Back-to-Back Vs. Cruise & Stay – Which Is Best?

This is a sponsored post for Marella Cruises.

Many people like to really make the most of their opportunities to travel, which means looking for an extended break to allow you to relax as much as possible, and make the most memories with your family.

When looking at Marella’s cruises, there are two different ways you can book longer getaways – either with a back-to-back cruise, or with a Cruise & Stay holiday.

But which is the better choice for you? Let’s take a look.

Reasons to choose back-to-back cruises

Back-to-back cruises offer you the opportunity to enjoy two different itineraries consecutively. Marella’s ships often don’t sail the same itinerary on a loop, so by staying onboard you can enjoy a blend of destinations with few repeat ports.

Here’s why you might prefer this option:

See more of the world

A back-to-back cruise is perfect for those who want to see more of the world, since you’ll get to experience different ports in both halves of your trip.

If you’re a culture vulture, or you just love variety in your experiences, then these holidays are really packed with excitement.

You can visit all the best destinations in a region in one longer cruise getaway, rather than just a few of the highlights, meaning you can tick off one part of the world and focus your next cruise on another if you’re determined to explore as much as possible.

More time to try out all the activities on the ship

Marella’s cruise ships are packed with great facilities to help you unwind and have fun, whether you prefer to spend your days lounging by the pool or being more active with escape rooms, mini golf, arcades, the gym and running track and more.

Plus there’s the wealth of bars and dining venues, the theatre, the casino and more for your evenings – in a typical week-long cruise you’ll only scratch the surface of everything your ship has to offer.

So by booking a back-to-back cruise, you’ll be able to enjoy the ship fully, partaking in all of the activities available to you.

Uninterrupted experience

Choosing a back-to-back cruise means you only need to unpack once. Although a Cruise & Stay holiday with Marella is hassle-free with all your transfers are arranged for you, it can also be nice to know that once you’re onboard the ship you’re settled for the length of your holiday.

Reasons to choose Cruise & Stay

Marella offers some amazing Cruise & Stay holidays through its parent company TUI, letting you enjoy some of the best hotels in several destinations around the world.

Here’s why you might prefer this option to a back-to-back cruise:

Diverse holidays

Choosing a Cruise & Stay getaway is better for those who like to spend a bit more time on land. You’ll get to enjoy all the benefits of both worlds – a cruise that’s packed with exciting destinations and facilities, and a land hotel where you can unwind from a cosy base in a beautiful location.

If you’re a first-time cruiser then a Cruise & Stay package is perfect since you’ll get to try out the cruising lifestyle, but also have the comfort of a land holiday that you might already be used to.

More time in some of the best destinations

Because you’ll spend at least a few nights in a hotel for the ‘stay’ part of your package, you’ll have more time to really delve into the delights of your destination.

Cruises are perfect for giving you a snapshot of life in different ports, but with a land hotel, you can really experience the culture of a town or city across a few nights, at a more relaxed pace too.

Access to a wider range of excursions

If you love to enjoy different activities and experiences ashore, then a Cruise & Stay holiday could provide you with even more excursion options. You’ll have more free time to work with and can therefore travel further than you can when your ship has a deadline for leaving port.

It might be that you want to visit a local theme park or head to a quieter beach further from the main centre – without an all-aboard time to worry about, you’ll have a wider range of options for filling your time.

Which is best?

The answer might be a bit of a cop-out but there really isn’t a ‘best’ option when deciding between back-to-back cruises and Cruise & Stay holidays.

It completely depends on you and the type of holiday you like to enjoy. If you’re cruise-mad then back-to-back sailings give you even more time at sea, but if you’re someone who enjoys the best of land and sea holidays then combining them into one trip is ideal.

Either way, when you book with Marella you’ll have an incredible experience, with amazing value fares that include your flights and all overseas transfers, including between the ship and your hotel if you opt for a Cruise & Stay holiday.

Plus, you’ll always have the amazing service of your crew and staff to help you out, ensuring that every type of holiday is as seamless and relaxing as possible.

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