Travel with Marella Cruises is on the go. TUI Cruises, formerly known as Thomson Cruises, is still a subsidiary of the massive TUI Travel Group and puts its years of knowledge into making cruises accessible and affordable for everyone.
The 1,900-passenger Marella Explorer was recently inaugurated with a raucous on-deck party in Palma, Mallorca, including a live performance by hitmaker Craig David.
As a result, you get a vacation that is reassuring for first-timers since it is like a package trip but appealing to repeat visitors because it has the style of a really good cruise. Also, the costs are really reasonable and all-inclusive, so there won’t be any unpleasant financial surprises.
Marella Explorer – the ship
This is nothing new, but it is quite nice. After 20 years of globe travel, the Marella Explorer underwent a substantial refurbishment that fused classic and modern design features such as hardwood columns and hefty steel fixtures. This ship has a little bit of everything, from retro elements from the ’40s and ’50s in the common areas to beachy fun on deck.
Cabins
The hammocks on every balcony are certainly a unique feature of the Marella Explorer. Your partner can relax in the sun on the lounger below while you swing above them. Due to the ship’s age, only a third of the staterooms include private balconies. Other accommodations include those with windows and those tucked away inside. Everyone, however, is thoroughly up-to-date and very British, complete with a kettle and some Yorkshire tea bags. clean, albeit smaller than those on modern ships.
Food
Whether it’s the brightly painted beach huts on deck near the corrugated iron informality of the Snack Shack (burgers, pizza, etc.), the chairs with bicycle pedal footrests at the Scoops ice-cream truck, or the Caribbean feel of the aged wood décor of the big and wonderful Market Place buffet, Explorer is brimming with cheerful coastal elements (with everything from chips to curries, even kedgeree for breakfast).
Among the 10 restaurants available, five are free. The meal covers not just the Market Place and Snack Shack but also Latitude 53 (three-course dinners), the pizza at the Mediterranean, and the Italian fare at Vista. The polished wood and porthole-like windows of the Dining Club, Umi Sushi, and the French extravagance of the Surf & Turf steakhouse all come at a price (cover charges range from £9.95 to £45).
The spectacular Latitude 53 is spread over two floors (Vista’s is located on the lower level) and has an open core room with a glass wall at the rear. On the upper deck, the Mediterranean, a retractable glass-roofed conservatory, is almost as impressive. Here, you can get both food (customizable pizzas) and beverages from the indoor/outdoor bar that extends out through the tall windows onto the terrace.
Activities
Bar, nightclub, and casino Indigo at the ship’s front are not to be outdone. The bar has sloping windows two decks high spanning the width of the ship, the club is a nearly circular industrial chic room, and the gaming tables, placed against the windows, look awesome (rather than the flashing Las Vegas feel of so many ships).
Even on a two-week trip, there will be enough to do at night, as the chic Broadway Show Lounge has a rotating schedule of 12 performances. It’s not simply a wide range of styles, though; there are tributes to Fleetwood Mac and other bands (Rockology), the 1950s (Bud’s Diner), the 1970s and 1980s (Festival), as well as soul, musicals, and even a family-friendly sing-along (Festival).
Despite lacking the go-karts and water slides seen on most newer resort ships, the ship is fantastic for families. Relax with your loved ones on the family deck, which has a movie theater with the newest releases, mini-golf, a volleyball or basketball court, and more (films are on the in-room TVs too). Sessions at The M Club, which are open to kids 3–11, are always free. The Hideaway Club has video games and wide hammocks for teenagers to relax on while on deck.
The Marella Explorer has the first-ever Champneys spa at sea, so adults won’t be left wanting for entertainment options. The Thermal Garden is available for a daily charge of £15 and includes steam rooms and a genuinely remarkable sauna that is not only enormous but also has picture windows out to sea.
Located near the ship’s front, the Veranda offers a private oasis complete with double sun loungers and cabanas for an additional fee.
Additionally, there are 10 bars ranging from the light and breezy Mediterranean atmosphere to the mysterious Bar 53, a three-deck-high affair with a narrow layout but a piano and chairs facing a shimmering wall. The Lounge is a piano bar that winds its way through the middle of the ship, while the Squid and Anchor have live music and trivia nights.
Marella Explorer – the verdict
An outstanding vacation with a great deal of class. The flights are paid for, and there is no need to spend any money while on board unless you wish to. This summer, cruises will depart from Palma to explore the coasts of Spain and the Mediterranean, while winter voyages will depart from Barbados to explore the islands of the Caribbean.
All-inclusive rates for a seven-night, round-trip cruise on the Cosmopolitan Classics from Palm start at £964 per person.
