Marella Cruises Launches All-Inclusive Cruise Calculator
Marella Cruises has introduced the All-Inclusive Cruise Calculator, a free tool that reveals the cost of sailing with the company.
The company said in a press release that the tool demonstrates savings from booking an all-inclusive offering.
The tool highlights the all-inclusive offering, which includes flights, food and drink, transfers, entertainment, tips and service charges.
Chris Hackney, managing director at Marella Cruises, said: “The new All Inclusive Cruise Calculator allows customers to see the value for money we provide to our customers.”
“With all-inclusive at the heart of our cruise holidays, we provide an exceptional end-to-end service which includes flights, transfers, tips and accommodation rolled into one price, as well as entertainment, food and drink offerings and fantastic service,” added Hackney.
“We hope the tool helps new-to-cruise customers who are looking for alternative holidays consider a cruise holiday this summer and beyond.”
Research by Marella Cruises revealed that over 60 per cent of Brits plan to take a holiday this year, yet 20 per cent admit that the cost of living is stopping them from booking.
Twenty-two per cent see an all-inclusive cruise to be the best value; however, 46 per cent would be open to a cruise holiday if they could compare the costs more easily.
Chelsea Dickensen, a travel expert influencer, said: “All inclusive holidays are back in fashion with searches for stress-free escapes skyrocketing by 60 per cent year on year.”
“And it’s not just resorts seeing the love, with cruise holidays expecting to surpass pre-pandemic levels by reaching 37.1 million passengers in 2025. However, prices are on the rise too, with the average package holiday prices rising 4.2 per cent compared to 2024,” added Dickensen.
“For cruises, these hidden costs could include your flights, transfers, meals, drinks and tips, though companies such as Marella Cruises do include all of these as standard. Their All Inclusive Cruise Calculator is really helpful in sharing exactly what you’ll get, and how much you could save by having it as part of your package.”
Too big or not too big? That's the question for a lot of cruisers thinking of trying a ship of a different size, whether they're newbies or old salts. With mega-vessels featuring a dizzying number of amenities, dining choices and entertainment options, and small ships offering a more intimate and often exclusive experience, the size decision can be a difficult one.
Pro: If you're someone who doesn't mind a crowd, a big ship is the place to do it. With some ships -- like those in Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class -- carrying more than 5,000 passengers per sailing, it's unlikely you'll run into the same folks twice during a week long voyage. With so many bars, lounges and out-of-the-way nooks and crannies, it's easy to find a spot for yourself, but those who like to constantly meet new people will particularly find mega-ships appealing.
Pro: If you're easily bored with eating in the same dining room every night, large ships provide lots of options to switch it up. On larger vessels, you can have sushi one night, Italian the next, French the following evening and seafood or steak the day after that. The possibilities are almost endless, which is a plus for anybody who's a picky eater (or anybody who's travelling with one).
Pro: Larger ships boast more bells and whistles, so it follows naturally that they present more entertainment options. From comedians, game shows and Broadway revues to magicians, movies and dinner theatre productions, there's something to keep just about everyone busy.
Pro: Add ropes courses, skydiving and innovative water slides to the host of options that keep passengers busy on board. Because larger ships offer something for just about everyone, they're often a solid choice anyone who's easily bored, couples or groups with varied interests and multi-generational groups. (Think bingo for grandma and grandpa, dinner shows for mom and dad, and innovative children's programming for the kids.)
Pro: Small ships, by definition, carry fewer passengers. You'll likely see the same faces over and over on a daily basis and get to know them exceedingly well by the end of your sailing.
Pro: Many small ships, due to their limited space, have only one main dining room for meals, and they generally don't allow for anything other than eating at set times with set table mates. (Others might have alternative eateries, but they're limited.)
Pro: You won't find much in the way of casinos, theatre productions or magicians, but that leaves room for more educational pursuits. Small ships often provide enrichment seminars on everything from photography to local culture. Sometimes local performers are brought on board to entertain, as well. Think historians, musicians and dancers.
Pro: Because small ships don't offer the plethora of amenities that large ships do, the sailings they provide focus mainly on the destinations they visit, rather than the vessels themselves. That means excursions are key, and they often focus on the history and culture of a region, making it easy for cruisers to immerse themselves in their surroundings and learn a lot about the places on which they call. Also, due to their tinier size, small ships can call on more remote ports that can't accommodate mega-ships.