella Discovery, Discovery 2, Explorer, Explorer 2, and the newer Marella Voyager (formerly Mein Schiff Herz, which joined in 2023). None are new-builds; all are older vessels that have been refurbished and rebranded, which keeps costs down and allows TUI to offer competitive pricing. The standout is Marella Explorer 2, an adults-only ship with a more refined atmosphere, The Dining Club restaurant, and cocktail bars that feel a step above the rest of the fleet. Families gravitate toward the Discovery ships, which feature kids’ clubs, rock climbing walls, and escape rooms.
Dining has been a focus of recent investment, with the 2025 launch of Piccadilly’s — a complimentary 250-seat gastropub restaurant rolled out across the entire fleet, serving traditional British comfort food from early morning through evening. Destinations span the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Caribbean, and North Africa, with itineraries typically running 7 to 14 nights. The onboard atmosphere is relaxed, sociable, and unmistakably British — expect quiz nights, afternoon tea, and West End-style shows rather than European sophistication or American excess.
Marella will not win awards for cutting-edge ship design or culinary innovation, but that is not the point. It delivers a reliable, affordable, genuinely all-inclusive cruise holiday tailored specifically to the British market. For first-time cruisers or families watching the budget, it removes the complexity and hidden costs that can make other cruise lines feel like a gamble. The TUI booking ecosystem also means you can bundle flights, transfers, and pre-cruise hotel stays into a single, financially protected package.
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