What Surprised Me Most About Cruising With Marella For The First Time

This is a sponsored post for Marella Cruises.

I’ll admit it – before my first Marella cruise, I wasn’t entirely sure what my expectation levels should be.

I’d heard people rave about how easy and stress-free Marella cruises were, but I did wonder whether that meant the experience might feel a little more basic compared to some other cruise lines.

I was wrong about that.

What surprised me most wasn’t one single thing. It was how many little parts of the holiday felt genuinely well thought out. After 30 years at sea, Marella clearly knows exactly what its guests actually want from a cruise – and that really shines through…

The Fly-Cruise Experience Was Far Easier Than Expected

One of the biggest things that stood out to me was how smooth the whole fly-cruise process felt.

With Marella, your flights, transfers and cruise are all packaged together, which takes away a HUGE amount of stress before you even step onboard. Instead of worrying about separate bookings, timing your transfers or what happens if a flight is delayed, everything is handled for you.

That might not sound particularly exciting, but when you’re travelling, especially with children or from a regional airport, it makes a massive difference.

We flew from the UK in the morning and were onboard the ship in time for dinner that same day. Our luggage was transferred straight to the cabin. So easy!

I think this is one of the reasons Marella appeals so much to first-time cruisers. There’s far less of the “what do I do now?” feeling that some holidays can have.

Read more: 7 Reasons Marella Cruises Are Perfect for First-Time Cruisers

After decades of operating fly-cruises, it’s very clear that Marella has refined the process down to a fine art.

The Ships Felt More Modern Than I Imagined

Before cruising with Marella for the first time, I knew some of the ships had originally sailed with other cruise lines years ago. So some people – me included – go in with the feeling that the ships are going to feel a little older.

But if I’m honest, you don’t even think about it once you’re onboard.

The public spaces felt modern, bright and well maintained, and the atmosphere onboard was a lot more contemporary than I’d anticipated. Instead of feeling dated, the ships felt comfortable and properly designed for how people actually cruise now.

I also quickly realised that I really liked the size of the ships.

Marella’s ships tend to sit in that sweet spot where there’s plenty going on, but you’re not constantly getting lost or walking miles from one end of the ship to the other.

Within a day or two, we knew exactly where everything was, which made the whole holiday feel much more relaxed.

On some of the huge mega-ships, I spend half the cruise checking deck plans and maps and trying to work out where I’m going!

How Much Was Included

I knew Marella cruises were All Inclusive before I sailed, so this one wasn’t a massive surprise. But again, it’s one of those things that, until you actually live it, you don’t understand how much simpler it makes everything feel.

Flights, transfers, tips, drinks, entertainment and a wide range of dining options are all included in the fare, so there’s far less of that constant feeling of being upsold, which is so nice compared to some other cruise lines.

It changed the atmosphere onboard too.

People were ordering cocktails by the pool without worrying about adding another £12 to their bill. You could grab a coffee, soft drink or mocktail whenever you fancied one. Even little things like pre-poured drinks waiting outside the theatre made the experience feel more relaxed and generous.

And if you don’t drink alcohol, it still works well. Mocktails, soft drinks, hot drinks and other non-alcoholic options are all included too.

By the end of the cruise, I realised something else – I hadn’t spent the whole week mentally calculating extra costs to make sure I could afford it all. Surprisingly refreshing!

The Atmosphere Was Soooooo Relaxed

This was probably the thing that stood out to me most overall – Marella cruises have a really relaxed atmosphere onboard.

There’s entertainment happening throughout the day, live music in the bars, quizzes, theatre shows and plenty of activities, but there’s never any pressure to do everything. People just seem genuinely comfortable and happy to enjoy the holiday at their own pace.

The dress code helps with that too. There’s no pressure to pack formalwear if you don’t want to. Some guests still enjoy dressing up in the evenings, but others stay much more casual, and nobody really bats an eyelid either way.

That creates a very easy-going atmosphere around the ship.

