Normally when I book a summer holiday I opt for an all-inclusive package holiday, somewhere a short flight away from Edinburgh. A creature of habit, in recent years my partner and I have opted for the Canary Islands, mainland Spain and Cyprus - even returning to the same hotels. Despite half-hearted attempts to seek out a city break in Europe, plans never fully materialised - honestly, who can be bothered with so much planning?
In fact, a cruise is something I had never given a second thought to, mainly due to my partner's fear of open water and boats in general. As I am in my 20s, I also worried they were set up for people in an older age demographic. But when the opportunity unexpectedly appeared to embark on a week-long trip with TUI's Marella Cruises, sailing across the Mediterranean - all that was standing in my way was convincing my partner to come with me...
Overcoming Trepidation
Despite the initial feeling of trepidation, I eventually got the nod. We then geared up for seven nights onboard the 254-metre, 11-deck Marella Discovery 2 sailing from Palma on May 12 to Olbia in Sardinia, La Spezia in Italy, Cannes and Toulon in France and Palamos in Spain to round off the trip. I must add the stop in Cannes was a slight change to the itinerary, with Villefranche the typical destination on this particular cruise.
This being my first cruise, I didn't really know what to expect, but I'm quite an intrepid traveller. I don't really suffer from seasickness, but then again the longest I had spent on a ship was sailing from Dover to Calais on a school trip. After a short flight to Palma and a few security checks, I gasped as I got my first glimpse of the 69,000-tonne ship in all its glory.
First Impressions Onboard
As we stepped onboard, my partner and I were instantly overwhelmed as the sheer size of the colossal vessel. Thankfully our flight was the last to arrive so our cases were delivered straight to our cabin right away. One thing that stood out instantly was the size of the cabin. It came complete with a queen-size double bed, an en-suite bathroom with a large walk-in shower and plenty of storage for clothes and other items.
The ship itself was a behemoth - boasting 11 decks, 918 cabins, 9 restaurants, 7 bars and both an indoor and outdoor pool. Most of the restaurants are included in the all-inclusive package, but a few, including the Surf and Turf Steakhouse and Kora La pan-Asian restaurant, can be booked for an extra cost. Other restaurants including an Italian and eatery serving up British classics are also part of the all-inclusive package.
Days at Sea and Entertainment
The first full day of the cruise was spent at sea as we sailed for Sardinia, which gave me a much-needed opportunity to explore all the ship had to offer and to prevent myself getting totally lost after one too many beers later in the week. My partner and I walked around the top deck as we embraced the sea air while enjoying a game of mini golf - yes mini golf onboard a ship in the middle of the Med - quite the water hazard.
Another standout feature from the off was the non-stop entertainment. Passengers onboard can access a feature on their smartphone called Marella Navigate, detailing all the day's entertainment as well as the menus for all bars and restaurants. Every night there was a live show at the Broadway Show Lounge - the crowd went particularly wild for Mark Summers as Elvis. There were endless quizzes and audience participation games at Squid and Anchor, non-stop action for people of all ages on the pool deck and even Latin and ballroom dancing lessons in the Atrium - the epicentre of the ship.
All-Inclusive Perks
All TUI cruises are all-inclusive, but we were treated to the upgraded package which includes a bigger selection of cocktails like mojitos and margaritas, premium gins, rums and tequilas, and a wider selection of whiskies and brandies. You also get canned soft drinks and most drinks from The Coffee Port - the onboard cafe.
It did become evident, as expected, that my partner and I were probably the youngest couple onboard at 27. A few families did have young children with them, but there were hardly any teenagers and young adults. That didn't necessarily bother us, however, as we are guilty of booking adult-only hotels whenever we go on holiday. I'd also never witnessed as much audience participation on holiday. Usually the entertainment team are begging people to come up on the stage and get involved, but whether it was ballroom dancing lessons during the afternoon or quizzes on the pool deck, everyone mucked in and got involved.
Excursions and Highlights
The team at Marella generously included two excursions, a night at the Surf and Turf Steakhouse and a complimentary treatment at the Oceans Spa during our trip. We used the day at sea to enjoy the Surf and Turf restaurant where we were waited on hand and foot. Being a big fan of steak, I was a little unsure on how it would compare to some of my favourite local spots considering it was cooked in the middle of the sea, but I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived juicy and full of flavour. I'd say it was hands down the best meal I had throughout the week onboard.
