Just come back from a Marella Cruise on the Discovery covering Türkiye and the Greek Islands. Agree with your pros and cons 100% as we have said exactly the same. We are booking for the Caribbean on Sunday on the same ship. Fantastic Cruise Line and great value for money. However, nothing is 100% I guess and we have found Marella to be the best average Cruise Line at this juncture. Try staying in a Premier Inn for the same money per night to include food etc.
This is a really informative video and one of the best reviews I've seen of a ship so thank you. We were going to book with Marella with some friends for this year after going with P & O the last two years on Iona and Arvia and although P & O have reduced their fares, we won't travel with them again due to poor food, very poor entertainment, poor service and in some bars, some quite rude staff and many cuts to what they used to offer, ie no afternoon tea anymore and no evening cabin turndown etc. We too also witnessed a few arguments on there as well. Also liked MSC but food not so good and I think just too many people on these big new ships. However, your bit about the pro's and cons gave us enough information NOT to book as we don't want to see scuffles, arguments and fights due to over consumption of alcohol. I can go to the pub to see this. Cruises are definitely changing and if they're not careful, more people will return to land holidays. I am going to look to see if there is a review on Holland America but thank you and keep the reviews coming.
Hey Suzanne. P&O seems to be a bit more like fight club than Marella. In fairness it's the first time we've witnessed it so we'd like to think it was isolated. As for HAL it's our favourite line so definitely look into them but they can be a little snobby with the wealthy Americans. Their drinks package allows 15 per person per day which we find is more than adequate. We didn't film our last trip in May on the Oosterdam as it was Becky's 30th but one will be planned for the future. Thanks for watching!
Great cruise guide, loved the tour and the honest review. This year we are giving Marella a go instead of the bigger cruise lines we usually choose and have spotted a Discovery Caribbean itinerary and thought we’d do some research which is how we found your video. Really enjoyed the content and the useful information, you guys should definitely make more cruise ship videos 👏😍🛳️
Thanks very much folks. All of our vlogs are as honest as they come. Funny you should mention another cruise vlog as we are filming onboard Princess in November. The difference will be night and day. We can't put an estimated release date on it as we've still got 4 vlogs waiting for editing but it will be coming for sure and we post on our social pages as soon as we know, so keep your eyes peeled!
@@ParksTravelGuide brilliant look forward to watching, Princess is one of the cruise lines we haven’t tried yet but heard lots of good things about it.
Well made vlog guys definitely gave us a great insight into cruising aboard the marella discovery. Looks amazing and something I would love to do. Well done and thanks for sharing this with us
Go to most all inclusive resorts and everything is included including cakes and ice cream. It's bizarre given the fact they aren't as cheap as they used to be either as a lot of higher class lines (which can often be cheaper than a week with Marella depending on offers) don't charge for bits like that. Thanks for watching Peter!
Hey Marcia. Keep your eye out for the solo traveller meet ups in the cruise news. You won't be short of people to talk to so please don't be daunted about doing it alone.
Thanks John & Becky, Very informative. Shame about the queuing for the bars, that's the one thing I hate doing. We are going on the 18th April for the repositioning cruise from Barbados to Turkey. Take care and thanks again for all the tips.
Ey up Joe. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting us know. Sounds a lovely repo - infact there's someone who's watched our vlog on the same cruise as you so maybe you might just bump into them. If so we expect a picture to be posted on our Facebook or Instagram page! Have a fantastic trip. We'll have just got back from India then. Thanks very much for watching! John & Becky x
I am just watching this video and I am also booked on the 11th April this year for the repositioning cruise which must be a week earlier in 2024 .I have watched a few videos on the discovery and we are really looking forward to a fabulous cruise.Anyone else booked for this year on the 11th April 2024 .😊😂❤ 😀😀😎😎
Nah we're just Yorkshire...and sometimes powered by beer. Glue would be a lot cheaper though. Infact we'll even add it as a recommended top tip for those travelling with Marella. Don't leave home with it.
Cheers guys, that honest appraisal did it for me, can't get a beer at any bar without queuing. Had the same experience on MSC Virtuosa, NEVER AGAIN. Shame, looks a good itinerary.
No worries Baz. We're always honest and give our own personal opinions with every vlog. Unlike many travel vloggers we aren't paid and never will accept money to sugar coat anything. On the other hand one man's trash is another man's treasure so we respect that as well. We're heading with Princess in November and filming on there, although it's like comparing apples with pears. We'd still say Marella is a good starter cruise but probably a back step for the more seasoned cruiser. Thanks very much for watching!
Third time on Discovery in November, only a six night repositioning cruise from Marmaris to Palma. The best cruise was in Asia where we visited Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangcock, Penang, Melacca, Ho Chi Minh City amongst others. Sadly the problems in the Red Sea seem to have put paid to those cruises.
The Asia itinerary looked very appealing Ian, but like you say it's a shame things happened. A nice repo from Marmaris to Palma certainly fits the bill. We're heading with Princess in November from Rome to Athens so that will be nice. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
awww that is beutiful , thank you so much for taking the time to do such a. well presented video i'm not too sure if i like this i thought maybe try this one it my mum's 65 coming up . Have you been on any carribian cruises / alaska what is your favourite one ? Thank you 💖
We haven't done Alaska as yet but it's on the list. Our favourite line is Holland America. A world away from what you see on this vlog. Princess are good as well if you like the more formal cruises so we hear. We're currently looking at one for mid November. Which takes in part of Columbia and the Panama canal as it's a part yet to be explored. Who knows though. Marella is good for British first timer/starter cruises as the only way you can go from there is up. P&O are on a similar level to Marella but with bigger ships. Thanks very much for watching!
We found this video as we are currently in the middle of editing a Marella Cruise vlog ourselves. Great work! Very balanced and informative with good shots of the ship. After watching your 6 month travel review we have a lot of your previous content to explore and have subscribed. Travelling on a budget is right up our street. Happy travelling!