It also felt noticeably British in lots of small ways. Tea and coffee facilities in the cabin, familiar food options, pub snacks and a crowd that enjoys a good quiz night all helped the experience feel familiar rather than intimidating.

For first-time cruisers especially, I think that relaxed atmosphere makes a huge difference.

The Crew Made a Bigger Difference Than I Expected

Good crew members can completely shape a cruise experience, and this is another thing where Marella really impressed me.

The service felt warm and genuine throughout the cruise.

Bar staff remembered drink orders, waiters stopped for conversations, and crew members always seemed approachable if anyone needed help with something. It felt like the best bits of ‘formal’ cruising…

What also stood out most was how quickly problems were handled. When we had a small issue with the cabin air conditioning, an engineer arrived within minutes and fixed it straight away. It sounds like a tiny thing, but efficient service like that has a huge impact on how relaxed your holiday feels.

There’s also something to be said for consistency. After 30 years at sea, Marella clearly understands the type of onboard service its guests appreciate. The experience felt polished without feeling overly formal.

I Didn’t Expect So Many Included Dining Options

One thing that genuinely surprises a lot of people about the onboard experience with Marella Cruises was how many dining venues were included without any extra charge.

Obviously there’s the main dining room and buffet, but onboard Marella Explorer there were also Italian restaurants, pizza and pasta spots, tapas-style venues and poolside snack options included as part of the fare.

The buffet in particular impressed me. The themes changed regularly, there were live cooking stations, and there was always plenty of choice whether you wanted something familiar or something a little different.

I also thought Marella handled dietary requirements really well.

Food labelling was clear and easy to follow, and vegetarian, vegan and allergen-friendly options were available throughout the ship without feeling like an afterthought.

And for families, having easy grab-and-go food around the pool during the day makes life much simpler.

Sometimes you just want chips and a burger after swimming.

It Was Easier For Families Than I Thought

Although Marella might not have the giant rollercoasters and waterparks you’ll find on some of the enormous American ships, I actually think the experience feels easier for families in a lot of ways.

The ships are manageable to navigate, the atmosphere is relaxed, and there’s plenty to keep children occupied without everything feeling overstimulating.

The sports court was always busy, mini golf was popular, and the gaming spaces were a huge hit with older kids.

I also noticed that because the ships aren’t so large, families naturally seemed to relax more. Parents weren’t constantly trying to coordinate opposite ends of the ship or queue for attractions all day.

It felt much more like everyone could properly settle into holiday mode.

The Entertainment Had More Variety Than I Assumed

Before cruising with Marella, I expected fairly standard cruise entertainment. But there was actually far more happening around the ship than I’d anticipated.

There were West-End-style theatre productions in the evenings, live music across multiple venues, game shows, quizzes, themed parties and daytime activities throughout the cruise.

I especially liked how easy it all felt, because you didn’t need to reserve theatre seats weeks in advance or carefully plan your evenings around complicated schedules. You could just wander into a venue, grab a drink and enjoy whatever was happening.

That relaxed approach suited the overall atmosphere onboard perfectly.

The Value Made More Sense Once I Was Onboard

I think this is something a lot of people misunderstand about Marella at first glance.

When you initially compare prices against some cruise lines, Marella can appear more expensive.

But once you factor in flights, transfers, drinks, gratuities and everything else that’s included, the value starts to look very different.

Because so much was already covered, the cruise genuinely felt more relaxing financially too. There wasn’t the constant pressure to spend extra money throughout the holiday.

That’s something I think many first-time cruisers really appreciate once they experience it for themselves.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, the biggest surprise about cruising with Marella wasn’t one specific feature or activity.

It was how effortless the whole experience felt.

Everything seemed designed to remove stress rather than add to it – from the flights and transfers to the relaxed atmosphere onboard and the amount included in the fare.

After 30 years at sea, Marella has clearly figured out what works for its guests.

And while experienced cruisers can absolutely appreciate that too, I think it’s especially noticeable if you’re cruising for the first time.

Because sometimes the best holidays aren’t necessarily the flashiest ones.

They’re the ones where everything just feels easy from start to finish.

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