Marella Cruises, the UK cruise line managed by TUI, has released details of its winter 2026 program, introducing a series of new itineraries and reinstating several ports not visited in over a decade.
Among the notable destinations added to the schedule are La Goulette (gateway to Tunis) in Tunisia, Vigo (access point for Santiago de Compostela) in Spain, Lexios (serving Porto) in Portugal, and Tangier in Morocco. These sailings will be available for booking from July 3, 2025.
One of the adult-only vessels in the fleet, Marella Explorer 2, is scheduled to depart from its current home port of Dubrovnik to Malaga on October 29, 2026. This itinerary, titled ‘Mediterranean Moments’, includes calls at Valletta, Malta; La Goulette, Tunisia; Alicante and Almeria in Spain. The inclusion of Tunis marks Marella Cruises’ first return to Tunisia in over ten years.
Marella Discovery 2, also operating as an adult-only vessel for the season, will reposition from Malaga to Las Palmas on November 13, 2026 to begin its winter season in the Canary Islands. The route, named ‘Atlantic Treasures’, will visit Tangier, Lisbon, Arrecife, Puerto del Rosario, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The rest of the fleet will be distributed across European and Caribbean homeports. Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Voyager will operate from Barbados, while Marella Discovery will be based in La Romana, Dominican Republic from November 2026 to March 2027, before transitioning to Majorca in March 2027. Marella Explorer will sail out of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, while Marella Discovery 2 will also operate from these Canary Island ports before moving to Malaga in March 2027.
Further additions to the program include new Caribbean itineraries. From Bridgetown, Barbados, Marella Explorer 2 will operate voyages such as ‘Cocktails and Coconuts’, visiting ports including Antigua, St Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, and Martinique. Another route, ‘Exotic Islands’, will include stops in St Lucia, Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, and Grenada.
Marella Cruises is also expanding its Cruise & Stay options. Guests will be offered 22 additional hotel choices across Cyprus, Croatia, Corfu, and Spain, bringing the total to 165 hotels available through TUI’s program. Flights will be available from 14 UK airports. Overnight stays on board are scheduled in port at Funchal, Madeira and Willemstad, Curaçao.
Chris Hackney, Managing Director of Marella Cruises, indicated that the return to Tunisian ports forms part of a broader strategy to diversify and enhance the line’s offerings. He stated that the company remains committed to refining the guest experience through expanded destination choices and itinerary design, while continuing to integrate its cruise and hotel services.
All Marella Cruises operate on an all-inclusive basis, with gratuities and service charges incorporated into the fare. Fares for the winter 2026 ‘Island Explorer’ itinerary begin at GBP 1,104, with bookings opening from July 3, 2025.