You'll have plenty to go at then! Haha. Thanks very much for your lovely words, hopefully you'll find plenty of inspiration and if there's any other help you need then drop us a message on our socials. All the best x
Hi lovelies ❤ the ship looks great, tapas looked amazing. You guys looked great all dressed up, I would definitely be up for getting the glad rags on 🤩 We have never really been into doing a cruise 🚢 maybe it’s because I used to work on ships for a few years 😂😂 We have just booked Skiathos for May and watching you at St. Maarten watching the planes come in is just like at Skiathos so we will defo be doing some plane spotting in between some amazing Greek beer and food 🍲 I will of course have ANOTHER Mythos or 5 for you both!😂 Take care xxxxxxx
Now then Kezza! Hope you're well. We had a good trip overall but we have our favourite lines. We filmed this purely because we think Marella is still good for a first time cruiser to dip their toe in, so to speak. Skiathos sounds fantastic and is still on our list but so far no dates have worked out for us to coincide with our annual leave. One day though as we want to go to the St Maarten of Europe too! We've got nothing else booked but with our wedding anniversary in April we had better pull our finger out 😆. Great to hear from you as always x
Brilliant watch both of you, so much information and a great tour, does look so much fun and plenty to do for everyone, the ship looked amazing and the places you visited too, well done for this it was a great vlog something different and hoping one day I will get on a ship 😁 Thankyou very much Becky and john for this Lovely vlog xx ❤️
Great video. I'm looking at booking this cruise for next year for my wife's 50th birthday, would you guys recommend this? Never done a cruise before. Also, do you know whether this cruise or any other cruise cater for Gluten free?
Hey Neil. Thanks very much. Marella is a good starter cruise for first timers. As to GF there are dishes catering for this and also vegetarian/vegan options also on menus and in the buffet which are clearly labelled for allergens. The staff will be happy to assist if you need any further clarification though as they are good like that.
Another brilliant vlog, telling it how it is! I think the new lifeboat drill procedure they have introduced is better than having to physically sit through it but the old way did give you a laugh!😂 As a cruiser for many years, it was interesting to see but although a fantastic itinerary I don't think Marella is for me. Looking forward to more vlogs guys!
Enjoyed the video! We're on the Discovery this July. We've been on other Marella ships 3 times and I have to say I agree with your summing up pros and cons. But we're still going back! :¬) Keep up the good vids!
What an excellent, well balanced review. We Love Marella and are back on Discovery April 18th for the 19 day repositioning cruise from Barbados to Turkey
We travel on Discovery in September to Turkey and the Greek islands…we did Explorer 2 last year and it was brilliant. If Discovery is as good we will be happy 👍🇬🇧😎
Great vlog, my wife and I are booked on the Marella Discovery early September for a Med cruise. Good to know what to expect and what to look out for, its our first cruise. Thanks xxx PS will be taking my suit! lol 👍
thanks so much for a really informative video. we have booked this cruise for December and it's our first ever cruise so I was really happy that your video included so much detail. the worry for me is the potential for people binging the free alcohol and possibly getting a little out of hand, so I'm glad you addressed that! have subscribed and am looking forward to watching more of your travels 🙂
Glad you liked it and it helped. Security are very responsive onboard if things do happen and the very real threat of being offloaded at the next port is enough to put people off behaving poorly. It was probably an isolated event that unfortunately we dropped on. Thanks very much for spending your Sunday watching and be sure to join us on social media and tell your friends as some of our budget land based trips may appeal. Glad to have you onboard. Much love! John & Becky x
It`s all about personal opinion, you got the pro`s and con`s just about right, I believe That`s Marella in general not just Discovery. If you get time to answer, can i ask what plug sockets are in the rooms that have not been upgraded. I`m guessing your room wasn`t looking at the photos
Hey there. We like to be as fair as we can. Fairly confident they were UK ones even though we took US adapters. I believe only deck 7+8 got the renovations and ours was showing its age but perfectly functional for the time we were in there. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
Great vlog as usual 👍 Super tips too. We were considering Marella but not sure about the drinks queues and boozers. Fantastic itinerary. Thank you both. Keep it up!
It may be isolated to this ship but we can't be sure. Marella is wanting a certain clientele and it seems they are getting it. Still a great starter cruise though, although our favourite is Holland America.
Thank you for the video. That was a really well measured and honest review. Totally agree about the entertainment aspect. We were on Explorer a few months ago and the food was stunning.
Thanks very much. We like to think Marella is a bit of an all rounder when it comes to the grub. Some bits lacked any culinary flair but some made up for it like the tapas. Really appreciate you watching 🙂
Great Video we are booked on this ship going to Greece and some islands in May and we thought your Video and review was really good pointing out the good and bad especially the waiting times at bars we usually go with larger cruise ships and haven't had that experience let's hope they take on board your review and employ a few more staff.
Hi Julie. We like to be fair with things as nothing is ever 100% perfect but some may find it different. We could have just hit a rough cruise that's all. Hope you have a fantastic time!
@@larsson7709 Marella isn't for everyone, which is why we had to be transparent with it and give both sides to expectations. Glad it's helped you anyway.
Thanks very much Graham. That'll be it for us now until May time as we won't be travelling until the start of April and we chose not to re-film Krakow when we went a couple of weeks ago. We filmed reels though for our social channels which will be released periodically. Thanks for your support as always
Very helpful and comprehensive review of Discovery 2. We are booked to take a one week cruise on the ship in July. We had intended to take a two week cruise Far East cruise on the ship in March 2025 but this was cancelled due to security situation in Red Sea area. We wanted to test Discovery 2 and so replaced it with Ottoman Odyssey cruise - this will be our first proper cruise and am looking forward to it. Thanks for your excellent vlog.🎉🎉🎉🎉
Hey Paul! We remember reading about the one getting cancelled this year and it repo'd empty back to the med via Africa. This vlog is the Discovery and not the Disco 2. Hopefully you'll still have a fantastic time regardless of where the sea may take you. Thanks very much for watching and we are glad it helped.
