Marella Explorer Review

4.0 / 5.0
248 reviews
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Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Overall
Adam Coulter
U.K. Executive Editor

Marella Explorer was launched in May 2018 and debuted a number of new-to-the-fleet features, including a link-up with upmarket health spa Champneys (the first at sea), a raft of brand-new restaurants, a gin- and whisky-tasting bar and a large number of new shows.

Familiar facilities, such as The Veranda adults-only terrace and Broadway Show Lounge, are bigger, as is the spa. (However, despite boasting the largest spa in the fleet, there's no indoor pool.)

Aimed squarely at the British market, the vessel is easily manageable for first-timers, with plenty of entertainment for families with kids (despite the fact there is a tiny kids' club) and enough standout and high-end facilities -- including upmarket eateries and a high-tech top-deck disco/bar/casino -- to keep the most seasoned cruisers happy.

Like the fleet as a whole, the ship is billed all-inclusive (in that alcohol and tips are included), and you'll find buckets full of cold beer outside the theatre and on the deck, as well as beer and wine dispensers in the buffet. However, should you wish a more "premium" experience, there is a number of excellent restaurants that carry a cover charge.

Marella inspires loyalty with its long-serving staff and repeat passengers from the line's days as Thomson. The line knows its clientele thoroughly, inside and out -- exactly what they need and want.

And, in the case of this ship, Marella has even anticipated what passengers might not yet know they need or want with a number of first-time additions. This ship is an outstanding addition to the Marella fleet.

Pros

Great food, top-class entertainment and one of the finest spas at sea

Cons

Very small kids' club, very small portions in main dining room and no indoor pool

Bottom Line

A ship that knows exactly what passengers want -- and delivers

About

Passengers: 1924
Crew: 794
Passenger to Crew: 2.42:1
Launched: 1996
Shore Excursions: 380

Fellow Passengers

Marella Explorer attracts an exclusively British clientele wherever it is based, whether in the Med during the summer or the Caribbean in the winter. You'd be hard pressed to find any other nationality, and certainly no concession is made for them. The average age is around mid-50s, with multigenerational groups during peak holiday periods. Expect a lot of children onboard from the beginning of July to the beginning of September and over the Christmas holidays.

Marella Explorer Dress Code

The ship is casual during the day -- think shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops -- due to its locations (summer in the Med and winter in the Caribbean). In the evenings, it's smart casual. One night on a seven-night cruise is "Dress to Impress" night, which has replaced gala evenings or formal nights. There's no real guidance on this, though most people opt for a jacket and smart trousers or (non-ripped) jeans for men and a dress and perhaps heels for women.

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Is Marella Explorer a good ship to cruise on?

Marella Explorer won 7 awards over the years.
Marella Explorer Cruiser Reviews

Average cruise

Quite disappointed with Explorer this time around, it is in need of some TLC & yet again standard seem to be slipping with Marella.Read More
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Big Norm

many10+ Cruises

Age 71s

Well Done Marella!

We cruised on Marella Explorer for two weeks from Corfu from 6th October to the Adriatic and the Aegean. Our only complaint was about flying into and out of Corfu Airport, absolute chaos!!Read More
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JC46

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 70s

Spoilt only by a minority and an unheated pool.

Explorer may not be the newest and flashiest of ships that have the latest features but she is in our opinion still a comfortable ship and has an elegance and style missing from more modern floating towerRead More
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AchileLauro

many10+ Cruises

Age 65s

A solid effort from the little fish in the big pond of cruising (2 Regular Marella Cruisers)

If you have read my reviews before you'll know that we cruised with Marella last in July/Aug 2023 on the Explorer 2 (E2), but this was the first time we've taken the Explorer (E1), so we were excited toRead More
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slclove

many10+ Cruises

Age 31s

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