Cruise line
Marella Cruises
Marella Cruises is TUI Group's cruise business for the British holiday market. Its history reaches back to the Thomson cruise operation launched in 1996. The Marella name followed in October 2017. These dates describe the business and brand history, rather than the incorporation date of today's legal carrier. Its UK office base is in Luton, with additional office roles in Southampton.
Quick facts
- Parent company
- TUI Group
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Headquarters
- Luton, United Kingdom
- Founded
- 1996
- Active fleet
- 5
- Cruise style
- All inclusive, Family friendly, Adults only
- Onboard currency
- GBP
- Official website
- www.tui.co.uk
Five ships form the current fleet: Marella Discovery, Marella Discovery 2, Marella Explorer, Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Voyager. Each had a passenger career before entering the Marella programme. An introduction date under the present brand therefore should not be read as the construction year. Compare the individual ship records for age and accommodation rather than assuming the newest fleet addition is a newbuild.
The fleet offers both family-friendly and adult-focused choices. Marella Explorer 2 is reserved for adults. The operator identifies November 2026 as the start of the adults-only programme for Discovery 2, so the departure date matters when comparing that ship. Discovery, Explorer and Voyager are presented as family-friendly options. This distinction should be checked against the specific sailing and the needs of everyone travelling.
Marella markets an all-inclusive standard offering, including tips and service charges. That does not mean every optional purchase is included. Specialty restaurants, selected premium menu choices and other extras can carry additional charges. Read the applicable booking and dining conditions when comparing the standard fare with upgrades, especially if several paid meals are planned.
Prices aboard are in pounds sterling and spending is charged to a cabin account. The published payment guide explains how to register and settle that account. Currency required during a port visit is a separate consideration from the ship's pricing. Check the arrangements for the actual itinerary rather than assuming the onboard currency is accepted everywhere ashore.
The programme spans Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Caribbean sailings, with opportunities to combine a cruise and a hotel stay. Compare flights, transfers, embarkation ports and the hours available at each stop together. The route and accommodation you book determine more than a fleet-wide description. Accessibility requirements should be discussed through the operator's assisted-travel information, using the particular ship and facilities needed for the journey.
Fleet reference
Active ships and actual construction projects are listed separately. A dash means a value has not been independently verified.
Active fleet
| Marella Discovery | Vision | 1996 | 69,130 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marella Discovery 2 | Vision | 1995 | 69,472 |
| Marella Explorer | Century | 1996 | 76,998 |
| Marella Explorer 2 | Century | 1995 | — |
| Marella Voyager | Century | 1997 | 77,302 |
Ports in this reference
Published port programmes support these connections. Individual sailings and terminals can change.
- Ajaccio
- Arrecife
- Basseterre (St Kitts)
- Bridgetown (Barbados)
- Cagliari
- Castries (Saint Lucia)
- Civitavecchia
- Corfu
- Dubrovnik
- Funchal
- Kotor
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Limassol
- Mykonos
- Málaga
- Olbia
- Puerto del Rosario
- San Juan
- Santa Cruz de La Palma
- Santorini (Thira)
- Souda (Chania)
- Split
- St John’s (Antigua)
- Toulon
- Valencia
- Valletta
- Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Zadar
Last checked:
Sources
- TUI — actual five-ship Marella fleet — Accessed
Five individually named active ships;Explorer2adults;Discovery2adultsFROMNovember2026, not before. Voyager2023isbrand-entrynotoriginalbuild.
- TUI Group — retrospective thirty-year business anniversary — Accessed
Actual2026thirtiethcelebrations;1996businessheritage notcurrentlegalcompanyincorporation.
- TUI Group — annual2017brand transition record — Accessed
October2017ThomsontoMarella;currentfleetnotinferredfromhistorical2017inventory.
- TUI — actual office locations — Accessed
UKmarket;TUIheadofficeLutonandSouthamptonoffice roles, not assumed German HQ fromparent.
- Marella — current legal carrier and registered address — Accessed
MarellaCruisesLimited Luton England;paid experiencesconditions.
- Marella — explicit onboard currency — Accessed
Everythingaboardpricedpoundssterling.
- Marella — current first-time practical guide — Accessed
Cashlesscabinaccount;paid optionaldiningandextras;assistedtravel guidance.
- TUI — winter2026programme and Cruise and Stay — Accessed
Actualannouncedprogramme destinations andhotelcombination;notguaranteedallfuturecalls.
- TUI — reallocation of formerly Marella newbuild slots — Accessed
FY31/FY33slots transferredTUIcruises;notcurrentMarella construction or two extra active vessels.