Fab video. We cruised on Discovery when it was Splendour of the seas but have only cruised P&O since. We're looking at trying Marella in the future due to their caribbean itinerary, more ports than P&O, and a few different to ones we've already done. Definitely given us food for thought. Thank you.
Glad we could help you out. Marella are always good for squeezing in as many ports as they can. That was the only reason we opted for the Discovery over the Arvia. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
It varies greatly. We booked this a couple of months before we went. Sometimes the closer to the departure date the better but we always keep an eye on what the prices are doing. Thanks very much for watching ☺️
Great video,feel so much more at ease I'm going on cocktails and coconuts with my wife Catherine it's our honeymoon and first anniversary and we can't wait just one question if you don't mind askingwhat currency is for the islands and on ship? thanks in advance.
Hi Liam. The ships currency is GBP and the majority of islands work in Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC) but take USD. Guadeloupe is the Euro but some places will accept USD. We only carried USD and had no issues. Hope it helps!
@@natashaturnham1166 Hey! We felt safe at every port except for Dominica and Guadeloupe. Dominica probably much more so as there are many dodgy characters and unlicensed taxis, but even the licensed ones will try rip you off. Guadeloupe looks like a ghetto when you take a first glance as you'll see on the vlog. As soon as you get off the ship at any port there are companies offering the same tours but for a lot cheaper than the ship.
Hey Ivan. Hope you're well. We're not doing so bad thanks, just tired with work as it's peak season for us in aviation. Recently returned from Kardamena in Kos which will be our next vlog. If you really miss us then jump on the social media pages as we keep those up to date inbetween filming. Good to hear from you 👍🏽
Hi thank you for your vlog, we are first time cruising, going on a transatlantic repositioning cruise in April. I found your information very informative and helpful. X
Hey Susan. Looks like there's a few of you going on the April repo cruise if you check out the other comments. Glad we could help and we hope you have a fantastic time! 🙂
Hi Charlotte. There's a price list shown in the vlog for WiFi with what's available when we talk about it. Very expensive is your answer as it's a satellite connection.
Just returned from this ship, Barbados to Turkey. Well, where do I start. I've been on many cruises with Marella. Twice a year. It started well in Barbados, but it soon became apparent that it wasn't the usual Marella standard. The decor throughout the ship was shabby with peeling wallpaper and dirty seating, especially in the coffee port and the filthy Live room. Breakfasts were mostly bad in the main restaurant. Evening meals were better. Staff are fantastic and always happy. Several pensioners got involved in fighting during the cruise and were arrested. My advice for decent couples is to avoid the smelly Live room at all costs !!!
Hey there. Well, we thought it may have been isolated to our cruise but apparently not. Sad to read cleanliness standards have slipped in areas as we had no particular issues in that respect. It's definitely the staff who make Marella what they are. Hopefully you'll have a better voyage next time. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
Just a one-off until we start filming again in April. Got a lot going on 'behind the scenes' at the moment but don't worry we'll be back as soon as we can x
Good review,we're going on this ship in oct,its our second cruise,first one was with p n o we thought that was brilliant hopefully this will be as good,but cant be doing with drunken brawls😂 some folk need to grow up and not drink....cheers
Hopefully you'll have a great time. We'd like to think part of our experience was an isolated event as we haven't had any bother on previous trips. Thanks very much for watching!
@@parklandpiker well we are grateful for your support. You may have a few from all over the world 😆. We're back in India at the moment doing bits of filming although we covered Candolim last year so we're not doing another full length one. Be sure to join our pages on social media as we often post behind the scenes bits and info as to where we are going next.
if you have cruised on other lines, you may find marella very british, as in plenty of scumbags, and the infirm who throw off their wheelchairs and crutches once sailed, and only take to them again on the last day. having taken to the dance floor for 2 weeks, it wants the DWP on board to look into some payments
We done Marella cruises , we done the Celebration three times, once on the dream, and twice on the discoveries , one of the trips we were delayed 9 and half hours at Birmingham and flight to Barbados that was quite interesting , the cruise news is important , we found the food very good on Marella , better than some of the hotels we stopped in Europe
Ouch! 9.5 hours is a killer. Good to hear you enjoy Marella. I sailed on the dream when she was the Costa Europa and then we joined her in Limassol for a week the year before she was retired. Happy cruising and thanks for watching 🙂
Ah I've always wondered how delays work. Never been on a cruise but looking at a carribean cruise for this year in DEC that includes ABC islands. Looks like it will be Marrella from barbados
Good informative video. Didn't you have to get a USA esta for Puerto Rico. USA island?? Also some bloggers have said about the queuing ar that visa port.???
Hi Carol. We mention in the vlog that an ESTA is required for US territories. We had a bit of a queue but it moved quick and was fairly well organised as people travelling together can all go to the same desk. In fairness we've queued much longer for passport control at Manchester, Dubai and Bali. You only need to go through the process once and then for the rest of the US ports it's disembarkation as normal. We went early for our ticket and got something in the 500's but didn't have to wait long until we were called. Thanks for watching!
@Jordan97814 online as it can take 48hrs to be approved. They won't let you check in for your flight at the airport without it. Probably best to do it asap really if it's this November you are travelling. Unfortunately we can't help with the visa application process but Marella customer services are happy to help with any questions.
@AstroPixUK You do indeed and they can be changed twice daily if required, simply leave them on the floor. Pool towels are also given but are chargeable if not left in the cabin before disembarkation.
We’re going on marella Caribbean in November, do they have a place where you can eat at any time? Or do you have to choose these specific “Posh restraunts?” By that I mean dress code. Sometimes I might just wanna go grab a bite to eat in shorts or something.
@@Jordan97814 Hey there. The buffet at Islands is casual attire dining and you'll find it serves pretty much the same menu as the included restaurant so you don't have to worry about those shorts.
@@ParksTravelGuide haha great Just watching it now, and we’ve booked with Tui. What’s all inclusive and what’s not? As I’m trying to contact Tui now to ask them if we upgrade to premium would we still get the same treatment to those coffees on board if we wanted?
