Before you go

Some branded drinks are included in the package, and others have a small supplementary charge. For example, Smirnoff and Gordon's are included as part of the All Inclusive package. But other premium branded spirits are available for a small supplement or as part of the Premium All Inclusive package

If you’re travelling on a TUI Airways flight with a TOM or BY flight number

Once you have made your booking and you decide you'd like to upgrade your allowance or add checked-in luggage to your booking, it's best to do this before you check in.

If you booked online, please log onto Manage My Booking where you can add on extras.

If you booked in store, please get in touch with the store where you've booked.

Prices vary by destination, and it’ll be cheaper to do this before you get to the airport.

If you wait until airport check-in to add a bag to your booking, you’ll be charged the following each way:

If you’re not travelling with TUI Airways

You’ll need to go directly to the airline’s website to check your luggage allowance and purchase any upgrades. You’ll find the name of the airline you’re travelling with, the airline’s booking reference, and the website address on your Manage My Booking page, just below your flight details. Make sure you use the airline’s booking reference to log into their website, and not your TUI booking reference.

If you want the guarantee of an unobstructed view,you can reserve your spot from £65 up to 15 days before you go. 

Simply choose your cabin at the time of booking or you can request your cabin number after you have booked by calling 01 693 7700 (ROI) or 028 90 389 387 (NI) between 9am-7pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm Saturday or 10am-5pm Sunday. 

If you've already booked a specific cabin, you'll have been told whether or not it has a restricted view. 

You can cruise onboard our ships up to the 24th week of pregnancy. If you're sailing on any of our ships you'll need to have a medical certificate to prove that you're fit to travel. If you're more than 24 weeks pregnant at the end of your cruise then you won't be able to sail. Please check your insurance policy for any restrictions that apply. 

Yes, you will need a passport to travel with Marella. You must check the entry requirements of every destination you’re visiting during your cruise, even if you’re not planning to go ashore – the ship’s arrival counts as your entry to the country as immigration information is shared with the authorities ahead of our arrival.

You can only travel to the EU and Schengen area countries if your passport was issued less than ten years from the date of departure. Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave your holiday destination. You can check your passport validity for EU and Schengen area countries with our passport checker.

Passport validity requirements vary from country to country, for some destinations you will need to have six months validity left on your passport from the date you travel home.

If you have dual nationality, you must travel with all your documentation and let the ship team and authorities know you’re travelling with multiple passports.

Just so you know, it's your responsibility to comply with all passport, visa and other immigration requirements for the country you're visiting. Your passport and travel documents must be intact, too. You may not be allowed to travel if they're damaged or they've been tampered with. We don't accept any responsibility if you can't travel because you haven't complied with the requirements.

You'll need a visa to enter some of the countries we sail to, even if you're not stepping ashore - keep an eye out for the 'ESTA required' logo on the brochure itinerary pages to see if that's the case, we’ll also let you know via the important information section when you book. 

When you need a visa depends on the destination. In some countries, you can get a visa on arrival at the airport and free of charge. But there are some that you need to pre-purchase before you go. It's best to check before you travel and allow enough time to get your visa. If you need a visa before you travel, you can usually get these via the country's embassy, high commission or consulate websites. 

Remember, visa requirements are subject to change, so make sure to check back close to your sailing date.

 

If you're travelling on one of our itineraries from Barbados which includes the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, you'll need to apply for an ESTA - at least 72 hours before you travel - keep an eye out for the 'ESTA required' logo.

British passport holders can apply for an ESTA by visiting https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

It’s worth noting that you must meet the eligibility requirements to apply for an ESTA – for example, if you have travelled to places like Cuba on or after 12th January 2021 or Iran, you may not be eligible.

If you’re not eligible for an ESTA, you will need a Non-immigrant Visa – this requires a face-to-face interview at the US embassy in London or the Consulate in Belfast.

When completing your ESTA, for your itinerary includes the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, you can select in transit or alternatively you can select 'Unknown' and put the name of the ship as the 'Contact'.

For more information go to: Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (dhs.gov) and also the FCDO for the latest advice and costs: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements

From chilled bottles of Champagne to Celebration of Vows, we’ve got loads of little extras to make your Cruise holiday feel even more special. The full details of these can be found here.

These can be added at the time of your booking, if you've already booked your Cruise with us and wish to upgrade to any of these, then you can do so through Manage My Booking if you booked online. You can also pay for extras whilst onboard your Cruise ship.

Alternatively, if you booked in a store you should visit or get in touch with your local TUI Holiday Store.
 

Click on the Manage my Booking link at the bottom of the Marella Cruises page.

You'll receive a departure letter on board with colour-coded labels to put on your bags before you leave them outside your cabin for collection. Your luggage will be delivered to the quayside and placed in the right colour-coded section. When it's time for you to transfer to your hotel, you'll collect your luggage from the quayside and take it to your coach.

You can check in 20kg. You can share your allowance with others on your booking, but no single bag can be more than 25kg. This is for health and safety reasons.

Hand luggage: You can take one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 10kg and with maximum dimensions of 55x40x20cm. Things like laptops, handbags and items bought at the airport can be carried in addition to your one piece of hand luggage. You must be able to lift your hand luggage into the overhead storage compartments yourself. These rules also apply if you're carrying a Trunki case onboard. 

Under twos get a 10kg luggage allowance, and we won't charge you to take your folding pushchairs either. 

