Some posts on this website include affiliate hyperlinks. When you e book or purchase one thing by way of these hyperlinks, I earn a small fee (at no additional value to you). Check out my privateness coverage for extra info.
Questioning what travelling with Marella Cruises is like for singles and solo travellers? After spending every week cruising solo, right here’s my trustworthy evaluate…
It didn’t take me very lengthy in any respect to understand I used to be going to like cruising solo! Standing on my cabin’s balcony, looking to sea and realising that the largest choice I’d need to make that day was which e book to learn first – and which patch of sunshine to lie in while studying it!
This was every week of doing precisely what I wished, once I wished, with out as soon as feeling responsible or compromising. Plenty of self-indulgent me-time – and, in contrast to my traditional solo travels, all of it fully hassle-free and organised by another person!
Marella Cruises was a terrific choice for my first solo cruise. They’re identified for his or her social scene and enjoyable vibes, and there have been a great deal of social actions and meet-ups, so I by no means felt lonely. However on the identical time, the vibe onboard was tremendous relaxed and nothing felt too full-on or necessary – so I used to be capable of spend plenty of time chilling out in precisely my very own manner, too. In brief, the perfect of each worlds!
On this put up, I’ve tried to cowl each element of the expertise as a solo traveller with Marella Cruises. When you’re contemplating reserving your first solo cruise – otherwise you’ve already booked one and need to know what to anticipate – this put up is for you. Bon voyage!
Disclaimer – my latest journey with Marella Cruises was a part of a press journey. Nevertheless, this weblog put up wasn’t requested by them and I’m writing it purely as a result of I need to! As at all times, all phrases and opinions are my very own.
Marella Cruises for Singles and Solo Travellers
Under, I’ve shared my experiences as a solo traveller onboard the Marella Explorer. This was on the 7-night Aegean Shores itinerary in Greece; however after chatting to fellow solo cruisers and the onboard Visitor Expertise Coordinators, this appears to be the standard expertise for singles and solo travellers throughout all Marella Cruises…
Marella Cruises Singles Cabins
Some cruise ships have particular, smaller single-occupancy cabins onboard for solo travellers. Marella Cruises do have particular cabins for solo travellers (single cabins), however they’re precisely the identical as common cabins.
You may often select from a Single Inside or Single Outdoors cabin and so they’re the identical measurement and setup as the usual Inside or Outdoors Cabins, with double or twin beds.
The solo cabins weren’t constructed for this goal, however they’re put aside particularly for single travellers. This has been achieved in order that solo cruisers don’t need to pay a hefty single complement as you do on different cruise strains.
High tip: There are a really restricted variety of solo cabins and so they can promote out quick, so e book as far upfront as you possibly can.
Is there a single complement on Marella Cruises?
The fast reply to this query isn’t any – nevertheless it’s sophisticated! In contrast to some cruise strains, there’s no Single Complement for solo travellers on Marella Cruises.
It’s because they’ve a small variety of single cabins put aside on every ship (see above). You pay for the cabin as a complete quite than a “per particular person” worth, so there’s no complement.
Nevertheless, a single cabin is greater than half the value of a typical cabin for 2 folks – so it looks like the one complement is constructed into the price of the room. It’s nonetheless lots lower than the one complement on many cruise strains (which typically cost as much as 100% of the cruise fare as a complement).
Listed here are a few examples to provide you an concept of worth comparisons (packages are All Inclusive as normal and embrace flights/transfers):
- Aegean Shores* itinerary, Marella Explorer, 9 Could 2025. A Single Inside Cabin is at the moment £1852, whereas an Inside Cabin for 2 folks is £1340pp (£2679 complete). *that is the itinerary I did.
- Paradise Islands itinerary (Caribbean), Marella Discovery, 6 February 2025. A Single Inside Cabin is at the moment £2101, whereas an Inside Cabin for 2 folks is £1510pp (£3019 complete).
