Just returned from two week Baltic cruise on Marella Explorer (10 th Aug19). Never having cruised before, we were unsure what to expect, but the itinerary was exactly what we wanted. Apologies in advance for the length of this review, I know it's going to be a long one We sailed from Newcastle, so no flights involved for us which was a huge bonus, mainly as no luggage restrictions ( so long as each case weighed no more than 23k each) but also being able to avoid the chaos of airports in summer. We stayed overnight the night before in Premier inn at the port( not the best, will review separately on trip advisor) . We drove to the car park at 1130 which took all of 30 seconds from the hotel, dropped off our luggage in the marquee as instructed, where our cases were tagged with our cabin number - didn't see them again until we were on board. Then taken by bus to the check in area where we were given our cruise cards and information. We waited no more than 10 mins to be called to have passports checked, and after another very short bus ride we embarked. We were on board by 1215 - really efficient, smooth process, greatly appreciated by us as we had no idea of the process. We had just had lunch by the pool when an announcement was made at 130 pm that cabins were available and our luggage arrived around 330 pm , really efficient service. We explored and attended muster drill which was obviously very busy, but it was well organised and lasted no more than 15 mins. Unfortunately the weather was poor for sail away so I believe a sail away party was held indoors. We stayed on deck in the typical British summer weather to watch us sail away instead. We had a sea day immediately which gave us time to explore all the ship had to offer. Two pools, which were bigger than we expected. Three generous hot tubs too. Poolside bands when weather allowed, and twice daily films by the pools. 10 bars, 10 restaurants , a kids area, a teenage area, table tennis, mini golf, cinema, show lounge, champneys spa and gym, basket ball court, adults only sunbathing area, library with table games, shuffle board, quoits a huge English style pub with lots of quizzes and bands. Great value shops, I'm sure there was more but am at a loss to remember Entertainment was on in the show lounge twice nightly and the few we saw were good. They had a guest comedian who was really good - so good we went to both his shows , one being a late night version Service on board really was with a smile. Every member of staff without exception was friendly and polite. Everyone of the staff worked so hard and gave the impression they loved what they did. Our room stewards were fab and we appreciated the turndown service in the evening. Our cabin was kept very clean each day. Hygiene was important throughout the ship, with hand sanitiser everywhere and gentle reminders in the daily cruise news . Exiting the ship at each port of call was easy and smooth. , no long lines , and the same getting back on after each port. The sail away party after each port was great and after our two day stay in St Petersburg we were welcomed back with songs and dancing from all the crew on the dock side - really nice touch. Another nice touch was a BBQ by the pool on a rare sunny day after we visited Copenhagen . Food is subjective and I'm sure you can't please everyone. But we didn't have a meal we didn't enjoy on board. From the buffet to the steak house, all really good. We tried them all, including the ones with the supplement except for the Dining club, purely as its not to my taste . There were no tender ports on this itinerary , but a few of the ports were a little way out of town. TUI did provide shuttles for these at £5 each which we used. Only in Stockholm was the shuttle useless. It dropped us in a busy part of town difficult to find again for the return. We made our own way back to the ship, but guests were complaining the shuttle picked up in a different part of town that people weren't made aware of causing some to have to get taxis back to the ship We didn't use TUI excursions at all, we researched before and either did our own thing or booked privately with no issues at all. Besides the price, the fact that TUI use full size coaches for excursions put us off. The privately booked tours used 16 seat mini buses, making it easier to see the sights quickly with a guarantee of not missing all aboard time We didn't know wether we would love or hate the cruising experience, but can safely say we are hooked ! Thank you captain John , you have an amazing crew, you should be very proud, but you need better jokes ! Read Less

