Marella Cruises: A Complete Guide for Families | 2026

Thinking about trying a cruise with the kids? Or perhaps you’ve fallen down the Marella cruises rabbit hole and now have approximately 17 tabs open trying to work out which ship, destination and cabin you actually need? I get it!

If you’ve never been on a cruise before, there is quite a lot to get your head around. What happens when you get on the ship? What’s actually included? Do you have to pay extra for everything? Which ship is best for families? And, perhaps most importantly, will the kids actually enjoy it?

The good news is that Marella cruises are a pretty straightforward option if you’re new to cruising. They’re part of the TUI family, so the holiday works in a similar way to a package holiday, with flights, transfers, luggage, food, selected drinks and tips included as standard. There are also family-friendly ships with kids’ clubs, swimming pools, entertainment and plenty to keep children occupied when you’re not exploring a new destination.

I’ve already written a full Marella Discovery 2 review if you want to know what it was actually like onboard that particular ship. This guide is more about the bigger picture: how Marella cruises work, which ships are available, where you can go, what’s included and what families need to know before booking.

So, let’s get into it.

Quick heads up: Things can change with cruises, so always check the details of the sailing you’re actually booking rather than relying on an older review. In particular, Marella Discovery 2 will temporarily become adults-only from November 2026, so if you’re looking at this ship for a family holiday, make sure you check the dates before booking! 🚢

The ships are mid-sized rather than enormous floating resorts, which can be a real plus if you’re new to cruising. You still get swimming pools, restaurants, entertainment, bars and plenty to do, but you’re not trying to navigate a ship that feels like a small town every time you want to find the pool.

One of the main things to understand about Marella is that All Inclusive is standard. Depending on how you book, that can include your flights, transfers and luggage, while onboard your cruise fare covers meals, selected drinks, snacks, entertainment and tips. This makes budgeting a lot easier, particularly when you’re travelling with children and don’t want to spend your entire holiday wondering how much every drink, meal and activity is adding to the bill.

Which Marella ships are family-friendly?

This is one of the most important things to check before you book because the ships aren’t all aimed at the same type of holiday.

Marella currently has three family-friendly ships: Marella Voyager, Marella Explorer and Marella Discovery. Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only, while Marella Discovery 2 temporarily becomes adults-only from November 2026. That last one is particularly important if you’ve been reading my Marella Discovery 2 review. So always check the dates of the sailing you’re actually booking rather than relying on an older review.

Travelling with a baby? Just a heads up that babies and toddlers who are still in nappies aren’t allowed in the ship’s pools. If your little one is too young for the pool but you still want them to have a splash about, you could pack a small inflatable paddling pool like this one to fill with water instead. It’s a handy little workaround for keeping them cool and entertained without breaking the pool rules! 💦

What’s included on Marella Cruises?

This is one of the things I think makes Marella cruises particularly appealing to families because there is a lot included from the outset.

The standard All Inclusive package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks, selected alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and juices, selected cocktails and mocktails, entertainment, onboard activities and tips. When booked as a package holiday, flights, transfers and 20kg luggage are also included.

TUI currently says there are at least six included eateries across its ships, including a main table-service restaurant, an Italian option, buffet or food hall options and grab-and-go food.

And honestly, having food available in different places throughout the day makes a lot of sense when you’re travelling with children. Someone wants breakfast at 8am? Fine. Someone else is starving again at 11am despite eating breakfast? Also fine. Someone has suddenly decided they hate the dinner they were happily eating five minutes ago? There are other options.

Basically, it’s quite well suited to family life.

What isn’t included on Marella Cruises?

This is where it’s worth reading the small print rather than assuming absolutely everything onboard is included.

Some speciality restaurants, spa treatments, certain activities and Wi-Fi packages cost extra. TUI also says that room service, minibar drinks and snacks, bottled water and branded ice creams are chargeable.

That doesn’t mean you need to spend loads once you’re onboard. There is still plenty included without paying extra, and for many families the main additional spending will be things like excursions, souvenirs and the occasional treat.

It is just worth knowing what is and isn’t included before you go so you don’t get a nasty surprise when you check your onboard account.

What’s there to do for children on Marella Cruises?

This will obviously depend on the ship, but the family-friendly Marella ships have a mixture of kids’ clubs, teen spaces, swimming pools, minigolf, climbing walls, sports facilities, cinemas, games, children’s activities and evening entertainment. This is one of the biggest differences between a cruise and a traditional hotel holiday. On a hotel holiday, the resort is usually the base for your trip. On a cruise, the ship itself becomes part of the holiday. You might spend the morning exploring a port, come back for lunch, go swimming, play minigolf, have dinner and then watch a show. You don’t have to get back in a car, find another restaurant or work out what you’re doing for the evening because it’s all there around you.

