As the newest addition to the Marella Cruises family, Marella Voyager has certainly been making waves among cruise fanatics. Having recently set off on her maiden voyage around the Mediterranean earlier this month, she will be visiting popular sunny port destinations this summer: including Palma; Barcelona; Ajaccio (Corsica); and Rome (Civitavecchia).
Featuring 10 bars and restaurants, an indoor cinema, sparkling pool deck and extravagant show lounge, there will never be a dull moment onboard.
To provide an insight into this exciting new ship, we spoke to Specialist Cruise Consultant at Cruise.co.uk, Debbie Carmen, who detailed her thrilling experience onboard Marella Voyager.
Me and my colleague, Lee, just got back from the three-night shakedown cruise on the brand-new Marella Voyager (formally Mein Schiff Herz). All I can say is WOW! Marella sure knows how to launch a ship in style, and throw a great party!
The first day included some basic training, a treasure hunt style ‘find the captain’ ship tour and a glamorous gala dinner. This was followed by the main event- the on-deck christening of the new ship!
The exciting extravaganza featured a special surprise guest performance from pop sensation Becky Hill, followed by a fantastic Coldplay tribute act and a riveting fireworks display.
The next day, we got to experience a Marella shore excursion of the Spanish city of Almeria and Aguadulce town, and then it was back onboard for the Electric Sunsets 80s vs 90s-themed night. This is an entertainment feature that Marella offers on some of its shorter cruises; we had lots of fun and spotted a great mix of fancy dress outfits at this event!
Another deck party was also kicked off by the amazing Marella party band, who guests are going to have great fun partying with during the upcoming season. A Madonna tribute act took to the stage on this night, followed by 90’s boyband A1, who put on a great show- a very nostalgic moment for me! From here, the party continued in both the traditional British pub, The Squid and Anchor, and the fabulous nightclub, which hosted a silent disco night.
With this being my first ever Marella cruise, I can honestly say that what I expected from this ship compared with what I actually experienced couldn’t be further apart. I would 100% sail on this ship again! It’s a great mid-sized ship with colourful, fun, quirky décor and fantastic artwork, while other areas are reminiscent of that of a boutique hotel.
In most bars, there is a stage for performers, and each venue has its own character and theme with no ‘wasted space’. The Exchange, a speakeasy bar which offered intimate shows for a small supplement, was extremely cool and would be a great place to spend the evening. The actors and singers featured here really added to the overall experience.
Food options onboard are extensive; they have replaced the traditional buffet with ‘the kitchens’ which have their own individual areas serving a variety of different cuisines, including Greek, Chinese, Indian and of course, the infamous roast dinner! This worked really well and is a similar concept to that on Virgin Voyages ships.
They also have an impressive main restaurant, as well as a Mexican and Italian eatery which were all included in the overall cruise price (except for a few specific choices on the menu). It’s great that Marella has included so many choices within the price of the cruise, especially with the quality of food and service being so excellent. Additionally, if you fancy dining somewhere slightly more special, you can also pay for the Indian, steak and fine dining speciality restaurants onboard for a supplement.
We were also lucky enough to be able to look around some of the cabins while onboard Marella Voyager. The executive and voyager suites are beautiful for those wanting a little bit of luxury while travelling. However, I also really liked the family interior cabin concept, featuring two sleeping areas that can be separated by a sliding door. This is the perfect option for families working on a budget!