Iceland and Norway were on our bucket list so this cruise seemed the perfect way to tick them off. As destinations they didn’t disappoint and are both amazing places. We had sailed with Marella at Xmas in the Caribbean and selecting Marella again was an easy choice. This time departure was from Newcastle so no flights and extra luggage allowance. Departure was fine. It took a little while and there was some queues but overall not a problem and thankfully the rain kept off. We had inside cabins on Deck 9. Excellent fit out with a good bathroom and shower. Cabin stewards attentive and helpful as were all the staff onboard. Cabins serviced twice daily too. The ship itself is good. There is a good selection of restaurants. Some you have to pay extra for but there is enough choice and variety if you don’t want that. Food quality good throughout. One shortfall is a general shortage of indoor seating which can create challenges when the weather is not so good. Bars excellent as is the range of all inclusive drinks.. there’s enough variety and choice.. if you do fancy an up market brand for a change then you can pay as you go for those adding it to your cabin bill. This works well and saves you going for the drinks upgrade package. The prices are reasonable too. Entertainment was a mixed bag. The shows and tribute act in the Broadway lounge were generally excellent and to a good standard. They certainly had the family looking forward to the next nights show. Otherwise it was a hit and miss affair with bands quizzes etc mainly catering for an older audience. This did get wearing after a while and we did crave something more up to date and modern after a few days. This was a particular issue for my teenagers who continually joked about this being a cruise for “old duffers”. This wasn’t the case although this perception can only have been exacerbated by the frequent and somewhat petty gripes of some of the more senior patrons on the boat. Movies were good with some up to date titles. Outdoor cinema was chilly at night so good that blankets were provided. It was the destinations that made this trip special however. Orkney - We took the tour to Skara Brae - A must for history buffs with a knowledgeable guide. Really excellent. Kirkwall was also fun to explore and there’s enough to do and see here. Aukeyreri was jaw dropping and the cascading waterfalls either side as we entered the fjord were amazing. We took the tour to Mvaytyn baths. This was a long ride on a coach .. over an hour but we got so see some of this fantastic landscape. The bath itself is quite an experience and highly recommended. The town is also fun to explore with some good shops. Isafjordur was a gem. There is so little there at first glance . I can imagine some people only spent an hour ashore. A helpful guide in tourist information provided an excellent walking map and a few hours later we were up amongst the ski slopes with a vista that rivals anything I’ve ever seen. Reykjavík is a funky place with lots going on. We self booked onto a whale watching tour which was excellent and we saw plenty of minke whales feeding. 2 days at sea then into Norway - Flam is so pretty. Everyone heads for the railway and it gets very busy . We didn’t pre-book so couldn’t ride. Instead we hiked and climbed up to see Brekfossen waterfalls which was spectacular. The old town of Flam is also worth an explore .Good walking here and plenty to see. Bergen is excellent and all the key sights are worth your time . Funicular provides great views and fish market is amazing. Eidfjord is also pretty and there is an excellent circular walk which takes a couple of hours if you take it slowly. But not much else other than that at the port. It seems this is a place to look at excursions or car hire. Haugesund was surprisingly fun. Great walks up the coast provided stunning views. Great town and shops too. Kristiansand was a wet day . There is a good nature park to explore at the back of the town and this town had some excellent shops also. Overall - The destinations provided an amazing holiday. The Marella Explorer is a good ship with an excellent crew. There’s little to complain about really and it’s good value for money. Read Less

Very dated ship. Mainly elderly passengers. Nothing on during the day except bridge bingo and handicrafts. More like a floating care home. Tour operator extremely unhelpful.. Don't book flam railway through olsen it's a lot cheaper to do yourself and there were plenty of seats. Guest service manager very helpful as had to move cabins as extremely noisy. Noticed a lot of cutbacks. Eg no conditioner or body lotion in cabins. However food was outstanding served by Sam and Joe who were brilliant. Entertainment on a night was good. Cocktails seemed mainly fruit juice having been teatotal for 30yrs I thought a few alcoholic drinks would be a change. Strangely there was no effect. Service was fairly quick. The gym in a great position but vastly overheated to dehydration level with one small water fountain pretty hopeless when you have to leave the equipment to get a drink. We are used to having all our baggage taken off us at check in not done in Newcastle they will only take suitcase no suit bags or small cases.which were heavy. Class them as hand luggage. On leaving ship to come home Newcastle is very disjointed. This was my 4 time with olsen and very much my last. Wasn't keen before but Newcastle is near home. Southampton is worth the journey to board a better cruise line cunard is unbeatable and cheaper Read Less

