Celestyal Cruises and Marella Cruises are both niche, all-inclusive mainstream lines with limited Australian visibility — one a Greek specialist sailing the Aegean, the other TUI UK's dedicated cruise brand packaging flights, meals, and drinks for British holiday-makers. Jake Hower compares their all-inclusive models, ships, and relevance for Australian travellers.
| Celestyal Cruises | Marella Cruises | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mainstream | Mainstream |
| Rating | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Fleet size | 2 ships | 5 ships |
| Ship size | Mid-size (1,000–1,800) | Mid to Large (1,800–2,200) |
| Destinations | Greek Islands, Eastern Mediterranean, Adriatic | Mediterranean, Caribbean, Canary Islands |
| Dress code | Casual to formal | Smart casual |
| Best for | Greek Islands and Eastern Mediterranean cruisers | All-inclusive British holiday cruisers |
Both lines deliver genuine all-inclusive value, but for different markets and destinations. Celestyal is the choice for travellers whose destination is Greece — all-inclusive fares from under $400 for 3-night sailings, overnight stays in Santorini and Mykonos, and a cultural programme rooted in the Aegean. Marella is the choice for British-style all-inclusive holiday cruising in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, with flights from UK airports bundled into the fare. For Australians, Celestyal is the more practical option — a short Greek Islands cruise slots into a European holiday far more easily than a Marella package designed around UK regional airports. Neither line has meaningful Australian presence.
The core difference
Celestyal Cruises is a Greek-owned line with a laser focus on the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Two mid-size ships — Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery, each carrying around 1,200 passengers — homeport in Athens year-round, offering 3-, 4-, and 7-night sailings to the Greek Islands, Turkey, and the Adriatic. The all-inclusive pricing bundles meals, drinks, shore excursions, and gratuities at rates that start under $400 for a short sailing. Celestyal does not try to compete globally; it focuses exclusively on delivering the best value Greek Islands experience afloat.
Marella Cruises is TUI UK’s dedicated cruise brand — formerly Thomson Cruises, rebranded in 2017. The line operates five mid-to-large ships carrying 1,800 to 2,200 passengers, with an all-inclusive model that bundles flights from 22 regional UK airports, meals, selected drinks, entertainment, and gratuities. The fleet — Marella Discovery, Discovery 2, Explorer, Explorer 2, and Marella Voyager — consists entirely of older vessels refurbished and rebranded under the Marella name. The target market is British holiday-makers seeking an affordable, hassle-free cruise with no hidden costs.
Both lines share a commitment to all-inclusive transparency, but they are designed for different markets. Celestyal is destination-driven — the Greek Islands are the product, and the ship is the vehicle. Marella is holiday-driven — the all-inclusive package is the product, and the destination is the backdrop. For Australian travellers, both are niche choices with limited local visibility, but Celestyal’s Greek Islands focus makes it the more practical option for Australians already planning time in Europe.
What is actually included
Celestyal’s all-inclusive fare bundles meals in the buffet and a-la-carte restaurants, a classic drinks package covering beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks, two select shore excursions per voyage, port charges, onboard entertainment, and gratuities. The included excursions — visiting sites like Ephesus, the Acropolis of Lindos, and the Monastery of St John on Patmos — add tangible cultural value to the fare. Seven-night sailings start under $900 per person, and the 3-night Iconic itinerary comes in under $400.
Marella’s all-inclusive fare bundles flights from UK regional airports, all meals, selected drinks (beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks at certain venues), entertainment, and gratuities. The flight inclusion is a cornerstone of the Marella value proposition for UK-based travellers, eliminating the need to book separately and providing full ATOL financial protection. The fare does not include shore excursions, premium drinks beyond the selected range, spa treatments, or Wi-Fi.
The key difference for Australian travellers is the flight component. Marella’s included UK flights are irrelevant for Australians who must arrange their own long-haul travel. On a cruise-only comparison, Celestyal’s included shore excursions give it an edge — two excursions on a 7-night sailing can represent AUD $150 to $300 per person in value. Both lines include a drinks package, meals, and gratuities at the base fare. Both eliminate the end-of-voyage bill shock that accompanies many mainstream cruise bookings.
Dining and culinary experience
Celestyal’s dining draws from its Greek heritage. The a-la-carte restaurant serves multi-course Mediterranean menus with regional specialities — moussaka, grilled octopus, fresh seafood, lamb, and salads dressed with local olive oil. The buffet offers a broader international selection. Greek cooking classes, olive oil tastings, and themed Greek evenings extend the culinary experience beyond the dining room. The food is regionally authentic and well-suited to short sailings where the flavours of Greece reinforce the destination experience.
