Marella vs Virgin

[Tractor-Boy]

Looking at doing a Adult only Caribbean Cruise which will also be our first cruise and can't decide between Marella or Virgin. The Marella ones go from Dominican Republic and they do different 7 day ones so would do two B2B. Virgin either go from Miami or San Juan and most we have looked at are between 10-12 nights. Flying to San Juan from UK is expensive.

 

We are both in our early 50s but like plenty to do and decent entertainment. Watched numerous YouTube videos and done research online and there seems to be good and bad points for both. 

 

Marella

 

Good 

 

All Inclusive

Decent entertainment

Less sea days 

Ship outside space

Evening shows

 

Minus

 

Older ship 

Food quality (mainly snacks)

Cabin dated 

 

Virgin

 

Good

 

Modern ship 

Food looks excellent with great choice

Entertainment

Free Wi-Fi

 

Bad 

 

Very small swimming pool

No drinks package

Cabins look small

 

Thank you in advance for any advice. 

 

 

 

 

[davecttr]

Another bad for Virgin could be experiencing US immigration.

 

Marella and Virgin are in different market sectors with Virgin being more upmarket.

[MBP&O2/O]

There was a documentary series about Virgin, on UK television not so long ago. Could be worth a search on 'catch up'?

Other bad points, for me at least .....

Passengers who were boarding were greeted by a cruise director at the top of the gangway ... he was 'effing and blinding' about all the fun they were to have.

Pub crawls ... in pajamas 

Lots of booze related / party activities.

 

I may be wrong but I seem to recollect a berthed Virgin ship getting into trouble with the authorities after residents in the town made several complaints about the noise from on board partying.

 

Something to consider.

[John Bull]

Hmmmm, chalk & cheese.

But cheese is usually much more expensive than chalk.

 

Marella are OK, we've sailed with them a significant number of times.

Ships are second-hand, they lack the glitz, the finesse, and the whistles-and-bells of modern ships.

We've found the food decent to good, most passengers dress in their finery on formal evenings (one or two per week).

"Snacks" (pizza, burgers, etc) are pretty basic on every ship of every cruise line that we've sailed

Plenty of live music to different tastes in different bars, and they have hosts who will dance with ladies who want to dance but who are solo or whose partners suffer from two left feet and no sense of rhythm .

Theatre shows (sometimes not even in a theatre) are well-performed by a committed & enthusiastic troupe, but music for shows is canned.

Comedians are flown in to give early & late shows a couple of times a week.

Yes, alcoholic drinks included, though the quality is basic and we're not the only ones who think the cocktails watered-down. On one particularly hot afternoon we each got thro' at least a dozen Pina Coladas but felt totally sober.

Outside space varies from ship to ship.

Clientele is overwhelmingly British, from all parts of the UK and all corners of society, and the atmosphere aboard has always been very friendly & convivial on every Marella (and Thomson, the previous name) ship we've sailed.

Not only are their cruises more port-intensive than the average, their Itineraries are way more adventurous than most.

There are no gratuities payable, tho' at the end of the cruise many folk give something to their cabin steward and sometimes restaurant staff. 

 

For their Caribbean & Med cruises Marella charter aircraft for direct flights from regional UK airports to the destination airport in order to offer "fly-cruises". Way simpler and cheaper than booking flights separately, your holiday genuinely starts at your UK airport, and with the security that if a flight is late the ship will wait, or if for any reason (mechanical, political, weather, etc) the cruise is cancelled you will be refunded for both flights & cruise whereas with separately-booked flights (even thro the same agent at the same time) they are two separate transactions and you're recompensed only for the cancelled portion

 

Marella prices are very fluid. If you can sail wherever and whenever you want, there are some great late bargains (about 8 to 4 weeks out) with Marella

 

You've not mentioned price.

 

We've not been tempted by Virgin, even though they sail from Portsmouth - just 10 miles from home -, mainly because of price.

Are they not significantly more expensive ?

