Cruises Marella Cruises 2022 - 2023

All Thomson's ships have at least 3 restaurants with daily changing menus. And you can be as laid-back or as dressy as you like. If you fancy an easy-come-easy-go set-up, the self-serve buffets put on everything from full-cooked breakfasts to midnight-hour suppers. The more formal dining rooms and à la carte restaurants, meanwhile, introduce multi-course menus with waiting staff taking orders from your table. Between times, there are snack bars on deck and the delicious ritual of afternoon tea. And let’s not forget the captain’s gala reception and its all-singing-all-dancing dinner.  

Cruising is a family affair. The whole gang will love splashing in the pools and playing board games in the library. There’s no need for airs and graces in the casual buffet restaurants, either. The ships also have a Thomson Kids’ Club. It’s free for 3 to 11-year-olds, who can spend their days getting messy with arts and crafts while mum and dad relax on deck or spend some time in the gym or spa. Teens tend to make a beeline for the basketball and table tennis tournaments with sports decks. And there’s Internet access to keep them connected.

The sail-away deck parties set the scene for a holiday that delivers a fantastic mix of live music, cabaret, and big-number productions, with a professional show team giving the West End a run for its money. Away from the nightly razzmatazz, daytimes are packed with trivia quizzes and sports tournaments. Just so you know, too, the onboard activities don’t stop when the ship is anchored at port and you don’t fancy going ashore.  

It’s that celebration cake to mark a birthday or an anniversary, that indulgent breakfast in bed, that private sea view. There are lots of ways Thomson Cruises can make you feel special. You can choose your cabin number, for example, or upgrade to a roomy Suite. Plus, you will find some fantastic shore excursions. Onboard beauty salons and spas have a great range of treatments, and all ships come with an à la carte restaurant for dining with a flamboyant edge.

The accredited staff at onboard Thomson Kids’ Club do a brilliant job keeping youngsters entertained. There’s messy time with arts and crafts, dressing-up, movie nights and pyjama parties. Trips to the bridge to high-five the captain and behind-the-scenes backstage tours also make the line-up. They'll even take your little ones to breakfast a couple of times a week while you get a lie-in. Groups are split in to 2 or 3, depending on ages and numbers. Tots is for 3 to 5-year-olds and Team is for 6 to 8 years – sometimes these 2 are combined. There are lots of activities for the 9 to 11 age group, in Tribe. Best of all, the club is free.

One of the perks of cruising is visiting lots of new places one after the other. Thomson Cruises offers a range of shore excursions for the whole family. For little ones, they organise trips to waterparks, aquariums and beaches, plus once-in-a-lifetime experiences like swimming with stingrays and dolphins. If you’re travelling with children aged 10 and over, there’s also the option of 2 wheels. Most of their ships have mountain bikes on board. At almost every port, you can join an experienced guide and pedal your way around the best sights.

Aboard TUi Discovery and Tui Discovery 2,you get All Inclusive as standard.

The rest of the ships give you full-board as standard. If you’ve got a budget to stick to when it comes to drinks, why not opt for the All Inclusive drinks package? It’s really good value, and means you don’t run the risk of overspending. It includes draught beer, a range of spirits and aperitifs, house wine, a selection of cocktails and selected soft drinks. If you book before you travel, you’ll get a discount.