Just returned from two week Baltic cruise on Marella Explorer (10 th Aug19).
Never having cruised before, we were unsure what to expect, but the itinerary was exactly what we wanted. Apologies in advance for the length of this review, I know it's going to be a long one
We sailed from Newcastle, so no flights involved for us which was a huge bonus, mainly as no luggage restrictions ( so long as each case weighed no more than 23k each) but also being able to avoid the chaos of airports in summer.
Cabin 8159, pre booked for £48
There was three of us sharing as we were travelling with our adult daughter
This cabin is mid ship quite near the mid ship lifts. Very quiet, not disturbed by any noise at all. Quite spacious but it was designed for 4 adults and we felt this would feel very cramped if there had been a forth adult sharing. Lots of storage though and empty suitcases fitted under the bed. Small but functional bathroom, no shower curtain a nice glass door instead
Considering there was no window, it was quite bright. Full length mirror on the wall and hairdryer in the drawer. About 4 plug sockets2 European, 2 American but we brought a 4 way extension lead so no issues. Tv on wall with Sky news and sports news, and an Irish Chanel with the odd film on. Loved the bridge and pool cam function though
Very comfortable beds and pillows
We loved our choice of cabin and would probably choose it again if using an inside