Although this ship was recently refurbished (newer furniture and carpeting) it lacks the excitement and character of other cruise lines we've been on (P&O, NCL, RCCL). The entertainment was so-so (think community college theater not Vegas-style), the comedian unfunny, and the average passenger age was over 60. We traveled with a well-behaved toddler. Even so most people were friendly (only had one "shushing" in the observatory lounge) and the crew was fantastic. We were bored on our day at sea. Even the older cruisers appeared bored as most just sat in the lounges reading books or iPads. The ports were excellent (Invergordon (Inverness), Kirkwall, and Lerwick) in Scotland but I highly recommend renting your own car and self-touring to save money. We overpaid significantly for a private guided tour from Invergordon. Rent a car and do it yourself (with a guidebook if you want)! You can see the standing stones of Stenness near Kirkwall by taking the public bus for less than 7 quid round-trip! We would only consider going on a Fred Olsen cruise in the future if it improved its on-board activities for families. To leave on a positive note, the drink and spa prices were very reasonable. Read Less

We enjoyed our cruise and found the cruise itinerary to be very good, & found the ship to be spotless. The cleaning crew work very hard to keep every part of the ship gleaming. We always ate in the buffet restaurant and found the food selections to be generally good. We found the Buffet Restaurant staff very courteous, polite & efficient, always smiling. The Buffet Restaurant could be a bit chaotic at times due to a shortage of tables when the ship was full, but this is mainly due to some guests hogging tables after they had finished their meals. I saw some guests using tables to read their Ships Newspaper, or hugging a cup of tea for an endless amount of time, which is most unfair to other guests when the restaurant is busy. It would also be nice if some guests tried to dress a bit smarter. I know we are all on holiday to relax, but surely an effort could be made to dress at least smart casual, instead of ragged shorts & tee shirts or jogging bottoms, there’s a happy medium. We had a Deluxe Balcony Cabin, 6628 & was happy with the cabin, it was very spacious with lots of storage space & all cabins have complimentary coffee & tea making facilities. Also provided in all of the cabins is a glass carafe to enable guests to fill up from water dispensers dotted around the ship, a good idea for those who don’t want to buy bottled water from their cabin Minibar. Our cabin also had a fridge. One bar of soap & 1 dispenser with body wash is provided in the shower room, but if you require a shower cap, you will need to take your own. Large fluffy bath sheets, handtowels & face cloths are provided. However, one disadvantage we had was, our balcony was directly above the crews smoking area & we experienced quite a bit of cigarette smoke while using our balcony, as we are both non-smokers, this experience was not nice for us. We also very often experienced loud noise coming from the same crew area, late at night, however, if you stay out late watching the entertainment, that may not affect you. I don’t know how the ship could get around that problem, as I realise the crew needs somewhere to have a break. Our Cabin Stewart Imelda, provided an excellent service. On the day of our Wedding Anniversary, Imelda had spotted our Wedding Anniversary cards to each other in our cabin, & she then made 2 towel swans with the necks shaped into a heart & placed them on our bed with our cards placed in front. When we returned to our cabin & saw what she had done, we thought that was a lovely & very thoughtful gesture for her to make, we were extremely pleased. We found all the stewards on deck 6 to be very friendly. Every time we passed them, they were always smiling & passed the time of day with us & shared a little joke with us too, so much so, we almost felt like mini celebrities! In the Broadway Show Lounge, most evenings we were served by Tetyana & we found her to be an absolute delight. She was very efficient, friendly & helpful & always remembered what drinks we preferred. The entertainment was good & the Show team did very well. However, although the Show team performed very well, we found that some of the shows were not to our taste, for example, Best of Broadway, Medieval Madness & Legends Live. We also thought that some of the interactive screens in the background tended to be distracting, we were watching the screen instead of the Show team, especially through Medieval Madness. Our favourite shows were Mr Wonderful & Sebby Mercury, we thought them excellent. We also frequented Venue on deck 5 most evenings & found the game shows enjoyable & the surroundings very comfortable. The entertainment team did their very best to ensure guests had fun. The bar waiters very pleasant & efficient & did a good job serving drinks to everyone. We found excursion advisor, Lindsay to be very helpful & efficient. When we had a problem at the destination kiosk, due to the required tour not showing on the system, Lyndsey did not hesitate to come to our aid & assist us & booked our tour manually in the back office. Lynsey also demonstrated on how to use the Kiosks. The excursion Legendary Town, Legendary Beer in Tallinn, was a superb tour with 2 excellent guides, providing great value for money, it’s one of the best excursions we have ever done. By comparison, the Carlsberg tour in Copenhagen we thought was poor. Warnemunde & Oslo were also very picturesque & well worth a visit. The excursions information was not quite accurate for St Petersburg. Spilled Blood Tour listed as Moderate & we think should be listed as Active as it was a very tiring tour. Also, it was not described as a walking tour in the itinerary & we did lots of walking which may not be suitable for some guests. The Hermitage building is very beautiful and full of wonderful works of art; however, it was so crowded, it was difficult to see exhibits properly. On the Carlsberg tour in Copenhagen, at the Little Mermaid stop, we acquired 2 extra passengers on our coach as our guide did not do a head count. When we got to the Carlsberg Brewery, the 2 passengers told the guide they had got on our coach thinking it was their shuttle bus! I don’t think these 2 passengers actually paid anything when they carried on the tour with the rest of us. The guide Jane, also only told us her name at the end of the tour when we were near the ship. I think she needs a bit more training. On embarkation day, when we arrived early at the Port of Tyne, it was wet & windy & seemed a bit disorganised. We drove to the car park & were told to remove our luggage & wait for someone to instruct us next. We waited quite a while only to be told to cross to the other side of the large car park & wait in a queue at a shed. We then received our documents & got on a coach. 2 passengers were rushing behind also to board our coach when our driver drove off, even though there were still vacant seats on the coach. We got through the check in at the terminal very efficiently, but when we left the terminal, we were waiting in another queue as it was discovered the passenger gangplank was to small & had to be changed. It would have perhaps been better to leave the passengers in the terminal till everything was sorted properly. After we boarded the ship, on past experience, we have always been taken to our cabin by a member of the crew. However, on this cruise, we found our own way to our cabin. There was however, members of crew stationed on various decks pointing directions should any guests get lost. On our return to the Port of Tyne on disembarkation day, there was a delay of half an hour in leaving the ship due to the volume of traffic. When left the ship, we were required to board a bus to the car park. When we got to the car park, nobody actually advised us where to collect our luggage. We had to watch other passengers & hope we were going in the correct direction. It would have been better if the Port staff could perhaps have given a bit more direction to help stop confusion. We did a Baltic Cruise from the Tyne in May 2014 on the Thomson Spirit & the organisational system was better at the Port of Tyne at that time. Perhaps they could review how they can carry out the procedures. We found all the crew that we came in contact with to be very friendly, courteous & polite. They are a credit to Tui & Marella Cruises Read Less

Picked this cruise as it was our three special birthdays the staff on the embarkation car parking were fantastic.We were embarked quickly and smoothly,the staff in all departments were fantastic,food was always well presented and tasty.The ship was always clean,our room was spotless.Only downside was we had to get a triple room as the single supplement was not good,it was a pull down bed with a very bad ladder which my daughter had trouble getting up so decided to put the mattress on the floor.But as i have said the service in the restaurant was first class the staff were very attentive nothing was any trouble,some times the staff on the observation deck were hit and miss if you sat away from the bar area they would come round and ask if you wanted a drink and then after being served didn’t come round for a while,the other bars kept coming round. Read Less