Premium is worth it in our eyes so there's the freedom. If you search online for the latest bar menu's then anything with a * next to it is an extra payment for non premium guests per drink. It's about £3 or less but soon adds up if that's your tipple. We believe the coffees from the barista cafe are extra, although the specials are not included for any package. Basically, go order a JD at a bar and throw it in after instead of being charged extra. The whole thing is crazy, even charging for desserts in there but it is what it is. If needs be you can upgrade onboard also for the same price as they offer it for a few days into the cruise with a reduction per day...or at least did with ours.
@@ParksTravelGuide ah right ok! So in the main buffet you ain’t gotta worry about that it’s a first cruise 😂😂😂! As u can tell I thought all inclusive meant everything lol
@Jordan97814 it's all good in the buffet, flip flops accepted any time of day. Marella have 2 packages which are Standard and Premium. Personally premium is worth it if you want the cocktails and premium spirits etc but otherwise it's alright. Depends what you drink and if you think it's worth the extra per day.
Agree with your pros and cons about Marella cruises. The itineraries are the best ,but I thought the cabins had been refurbished? Still a shower curtain. Not sure I’d be happy without a fridge either.
Hey Michelle. Cabins had been refurbished on decks 7 and 8 but as the ship was only in dry dock for 5 weeks (I think), Navantia who had the contract could only do so many in that timeframe. Maybe they will finish the rest on her next visit.
@@cruisecrazy7066 i very much doubt the 'upscale dining rooms' would attract such, however do you really see a booked dining room refusing entry to a paying customer? money talks. anyway my comment was about the ships MAIN dining areas, where standards have clearly fallen, and will continue to do so as they re not being checked.
enjoyed your video, we're going on our first cruise in December, a few different Caribbean port of calls than yourselves but we now know what to expect. is it best to book excursions or just do your own adventure?
DIY is always much cheaper providing you can be back well in time before the ship leaves and the same or similar tours can be found at the exit of the port area The only thing excursions booked on the ship guarantee you is that if the vehicle breaks down etc then the ship will wait. That decision is up to you. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
What we do on when we plan a cruise is look for a mixture of places you can walk around and a few places where we take an excursion. We have been on many Marella cruises (including when it was Thomson or TUI) and always enjoyed them.
![Cody Johnson - I'm Gonna Love You (with Carrie Underwood) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yy9PuYMU29g/mqdefault.jpg)
Just come back from a Marella Cruise on the Discovery covering Türkiye and the Greek Islands. Agree with your pros and cons 100% as we have said exactly the same. We are booking for the Caribbean on Sunday on the same ship. Fantastic Cruise Line and great value for money. However, nothing is 100% I guess and we have found Marella to be the best average Cruise Line at this juncture. Try staying in a Premier Inn for the same money per night to include food etc.
It's a suitable comparison we'd say, Tony. Thanks very much for watching and we hope you have a great time and have plenty of rum punch for us!
This is a really informative video and one of the best reviews I've seen of a ship so thank you. We were going to book with Marella with some friends for this year after going with P & O the last two years on Iona and Arvia and although P & O have reduced their fares, we won't travel with them again due to poor food, very poor entertainment, poor service and in some bars, some quite rude staff and many cuts to what they used to offer, ie no afternoon tea anymore and no evening cabin turndown etc. We too also witnessed a few arguments on there as well. Also liked MSC but food not so good and I think just too many people on these big new ships. However, your bit about the pro's and cons gave us enough information NOT to book as we don't want to see scuffles, arguments and fights due to over consumption of alcohol. I can go to the pub to see this. Cruises are definitely changing and if they're not careful, more people will return to land holidays. I am going to look to see if there is a review on Holland America but thank you and keep the reviews coming.
Hey Suzanne. P&O seems to be a bit more like fight club than Marella. In fairness it's the first time we've witnessed it so we'd like to think it was isolated. As for HAL it's our favourite line so definitely look into them but they can be a little snobby with the wealthy Americans. Their drinks package allows 15 per person per day which we find is more than adequate. We didn't film our last trip in May on the Oosterdam as it was Becky's 30th but one will be planned for the future. Thanks for watching!
Great cruise guide, loved the tour and the honest review. This year we are giving Marella a go instead of the bigger cruise lines we usually choose and have spotted a Discovery Caribbean itinerary and thought we’d do some research which is how we found your video. Really enjoyed the content and the useful information, you guys should definitely make more cruise ship videos 👏😍🛳️
Thanks very much folks. All of our vlogs are as honest as they come. Funny you should mention another cruise vlog as we are filming onboard Princess in November. The difference will be night and day. We can't put an estimated release date on it as we've still got 4 vlogs waiting for editing but it will be coming for sure and we post on our social pages as soon as we know, so keep your eyes peeled!
@@ParksTravelGuide brilliant look forward to watching, Princess is one of the cruise lines we haven’t tried yet but heard lots of good things about it.
hi I am going on this cruise in November for my honeymoon its good to know what you have said thanks for vidoe x
Hi Catherine. Glad it has helped. Many congratulations for then and we hope you have a wonderful time. Thanks for watching x 🙂
@ParksTravelGuide we be going over are first year anniversary I have been looking at other cruises I thought let you its on this loveitbook it x
Well made vlog guys definitely gave us a great insight into cruising aboard the marella discovery. Looks amazing and something I would love to do. Well done and thanks for sharing this with us
Thanks Tony. Glad you enjoyed it!
Each to there Own BUT Never Had any one Rude or Drunk and we been on 6 As 4 Cakes U Pay as 4 ice cream Where can u get one four 1 pound 20 ?
Go to most all inclusive resorts and everything is included including cakes and ice cream. It's bizarre given the fact they aren't as cheap as they used to be either as a lot of higher class lines (which can often be cheaper than a week with Marella depending on offers) don't charge for bits like that. Thanks for watching Peter!