Especially if the price-gap is smaller than I've seen, do check out the extras.

I found their website confusing about what's included & what isn't, figure it for yourself

 https://www.virginvoyages.com/whats-included

 

I also get the impression that Virgin is more for the "young set"

 

In the unlikely event that your total spend will be vaguely similar for either, I'd suggest you jump for Virgin.

If the price difference is significant, then it's a matter of personal preference.

 

But don't just rely on us, choose a couple of likely cruises, then phone a few cruise specialist travel agents for their experience and views. We're not permitted to name agents on Cruise Critic so google - there are a dozen or so specialists, (TUI will be very knowledgeable about Marella because they own the line, but their advice is very likely to be slanted)

 

JB 🙂

 

 

Edited July 22 by John Bull

[MBP&O2/O]

The Virgin series was 'The Cruise' ....

 

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt21426454/

 

 

[Tractor-Boy]

4 hours ago, John Bull said:

Hmmmm, chalk & cheese.

But cheese is usually much more expensive than chalk.

 

Marella are OK, we've sailed with them a significant number of times.

Ships are second-hand, they lack the glitz, the finesse, and the whistles-and-bells of modern ships.

We've found the food decent to good, most passengers dress in their finery on formal evenings (one or two per week).

"Snacks" (pizza, burgers, etc) are pretty basic on every ship of every cruise line that we've sailed

Plenty of live music to different tastes in different bars, and they have hosts who will dance with ladies who want to dance but who are solo or whose partners suffer from two left feet and no sense of rhythm .

Theatre shows (sometimes not even in a theatre) are well-performed by a committed & enthusiastic troupe, but music for shows is canned.

Comedians are flown in to give early & late shows a couple of times a week.

Yes, alcoholic drinks included, though the quality is basic and we're not the only ones who think the cocktails watered-down. On one particularly hot afternoon we each got thro' at least a dozen Pina Coladas but felt totally sober.

Outside space varies from ship to ship.

Clientele is overwhelmingly British, from all parts of the UK and all corners of society, and the atmosphere aboard has always been very friendly & convivial on every Marella (and Thomson, the previous name) ship we've sailed.

Not only are their cruises more port-intensive than the average, their Itineraries are way more adventurous than most.

There are no gratuities payable, tho' at the end of the cruise many folk give something to their cabin steward and sometimes restaurant staff. 

 

For their Caribbean & Med cruises Marella charter aircraft for direct flights from regional UK airports to the destination airport in order to offer "fly-cruises". Way simpler and cheaper than booking flights separately, your holiday genuinely starts at your UK airport, and with the security that if a flight is late the ship will wait, or if for any reason (mechanical, political, weather, etc) the cruise is cancelled you will be refunded for both flights & cruise whereas with separately-booked flights (even thro the same agent at the same time) they are two separate transactions and you're recompensed only for the cancelled portion

 

Marella prices are very fluid. If you can sail wherever and whenever you want, there are some great late bargains (about 8 to 4 weeks out) with Marella

 

You've not mentioned price.

 

We've not been tempted by Virgin, even though they sail from Portsmouth - just 10 miles from home -, mainly because of price.

Are they not significantly more expensive ?

Especially if the price-gap is smaller than I've seen, do check out the extras.

I found their website confusing about what's included & what isn't, figure it for yourself

 https://www.virginvoyages.com/whats-included

 

I also get the impression that Virgin is more for the "young set"

 

In the unlikely event that your total spend will be vaguely similar for either, I'd suggest you jump for Virgin.

If the price difference is significant, then it's a matter of personal preference.

 

But don't just rely on us, choose a couple of likely cruises, then phone a few cruise specialist travel agents for their experience and views. We're not permitted to name agents on Cruise Critic so google - there are a dozen or so specialists, (TUI will be very knowledgeable about Marella because they own the line, but their advice is very likely to be slanted)

 

JB 🙂

 

 

Thank you so much for your in depth reply! Marella on the whole by the sounds of it you have found to be pretty good. Have you ever taken the Premium drinks package? Probably would stop the watered down drinks. Is there any other Adult only cruise line you have been with?

 

Price wise Virgin is coming out at around the same as Marella. Main difference is Marella includes all alcohol and would be 3 days longer cruise than Virgin. Virgin do include balcony with all there cabins - Marella want an extra 1k for this which seems crazy over the sea view price. 

[John Bull]

Just some ifs and buts from me, cos Virgin seems to come down as significantly better value.

 

Have you factored-in the flight fare with Virgin (Miami and, if you choose, San Juan) ?

And, for what they're worth, the cost of transfers and the minimal cost & grief getting US ESTA "visa-waivers"?

Would one of Marella's UK airports be significantly more convenient than Heathrow or Gatwick (or Manchester if there are flights to Miami or connections to San Juan.)

Bear in mind that from Miami there will be extra sea-days.

Part of  your calculations will have to be the purchase of Virgin drinks - how many you'll drink on port days & sea day, I guess that's how many you can survive on vs how many you'd prefer. Vague prices on the link I posted - they may seem heavy, most-especially since there's no alcohol duty or VAT, but they're par for most US & Italian cruise lines. Virgin almost certainly offer free coffee (caff and decaf) & DIY tea at drinks stations, & possibly tea & coffee makings in your cabin - and free fruit juices during the breakfast period. Ship's water is perfectly potable.

 

But you're comparing a balcony cabin with an ocean-view (windows don't open). No contest, especially in the Caribbean. 

I'm not sure that a premium package would make any odds with the cocktails on the standard ticket - you'd be more likely to succeed if you built up a rapport with a barman

 

Marella is a very British experience, passengers will be almost-exclusively Brits, food predominantly Brit, currency is sterling altho all done by card.

 

Looking between the lines, Virgin is very American. Passengers on that itinerary will be mainly American, their language is fairly similar to our own but food is likely geared to American tastes (oh no - streaky bacon frazzled to a crisp and limp pizza 😮 😉), currency on this cruise is USD (decline any offer to convert the end charge to sterling "for your convenience" 🙄 cos your card issuer will convert at a far far better rate than any cruise line). (Same applies to any outlet in foreign lands).

 

Normally I'd recommend a UK ship for a Brit's first cruise, but Virgin will, surely be much better experience and - subject to your financial calculations - better value for money than Marella's current pricing.

But assuming this is for next winter Marella's balcony prices will surely fall.

 

And you haven't mentioned the ports-of-call.

My views might change, cos most sailings from the US seem to concentrate on the western Caribbean & mainland central America, whereas we Brits prefer the eastern Caribbean - more variety, more Brit-orientated & colonial history.

 

JB 🙂

[Tractor-Boy]

10 minutes ago, John Bull said:

Just some ifs and buts from me, cos Virgin seems to come down as significantly better value.

 

Have you factored-in the flight fare with Virgin (Miami and, if you choose, San Juan) ?

And, for what they're worth, the cost of transfers and the minimal cost & grief getting US ESTA "visa-waivers"?

Would one of Marella's UK airports be significantly more convenient than Heathrow or Gatwick (or Manchester if there are flights to Miami or connections to San Juan.)

Bear in mind that from Miami there will be extra sea-days.

Part of  your calculations will have to be the purchase of Virgin drinks - how many you'll drink on port days & sea day, I guess that's how many you can survive on vs how many you'd prefer. Vague prices on the link I posted - they may seem heavy, most-especially since there's no alcohol duty or VAT, but they're par for most US & Italian cruise lines. Virgin almost certainly offer free coffee (caff and decaf) & DIY tea at drinks stations, & possibly tea & coffee makings in your cabin - and free fruit juices during the breakfast period. Ship's water is perfectly potable.

 

But you're comparing a balcony cabin with an ocean-view (windows don't open). No contest, especially in the Caribbean. 

I'm not sure that a premium package would make any odds with the cocktails on the standard ticket - you'd be more likely to succeed if you built up a rapport with a barman

 

Marella is a very British experience, passengers will be almost-exclusively Brits, food predominantly Brit, currency is sterling altho all done by card.

 

Looking between the lines, Virgin is very American. Passengers on that itinerary will be mainly American, their language is fairly similar to our own but food is likely geared to American tastes (oh no - streaky bacon frazzled to a crisp and limp pizza 😮 😉), currency on this cruise is USD (decline any offer to convert the end charge to sterling "for your convenience" 🙄 cos your card issuer will convert at a far far better rate than any cruise line). (Same applies to any outlet in foreign lands).

 

Normally I'd recommend a UK ship for a Brit's first cruise, but Virgin will, surely be much better experience and - subject to your financial calculations - better value for money than Marella's current pricing.

But assuming this is for next winter Marella's balcony prices will surely fall.

 

And you haven't mentioned the ports-of-call.

My views might change, cos most sailings from the US seem to concentrate on the western Caribbean & mainland central America, whereas we Brits prefer the eastern Caribbean - more variety, more Brit-orientated & colonial history.

 

JB 🙂

Thank you again JB for another in depth reply. We are 1 hour from Stansted and 2 hours from Gatwick, Heathrow or Luton. Did calculate flight prices to San Juan these are expensive at around £1k per person but the total cruise cost for both is similar but without drinks included on Virgin. The Marella premium drinks includes using all branded spirits, big selection of wines and beers.  Virgin are doing a longer cruise from Miami from Nov 25 but you are correct there is a lot more sea days. Would you say the balcony cabin is a must? Don't understand why Tui are charging so much extra for this as the cabin is exactly the same.

 

We do have the option with Marella of staying in DR for 7 days before or after and just doing a 7 day cruise. A lot friends who have been here have said it is not the best island by a long way. 

 

These are the ones we are currently looking at 

 

https://www.tui.co.uk/cruise/bookitineraries/Tropical-Treasures-Colours-of-the-Caribbean-101509-101532?itineraryCodeOne=101509&itineraryCodeTwo=101532&shipCode=150015&mc=false&isMCTracs=false&isStayBefore=false&cruiseDuration=14&duration=8-14&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=0&childrenAge=&from[]=LHR:Airport|LGW:Airport&flexibility=false&noOfSeniors=0&when=04-02-2025&sailingDate=04Feb25&to[]=L04304:CRUISEAREA&packageId=17386641000001738682700000TOM06617399013000001739944800000TOM06710150949314869011015091015081738627200000ZI03ZI03&index=2&brandType=null&addAStay=0&dp=LGW&bb=AI&cabinOnly=false&room=&mcId=101509|T&searchVariant=BACK_BACK_ATCOM

 

https://www.virginvoyages.com/book/voyage-planner/pre-checkout?cabins=1&currencyCode=GBP&duration=6%2C9&fromDate=2024-12-01&packageCode=10NSJ2&priceType=perCabin&sailors=2&shipCode=RS&sortType=date&toDate=2025-03-31&voyageId=RS25032210NSJ2

[John Bull]

37 minutes ago, Tractor-Boy said:

Thank you again JB for another in depth reply. We are 1 hour from Stansted and 2 hours from Gatwick, Heathrow or Luton. Did calculate flight prices to San Juan these are expensive at around £1k per person but the total cruise cost for both is similar but without drinks included on Virgin. The Marella premium drinks includes using all branded spirits, big selection of wines and beers.  Virgin are doing a longer cruise from Miami from Nov 25 but you are correct there is a lot more sea days. Would you say the balcony cabin is a must? Don't understand why Tui are charging so much extra for this as the cabin is exactly the same.

 

We do have the option with Marella of staying in DR for 7 days before or after and just doing a 7 day cruise. A lot friends who have been here have said it is not the best island by a long way. 