Please note: If  you  are on a  Cruise & Stay package and this  includes a TUI BLUE, Holiday Village, A la Carte or Sensatori hotel, your baggage allowance will remain at 20kg. 

To travel on your own from the UK, Europe and the Caribbean, you'll need to be 18 years old or over.  

All of our cruises are All Inclusive as standard, so there is already a great range of drinks included in the price of your cruise. You can also upgrade to our Premium All Inclusive for a small fee, which includes a wider range of branded sprits, premium cocktails and premium Lavazza Coffee. You can select this upgrade at the time of booking or once you are onboard. 

The standard All Inclusive drinks package includes a selected draught beer and cider, selected wine and Prosecco by the glass, spirits and aperitifs, a range of cocktails and selected soft drinks by the glass, including mocktails and fruit juice.

The Premium drinks package includes all of the above and the following extras:
- Upgraded cocktails such as mojitos and Aperol spritz.
- Non-alcoholic hot and iced coffee-based drinks at The Coffee Port from 7am, and most drinks from the menu – made with premium Lavazza coffee – from 10am
- Premium gins, vodkas, rums and tequilas including Absolut Vodka, Bombay Sapphire and Captain Morgan
- More choice of whiskies, brandies and Cognacs including Jack Daniels
- Cans of soft drink.

Please note, drinks served after 2am and before 10am are not included in either the All Inclusive or Premium All Inclusive package and will be charged to your onboard account. This excludes non-alcoholic hot and iced coffee-based drinks from 7am at The Coffee Port for those who are on Premium All Inclusive package.

You can pre-book a cabin from €75. To book your cabin by number in advance of your cruise, just follow these simple steps:

- Choose your cruise and book it as usual.
- Once you've booked, you can request your cabin number by telephoning 1800 927 404.
- We will confirm your cabin number to you over the phone, and add the booking fee to your Holiday Invoice. 

Calls are charged at local rates but this may also depend on your service provider. 

You'll be able to check in as soon as your transfer from the airport arrives in the port. 

If you’ve opted for a cabin-only holiday, it means you’ve just booked the cruise part with us and you’ll need to organise your own flights and transfers from the airport to the ship, Check-in is from 2pm to two hours before you sail

The Dominican Republic includes an electronic immigration document in their entry requirements. How you’re travelling to the Dominican Republic affects which forms you need to complete and when. Please check your holiday type below for more information.

7 or 14-night cruise with TUI flights
• You won’t need to complete the Dominican Republic form.

Cruise & Stay
• If you’re doing your cruise first, you won’t need to complete the Dominican Republic form before you arrive.
• When you return to La Romana at the end of your cruise, you’ll complete a manual document for arrival.
• You’ll then need to complete the departure section of the electronic Dominican Republic form before you head to the airport. If you have the TUI app, we’ll remind you two days before you’re due to leave.

Stay & Cruise
• If you’re staying in the Dominican Republic before your cruise, you’ll need to complete the arrival section of the electronic Dominican Republic form before you depart the UK.
• When you get to the port to start your cruise, you’ll complete another form manually – and that’s it. Once you’re onboard the ship, you’re classed as in-transit so there’s no need to complete another form to go home.

Cruise with non-TUI flight
If you’re doing a cruise with us but you’re flying with another airline, you’ll need to complete four forms.
• The arrival section of the electronic form before you arrive.
• A manual form at the port at the start and end of your cruise
• The departure section of the electronic form before you fly home. We’ll remind you about the departure forms when you’re onboard.
 

For the most up-to-date passport and visa information visit the Foreign Office website.

The new electronic entry system will be in place across all Schengen area border crossings. The system will replace the traditional passport stamps with central electronic database that tracks entry and exit.

The first time you use the system, it will take a little longer than normal to complete the border control process. This is because your biometric data needs to be added to the system – an image of your face and four fingerprints. Children under the age of 12 are exempt.

If you have a Republic of Ireland passport, there will be no changes.

If your cruise is sailing from the Caribbean, your luggage is transported as part of our bonded luggage service. This means you don’t need to collect your luggage at your arrival airport, as it will be delivered directly to your cabin. So, once you step off the plane, head straight to your coach transfer to the ship.

If your cruise does have bonded luggage, then we’ll notify you of this in your booking confirmation. This may be unavailable at certain times so please check your paperwork prior to travel. You must ensure that the luggage label available to you 14 days before travel is secured to your luggage. Once you’ve checked it in, it’ll be security sealed and transported for you.

Please note this is just for anyone traveling to the Caribbean on a TUI flight.

Anyone flying with another airline or to another destination will need to collect their cases and bags from the allocated luggage carousel in arrivals and proceed to the coach transfer to the ship.

A selection of drinks by the glass and a selection of juices are included as standard in our All Inclusive offering for under 18's. The Premium All Inclusive package for under 18's includes a wider selection of soft drinks, including cans and brands such as J20 and San Pellegrino. Ages 12 and under can upgrade to the Premium All Inclusive offering for free when the rest of their party are upgrading. 

Please find the dress code for our ships here. This will give you an idea for what to pack on our Cruises. 

You can reserve your cabin from €75 up to 15 days before you go. Simply choose your cabin at the time of booking or you can request your cabin number after you have booked by calling 01 693 7700 (ROI)or 028 90 389 387 (NI) between 9am-7pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm Saturday or 10am-5pm Sunday. Calls from UK landlines cost the standard rate, but calls from mobiles may be higher. Check with your network provider.

Most of our cabins onboard allow cots. Please note that Marella Explorer 2 is exclusively for adults.