Great Review Been there 2 years ago Going in Feb 2025 on this Cruise with Friends
Have a great time and thanks for watching 🙂
I'm going as a solo female January 2025 what can I expect please. I'll be doing the exotic islands, cocktails and coconuts woth Marella discovery
Hey Marcia. Keep your eye out for the solo traveller meet ups in the cruise news. You won't be short of people to talk to so please don't be daunted about doing it alone.
Thanks John & Becky, Very informative. Shame about the queuing for the bars, that's the one thing I hate doing. We are going on the 18th April for the repositioning cruise from Barbados to Turkey. Take care and thanks again for all the tips.
Ey up Joe. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting us know. Sounds a lovely repo - infact there's someone who's watched our vlog on the same cruise as you so maybe you might just bump into them. If so we expect a picture to be posted on our Facebook or Instagram page! Have a fantastic trip. We'll have just got back from India then. Thanks very much for watching! John & Becky x
I am just watching this video and I am also booked on the 11th April this year for the repositioning cruise which must be a week earlier in 2024 .I have watched a few videos on the discovery and we are really looking forward to a fabulous cruise.Anyone else booked for this year on the 11th April 2024 .😊😂❤ 😀😀😎😎
Great video you covered a lot of useful information
Thanks for watching Tracey! Glad we could help 🙂
Incredible video 😍 can't wait for the next one! X
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much! 🤩
Whoa, you're fartin sparks! Are you on glue?
@@simracer1256 ahhh we've been busted! The game is up.
@@ParksTravelGuide hahaha! You talk funny! Like one of those!
Nah we're just Yorkshire...and sometimes powered by beer. Glue would be a lot cheaper though. Infact we'll even add it as a recommended top tip for those travelling with Marella. Don't leave home with it.
@@ParksTravelGuide hurrah! This is so exciting, I almost can't stand it!
Cheers guys, that honest appraisal did it for me, can't get a beer at any bar without queuing. Had the same experience on MSC Virtuosa, NEVER AGAIN. Shame, looks a good itinerary.
No worries Baz. We're always honest and give our own personal opinions with every vlog. Unlike many travel vloggers we aren't paid and never will accept money to sugar coat anything. On the other hand one man's trash is another man's treasure so we respect that as well. We're heading with Princess in November and filming on there, although it's like comparing apples with pears. We'd still say Marella is a good starter cruise but probably a back step for the more seasoned cruiser. Thanks very much for watching!
Third time on Discovery in November, only a six night repositioning cruise from Marmaris to Palma. The best cruise was in Asia where we visited Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangcock, Penang, Melacca, Ho Chi Minh City amongst others. Sadly the problems in the Red Sea seem to have put paid to those cruises.
The Asia itinerary looked very appealing Ian, but like you say it's a shame things happened. A nice repo from Marmaris to Palma certainly fits the bill. We're heading with Princess in November from Rome to Athens so that will be nice. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
awww that is beutiful , thank you so much for taking the time to do such a. well presented video i'm not too sure if i like this i thought maybe try this one it my mum's 65 coming up . Have you been on any carribian cruises / alaska what is your favourite one ? Thank you 💖
We haven't done Alaska as yet but it's on the list. Our favourite line is Holland America. A world away from what you see on this vlog. Princess are good as well if you like the more formal cruises so we hear. We're currently looking at one for mid November. Which takes in part of Columbia and the Panama canal as it's a part yet to be explored. Who knows though. Marella is good for British first timer/starter cruises as the only way you can go from there is up. P&O are on a similar level to Marella but with bigger ships. Thanks very much for watching!
We found this video as we are currently in the middle of editing a Marella Cruise vlog ourselves. Great work! Very balanced and informative with good shots of the ship. After watching your 6 month travel review we have a lot of your previous content to explore and have subscribed. Travelling on a budget is right up our street. Happy travelling!
You'll have plenty to go at then! Haha. Thanks very much for your lovely words, hopefully you'll find plenty of inspiration and if there's any other help you need then drop us a message on our socials. All the best x
Hi lovelies ❤ the ship looks great, tapas looked amazing. You guys looked great all dressed up, I would definitely be up for getting the glad rags on 🤩 We have never really been into doing a cruise 🚢 maybe it’s because I used to work on ships for a few years 😂😂 We have just booked Skiathos for May and watching you at St. Maarten watching the planes come in is just like at Skiathos so we will defo be doing some plane spotting in between some amazing Greek beer and food 🍲 I will of course have ANOTHER Mythos or 5 for you both!😂 Take care xxxxxxx
Now then Kezza! Hope you're well. We had a good trip overall but we have our favourite lines. We filmed this purely because we think Marella is still good for a first time cruiser to dip their toe in, so to speak. Skiathos sounds fantastic and is still on our list but so far no dates have worked out for us to coincide with our annual leave. One day though as we want to go to the St Maarten of Europe too! We've got nothing else booked but with our wedding anniversary in April we had better pull our finger out 😆. Great to hear from you as always x
Brilliant watch both of you, so much information and a great tour, does look so much fun and plenty to do for everyone, the ship looked amazing and the places you visited too, well done for this it was a great vlog something different and hoping one day I will get on a ship 😁 Thankyou very much Becky and john for this Lovely vlog xx ❤️
Glad you enjoyed it Joanne x
Great video.
I'm looking at booking this cruise for next year for my wife's 50th birthday, would you guys recommend this? Never done a cruise before.
Also, do you know whether this cruise or any other cruise cater for Gluten free?
Hey Neil. Thanks very much. Marella is a good starter cruise for first timers. As to GF there are dishes catering for this and also vegetarian/vegan options also on menus and in the buffet which are clearly labelled for allergens. The staff will be happy to assist if you need any further clarification though as they are good like that.
Another brilliant vlog, telling it how it is! I think the new lifeboat drill procedure they have introduced is better than having to physically sit through it but the old way did give you a laugh!😂 As a cruiser for many years, it was interesting to see but although a fantastic itinerary I don't think Marella is for me. Looking forward to more vlogs guys!
Marella is horses for courses. We get where you are coming from, though. Thanks as always x
Enjoyed the video! We're on the Discovery this July.