We decided to book the Peaks and Shores excursion in Olbia where we were picked up at the port and driven into the hills in a Toyota Land Cruiser. Throughout the journey our guide told us all we needed to know about Sardinia before several scenic stops including the gorgeous village of San Pantaleo and one of the island's many beaches with golden sand and crystal-clear water. We were also treated to some local delicacies such as Pecorino cheese, a selection of meats, bread and even Sardinian red wine. The excursion was a great way to explore the whole island and enjoy some off-roading along the way, but priced at £140 per person, it is on the expensive side.
The action-packed day certainly tired us out, but there was little time for rest as we docked in La Spezia the following morning. Much to our disgust, however, it was absolutely pouring with rain. La Spezia acted as the gateway for passengers to explore Pisa and Florence, but the two and a half journey time to Florence had already put us off before setting sail, so we waited for a slight break in the clouds and made a mad dash off the ship and onto a shuttle bus to the port. After purchasing two umbrellas (as we both packed for scorching weather) we explored the charming narrow streets of La Spezia before stopping for a pizza (when in Italy) which was hands down the best I had ever tasted.
The next two days saw us dock in Cannes, a slight change from Villefranche which is typically included in the itinerary, and Toulon. As we arrived during the iconic Cannes Film Festival, the city was awash with flashy cars and tuxedos. We headed straight for the train station and travelled to Monaco. Being an F1 fan I was excited to see the famous Monte Carlo track. However, to my dismay, I arrived to find any viewpoint or route to the track blocked off in anticipation for the race in a few weeks. We enjoyed a wander around the luxurious country which felt like an alternative reality before boarding a train back to Cannes to explore its natural beauty and tucking into some lunch by the water.
The following day we used our second free excursion to explore another jaw-dropping town along the French Riviera - Saint Tropez. A coach took us straight from the ship along a twisty, picturesque forest road to Saint Tropez as we were given recommendations on where to explore and which local cuisine to sample. Our guide kept us informed along the way and I'm glad we chose this as our second excursion, because it was definitely one of the standout moments of the whole trip. The St Tropez On Your Own excursion is also very reasonably priced at around £40 per person.
Despite its beauty, it was tricky to find a restaurant where a starter cost less than 30 euros. Similar to Monaco, the riches of those living and visiting Saint Tropez was evident. We must have strolled past dozens of millionaire yachts before reaching the town centre.
The final destination before heading back to Palma was Palamos in Spain. As we weren't too bothered about disembarking and exploring the area, we decided to stay onboard on our final day and do some sunbathing. The weather, however, had other plans and after sitting wrapped in a towel on the pool deck, I couldn't take any more so we headed indoors for some drinks in the atrium - the hub of the ship where glass elevators zoom up and down and people watch on from various viewpoints on the decks above.
Spa and Final Thoughts
We rounded off the special trip with a massage at the onboard Oceans Spa. I do enjoy the odd trip to a spa to unwind for the day, but this was the first proper massage I'd ever had and it definitely won't be the last. I opted for the 75-minute salt scrub massage and was instantly transported into a world of relaxation while pain in my shoulders and lower back were eased. I was actually pretty miffed when my masseur rang the bell to signal the end of the treatment, as I could probably have gone another whole hour.
As reflected on the trip in the evening after a delightful three-course meal at one of the sit-down restaurants, there was a hint of sadness it was ending. While I planned on applying the caveat 'but you're on a ship' throughout the entirety of the holiday, the overall service and delivery of entertainment, accommodation and both food and drink proved me unequivocally wrong. We both agreed the food and drink, as well as entertainment, was up there with the consistently best we had experienced on holiday to date. The staff onboard were excellent and couldn't do enough for us. I genuinely felt as if every member of staff loved their job and were all one big happy Marella family.
For those pondering over booking a cruise, maybe due to the same reservations I had before setting sail - I'm sure I've done enough to reel you in and seriously consider booking. It certainly won't be long before booking my next one.
Practical Information
Passengers can also log in to the Marella Cruise Control app to upload passport information, check in before the cruise, print boarding passes and luggage tags and even book excursions before setting sail.
Marella Cruises offers a seven-night Jewels of the Mediterranean round cruise from Palma, Majorca on Marella Discovery 2 from £1433 per person. Price based on two adults sharing a Deck 2/3 Inside Cabin on an all-inclusive basis. Calling at Palma, Majorca; day at sea; Olbia, Sardinia; La Spezia (for Florence and Pisa), Italy; Villefranche (for Monaco), France; Toulon (for the Cote d'Azur), France; Palomas, Spain and Palma, Majorca. Includes TUI Airways from Edinburgh Airport to Palma on the 14th of July 2026, 20kg of luggage per person, transfers, tips and service charges. Available via www.tui.co.uk/cruise or a TUI retail store.