For families, that can make things surprisingly easy.

Do you have to get off the ship at every port?

No. And I feel like this is something that doesn’t get talked about enough when people are new to cruising.

You don’t have to book an excursion every time the ship docks. You can get off and explore independently, book an organised excursion, wander around the port or simply stay onboard. In fact, staying onboard can be a brilliant option with children. If you’ve spent a couple of days dragging tired kids around historic cities, there is absolutely nothing wrong with deciding that today’s plan is swimming, lunch and doing very little.

The ship can also be much quieter when lots of passengers have gone ashore, so don’t feel as though you have to make every single port into a full day out.

What are the cabins like for families?

Cabin size is something I’d pay attention to when booking any family cruise. Cruise cabins aren’t generally enormous, but Marella does have family cabin options on some ships.

For example, Marella Discovery 2 has had family suites sleeping up to seven and family junior suites sleeping up to six, while Marella Voyager has family cabins sleeping up to five, with some layouts using separate sleeping areas or partition doors.

Obviously, if you’re looking at Discovery 2 for a family holiday, remember that the ship becomes adults-only from November 2026.

Do you need a balcony?

Not necessarily.

A balcony is lovely. It gives you somewhere to sit while the kids are asleep, somewhere to have your morning coffee and somewhere to watch the scenery go past. But if you’re trying to keep the cost down, an inside cabin can make a cruise considerably cheaper, and you may spend surprisingly little time in it.

I’d think about how your family actually uses hotel rooms. If you’re the sort of family who only goes back to the room to sleep, shower and change, you might not need to spend extra on a balcony.

If you have younger children who nap or go to bed early, though, that extra bit of outdoor space could be much more useful.

Where can you go on a Marella cruise?

This is where Marella cruises get really interesting because you’re not limited to one type of holiday. There are itineraries across the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and Atlantic, the Caribbean and more, with TUI offering cruises to more than 100 destinations.

What Are TUI River Cruises?

If you’re interested in cruising but the idea of being at sea doesn’t appeal, TUI also offers river cruises. These are a very different experience from a Marella ocean cruise, with itineraries along rivers including the Rhine and Danube and stops in cities such as Budapest and Vienna. These are adults-only, so we won’t go into detail about them here, but you can use the link below for more information.

What is Cruise & Stay?

If the idea of a cruise sounds great but you’re worried that seven nights isn’t long enough in any one destination, Cruise & Stay could be worth looking at.

Marella Cruise & Stay holidays combine a cruise with a hotel stay either before or after the sailing. Depending on the holiday, you can add three, four or seven nights in a hotel, giving you the chance to explore several destinations by ship before finishing with a more traditional hotel holiday. Transfers between the airport, ship and hotel are included, and TUI says there are more than 200 hotels to choose from.

For families, I really like the idea of doing the cruise first and then finishing with a few days at a hotel. You get all the sightseeing out of the way and can then spend the final few days doing absolutely nothing. Which, let’s be honest, is sometimes the actual dream.

TUI allows you to pre-book excursions, and I’d recommend having a look at what’s available before you travel rather than leaving everything until you’re onboard. The other thing I’d say is don’t feel as though you have to get off the ship every single time it docks. You don’t get extra parenting points for squeezing six attractions into one day. If you’ve spent three days dragging tired children around historic cities, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a slower day onboard. Sometimes the best day of the cruise is the one where you stay on the ship, eat too much and let the kids go swimming.

What are repositional cruises?

You might also come across the term repositioning cruise when searching for Marella holidays. These aren’t traditional return-to-the-same-port itineraries. A repositioning cruise starts in one port and finishes somewhere else, usually as the ship moves between seasonal bases. They can last anywhere from around five to 21 nights.

There are also transatlantic cruises, where ships cross the Atlantic between Europe and the Caribbean. These usually have more sea days, which means more time to enjoy the ship itself. And actually, that can be a great thing for families. Instead of getting off the ship every morning and spending the day sightseeing, you have days where the children can use the pools, clubs, sports facilities and entertainment while you enjoy the ship.

Marella’s dress codes generally include Beachwear, Casual and Smart, with some evenings giving you the chance to dress up a little more. Smart doesn’t mean you need to turn up looking like you’re attending the BAFTAs either. Smart trainers, trousers, tailored shorts, dresses, skirts and smart tops are among the options for Smart venues, although individual restaurant requirements can vary.

And for children, pack more than one swimming costume… because obviously the one thing they will want to wear every single day will be the swimming costume that is currently soaking wet.