Marella’s dining has improved with the 2025 launch of Piccadilly’s — a complimentary 250-seat gastropub restaurant rolled out across the entire fleet, serving traditional British comfort food from early morning through evening. The main dining room and buffet cover the standard repertoire, and Marella Explorer 2 adds The Dining Club as a more refined option for the adults-only ship. The food is reliable, unpretentious, and unmistakably British — expect afternoon tea, fish and chips, and Sunday roasts alongside international options.
Neither line positions itself as a culinary destination, but both deliver dining that reflects their cultural identity. Celestyal brings the Mediterranean to the table. Marella brings the British high street to sea. For food-motivated travellers, Celestyal’s regional authenticity offers more interest, while Marella’s comforting British fare suits travellers who prefer the familiar. The recently launched Piccadilly’s represents a genuine effort by Marella to elevate the dining experience without abandoning its accessible, value-driven positioning.
Suites and accommodation
Celestyal’s cabins range from interior staterooms to balcony cabins and suites across both ships. The vessels are older and refurbished, and cabin sizes are functional rather than lavish. In-cabin experience tablets were introduced fleet-wide in early 2026. The focus is on time ashore rather than time in the cabin — on the short 3- and 4-night sailings, the stateroom is a base for sleeping and refreshing between port calls.
Marella’s accommodation varies across five ships, all of which are older vessels refurbished under the Marella brand. Cabin categories include inside, ocean-view, balcony, and suite options. Marella Voyager (formerly Mein Schiff Herz, joining in 2023) brought a slightly newer feel to the fleet, and Marella Explorer 2’s adults-only positioning means a quieter cabin experience without the sounds of families in adjacent staterooms. The ships are well-maintained for their age, though travellers accustomed to modern newbuilds will notice the vintage.
Both lines operate refurbished older ships, and neither offers the kind of accommodation that would attract guests primarily for the cabin experience. The cabins serve their purpose — comfortable bases for holiday-makers whose focus is the destination and the all-inclusive experience rather than the stateroom itself. Marella’s larger fleet offers more variety in cabin types and ship personalities, while Celestyal’s two-ship operation provides a more consistent but narrower selection.
Pricing and value
Celestyal’s pricing remains its strongest selling point. The 3-night Iconic Greek Islands itinerary starts under $400 per person all-inclusive. Seven-night sailings start under $900 per person. These are genuine all-in prices with meals, drinks, two excursions, and gratuities bundled. For Australian travellers, return flights to Athens add approximately AUD $1,500 to $2,500, making a complete Greek Islands cruise holiday achievable for well under AUD $3,000 per person.
Marella’s pricing is competitive within the UK market. Seven-night Mediterranean sailings start from approximately GBP $700 to $1,200 per person including flights from UK airports, all meals, selected drinks, and gratuities. For UK-based travellers, this represents exceptional value — a complete holiday package with no additional flight costs. For Australian travellers, the UK flight inclusion is irrelevant, and a cruise-only booking (if available) plus long-haul flights to Europe make the total cost less competitive. Marella’s value proposition is specifically engineered for the British market.
The pricing comparison for Australian travellers clearly favours Celestyal. The all-inclusive fare is lower, the included excursions add value, and the flight to Athens is comparable in cost to the flight to a UK port. Marella’s competitive advantage — bundled UK flights — does not translate to the Australian market, making Celestyal the stronger value option for Australians seeking an all-inclusive Mediterranean cruise.
Spa and wellness
Celestyal’s spa is modest, with treatment rooms, massage, facials, and body treatments alongside a fitness centre and pool deck. The Mediterranean climate ensures outdoor relaxation is available throughout the sailing season. On short 3- to 4-night sailings, spa time is limited by the port-intensive schedule.
Marella’s spa facilities are more developed across a larger fleet. Each ship offers a spa with a range of treatments, and Marella Explorer 2’s adults-only environment creates a more relaxed spa atmosphere. Fitness centres, pools, and open deck space are available fleet-wide. The longer 7- to 14-night itineraries allow more time for spa indulgence than Celestyal’s shorter sailings.
Neither line competes with major mainstream operators on spa scale. Both provide adequate facilities for their target markets. Marella’s larger ships and longer itineraries make greater use of spa services, while Celestyal’s port-intensive short sailings prioritise time ashore over time in the treatment room.
Entertainment and enrichment
Celestyal’s entertainment is culturally immersive — Greek cooking classes, traditional dancing lessons, regional wine tastings, and live Greek music. Evening shows are modest, and overnight stays in Santorini and Mykonos mean many guests spend their evenings ashore. The ship is the vehicle; the destination is the entertainment.