- Atlantic Islands itinerary, Marella Voyager, 3 April 2026. A Single Inside Cabin is at the moment £1854, whereas an Inside Cabin for 2 folks is £1216pp (£2432 complete).
High Tip: Marella Cruises usually runs particular reductions for solo travellers so maintain a watch out for these. Proper now, solo cruises can save £150 on all sailings as much as April 2026 utilizing code SOLO150.
Life Aboard Marella Cruises as a Solo Traveller
Meetups and occasions for solo travellers
Nervous you’ll get lonely on a solo cruise? Don’t panic, as a result of Marella Cruises is among the finest cruise strains for taking care of solo travellers.
Once I arrived onboard, there was a particular solo cruiser welcome letter in my cabin, inviting me to a lunch meet-up:
So, on the primary full day of the cruise, I headed alongside to the Solo Traveller Lunch in the principle eating room. The occasion (and all of the others) was organised by the ship’s two Visitor Expertise Coordinators. Aga and Lois have been completely pretty, and clearly have loads of follow at getting dialog flowing between a gaggle of strangers. It didn’t take lengthy earlier than we have been all chatting and attending to know each other over lunch.
That very same night, we met for pre-dinner drinks in one of many onboard bars (and a fast meet and greet with the ship’s surprisingly dishy captain!), earlier than heading all the way down to dinner collectively.
After that, we met for drinks and dinner each night time of the cruise. We didn’t all be a part of each night time, as a result of not one of the occasions have been necessary, nevertheless it was pretty to have the choice of firm over dinner.
Among the solo travellers additionally met up by the pool throughout the day or to discover the port cities collectively. Personally, I most well-liked to sit back and do my very own factor throughout the day, then meet everybody up with the group within the night to swap tales about what we’d been as much as every day!
Good to Know: It’s value noting that there was nothing organised for the primary night time onboard so I needed to dine alone. I didn’t thoughts in any respect, however in case you’re feeling nervous about travelling solo that is one thing to concentrate on.
What are the opposite solo travellers like on a Marella Cruise?
At 37, I used to be the youngest of the group of solo cruises by about twenty years. Our group was principally women aged from round mid-sixties to mid-eighties. There was additionally one man in his late fifties, however he solely got here to the primary meetup (I feel we scared him off!).
Clearly, this was simply my expertise throughout a one-week cruise. Marella Cruises enchantment to an enormous vary of travellers – there was a giant combine onboard and many younger adults (principally {couples}). A number of of the opposite women within the group have been seasoned solo travellers – they advised me that there’s often a greater mixture of genders, however that the ages do are typically older on the entire.
When you’re in your twenties, that may put you off. However I get pleasure from chatting to anybody and everybody, and I had a blast with my solo women. We have been often those laughing (aka cackling) the loudest within the bar each night time!
Additionally – the 2 Visitor Expertise Coordinators have been a lot youthful (I’d guess twenties) and so they got here to each meet-up, so in case you are youthful you’ll probably nonetheless have somebody your personal age to talk to.
Solo Eating on Marella Cruises
Some cruise ships have a communal eating desk for solo travellers, so that you’re compelled to decide on between eating on the buffet or eating with a gaggle of strangers.
Not so with Marella Cruises, fortunately. You’re free to sit down at a desk by yourself in case you want, even in the principle eating room.
High tip: There is perhaps a little bit of a wait, and you may’t pre-book a desk in the principle restaurant, so strive heading for dinner both as quickly because it opens or after about 7:30pm.
When you don’t need to dine alone, the solo travellers meet for drinks within the early night daily – and often head for dinner collectively afterwards.
When you don’t get on with the opposite solo cruisers, otherwise you’d quite dine at a unique time or in a unique restaurant, nobody will power you to dine with the group! I dined with the solo traveller group for five out of seven night meals: there was no meetup on our first night time, so I dined alone, and I additionally paid for one of many speciality eating places as a particular deal with for myself.
High tip: If you end up eating solo and really feel somewhat self-conscious about it, strive taking a e book with you. I at all times discover studying an excellent distraction once I’m eating alone.
