Overview
About
Passengers: 1,830 | Crew: 753
Passengers to crew: 2.43:1
Launched: 1996
Cabins
Balcony
Cabin size: 139 - 172 sq. ft.
Connected rooms: 50
Accessible rooms: 0
Maximum passengers: 4
Number of cabins: 270
Reviews
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Booked for amazing itinerary and good price. Medium sized ship, extremely clean. Wonderful friendly staff. However if food is an important part of your evening then the waiter service restaurant are poor in service and food quality. The two specialist restaurants are excellent and the buffet is fine. Perhaps too much focus on the all inclusive drinks? Entertainment was good but repetitive.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
First week in with stops so far in Amber Cove, Grand Turks and Key West tomorrow Miami then back to Port Canaveral for our second week. Love the ship we have been on her before pre COVID and so he had to say things are just as we wanted back to normal. Great staff in all areas although the jury is still out on reception. Great food and lovely locations only major tip I can give so far for anyone coming later do not book the beach escape at Grand Turks. You do not need a transfer to take you to a beach. The beach just off the ship is far superior to any other beaches we saw. We wish we had just walked off the ship and stayed at the nearest beach. The weather so far has been lovely and very hot don't forget hats and sun cream.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
4 Helpful votes
Helpful
We travelled as a couple for the repositioning cruise from Barbados to Florida in April, 2023. Overall we had a fantastic trip and all the staff, from the Captain to the lovely crew working so hard every day, were brilliant. As it was a special celebration trip we upgraded to a Family Junior Suite. Although it had recently been refurbished, we were rather disappointed as too many corners had been cut. The shower room was tiny and the shower cubicle was very small. The lighting was terrible. It was practically impossible to use the mirrors, making drying hair, shaving or putting on make up a bit challenging! There were only two sockets and surprisingly none at all in the separate bedroom. This room was pitch black at night and I wouldn’t think it was safe for younger children or anyone with mobility issues as they may stumble in the dark. The fridge had also been removed-why as there is no where to store medicines or baby food, not good for a family room. Why bother buying the premium drinks package if the bottled water can’t be chilled? I agree with the points about people vaping everywhere. We saw folk freely vaping in the Glass House and all over the decks. There are plenty of smoking areas but some selfish people decided against using them. Another worrying development was seeing people in the pool drinking from bottles.I actually raised this safety issue with the guy who was head of security.He said people had been warned about it. However, it continued throughout the cruise and there were no reminders over the ship’s loudspeaker system or in the Cruise News. Maybe Marella should stop using bottles or ban them from the pool area altogether, just like in hotels with outside pools. We loved St Thomas, (let down by USA ludicrous border control), Puerto Rico and New Orleans and there were some absolutely fantastic trips. Can recommend walking tour of San Juan, paddle steamer, Oak Alley Plantation and the hop on bus tour. Florida was a bit of a let down. We enjoyed the Everglades and Tampa tour but the other options were extremely limited.We also had a very late cancellation of a trip, meaning it wasn’t possible to book anything else. I agree that Marella didn’t seem to have bothered to organise many excursions apart from mall shopping and we were turned back from walking ashore at both Port Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. Taxis were compulsory and charged a fortune and even the Captain suggested the passengers used Uber! On the sea days there were several very interesting speakers giving talks, as well as a brilliant couple giving dancing lesson, a fantastic duo organising a ship’s choir and the usual selection of quizzes etc. the cruise director was a very lively and fun young lady, who worked very hard. We used the gym and spa. Both were good and the staff very nice. One improvement would be to upgrade the gym bikes. They were very old and outdated. There was only one with a display to show distance, calories etc, so there was always a queue to use it, especially on sea days. Indoor cycling is very popular, especially after Lockdown so surely Marella should invest in some better bikes. Flights were good although delayed by a couple of hours both ways. Birmingham and Barbados were very efficient. We used Premium and the staff were incredibly kind. (One stewardess slipped me an extra breakfast coffee- thank you!)…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Brilliant from start to finish. The organisation at Gatwick was so efficient and the quickest transfer from the moment we entered the airport until we were through security. The flight itself was brilliant with very helpful and friendly crew. Best I have come across for a long time. We were met at Barbados and quickly transferred onto a coach and whisked away to the ship.A very smooth operation. Cabin 8082 is a junior suite. Plenty of storage for three of us. My only complaint is that the fridges have been removed . We had the premium package which included a bottle of water this was luke warm as nowhere to cool it. Our first port was St Thomas and luckily we had booked an excursion so we did not have the experience of others as we were got off the ship fairly quickly and had a really good day. Loved New Orleans could have had another day easily. Very disappointed that Disney World was not one of the excursions as it had been advertised on their website for this particular trip. Marella has sorted the sun bed hogging brilliantly. The sun beds are not put out until 8am and then if a subbed is unattended then a ticket with the time on is clipped on. If an hour later the sun bed is still unoccupied then all personal items are removed Well done Marella! The cabin stewards , bar staff and waiters are the friendliest we have ever come across and really made the cruise special.On my birthday I came back to the cabin to find it had been decorated with balloons and banners! We did not come across the vaping/drinking problems previously mentioned. The entertainment was also extremely good but we did not like the Typically Tina act but I think we were in the minority. We are looking forward to our next trip.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Our first cruise so didnt know what to expect .Well we came home wanting more,we had a great time.our cabin 6086 had a balcony,which i recommend.the cabin crew,joseph,alisha and Leon,worked tirelessly,as did most of the dining and bar staff,all couldnt do enough for you ,a credit to Marella.The cabin itself is well designed considering the space with lots of cupboards and hangers and the shower was very good.First stop was the Dominican,we thought this would be the weakest of the stops for us ,and was right ,then onto Turks and Caicos for a day on the beach ,which was great ,hired sun beds and got free wi fi, the beach was stunning. next onto Key West,well this was fantastic.what a place bars ,shopping the history ,had a nice vibe ,would go back without doubt.Lastly onto Miami,well what can you say,wealth,glamour ,history ,we booked the south beach explorer trip,the guide on the bus was informative as we went through each districts,ocean drive and the art deco buildings is a must see,the time just flew by.before we knew it ,we were on the bus going back to the ship.weather throughout the trip was great,.Well done Marella for a great first cruise.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful