We asked cruise specialist Becky Hawker on a fantastic trip to review a week onboard Marella Explorer 2. She flew to Dubrovnik to start her Adriatic Delights cruise, visiting Ancona (Italy), Zadar (Croatia), Koper (Slovenia), Split (Croatia), Bar (Montenegro). Here’s her account of 7 days aboard the adult-only all inclusive ship:
I’ve been lucky enough to cruise with a variety of cruise lines, but never with Marella, so I was excited to see what was in store.
My View Of The Ship
I’d envisioned a ship with more basic standards, fewer facilities and an ‘old fashioned’ decor compared to many of the mainstream lines. After spending a couple of hours on the ship I quickly realised that I had it all wrong.
I had an ocean view cabin on deck 9 and, genuinely, it was one of the most spacious cabins I’ve ever stayed in. It was a little dated but had lots of storage space, a comfortable shower room, and even a turndown service at night. Some cruise lines have cut back on the once-upon-a-time standard of a turndown service, and I think that’s a real shame.
The staff on board are delightful and very efficient, which is probably due to everything you need being all inclusive. This definitely takes the faff out of wondering what’s included and not included with standard and premium drinks, as it’s all laid out for you easily at the bars. And the ship has some really vibrant bars! I loved the Coffee Port – it’s the perfect spot to chill out.
I love a show in the evening, and the Broadway Show Lounge offers some fabulous entertainment. (Better than P&O Cruises in my opinion!). The increasingly popular (for cruise lines) silent disco was also great fun!
I ate in the main dining room for breakfast and evening meal, and I have to say that the choice was great and everything was always piping hot. If you want a treat, then I recommend speciality dining venue Kora La for gorgeous Pan Asian cuisine.
Shore Excursions In The Adriatic
There’s so much to see and do in the Adriatic ports of call that it simply means you have keep returning for more cruise holidays!
Ancona – Italy
The famous Frasassi Caves
The journey to the caves from the port is around an hour. When we arrived we walked approx 10 minutes through a large tunnel where the temperature got colder and colder – pack an extra layer! The entrance to the two grottos is breathtaking, I’ve never seen anything like it before. They lead to a labyrinth of underground rooms filled with stalagmites and stalactites – over 190 million years old. The caves also inhabit over 12,000 bats!
Koper – Slovenia
Lake Bled and its legendary island
It’s iconic now due to being so completely instagrammable.. so I couldn’t visit Slovenia without seeing Lake Bled! It’s roughly a 2-hour transfer from Koper, but it’s well worth the journey. As you edge closer to the lake the scenery just keeps on getting better and better. We were a little unlucky with the weather, as it was cloudy and misty but we didn’t let it spoil anything. October was recommended as a good time to visit, less crowds and beautiful autumn colours are present. We arrived and had a leisurely cruise to the island where we saw the Church of Mary and the wishing well.
According to local legend, a widow who lived at Bled Castle mourned her husband who was murdered by brigands. She gathered all her gold and silver and had a bell cast for the chapel on Bled Island. During the transport a terrible storm caused the boat to overturn, drowning the sailors and sinking the bell to the bottom of the lake. Now even more devastated, she joined a convent in Rome and following her death, the Pope donated another bell for the church. It is said that those who make a wish and ring the bell 3 times to honour her, will have their wish granted.
We had some free time after so we indulged with a coffee and a slice of original Bled cream cake – similar to a vanilla slice, absolutely delicious!
Split – Croatia
Krka Waterfalls
We had a perfect day to visit the waterfalls. It took us roughly an hour before we arrived in paradise. We walked through the falls at our own pace, stopping off for pictures along the way and taking in the beautiful scenery and sounds.
We had some free time back in Split which was just a short walk away from the ship so we nipped off for an ice cream and a little wander through the town.
Bar – Montenegro
Budva
Budva is one of the oldest towns in the Adriatic Sea. The Old Town is right on the waterfront, featuring narrow, cobbled streets tucked behind 15th century Venetian walls. It’s easy to see why visitors often view it as a mini-Dubrovnik. If you ever visit make sure you check out the pink-tinged beaches, it’s on my list to go back. We had a little shop and an Aperol Spritz on the waterfront – a perfect way to end the trip.
I did note that shore excursion prices with Marella are very reasonable. In fact, they’re much cheaper than a typical excursion with some of the mainstream cruise lines.
I managed to have a few chats with other passengers on board, and most of them were first-time cruisers, absolutely loving life and ready to explore other cruise options. I think regardless of whether you’re a seasoned cruiser, or just dipping your toe in the water, Marella offers something for everyone. The itineraries are generally port-intensive, and I think represent great value for money. Add to that the fact that Marella Explorer 2 is an adult-only ship, and you’ve found a holiday haven even at peak times of year!
Top tip:
Upgrade your drinks!
Yes, the ship is All Inclusive as standard, but if you like your named brand spirits and premium coffees then I recommend you upgrade. The cost is around £12 per person, per day and, in my eyes, well worth it. You can get branded soft drinks along with as many lattes, cappuccinos, etc you want. You can do this at the time of booking or when you get on board.
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