We always go from Port of Tyne as it makes such an easy start to the holiday. I am slightly disabled and we have two autistic grandchildren and the crew and staff on Balmoral do everything the can to make the cruise perfect. We have been on three cruises and each one has been wonderful. The food is great, the entertainment first class and our rooms are so comfortable. There is plenty to do for the children, who love the quizzes and shows in the evening. My only complaint is that although we have an allocated table in the evening breakfast and lunch is a bit of a free for all, and our allocated restaurant became a bit of a nightmare for the children, who find crowds and noise quite difficult to cope with. Apart from this, I cannot fault Fred Olsen and compliment him on a really well run organisation. Read Less

This was our very first Cruise I have to say from start to finish it was excellent, We arrived at the port where our bags were taken from us and never saw them till we got to our cabin. we checked in and with in 10 mins we were through security and on the ship.we were on deck 8 Superior inside cabin and we were very happy with it. The food at all meal times were excellent, we chose to have our evening meals in the Avon Restaurant and the staff were first class. There is plenty to do on board if you don't want to get off at any of the ports. We mainly had our drinks in the Marquee Bar on the top deck very friendly and customer focused. Entertainment was also good, a great holiday which I would recommend to anyone the scenery was amazing weather was mixed apart from one day when it never stopped raining. We did the Funicular ourselves it cost £5 each to go up as we walked back down which I would recommend if your able. We then went to find the Ice Bar which cost us £19 each it was good fun and worth going in. We bought the tickets for the Flam Railway off Fred Olsen and I would advise to do this as your seats are reserved for you and well worth doing. All of the Ports that we stopped at were expensive to buy anything but really worth looking round the shops, you can do your own thing plenty to see and do. Read Less

First time cruiser and was in all honesty unsure if cruising would be my ideal holiday. Had spent a few weeks prior reading some reviews and Facebook group posts to learn what I could prior to departure and get some cruising tips. Some proved useful, others although useful, turned out to be more personnal opinions so I’m sure some of my report will be the same to any readers of my review. Overall the organisation of the cruise by staff from embarkation at the port, to cabin staff, chefs, domestic staff, tour operators, bar and restaurant staff, everyone is fantastic. The only staff who seemed vague and less helpful were the Duty-Free personnel - they didnt seem as interested, more into selling, this is probably part of their job I guess, but I was less than impressed in this area whereas I was totally amazed by everyone else. A subject we all place high on our priorities is FOOD. Where do I start with food? I certainly can’t fault it. On board is the full range from casual snacks, to high end dining. Snack shack is so handy for lots of reasons – quick familiar food people are used to, ready when you need it and ranging from fast food pleasures including burgers, fried chicken, fish and chips there were also healthy options of fruit pots, granola with yougurt, salad boxes and a selection of sandwiches and wraps all available to eat in or to take away. Great for tours off ship. The Glass House during the day is pleasant and relaxed with a nice selection of salad, always a carving joint and snacks daily. The only thing that confused me here was the coffee normally in the All Inclusive - cappucino, latte was chargeable although I'd never seen anything to say this. It did have the standard coffee and tea machine available though. From 6pm a part of the Glass House becomes a pizza and tapas restaurant which are cool to share. Sharing plates of meats, cheese or a meat/cheese combo are an option and just be aware and you can order it all, not just a selection. Myself and husband enjoyed this location for food. It also extends its services at 21:30 to become the late-night food provider, again with a small but adequate choice of curry, chips and their accompaniment’s with salad and some sweet snacks too. 47 degrees - lovely a la carte restaurant with around half the menu as standard choices and the other choices varied over a period of time. It made it a nice dinner choice with waiter service and pleasant surroundings. It also served breakfast with a small buffet selection and a la carte choices including Full English, eggs and omelletes to order and varied cloices of french toast, pancakes etc. Breakfast seemed busy sometimes though, and sometimes, some, food arrived and wasn’t as hot as Id have preferred, but otherwise it was good and helps a bit with portion control as the food is plentiful from early till late. Gallery 47 degrees - Italian menu with probably less change on the menu selection, but we managed to go 4 times and had a lovely meal every time. The antipasti were amazing and I could have eaten this 3-fold with some of the delicious bread on offer and been happy that was my meal! Islands