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Wondering what travelling with Marella Cruises is like for singles and solo travellers? After spending a week cruising solo, here’s my honest review…
It didn’t take me very long at all to realise I was going to love cruising solo! Standing on my cabin’s balcony, looking out to sea and realising that the biggest decision I’d have to make that day was which book to read first – and which patch of sunshine to lie in whilst reading it!
This was a week of doing exactly what I wanted, when I wanted, without once feeling guilty or compromising. Lots of self-indulgent me-time – and, unlike my usual solo travels, all of it completely hassle-free and organised by someone else!
Marella Cruises was a great option for my first solo cruise. They’re known for their social scene and fun vibes, and there were loads of social activities and meet-ups, so I never felt lonely. But at the same time, the vibe onboard was super relaxed and nothing felt too full-on or mandatory – so I was able to spend lots of time chilling out in exactly my own way, too. In short, the best of both worlds!
In this post, I’ve tried to cover every detail of the experience as a solo traveller with Marella Cruises. If you’re considering booking your first solo cruise – or you’ve already booked one and want to know what to expect – this post is for you. Bon voyage!
Disclaimer – my recent trip with Marella Cruises was part of a press trip. However, this blog post wasn’t requested by them and I’m writing it purely because I want to! As always, all words and opinions are my own.
Marella Cruises for Singles and Solo Travellers
Below, I’ve shared my experiences as a solo traveller onboard the Marella Explorer. This was on the 7-night Aegean Shores itinerary in Greece; but after chatting to fellow solo cruisers and the onboard Guest Experience Coordinators, this seems to be the typical experience for singles and solo travellers across all Marella Cruises…
Marella Cruises Singles Cabins
Some cruise ships have specific, smaller single-occupancy cabins onboard for solo travellers. Marella Cruises do have specific cabins for solo travellers (single cabins), but they’re exactly the same as regular cabins.
You can usually choose from a Single Inside or Single Outside cabin and they’re the same size and setup as the standard Inside or Outside Cabins, with double or twin beds.
The solo cabins weren’t built for this purpose, but they are set aside especially for single travellers. This has been done so that solo cruisers don’t have to pay a hefty single supplement as you do on other cruise lines.
Top tip: There are a very limited number of solo cabins and they can sell out fast, so book as far in advance as you can.
Is there a single supplement on Marella Cruises?
The quick answer to this question is no – but it’s complicated! Unlike some cruise lines, there’s no Single Supplement for solo travellers on Marella Cruises.
This is because they have a small number of single cabins set aside on each ship (see above). You pay for the cabin as a whole rather than a “per person” price, so there’s no supplement.
However, a single cabin is more than half the price of a standard cabin for two people – so it feels like the single supplement is built into the cost of the room. It’s still a lot less than the single supplement on many cruise lines (which sometimes charge up to 100% of the cruise fare as a supplement).
Here are a couple of examples to give you an idea of price comparisons (packages are All Inclusive as standard and include flights/transfers):
- Aegean Shores* itinerary, Marella Explorer, 9 May 2025. A Single Inside Cabin is currently £1852, while an Inside Cabin for two people is £1340pp (£2679 total). *this is the itinerary I did.
- Paradise Islands itinerary (Caribbean), Marella Discovery, 6 February 2025. A Single Inside Cabin is currently £2101, while an Inside Cabin for two people is £1510pp (£3019 total).
- Atlantic Islands itinerary, Marella Voyager, 3 April 2026. A Single Inside Cabin is currently £1854, while an Inside Cabin for two people is £1216pp (£2432 total).
Top Tip: Marella Cruises often runs special discounts for solo travellers so keep an eye out for those. Right now, solo cruises can save £150 on all sailings up to April 2026 using code SOLO150.
Life Aboard Marella Cruises as a Solo Traveller
Meetups and events for solo travellers
Worried you’ll get lonely on a solo cruise? Don’t panic, because Marella Cruises is one of the best cruise lines for looking after solo travellers.
When I arrived onboard, there was a special solo cruiser welcome letter in my cabin, inviting me to a lunch meet-up:
So, on the first full day of the cruise, I headed along to the Solo Traveller Lunch in the main dining room. The event (and all the others) was organised by the ship’s two Guest Experience Coordinators. Aga and Lois were absolutely lovely, and clearly have a lot of practice at getting conversation flowing between a group of strangers. It didn’t take long before we were all chatting and getting to know one another over lunch.
That same evening, we met for pre-dinner drinks in one of the onboard bars (and a quick meet and greet with the ship’s surprisingly dishy captain!), before heading down to dinner together.
After that, we met for drinks and dinner every night of the cruise. We didn’t all join every night, because none of the events were mandatory, but it was lovely to have the option of company over dinner.
Some of the solo travellers also met up by the pool during the day or to explore the port towns together. Personally, I preferred to chill and do my own thing during the day, then meet everyone up with the group in the evening to swap stories about what we’d been up to each day!
Good to Know: It’s worth noting that there was nothing organised for the first night onboard so I had to dine alone. I didn’t mind at all, but if you’re feeling nervous about travelling solo this is something to be aware of.
What are the other solo travellers like on a Marella Cruise?
