Marella Cruises has confirmed British singers Pixie Lott and Lemar among the headline acts for its 30th anniversary sailings, with the celebrations set to begin across the line’s five-ship fleet from 1st May 2026.
Guests booked on the special seven-night voyages can expect live performances, celebrity appearances and a programme of themed events built around the 1990s, the decade when Marella Cruises first entered the UK market.
Pixie Lott is due to perform aboard Marella Discovery, where she is expected to bring some of her biggest hits to the anniversary sailing, including All About Tonight, Cry Me Out and Boys and Girls.
Lemar has also been added to the line-up and will headline onboard Marella Explorer 2, with the singer set to perform a selection of his best-known tracks during the cruise.
It’s expected that more headline acts for Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Discovery will still be announced in the coming months.
The entertainment programme stretches well beyond those two performances. Broadcaster Michaela Strachan is scheduled to appear on both Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Voyager, where she will host live Q&A sessions reflecting on a television career spanning four decades, from children’s programmes and late-night music shows to wildlife documentaries filmed in the UK and around the world.
Other names confirmed for the anniversary voyages include Fleur East, Boyzlife, La Voix, Eddie the Eagle and Anthea Turner.
Marella Discovery 2 will host Fleur East in Palma alongside a live Q&A with Eddie the Eagle, while Marella Explorer, also sailing from Palma, will feature Boyzlife performing songs linked to Boyzone and Westlife, plus another guest appearance from Edwards.
Marella Voyager is set to welcome La Voix, while Marella Discovery will feature Anthea Turner during its sailing from Limassol.
Anniversary Events Planned Across The Fleet
Each ship will host its own version of the 30th birthday celebrations, but Marella said every sailing will include a Birthday Gala, Party Like It’s 1996 events, quayside celebrations, 1990s trivia quizzes and retro television box sets from the decade.
The wider aim is to turn the voyages into a fleetwide celebration of the brand’s history while leaning into the nostalgia of the era in which it launched in the UK.
“With Marella Cruises marking 30 years in the UK, we’re excited to announce even more headline acts with British stars such as Pixie Lott and Lemar, for both new and returning cruise customers.
“Our customers value our all-inclusive offering and seamless end-to-end service, and this celebration will take them on a nostalgic journey back to 1996 with music, quizzes and onboard entertainment inspired by the era. We can’t wait to welcome guests aboard our ships to celebrate this milestone birthday with us.”
Chris Hackney, CEO at Marella Cruises
Pixie Lott added: “I’m thrilled to be performing at Marella Cruises’ 30th birthday celebrations! I can’t wait to bring the party to life and make the celebrations unforgettable for everyone onboard.”
A Milestone Year For Marella Cruises
The 30th anniversary programme is one of Marella’s biggest themed entertainment pushes in recent years and underlines how important event-led sailings have become in the contemporary cruise market.
Marella Cruises, part of TUI Group, describes itself as the UK travel company’s cruise brand and says it offers all-inclusive cruising as standard, with tips and service charges included in the fare.
Across the anniversary sailings, the line appears to be mixing chart acts, television personalities and nostalgia-led programming in a bid to appeal to both repeat guests and first-time cruisers.
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