Marella’s entertainment is unmistakably British — quiz nights, afternoon tea, West End-style shows, escape rooms (on Discovery ships), and sociable evenings in the bar. The entertainment is designed for the British holiday-maker who wants relaxation and fun without pretension. Marella Explorer 2’s adults-only atmosphere adds cocktail bars and a more refined evening programme. The onboard experience is social, accessible, and reliably entertaining without reaching for sophistication.
Both lines calibrate their entertainment to their passenger base. Celestyal entertains through cultural immersion. Marella entertains through British holiday traditions. Neither competes with the entertainment scale of Royal Caribbean, NCL, or MSC, and neither tries to. For Australian travellers, Celestyal’s cultural programming may feel more novel, while Marella’s British atmosphere will feel familiar to Australians accustomed to British-influenced culture.
Fleet and destination coverage
Celestyal’s two ships sail year-round from Athens to a tightly focused set of destinations: the Aegean islands, Eastern Mediterranean, Adriatic (with the new 7-night Heavenly Adriatic adding Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Corfu), and winter sailings to Dubai and the Arabian Gulf. The mid-size ships access smaller island ports that mega-ships bypass. The limitation is geographic — if Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean are not your destination, Celestyal has nothing to offer.
Marella’s five ships cover a broader range: the Mediterranean (Eastern and Western), Canary Islands, Caribbean, and North Africa. Itineraries typically run 7 to 14 nights from fly-cruise departure points served by TUI flights from UK airports. The fleet’s variety — including the adults-only Explorer 2 and the family-focused Discovery ships — provides options across different travel styles, though all within the same all-inclusive, British-market positioning.
For destination variety, Marella wins on breadth. For destination depth in Greek waters, Celestyal is unmatched. Australian travellers are unlikely to choose either line for Caribbean sailings (where major mainstream lines offer better Australian market support), making the Mediterranean comparison the relevant one. In Mediterranean waters, Celestyal offers more frequent departures with shorter itinerary options from a single, consistent homeport — an advantage for travellers fitting a cruise into a broader European itinerary.
Where each line excels
Celestyal excels in:
Greek Islands value. All-inclusive fares starting under $400 for 3-night sailings — the most affordable way to cruise the Greek Islands with drinks, excursions, and tips included. No competitor matches this combination of price and destination access.
Short taster cruises. The 3- and 4-night Iconic itineraries are ideal for first-time cruisers or travellers wanting to add a Greek Islands cruise to a broader European holiday without a major time commitment.
Cultural authenticity. Greek cooking classes, dancing lessons, and regional cuisine create an experience that feels genuinely rooted in the Aegean rather than passing through it.
Marella excels in:
British all-inclusive packaging. Flights from 22 UK regional airports, meals, drinks, and gratuities bundled with full ATOL financial protection — the most transparent all-inclusive package for UK-based travellers.
Adults-only cruising. Marella Explorer 2 offers a refined, child-free atmosphere with cocktail bars and The Dining Club restaurant — an underappreciated option for couples.
Fleet variety. Five ships covering the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Canary Islands give British travellers more choice across ship styles and destinations than Celestyal’s two-ship operation.
Standout itineraries for Australian travellers
Celestyal’s 3-Night Iconic Greek Islands (roundtrip Athens) is the standout for Australians fitting a cruise into a Greek holiday. Mykonos, Santorini, and Kusadasi with an overnight in Santorini — all for under $400 per person all-inclusive. Fly to Athens from Australian gateways via Singapore, Doha, or Dubai.
Celestyal’s 7-Night Heavenly Adriatic extends the experience to Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Corfu alongside Greek island ports. At under $900 per person all-inclusive, this represents the best value 7-night cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean for travellers willing to fly to Athens.
Marella’s 7-Night Western Mediterranean aboard Marella Explorer 2 (adults-only) would suit Australian couples already in the UK seeking an affordable Mediterranean cruise without children. The adults-only atmosphere, included drinks, and Mediterranean sun make this Marella’s strongest proposition for visiting Australians. Booking cruise-only (without the UK flights) keeps costs manageable.
Marella’s 7-Night Canary Islands from a UK port suits Australians visiting Britain who want a warm-weather escape without additional flights. The ex-UK departure eliminates the need for a separate flight to a Mediterranean embarkation port.
Ship-by-ship recommendations
Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery (approximately 1,200 guests each) deliver a comparable experience. Choose by itinerary — the 3- or 4-night Iconic sailings for a taster, the 7-night Heavenly Adriatic for a fuller experience. Both ships received the in-cabin experience tablet upgrade in early 2026.
Marella Explorer 2 (approximately 1,800 guests, adults-only) is the standout Marella vessel for Australian travellers. The adults-only designation, cocktail bars, and The Dining Club restaurant offer a more refined atmosphere than the family-focused ships. Mediterranean and Canary Islands itineraries are the sweet spot.
