Marella Expands Drinks Range with 18 Non-Alcoholic Options

Marella Expands Drinks Range with 18 Non-Alcoholic Options

Marella Cruises has announced that it is offering 18 new alcohol-free cocktails, six 0 percent ABV spirits, four 0 percent wines, as well as non-alcoholic beer and cider alternatives.

Luke Saunders, food and drink development manager at Marella Cruises, said: “We are pleased to be expanding our non-alcoholic drinks menus onboard across our ships.”

“After listening to customer feedback and reviewing the gaps in our menu, we want to enhance a customer’s experience onboard and cater to those who would prefer a non-alcoholic alternative,” added Saunders.

“We are looking forward to our new and returning customers trying out 0 percent cocktails for when they are next onboard.”

From August 2026, all guests sailing on Marella Cruises will be able to enjoy an expanded range of non-alcoholic drinks as part of the line’s All-Inclusive offering, the company said, while guests upgrading to Premium All-Inclusive will also have access to a selection of 0 percent ABV spirits and alcohol-free cocktails.

The expanded range includes 0 percent red, white, rosé and sparkling wine, Heineken 0 percent and Somersby 0 percent cider, Marella said in a press release.

The company will also introduce gluten-free Estrella beer to its All-Inclusive drinks offering.

Customers on the Premium All Inclusive package can enjoy six 0 percent ABV spirits, including Lyre’s:

• London Dry Gin
• American Malt Bourbon
• White Cane Rum
• Agave Blanco Tequila, and
• Coffee Originale and Lyre’s Italian Spritz.

 

The expanded range also includes 18 crafted alcohol-free cocktails, including:

• “Grapefruit Refresher” — includes Lyre’s London Dry with pink grapefruit and soda
• “Nojito” — Lyre’s White Cane with mint, lime and soda
• “Summer Sour” — includes Lyre’s London Dry with lemon, soda, mint and basil, and
• “Gentle Fashioned” — Lyre’s American Malt with bitters and orange peel.

 

The enhanced non-alcoholic drinks will be a part of the offering onboard all Marella’s ships available across the fleet from August 2026.

Will Marella Cruises Be Handed Over To TUI Cruises?

TUI Cruises is set to grow in size and reach, according to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine.

The newspaper reported that British cruise line Marella Cruises, which is currently owned by TUI Group, will be integrated into TUI Cruises – a joint venture between TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Group.

The handover of Marella will grow TUI Cruises, which currently operates in the German market, into a European cruise line. Earlier, in 2020, another cruise line, Hapag Lloyd Cruises, was integrated into the TUI Cruises brand in a similar fashion.

Marella Cruises currently has a fleet of four ships – the Marella Explorer, Marella Explorer 2, Marella Discovery and Marella Discovery 2. The cruise line recently confirmed to Cruise Industry News that it would be growing its fleet to five ships in 2023 but did not disclose which ship those plans would involve.

Marella Announces UK Coastal Sailings From June 25

Marella Cruises has revealed details of its brand new itineraries sailing UK shores in summer 2021.

According to a press release, the Marella Explorer will set sail from Southampton on UK itineraries from June 25, 2021, sailing to new ports of call including, Belfast, Dublin and Liverpool.

The Marella Explorer 2, the cruise line's adult-only ship, will also offer UK sailings from Newcastle from July 10, 2021, with even more UK ports of call.

“After pausing our operations for more than a year, we are delighted to announce our UK summer program and welcome our wonderful customers back onboard our ships. The safety and well-being of both our crew and passengers remain our priority which is why we have vaccination and testing protocols for all sailings from UK ports this summer,” said the Managing Director of Cruise TUI UK & I, Chris Hackney.

“Domestic sailings are a great step for the cruise industry and has given us the opportunity to take our customers to new destinations full of culture and history whilst still being close to home. We’re looking forward to this new adventure on the British seas and are dedicated to making sure our customers have the most memorable and exciting cruise with us,” he added.

The Marella Explorer will sail seven new UK itineraries during the summer 2021 season, “perfect for those looking to explore via sea the history and culture of some amazing British cities and towns,” the cruise line said. All itineraries will have recommended excursions from our onboard destination services team to offer guests options to make the most of their time ashore.