We've been on other Marella ships 3 times and I have to say I agree with your summing up pros and cons. But we're still going back! :¬)
Keep up the good vids!
Hey David! We hope you have a fantastic time and thanks for watching 🙂
What an excellent, well balanced review. We Love Marella and are back on Discovery April 18th for the 19 day repositioning cruise from Barbados to Turkey
Thanks very much Gareth. Looks a nice route and we hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching
Hi, was there a price for wifi? if so how much? thanks
We travel on Discovery in September to Turkey and the Greek islands…we did Explorer 2 last year and it was brilliant. If Discovery is as good we will be happy 👍🇬🇧😎
She has a lot of charm. You're doing one of our favourite routes too! Very jealous. Thanks for watching Alan and we hope you have a fantastic trip 🙂
Great vlog, my wife and I are booked on the Marella Discovery early September for a Med cruise. Good to know what to expect and what to look out for, its our first cruise. Thanks xxx PS will be taking my suit! lol 👍
Thanks Stuart. We hope you have a fantastic time! Thanks for watching 🙂
Great video! Thank you so much 😊. Very informative and well thought out. Just the right pace throughout. Liked the review at the end.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching 🙂
thanks so much for a really informative video. we have booked this cruise for December and it's our first ever cruise so I was really happy that your video included so much detail. the worry for me is the potential for people binging the free alcohol and possibly getting a little out of hand, so I'm glad you addressed that!
have subscribed and am looking forward to watching more of your travels 🙂
Glad you liked it and it helped. Security are very responsive onboard if things do happen and the very real threat of being offloaded at the next port is enough to put people off behaving poorly. It was probably an isolated event that unfortunately we dropped on. Thanks very much for spending your Sunday watching and be sure to join us on social media and tell your friends as some of our budget land based trips may appeal. Glad to have you onboard. Much love! John & Becky x
It`s all about personal opinion, you got the pro`s and con`s just about right, I believe That`s Marella in general not just Discovery. If you get time to answer, can i ask what plug sockets are in the rooms that have not been upgraded. I`m guessing your room wasn`t looking at the photos
Hey there. We like to be as fair as we can. Fairly confident they were UK ones even though we took US adapters. I believe only deck 7+8 got the renovations and ours was showing its age but perfectly functional for the time we were in there. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
Great vlog as usual 👍 Super tips too. We were considering Marella but not sure about the drinks queues and boozers. Fantastic itinerary. Thank you both. Keep it up!
It may be isolated to this ship but we can't be sure. Marella is wanting a certain clientele and it seems they are getting it. Still a great starter cruise though, although our favourite is Holland America.
Thank you Becky & John. So very helpful & informative, especially the review.
Thanks for watching Theresa! 🙂
Wow this is cool what you guys did I'm happy both of you 😊 enjoy adventure ❤
Thanks Jessie! Hope you are all well
Thank you for the video. That was a really well measured and honest review. Totally agree about the entertainment aspect.
We were on Explorer a few months ago and the food was stunning.
Thanks very much. We like to think Marella is a bit of an all rounder when it comes to the grub. Some bits lacked any culinary flair but some made up for it like the tapas. Really appreciate you watching 🙂
Yet another fantastic video guys. Highlight for me was seeing john boogie 😂🤣😂
Strutting my stuff mate whilst being careful not to put my hip out in my old age. Cheers Martin!
Great Video we are booked on this ship going to Greece and some islands in May and we thought your Video and review was really good pointing out the good and bad especially the waiting times at bars we usually go with larger cruise ships and haven't had that experience let's hope they take on board your review and employ a few more staff.
Hi Julie. We like to be fair with things as nothing is ever 100% perfect but some may find it different. We could have just hit a rough cruise that's all. Hope you have a fantastic time!
This is brilliant. I’ve never been on a cruise and have been looking at Marella. So much information thank you 🥰
Glad we could help you Matt. Thanks for watching 🙂
Off on the discovery on my 13th agean adventure , great review... been on a few different cruises, so be interesting to see how marella goes
Hey Dave. Thanks very much. The Aegean is one of our favourite areas. We hope you have a great cruise 🙂
Never heard of Marella...always go holland America or celebrity ...
Hey Richie. Our favourite is HAL too. Marella is a British line so they only market to a certain area.
Enough to put me off thanks..I was contemplating booking 👍
@@larsson7709 Marella isn't for everyone, which is why we had to be transparent with it and give both sides to expectations. Glad it's helped you anyway.
Gotta say really really enjoyed this made my day nice to see some sun and sea this dreary time of year here in England. Here's to living ya best life
We're missing it too Jason! Forever grateful of your continued support as always x
absolutely fantastic video!! really will help as we are on discovery in a few weeks, great tips
Thanks Danny! Have a great time 😊
That's a really great video lot's of good info thanks Becky and John 👍
Thanks for watching Patricia x
Lol booze cruise is so accurate 😂
Although i love a bit of drama on my cruise.
Sometimes it's better than the cabaret. Thanks for watching! 🙂
Going on this ship and this was such a great informative review thank you 😀
Thanks very much! We hope you have a fab time 🙂
Great to see you guys again, really enjoyed your vlog, hopefully see another one soon, cheers x
Thanks very much Graham. That'll be it for us now until May time as we won't be travelling until the start of April and we chose not to re-film Krakow when we went a couple of weeks ago. We filmed reels though for our social channels which will be released periodically. Thanks for your support as always
Very helpful thanks and u2 are cracking
@@A1Fee67 Really appreciate your words Andy. Thanks for watching 🙂
Great video still not made are mind up about a cruise yet thanks xxxxx
Thanks Linda. Really appreciate you watching ☺️ xx
Very helpful and comprehensive review of Discovery 2. We are booked to take a one week cruise on the ship in July. We had intended to take a two week cruise Far East cruise on the ship in March 2025 but this was cancelled due to security situation in Red Sea area. We wanted to test Discovery 2 and so replaced it with Ottoman Odyssey cruise - this will be our first proper cruise and am looking forward to it.
