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 Launches its First Literature Themed Cruise Across the Atlantic

Marella Cruises is offering its first book lovers cruise with an all-inclusive 16-night Atlantic sailing on its adults-only ship, the Marella Explorer 2.

Sailing from Montego Bay, Jamaica on Apr. 19, 2022, this tailor-made cruise features guest talks and interactive workshops with authors and entertainers as it sails across the Atlantic Ocean before finishing in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Guests will be able to enjoy the usual Marella Cruises experience onboard with fully all-inclusive food and drink spots, evening entertainment including game shows and quizzes and daytime activities like dance classes and yoga.

“We have had successes with our Electric Sunsets themed cruises, and we are excited to introduce our first themed cruise for literature fans next year. It offers something different for guests onboard on a cruise where there are not as many days ashore as some of our other itineraries,” said Managing Director of Marella Cruises, Chris Hackney.

Authors and entertainers including Sarah Cruddas, famous for her knowledge of Space exploration, Tony Strange, known for his comic entertainment and impressions, and crime novelist Barbara Nadel, will all share their stories and some will run guided workshops for all guests onboard, at no extra cost.

Marella Cruises sets sail on international waters from Sept. 3 and the Marella Explorer 2 starts its Spanish sailings from Sept. 22, before heading to the Caribbean in November where it’ll homeport in Montego Bay for the winter season.

A trio of Cruise Ships Drydocks To Start 2021

The cruise ship drydock market will be hot for 2021, as operators push scheduled refits and class surveys forward ahead of returning to service

Work scopes are expected to be mandatory class surveys, inspections, and technical and safety maintenance, as the majority of big projects scheduled for 2020 and 2021 have been pushed back, Cruise Industry News reported in its 2021 Drydocking and Refurbishment Report.

Without passengers on the ship, the drydocking is when the cruise lines pounce to make any changes ranging from repair to hotel and facility upgrades.

Among the cruise ships that recently drydocked is the 1,778-guest Marella Explorer 2. She is staying at Damen in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Marella Explorer 2 has had her cabin ceilings and walls resprayed, bathrooms updated. Some of her suites got brand new solid wood floorings, and the Market Place got a contemporary resin floor.

The 2,600-passenger Sapphire Princess, which is operated by Princess Cruises, is currently drydocking at the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore. The ship was previously scheduled for a drydock in April 2020, which got postponed after the start of the pandemic.

Finally, Dream Cruises’ 1,804-passenger Explorer Dream is not drydocking yet but will be between Feb. 19 and 25. The works will take place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

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 Explorer 2 Exits Drydock with New Livery

The Marella Explorer 2 is fresh out of the drydock in Cadiz with her new Marella Cruises livery painted on the 1995-built ship's hull.

The ship is the sixth vessel in Marella's fleet and debuts this April for the TUI-owned British brand. 

After starting her career as the Celebrity Century, the vessel moved to China for startup SkySea Cruises and is now under the Marella banner.