Marella Discovery 2

According to Marella, Sail the South Coast itinerary is a “great taster and for those new to cruising with a three-night itinerary from Southampton, visiting Dover for Canterbury Cathedral and Portland for the beautiful Abbotsbury Swannery & Gardens.”

“Cruisers looking for a longer break can experience the new Sail the Irish Sea. Departing in August from Southampton, it will visit popular cities including Liverpool, Dublin and Cobh in the Republic of Ireland,” the cruise line wrote.

Marella is also offering a number of Scottish itineraries, including ‘British Sights and Seas’ which will visit five Scottish hotspots. The history-rich itinerary has a day at sea before exploring Invergordon, the old historic town of Kirkwall and the rich culture of Leith and a visit to Edinburgh Castle before heading to Newcastle and then back down to Southampton.

A Taste of the West Coast will also see Marella Explorer sail to Greenock, the capital of Northern Ireland - Belfast and Holyhead before finishing the itinerary in Portland.

Anyone aged 18 years and older will be required to have had both COVID-19 jabs at least seven days before travelling. All under 18 year-olds, excluding infants under the age of two who will not be able to sail as they are exempt from testing, will be asked to have a lateral flow test.

All itineraries, except for those with Newcastle as an embarkation point, go on sale on April 16, Marella said. Newcastle sailings are expected to go on sale by the end of April.

UK sailings are available only for UK residents with a permanent UK address and a valid passport.

Marella and Tui River Cruises poised for summer 2022 launch

Marella Cruises and Tui River Cruises summer 2022 programmes go on sale on November 5.

One of three river vessels, Tui Maya, will go all-inclusive as standard.

Six additional itineraries will be available across three Marella Cruises ships, with another itinerary by Marella Discovery on sale from December 10.

Marella will put 18 cruises on sale next week and a further five in December covering islands such as Santorini, Kefalonia, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily and cities like Dubrovnik, Barcelona, Split, Venice and Lisbon as well as gateway ports to Rome, Florence, Seville and Athens.

Marella Discovery will homeport in Palma for the fourth time after its first season in the Majorcan capital in 2016.

The all-inclusive offering onboard Tui Maya will include a range of alcoholic drinks and premium Lavazza coffee.

Those who upgrade to superior, superior French balcony or French balcony suite cabins will have a free minibar included in their package.

All departures on Tui Maya in summer 2022 will be on Fridays.

Two new itineraries have been added to the sailing programme on the Rhine and Main rivers.

Cruise managing director Chris Hackney said: “We’re pleased to be able to share details of our summer 2022 programme and we are really excited to offer our first all-inclusive ship in our river cruise line.

“We have something to offer everyone as we have itineraries visiting some of the best places in the world.

“Our river cruise line is constantly developing and we’re always listening to what our customers want and we want to offer even more choice when it comes to booking their cruise.

“With a high percentage of guests already booking all-inclusive, it only seemed right we created a ship dedicated to the board basis, so we know it’s something our customers will love.”

Marella further extends cruise cancellations until September 30

Marella further extends cruise cancellations until September 30

Marella Cruises is further extending the cancellation of sailings until September 30.

The Tui UK & Ireland line’s only ship sailing this summer will be Marella Explorer from Corfu from October 2.

The extension of the cancellations was blamed on on-going travel restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All cruises had previously been cancelled last month until at least August 27.

Passengers whose bookings are impacted by the changes will receive a refund credit and up to 10% incentive of the total value of their booking.

Alternatively, they can request a cash refund via an online form on the Tui website.

The company added: “Due to the on-going uncertainty customers with bookings due to depart in October can amend their cruise for free before the 31 July to any other holiday on sale until October 2021.”

Marella Cruises extends sailing cancellations

Marella Cruises extends sailing cancellations

Marella Cruises is extending the cancellation of all cruises until at least August 27.

The Tui brand blamed ongoing travel restrictions following the COVID 19 pandemic.

The line also confirmed that Marella Discovery will no longer sail the summer season with all itineraries from Palma cancelled until October 31.

A ‘90s v 00s Electric Sunsets’ themed cruise by Marella Explorer 2 from Newcastle on September 5 will also no longer go ahead.

Passengers affected by the extended cancellations will receive a refund credit and up to 10% incentive of the total value of their booking, or they can request a cash refund via an online form on the Tui website.