Thanks for your excellent vlog.🎉🎉🎉🎉
Hey Paul! We remember reading about the one getting cancelled this year and it repo'd empty back to the med via Africa. This vlog is the Discovery and not the Disco 2. Hopefully you'll still have a fantastic time regardless of where the sea may take you. Thanks very much for watching and we are glad it helped.
it's DISCOVERY, NOT discovery 2, the name is on the front at the side, don't forget your passports and tickets.
Great video and super useful, thank you!
Thanks for watching ☺️
Fab video. We cruised on Discovery when it was Splendour of the seas but have only cruised P&O since. We're looking at trying Marella in the future due to their caribbean itinerary, more ports than P&O, and a few different to ones we've already done. Definitely given us food for thought. Thank you.
Glad we could help you out. Marella are always good for squeezing in as many ports as they can. That was the only reason we opted for the Discovery over the Arvia. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
go asap as the standards are falling very fast, i dread to think what it will be like in 10 years. bordering 'booze cruise' for some now.
Boss video. When is the best time to book these types of cruises for the best deal?
It varies greatly. We booked this a couple of months before we went. Sometimes the closer to the departure date the better but we always keep an eye on what the prices are doing. Thanks very much for watching ☺️
Thank you for Sharing! Love everything you did!
Thanks for watching Johnny! 😊
Great video,feel so much more at ease I'm going on cocktails and coconuts with my wife Catherine it's our honeymoon and first anniversary and we can't wait just one question if you don't mind askingwhat currency is for the islands and on ship? thanks in advance.
Hi Liam. The ships currency is GBP and the majority of islands work in Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC) but take USD. Guadeloupe is the Euro but some places will accept USD. We only carried USD and had no issues. Hope it helps!
That's great thank you
did you feel safe at the ports? or is it best to book excursions
@@natashaturnham1166 Hey! We felt safe at every port except for Dominica and Guadeloupe. Dominica probably much more so as there are many dodgy characters and unlicensed taxis, but even the licensed ones will try rip you off. Guadeloupe looks like a ghetto when you take a first glance as you'll see on the vlog. As soon as you get off the ship at any port there are companies offering the same tours but for a lot cheaper than the ship.
Hi guys long time no see ur both lookin well cheers for the blog
Hey Ivan. Hope you're well. We're not doing so bad thanks, just tired with work as it's peak season for us in aviation. Recently returned from Kardamena in Kos which will be our next vlog. If you really miss us then jump on the social media pages as we keep those up to date inbetween filming. Good to hear from you 👍🏽
Hi thank you for your vlog, we are first time cruising, going on a transatlantic repositioning cruise in April. I found your information very informative and helpful. X
Hey Susan. Looks like there's a few of you going on the April repo cruise if you check out the other comments. Glad we could help and we hope you have a fantastic time! 🙂
We might be going on the same one haha it’ll be our first cruise too!
Going on the discovery in May thanks for the info.
Hey Paul. Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you have a fab time! 😊
Fantastic video. We did the same cruise Nov 30th for 2 weeks absolutely brilliant .
Thanks very much for watching. You got on as we got off 🙂
What was it like November time? We’re going 24th November. Is it busy?
Hi, was there a price for wifi? if so how much? thanks
Hi Charlotte. There's a price list shown in the vlog for WiFi with what's available when we talk about it. Very expensive is your answer as it's a satellite connection.
You both are lovely couple,
a great combination, god bless, lord budda bless you.
We love you Hasi! ❤
@@ParksTravelGuide 🥰☺️
Just returned from this ship, Barbados to Turkey. Well, where do I start. I've been on many cruises with Marella. Twice a year.
It started well in Barbados, but it soon became apparent that it wasn't the usual Marella standard. The decor throughout the ship was shabby with peeling wallpaper and dirty seating, especially in the coffee port and the filthy Live room.
Breakfasts were mostly bad in the main restaurant. Evening meals were better.
Staff are fantastic and always happy. Several pensioners got involved in fighting during the cruise and were arrested.
My advice for decent couples is to avoid the smelly Live room at all costs !!!
Hey there. Well, we thought it may have been isolated to our cruise but apparently not. Sad to read cleanliness standards have slipped in areas as we had no particular issues in that respect. It's definitely the staff who make Marella what they are. Hopefully you'll have a better voyage next time. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
which cruise? i've been looking at the discovery for the ACB islands. What would you recommend otherwise??
we've just come back and the bar seats in the live roo0, were fine.
Is this Discovery 2 please?
@@victoriasteers3615 no this is the Discovery.
Great video, thanks!
Thanks for watching 🙂
Marella is British cruising at its best.
Thanks for watching Michael 😊
Fantastic vlog as always👏 👌 xx
Thank you!! Always grateful of your support x
Great video thanks
@@DjGiluk Thanks for watching 🙂
Welcome back you lovely people ❤
Just a one-off until we start filming again in April. Got a lot going on 'behind the scenes' at the moment but don't worry we'll be back as soon as we can x
Good review,we're going on this ship in oct,its our second cruise,first one was with p n o we thought that was brilliant hopefully this will be as good,but cant be doing with drunken brawls😂 some folk need to grow up and not drink....cheers
Hopefully you'll have a great time. We'd like to think part of our experience was an isolated event as we haven't had any bother on previous trips. Thanks very much for watching!
Got a new sub,i see i have a few holiday reviews to watch🤣
@@parklandpiker well we are grateful for your support. You may have a few from all over the world 😆. We're back in India at the moment doing bits of filming although we covered Candolim last year so we're not doing another full length one. Be sure to join our pages on social media as we often post behind the scenes bits and info as to where we are going next.
Cool,enjoy your trip,im also from leeds born n breed....