Marella Voyager (formerly Mein Schiff Herz, approximately 1,900 guests) is the newest addition to the fleet, bringing slightly more contemporary hardware. A reasonable option for families or couples seeking a larger ship experience within the Marella all-inclusive model.
Marella Discovery and Discovery 2 (approximately 2,000 guests each) are the family-oriented workhorses of the fleet, with kids’ clubs, rock climbing walls, and escape rooms. Less relevant for Australian travellers unless travelling with children.
Marella Explorer (approximately 1,900 guests) sits between the family and adults-only ships in character. A competent all-rounder without the distinctive personality of Explorer 2.
For Australian travellers specifically
Neither line has meaningful Australian market presence, and both are fly-cruise propositions requiring long-haul international flights.
Celestyal is the more practical option for Australians. The Athens homeport is reached via the same Middle Eastern or Asian hub connections used for most European travel. The short 3- and 4-night itineraries make Celestyal an ideal add-on to a broader European holiday rather than a standalone trip. The all-inclusive pricing means minimal financial planning beyond the flight and fare. The line is best booked through specialist cruise agents who understand the product and can arrange pre- and post-cruise hotel stays in Athens.
Marella is designed exclusively for the UK market, and its booking infrastructure reflects this. Packages are built around TUI flights from UK regional airports, making direct booking from Australia awkward. Cruise-only bookings may be available through specialist agents, but Australians lose the core value proposition — bundled flights — that makes Marella competitive. For Australians already in the UK, a Marella sailing makes more sense, particularly the adults-only Explorer 2 for couples seeking an affordable Mediterranean cruise from a British departure point.
Loyalty programmes are modest on both lines. Celestyal’s Celestyal Club and Marella’s TUI Holiday loyalty schemes reward repeat guests, but the distance from Australia makes frequent repeat bookings unlikely for either line. Both are more realistically one-time or occasional experiences for Australian travellers.
The onboard atmosphere
Celestyal’s atmosphere is warm, Mediterranean, and destination-focused. The passenger mix is predominantly European — Greek, British, German, and French travellers — with a relaxed, sociable energy. Greek music on the pool deck, regional cuisine in the dining room, and the islands visible from the rail create an ambiance that feels authentically connected to the Aegean. The dress code is casual to smart casual, and the mood is of a floating Mediterranean hotel.
Marella’s atmosphere is unmistakably British. Quiz nights, afternoon tea, sociable evenings in the bar, and a general holiday-camp warmth define the experience. The passenger mix is overwhelmingly British, and the onboard culture reflects British holiday traditions — from the entertainment to the dining to the general approach to relaxation. Marella Explorer 2’s adults-only atmosphere is notably more refined, with cocktail bars replacing kids’ clubs and a quieter, more grown-up energy.
For Australian travellers, Celestyal’s Mediterranean atmosphere will feel more exotic and culturally distinctive. Marella’s British atmosphere will feel comfortable but potentially overly familiar. Both lines are unapologetically themselves — Celestyal is Greek, Marella is British — and that cultural specificity is both their charm and their limitation.
The bottom line
Celestyal Cruises and Marella Cruises are both all-inclusive mainstream lines delivering honest value for their respective markets. Neither is a household name in Australia, and neither is designed with the Australian traveller in mind. But for Australians willing to look beyond the obvious, both lines offer genuine value in different contexts.
Choose Celestyal for the Greek Islands. Choose it for all-inclusive fares starting under $400, for overnight stays in Santorini and Mykonos, for Greek cooking classes and regional cuisine, and for the simplicity of a short sailing that fits into a broader European itinerary. Accept that the ships are older, the entertainment is modest, and the line’s Australian visibility is virtually nil.
Choose Marella if you are already in the UK and want an affordable, all-inclusive cruise with no surprises. Choose it for Explorer 2’s adults-only atmosphere, for Piccadilly’s gastropub dining, and for the reassurance of TUI’s financially protected holiday packages. Accept that Marella is designed for the British market — the atmosphere, the food, the entertainment, and the booking structure are all calibrated for UK holiday-makers rather than international travellers.
For Australian travellers choosing between the two, Celestyal is the more natural fit. The Athens homeport is more accessible from Australian gateways than a UK cruise port, the all-inclusive fare is more competitive on a like-for-like basis, and the Greek Islands destination has broader international appeal than Marella’s British holiday cruise model. But for Australians who find themselves in the UK with a week to spare and a desire for an affordable Mediterranean cruise, Marella Explorer 2 is a quietly excellent option that deserves more attention than it receives.