What about passports and visas?

This is one area where I’d definitely do your homework before travelling. Cruise itineraries can visit several different countries during one holiday, and some destinations may require visas or travel authorisations even if you aren’t planning to get off the ship.

TUI flags visa requirements and other entry requirements in its itinerary information and booking documentation, but I’d still make sure you check the requirements for every country on your itinerary before you travel. Don’t assume that because you’ve visited a country before and didn’t need a visa, you automatically have everything you need for a cruise itinerary.

You also don’t have to organise every minute of every day. There are organised activities, entertainment and excursions if you want them, but you can also do absolutely nothing. That flexibility is something I think families can really benefit from. Then there’s the fact that you can visit several destinations in one holiday. Instead of having to choose between Spain, Italy, Greece or Croatia, a cruise can give you a taste of several places in one trip.

And because so much is included upfront, it can be easier to budget than a holiday where you’re paying separately for meals, drinks and entertainment every day.

Are there any downsides?

Of course. A cruise isn’t going to suit every family. If you love spending two weeks in the same villa and barely leaving the pool, a cruise might feel too busy. Likewise, if you want to spend several days properly exploring one city, the time in port may not feel long enough.

The cabin is another thing to consider. Your ship might be huge, but your cabin isn’t going to feel like a typical family hotel room, and space can be limited, particularly in standard cabins.

You’ll also need to keep an eye on the time when you’re ashore. The ship will not wait for you because you were five minutes late getting back from the beach, so always pay attention to the all-aboard time.

My tips for families booking their first Marella cruise

If you’re completely new to cruising, there are a few things I’d concentrate on before pressing that book button.

• First, choose the ship before you choose the cabin. The itinerary might look amazing, but if you’re travelling with children, make sure the ship itself is family-friendly and has facilities that suit their ages. I’d also look carefully at the itinerary rather than simply counting how many destinations you’re visiting.
• Check how long you’re actually in each port and how many sea days there are. A cruise with six destinations might sound incredible, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have loads of time to explore each one.
• Think about your children’s ages too. A ship with a fantastic kids’ club for younger children might not be the best choice if you’re travelling with teenagers, so look at the specific facilities rather than assuming every ship is identical.
• Don’t automatically book a balcony either. It’s lovely, but it isn’t essential. If you’re trying to keep the cost down, an inside cabin could be perfectly adequate, particularly if you know your family won’t spend much time sitting in the room.
• I’d also avoid booking an excursion for every single port. You don’t have to see absolutely everything. Some of the best memories can come from having a slower day onboard.
• If there’s something you definitely want to do, though, pre-book it where possible. Popular speciality restaurants, excursions and some onboard experiences can have limited availability.
• And finally, check the current information for the exact sailing you’re booking. Cruise ships change, itineraries change and facilities can change too. Don’t rely on an old Facebook post or a review from five years ago, particularly when you’re looking at something like Marella Discovery 2, which is changing to adults-only from November 2026.

So, which Marella cruise is best for families?

There’s no single answer because it really depends on what your family wants from the holiday.

If you want the newest ship, have a look at Marella Voyager. If you want lots of family facilities and entertainment, Marella Explorer is worth considering. If you want family-friendly facilities including an indoor pool, climbing wall and escape room, take a look at Marella Discovery. For a Mediterranean sightseeing-heavy holiday, look at the Eastern or Western Mediterranean itineraries. For winter sunshine, the Canary Islands and Atlantic itineraries are worth a look, while families dreaming of tropical beaches can look towards the Caribbean. And if you like the idea of a cruise but also want a proper hotel holiday, Cruise & Stay could be the answer.

If you’ve arrived here because you’ve read my Marella Discovery 2 review, just remember that Discovery 2 is becoming adults-only from November 2026, so it won’t be a family option after that point.

Final thoughts on Marella Cruises

I think the biggest misconception about cruising is that you have to be a “cruise person” before you try it – you don’t.

For families, there is actually a lot to like about the format. You unpack once, wake up somewhere different, have food available throughout the day, have entertainment on your doorstep and don’t have to spend every morning working out what you’re going to do. Marella cruises are also a relatively straightforward way into cruising because All Inclusive is included as standard, flights and transfers can be packaged with the cruise, and there are family-friendly ships designed to cater for children as well as adults. The trick is simply choosing the right ship, itinerary and cabin for your family, and once you’ve done that, you can leave the unpacking, driving and hotel-hopping behind and let someone else do the moving for a change.

Because if there’s one thing parents deserve on holiday, it’s not having to navigate a hire car while someone in the back seat repeatedly asks, “Are we nearly there yet?”