@parklandpiker we love our local Leeds subscribers. Not many in Leeds have heard of us but hopefully that will change 👍🏾
Very informative and we are looking forward to our very first cruise on the Marella Discovery 😎
Thank you Claire. We hope you have a great trip 🙂
if you have cruised on other lines, you may find marella very british, as in plenty of scumbags, and the infirm who throw off their wheelchairs and crutches once sailed, and only take to them again on the last day. having taken to the dance floor for 2 weeks, it wants the DWP on board to look into some payments
We get you, Dave 👍🏽
We done Marella cruises , we done the Celebration three times, once on the dream, and twice on the discoveries , one of the trips we were delayed 9 and half hours at Birmingham and flight to Barbados that was quite interesting , the cruise news is important , we found the food very good on Marella , better than some of the hotels we stopped in Europe
Ouch! 9.5 hours is a killer. Good to hear you enjoy Marella. I sailed on the dream when she was the Costa Europa and then we joined her in Limassol for a week the year before she was retired. Happy cruising and thanks for watching 🙂
what happened? how did you get on the cruise? did you miss out on a port?
@@midj22 boat waited for us as there were load of us , as we flew with the same company as the boat . first day was sea day
Ah I've always wondered how delays work. Never been on a cruise but looking at a carribean cruise for this year in DEC that includes ABC islands. Looks like it will be Marrella from barbados
Good informative video. Didn't you have to get a USA esta for Puerto Rico. USA island?? Also some bloggers have said about the queuing ar that visa port.???
Hi Carol. We mention in the vlog that an ESTA is required for US territories. We had a bit of a queue but it moved quick and was fairly well organised as people travelling together can all go to the same desk. In fairness we've queued much longer for passport control at Manchester, Dubai and Bali. You only need to go through the process once and then for the rest of the US ports it's disembarkation as normal. We went early for our ticket and got something in the 500's but didn't have to wait long until we were called. Thanks for watching!
@@ParksTravelGuideoooh where can I get one of these 😬 don’t wanna upset the locals!
The ESTA is online if Puerto Rico is a port on your itinerary and they won't let you fly without one. It's an American visa.
@@ParksTravelGuide yes it is on our port list 😬 do you need to do it online or do you get them onboard the plane/ship
@Jordan97814 online as it can take 48hrs to be approved. They won't let you check in for your flight at the airport without it. Probably best to do it asap really if it's this November you are travelling. Unfortunately we can't help with the visa application process but Marella customer services are happy to help with any questions.
Got a TUI advert at the start... appropriate!
We got a Jet2 holidays one when we watched it 😆
@@ParksTravelGuide As I was watching I also got a Virgin Cruise haha
Beautiful pictures guys ❤
Oh doesn't our bank balance know! It was a one off and certain ones of those are planned for our wall at home x
Well worth the cost though ❤
Great video. We’re going in April. Can’t wait
Have a great trip and thanks for watching 🙂
@@ParksTravelGuide do you get towels in the room?
@AstroPixUK You do indeed and they can be changed twice daily if required, simply leave them on the floor. Pool towels are also given but are chargeable if not left in the cabin before disembarkation.
We’re going on marella Caribbean in November, do they have a place where you can eat at any time?
Or do you have to choose these specific “Posh restraunts?” By that I mean dress code. Sometimes I might just wanna go grab a bite to eat in shorts or something.
@@Jordan97814 Hey there. The buffet at Islands is casual attire dining and you'll find it serves pretty much the same menu as the included restaurant so you don't have to worry about those shorts.
@@ParksTravelGuide haha great Just watching it now, and we’ve booked with Tui. What’s all inclusive and what’s not? As I’m trying to contact Tui now to ask them if we upgrade to premium would we still get the same treatment to those coffees on board if we wanted?
Premium is worth it in our eyes so there's the freedom. If you search online for the latest bar menu's then anything with a * next to it is an extra payment for non premium guests per drink. It's about £3 or less but soon adds up if that's your tipple. We believe the coffees from the barista cafe are extra, although the specials are not included for any package. Basically, go order a JD at a bar and throw it in after instead of being charged extra. The whole thing is crazy, even charging for desserts in there but it is what it is. If needs be you can upgrade onboard also for the same price as they offer it for a few days into the cruise with a reduction per day...or at least did with ours.
@@ParksTravelGuide ah right ok! So in the main buffet you ain’t gotta worry about that it’s a first cruise 😂😂😂! As u can tell I thought all inclusive meant everything lol
@Jordan97814 it's all good in the buffet, flip flops accepted any time of day. Marella have 2 packages which are Standard and Premium. Personally premium is worth it if you want the cocktails and premium spirits etc but otherwise it's alright. Depends what you drink and if you think it's worth the extra per day.
Agree with your pros and cons about Marella cruises. The itineraries are the best ,but I thought the cabins had been refurbished? Still a shower curtain. Not sure I’d be happy without a fridge either.
Hey Michelle. Cabins had been refurbished on decks 7 and 8 but as the ship was only in dry dock for 5 weeks (I think), Navantia who had the contract could only do so many in that timeframe. Maybe they will finish the rest on her next visit.
they no longer bother with the dress code. flipflops, shorts and T-shirts are regular apparel.
@@davec8730 Thanks for the update!
Even in the upscale dining rooms?
@@cruisecrazy7066 i very much doubt the 'upscale dining rooms' would attract such, however do you really see a booked dining room refusing entry to a paying customer? money talks.
anyway my comment was about the ships MAIN dining areas, where standards have clearly fallen, and will continue to do so as they re not being checked.
enjoyed your video, we're going on our first cruise in December, a few different Caribbean port of calls than yourselves but we now know what to expect. is it best to book excursions or just do your own adventure?
DIY is always much cheaper providing you can be back well in time before the ship leaves and the same or similar tours can be found at the exit of the port area The only thing excursions booked on the ship guarantee you is that if the vehicle breaks down etc then the ship will wait. That decision is up to you. Thanks very much for watching 🙂
@@ParksTravelGuide thank you for the advice
@@GrooverRPM no problem, it's what we are here for. We always do DIY by the way.
What we do on when we plan a cruise is look for a mixture of places you can walk around and a few places where we take an excursion. We have been on many Marella cruises (including when it was Thomson or TUI) and always enjoyed them.
@@iangill8984 thank you