Ideas for Cruising Solo with Marella
How you can meet folks as a solo cruiser
1 – Go to the meet-ups. As I’ve shared above, Marella Cruises organise each day meet-ups for solo travellers. When you’re feeling nervous, keep in mind that everyone seems to be in the identical boat as you – and the Coordinators do a terrific job of getting everybody chatting! When you miss the primary one, don’t fear: you’ll nonetheless be greater than welcome on the subsequent.
2 – Contemplate reserving a number of excursions. I discovered many of the excursions onboard my Marella Cruise to be very moderately priced. They have been additionally a good way to fulfill folks – I used to be chatting to strangers very quickly while wine tasting in Crete!
3 – Take part with the actions and lessons. There appeared to be one thing occurring virtually each minute of the day on my Marella Cruise. From dance lessons to pool-side quizzes, there’s one thing for everybody – and these actions present the right setting for making buddies. Go alongside to a category on the fitness center, give aqua aerobics a go on the pool deck, or strive your hand at shuffleboard!
4 – Hang around on the deck or within the bars. Marella Cruises are identified for his or her social scene, which implies that many individuals e book with the intention of assembly fellow cruisers. Throughout my cruise, I discovered there have been at all times folks wanting to talk, particularly on the pool deck and the adults-only
You simply want an open thoughts and to be prepared and prepared to get chatting, and making buddies onboard will be surprisingly straightforward. BUT if you wish to do your personal factor, not one of the social actions are necessary – you’re free to laze round with a e book or headphones on in peace!
How you can Make the Most of Your Solo Cruise
To begin with – embrace the me-time! I LOVED chilling out alone, doing my very own factor, and being fully egocentric for every week! How usually do you get to spend all day doing precisely what you need?
Secondly, listed here are a number of of my tricks to take advantage of your time onboard a Marella Cruise:
Guide the spa. I assumed the spa was very moderately priced: on my cruise, it was £99 for limitless entry for 7 days. If you wish to calm down and take advantage of your me-time, it’s WELL value paying for spa entry. And that is additionally one other excellent place to fulfill fellow cruisers!
Splurge on a balcony. Balcony cabins clearly value a bit extra, however you probably have the price range I’d extremely suggest reserving one. They arrive with hammocks and/or sunloungers and make a unbelievable place for some quiet, secluded me-time. Click on right here to observe my video for a cabin tour.
Don’t be afraid to discover the port by yourself. The each day e-newsletter and TUI’s Navigate app have plenty of recommendations and useful recommendation for every new port, and it’s often very easy to get on and off the ship – ask workers for ideas in case you’re unsure.
One in every of my fellow solo travellers was too nervous to get off the ship by herself and I actually felt she’d missed out. That mentioned – in case you are nervous, reserving one or two excursions means you may get out and discover without having to organise all of it your self!
READ MORE: 7 Ideas for Your First Cruise Solo
Marella Cruises for Solo Travellers: Fast Recap
- No single complement – and a restricted variety of Single Cabins put aside for solo travellers.
- Nevertheless, the complement is considerably constructed into the room worth as an alternative.
- First-day meet and greet for solo travellers and each day night drinks meet-ups, organised by the Visitor Expertise Coordinators.
- No necessary shared tables at dinner, even in the principle eating room.
- LOADS of actions, lessons, and leisure to select from – a lot of them nice methods to fulfill different travellers.
- Shore excursions are moderately priced (in contrast with different cruise strains) and a good way to fulfill different cruisers.
- Marella Cruises are identified for his or her social scene and enjoyable vibes so that they’re a terrific selection if you wish to meet folks and make buddies.
- However there are nonetheless a great deal of choices in case you simply need to be by yourself, get pleasure from some me-time, and calm down!
Learn Extra
7 Causes to Take a Cruise Solo
I’d love to listen to about your experiences as a solo traveller with Marella Cruises! Scroll down to go away a remark…