 

These are the ones we are currently looking at 

 

https://www.tui.co.uk/cruise/bookitineraries/Tropical-Treasures-Colours-of-the-Caribbean-101509-101532?itineraryCodeOne=101509&itineraryCodeTwo=101532&shipCode=150015&mc=false&isMCTracs=false&isStayBefore=false&cruiseDuration=14&duration=8-14&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=0&childrenAge=&from[]=LHR:Airport|LGW:Airport&flexibility=false&noOfSeniors=0&when=04-02-2025&sailingDate=04Feb25&to[]=L04304:CRUISEAREA&packageId=17386641000001738682700000TOM06617399013000001739944800000TOM06710150949314869011015091015081738627200000ZI03ZI03&index=2&brandType=null&addAStay=0&dp=LGW&bb=AI&cabinOnly=false&room=&mcId=101509|T&searchVariant=BACK_BACK_ATCOM

 

https://www.virginvoyages.com/book/voyage-planner/pre-checkout?cabins=1&currencyCode=GBP&duration=6%2C9&fromDate=2024-12-01&packageCode=10NSJ2&priceType=perCabin&sailors=2&shipCode=RS&sortType=date&toDate=2025-03-31&voyageId=RS25032210NSJ2

 

 

So where you live is unlikely too make any difference.

 

You mentioned £1000 more for a balcony on Marella.

Have your figures included this?

If not, it's poor value

 

And actually, I quite rate Virgin's itinerary.🙂

But, apart from too much time in Dom. Rep., Marella's is good too. 🙂

Times for both in port are fine for both.

 

Both ships visit Road Town B.V.I. (mebbe minibus {van in American-speak} to Cane Garden Beach or ferry to Virgin Gorda)

and St  John's Antigua (van to Shirley Heights &  Nelson's dockyard, a beach stop on the way back).  

Virgin

- St Kitts is small, but a round-the-island van tour is cheap & interesting, and most drivers allow an hour or two on a beach like Frigate Bay. The Sugar Train can only be booked as a ship's excursion.

- Martinique.is a Departement of France. Probably the most upmarket island visited by cruise ships. Twice we rented a car in Fort-de-France to tour the island including the original capital Saint Pierre partly destroyed by a volcano & the hills behind. Currency is the Euro.  USD are accepted close to the port but it's worth taking some euros just for this island. 

St Lucia. A favourite of ours. Take a van tour up into the rain forest, past the Pitons, to Soufriere in the south. I haven't seen the "drive-in volcano" mentioned in recent years, perhaps it's now off-limits. Or pre-book a tour by van outward then a catamaran back to the port - available independently or as an over-priced ship's tour. Or for a lazy day, a short taxi ride to idyllic Choc Beach & not a longer drive to seriously over-packed  Reduit Beach / Rodney Bay

Barbados There's so much you can do there. Snorkelling with turtles off the beach or off a catamaran, or visit a rum distillery or rent a car or jeep & visit the wild & woolly east coast or a dozen other options. 

St Vincent. IMHO the least interesting island on this itinerary. Mebbe rent a boat & visit Mustique. 

 

Marella

First three known as the ABC islands

Oranjestad on Aruba. forget the Dutch-sounding name, you'd think it's in Florida. Every third shop is a jewellery store. Best bet is a beach-day - buses from the bus-station opposite to Eagle Beach or Palm Beach.

Willemstad on Curacao. A favourite of ours, bery Dutch architecture.

Bonaire. Small & limited, but brilliant snorkelling on Klein Bonaire (little ferry across to it from the cruise ship quay) or quad-biking. 

La Romana. Not on anyone;s bucket list, some won't venture off the ship. 

Cueva de las Maravillas is interesting. Iguanas there too. About 4 miles out of town

Santo Domingo. Don't know it. But it's also in Dom. Rep.

Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten. A favourite of ours. Frequent vans to Maho Beach (google big jets Maho Beach) or over to the French side of the island to the French capital  Marigot (some places accept only euros or plastic) or to Orient Beach. Or waterbus from cruise quay across to Phillipsburg - great beach, town behind.

Dominica (not to be confused with Dom Rep) Van up into the rainforest, or (best to pre-book) river-tubing. 

 

If it weren't for the travel to & from I'd probably go for the Virgin cruise.

But bear in mind we've not sailed Virgin.

And I'm not you. 😉

 

JB 🙂

 

 

[Tractor-Boy]

20 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

 

So where you live is unlikely too make any difference.

 

You mentioned £1000 more for a balcony on Marella.

Have your figures included this?

If not, it's poor value

 

And actually, I quite rate Virgin's itinerary.🙂

But, apart from too much time in Dom. Rep., Marella's is good too. 🙂

Times for both in port are fine for both.

 

Both ships visit Road Town B.V.I. (mebbe minibus {van in American-speak} to Cane Garden Beach or ferry to Virgin Gorda)

and St  John's Antigua (van to Shirley Heights &  Nelson's dockyard, a beach stop on the way back).  

Virgin

- St Kitts is small, but a round-the-island van tour is cheap & interesting, and most drivers allow an hour or two on a beach like Frigate Bay. The Sugar Train can only be booked as a ship's excursion.

- Martinique.is a Departement of France. Probably the most upmarket island visited by cruise ships. Twice we rented a car in Fort-de-France to tour the island including the original capital Saint Pierre partly destroyed by a volcano & the hills behind. Currency is the Euro.  USD are accepted close to the port but it's worth taking some euros just for this island. 

St Lucia. A favourite of ours. Take a van tour up into the rain forest, past the Pitons, to Soufriere in the south. I haven't seen the "drive-in volcano" mentioned in recent years, perhaps it's now off-limits. Or pre-book a tour by van outward then a catamaran back to the port - available independently or as an over-priced ship's tour. Or for a lazy day, a short taxi ride to idyllic Choc Beach & not a longer drive to seriously over-packed  Reduit Beach / Rodney Bay

Barbados There's so much you can do there. Snorkelling with turtles off the beach or off a catamaran, or visit a rum distillery or rent a car or jeep & visit the wild & woolly east coast or a dozen other options. 

St Vincent. IMHO the least interesting island on this itinerary. Mebbe rent a boat & visit Mustique. 

 

Marella

First three known as the ABC islands

Oranjestad on Aruba. forget the Dutch-sounding name, you'd think it's in Florida. Every third shop is a jewellery store. Best bet is a beach-day - buses from the bus-station opposite to Eagle Beach or Palm Beach.

Willemstad on Curacao. A favourite of ours, bery Dutch architecture.

Bonaire. Small & limited, but brilliant snorkelling on Klein Bonaire (little ferry across to it from the cruise ship quay) or quad-biking. 

La Romana. Not on anyone;s bucket list, some won't venture off the ship. 

Cueva de las Maravillas is interesting. Iguanas there too. About 4 miles out of town

Santo Domingo. Don't know it. But it's also in Dom. Rep.

Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten. A favourite of ours. Frequent vans to Maho Beach (google big jets Maho Beach) or over to the French side of the island to the French capital  Marigot (some places accept only euros or plastic) or to Orient Beach. Or waterbus from cruise quay across to Phillipsburg - great beach, town behind.

Dominica (not to be confused with Dom Rep) Van up into the rainforest, or (best to pre-book) river-tubing. 

 

If it weren't for the travel to & from I'd probably go for the Virgin cruise.

But bear in mind we've not sailed Virgin.

And I'm not you. 😉

 

JB 🙂

 

 

You really do have great knowledge on Cruises! Have spoken to a couple of Cruise agents today and think we will book the Virgin one with 3 nights in San Juan before cruise. They can do the same price as I can but with 3 nights in 5 Star Hotel in San Juan included and they will offer ABTA protection. Will take your advice on all the places on the cruise.