At 37, I was the youngest of the group of solo cruises by about two decades. Our group was mostly ladies aged from around mid-sixties to mid-eighties. There was also one man in his late fifties, but he only came to the first meetup (I think we scared him off!).
Obviously, this was just my experience during a one-week cruise. Marella Cruises appeal to a huge range of travellers – there was a big mix onboard and lots of young adults (mostly couples). Several of the other ladies in the group were seasoned solo travellers – they told me that there’s usually a better mix of genders, but that the ages do tend to be older on the whole.
If you’re in your twenties, that might put you off. But I enjoy chatting to anyone and everyone, and I had a blast with my solo ladies. We were usually the ones laughing (aka cackling) the loudest in the bar every night!
Also – the two Guest Experience Coordinators were much younger (I’d guess twenties) and they came to every meet-up, so if you are younger you’ll likely still have someone your own age to chat to.
Solo Dining on Marella Cruises
Some cruise ships have a communal dining table for solo travellers, so you’re forced to choose between dining at the buffet or dining with a group of strangers.
Not so with Marella Cruises, thankfully. You’re free to sit at a table on your own if you prefer, even in the main dining room.
Top tip: There might be a bit of a wait, and you can’t pre-book a table in the main restaurant, so try heading for dinner either as soon as it opens or after about 7:30pm.
If you don’t want to dine alone, the solo travellers meet for drinks in the early evening every day – and usually head for dinner together afterwards.
If you don’t get on with the other solo cruisers, or you’d rather dine at a different time or in a different restaurant, no one will force you to dine with the group! I dined with the solo traveller group for 5 out of 7 evening meals: there was no meetup on our first night, so I dined alone, and I also paid for one of the speciality restaurants as a special treat for myself.
Top tip: If you find yourself dining solo and feel a little self-conscious about it, try taking a book with you. I always find reading a good distraction when I’m dining alone.
Tips for Cruising Solo with Marella
How to meet people as a solo cruiser
1 – Go to the meet-ups. As I’ve shared above, Marella Cruises organise daily meet-ups for solo travellers. If you’re feeling nervous, remember that everyone is in the same boat as you – and the Coordinators do a great job of getting everyone chatting! If you miss the first one, don’t worry: you’ll still be more than welcome at the next.
2 – Consider booking a few excursions. I found most of the excursions onboard my Marella Cruise to be very reasonably priced. They were also a great way to meet people – I was chatting to strangers in no time whilst wine tasting in Crete!
3 – Join in with the activities and classes. There seemed to be something going on almost every minute of the day on my Marella Cruise. From dance classes to pool-side quizzes, there’s something for everyone – and these activities provide the perfect setting for making friends. Go along to a class at the gym, give aqua aerobics a go on the pool deck, or try your hand at shuffleboard!
4 – Hang out on the deck or in the bars. Marella Cruises are known for their social scene, which means that many people book with the intention of meeting fellow cruisers. During my cruise, I found there were always people wanting to chat, especially on the pool deck and the adults-only
You just need an open mind and to be ready and willing to get chatting, and making friends onboard can be surprisingly easy. BUT if you want to do your own thing, none of the social activities are mandatory – you’re free to laze around with a book or headphones on in peace!
How to Make the Most of Your Solo Cruise
First of all – embrace the me-time! I LOVED chilling out alone, doing my own thing, and being entirely selfish for a week! How often do you get to spend all day doing exactly what you want?
Secondly, here are a few of my tips to make the most of your time onboard a Marella Cruise:
Book the spa. I thought the spa was very reasonably priced: on my cruise, it was £99 for unlimited access for 7 days. If you want to relax and make the most of your me-time, it’s WELL worth paying for spa access. And this is also another great place to meet fellow cruisers!
Splurge on a balcony. Balcony cabins obviously cost a bit more, but if you have the budget I’d highly recommend booking one. They come with hammocks and/or sunloungers and make a fantastic place for some quiet, secluded me-time. Click here to watch my video for a cabin tour.
Don’t be afraid to explore the port on your own. The daily newsletter and TUI’s Navigate app have lots of suggestions and helpful advice for each new port, and it’s usually very straightforward to get on and off the ship – ask staff for tips if you’re not sure.
One of my fellow solo travellers was too nervous to get off the ship by herself and I really felt she’d missed out. That said – if you are nervous, booking one or two excursions means you can get out and explore without needing to organise it all yourself!
READ MORE: 7 Tips for Your First Cruise Solo
Marella Cruises for Solo Travellers: Quick Recap
- No single supplement – and a limited number of Single Cabins set aside for solo travellers.
- However, the supplement is somewhat built into the room price instead.
- First-day meet and greet for solo travellers and daily evening drinks meet-ups, organised by the Guest Experience Coordinators.
- No mandatory shared tables at dinner, even in the main dining room.
- LOADS of activities, classes, and entertainment to choose from – many of them great ways to meet other travellers.
- Shore excursions are reasonably priced (compared with other cruise lines) and a great way to meet other cruisers.
- Marella Cruises are known for their social scene and fun vibes so they’re a great choice if you want to meet people and make friends.
- But there are still loads of options if you just want to be on your own, enjoy some me-time, and relax!
Read More
7 Reasons to Take a Cruise Solo
I’d love to hear about your experiences as a solo traveller with Marella Cruises! Scroll down to leave a comment…