“All customers should have their refund credit and booking incentive within four weeks of receiving their cancellation email,” the company said.

The line is also extending its free amends policy so customers sailing in September and October on Marella Explorer or Marella Explorer 2 can amend their cruise free of charge before July 31.

This means they do not have to pay until closer to their new departure date.

Ship affected Homeport Dates affected
Explorer 2 Ex UK / Port of Tyne 31 Jul-27 Aug 2020
Explorer 2 Ex UK / Port of Tyne 05-Sep 2020
Explorer Corfu 31 Jul-27 Aug 2020
Discovery Palma 31 Jul-31 Oct 2020

Marella Discovery to Sail From Port Canaveral in 2021

For the first time ever, Marella Cruises will base a ship in the United States as the Marella Discovery will sail from Port Canaveral in 2021.

The TUI-owned brand targeted at the British market will sail the Marella Discovery from the port beginning in Summer 2021, offering four new itineraries with 11 port-of-call visits.

“We’re excited that Marella Cruises has selected Port Canaveral as the homeport for its first-ever cruises from the United States,” Port CEO Captain John Murray said. “Today’s announcement is another endorsement that our ongoing investments in state-of-the-art terminals and commitment to excellence in cruise operations continue to earn the confidence of some of the world’s most successful cruise brands.”

Cruise bookings go on sale Thursday, Nov. 7, for 26 seasonal voyages from May 2, 2021, through Oct. 24, 2021.

The ship will sail from Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 5.

“We’re really excited to be setting sail from the USA,” said Chris Hackney, Managing Director at Marella Cruises. “Expanding our program provides an opportunity for cruisers to sample the American Dream, and we’ve ensured there really is something for everyone, whether that’s a visit to Walt Disney World in Florida, an evening in New York, authentic jazz music in New Orleans or a rollercoaster in Busch Gardens. Offering our customers more choice and flexibility is at the heart of what we do.”

Customers sailing on Marella’s American Dream and Big Apple Adventure itineraries will enjoy an overnight stop in New York City. The Discovery will also visit Miami and Turks and Caicos on its Sunshine States and Sands itinerary. And customers can select seven- or 14-night options with an overnight stay in Tampa on the ship’s Floridian Favorites itinerary. Guests choosing one of the four itineraries also have the flexibility to extend their cruise ashore with available cruise-and-stay packages available in Orlando.

The Marella Discovery will make port-of-call visits to the Ports of Charleston, S.C., New York City, Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas, Norfolk, Va., Key West, Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and New Orleans.

Thomson Cruises to be renamed Marella Cruises

Thomson Cruises to be renamed Marella Cruises

Thomson Cruises is to be rebranded as Marella Cruises, at the same time that Thomson changes to Tui later this month.

Marella, meaning ‘shining sea’ in Celtic, was selected to give the cruise line ‘stand out in the cruise market’ and to give it its own identity from the company’s European cruise brand, Tui Cruises.

Distribution and cruise director Helen Caron said: “We don’t want British guests to be confused with the group’s cruise business in Europe. Marella Cruises will still have the Tui smile logo, but a new Marella Cruises logo in a blue box, similar to the way we would market Sensatori as part of the world of Tui.  The name was chosen to reflect the spirit of exploration and discovery across the seas.”

Confirming Marella cruises would still offer its fully-integrated fly-cruise programme, from 22 regional UK airports, across its fleet of six ships once Marella Explorer enters service in May 2018, Caron added: “Marella Cruises takes us to a cruise brand from a tour operator brand. We expect the new name to open us up to a whole new market of customers who haven’t considered a Thomson cruise before. It’s very exciting and come at the perfect time as we modernise our fleet and add more and more destinations.”

News of the rebrand came as Tui also announced a new homeport in Asia for winter 2018. The newly named Marella Discovery will sail from Lankawi to 18 new ports of call on 14 new adult-only itineraries, with customers also able to join from Bangkok. Ports of call include Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia and Kuala Lumpur, and also to Mumbai, Mangalore, Cochin and Colombo.

Caron said: “Asia is an incredibly diverse part of the world and I have no doubt that our customers are going to love their adventures across countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, India and Oman to name a few.”

For the first time in the company’s history, Tui is also going to base two ships in Barbados in winter 2018. Marella Explorer will be joined by Marella Celebration.

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