Buffet – The main restaurant and the busiest with the widest variety of food. I can only describe it as ‘standard buffet’ and don’t mean this in anyway derogatory. It offers what anyone who has been All Inclusive at a hotel on holiday would expect – lots of food choices to mix and match, salads, carved meat section, and a children’s selection, there was a station for dietary requirements which although I didn’t choose this food, looked to have at least a few choices every time I went past. Dinner time food seemed to have a theme that changed daily, from Mexican, Thai, Greek, Spanish and of course British with Roast Meat and all the trimmings. They also had an afternoon tea 3 – 5pm offering mini sandwiches and rolls with scones, jam and cream with cakes and desserts like crumble, strudel etc. I loved my scones from here. Something I noticed in the buffet was the plastic glasses were clean but so scratched that they never really looked that nice. Considering everywhere had plastic, the ones in Islands were by far in the worst condition, so much so, I didn’t have a drink in there but took a drink in with me from elsewhere. Now accommodation, I think overall the accommodation is basic but sufficient for the needs. We were basic so no frills whatsoever, but there was plenty of space to sleep, wash and changeover from one activity to the next. We never spend much time in our room on any holiday so basic was fine. If you wanted to have a drink or spend time with friends/family together in your room something less basic would be better so I think this is a very personal subject which people will choose and pay for within requirements and budget. Irrespective, they were maintained well, cleaned properly and nothing was a problem for the hard working cabin staff. The cleaning staff on board were always doing something, dusting staircases, polishing lift doors, stocking up on supplies and just keeping the ship in ‘tip top’ condition. All of them had a smile on their faces and never let you pass without a Good Morning/Afternoon or Evening. They are a credit to themselves. Drinks availability within the All Inclusive was excellent, as were the barmen who were constantly busy mixing cocktails and mocktails, pouring beers, soft drinks and coffees as well as clearing and cleaning up. They still managed to chat with the customers and get to know them. We had many a chat with Milos and Georgio at the Pool Bar and others who impressed us a lot were Anthony, Renalyn and Ogen, well done all of you! I used the Gym daily and it provided a very good service. Curtis who was the training professional on board put in lots of visibility to help gym users and also ran several classes – some complimentary, some chargeable and also seminars on several interesting topics these were held in the Live Lounge and were informative but laid back, he knew his trade very well and was clearly passionate about it. We did use the Oceans Spa although we hadn’t planned to. Top Tip – don’t go booking too early as they issue offers of varying choices as the cruise progresses. I choose a Top to Toe Massage when it was on offer and had the best deep tissue massage from Eka. Entertainment – There is a massive, diverse selection of entertainment on offer throughout the days. Something on for what must suit all age ranges and preferences frequently. It was a case of choosing what took your fancy and going along. I would say that on days ‘At Sea’ if the weather wasn’t warm there wasn’t too much for us once we had done the Climbing Wall, Crazy Golf and had a look in the Duty Free Shops. But that’s possibly our preferences and certainly not because there was nothing to do. Tours and Excursions – since this was our first cruise we decided to book our day trips by selection and in advance. The organisation on board meant this did work and getting information beforehand was available and getting on & off ship, using the transport and meeting guides was meticulously organised. On a couple of occasions we didn’t go back to the ship when the tour ended. Instead, after informing the guide that we weren’t going back, we did a bit of our own thing and went back on our own. This was in the locations where it was merely a shot stroll from the centre to the ship. I enjoyed this as it gave us a good mix of organised and ad hoc. Everyone to their own on how much they book and plan beforehand. I could type forever about the Cruise which in itself says a lot. I have glossed over some subjects because I didn’t want to be boring or voice my own opinion too much. A cruise is easily adapted to individual needs and requirements. I have decided that I would definitely do another cruise and most possibly with Tui/Marella. Read Less

The ship was great the embarkation was good and the disembarkation was a very smooth operation and crew could not do enough for us. I could not fault the quality or quantity of food on board and the entertainment was really good. There was also a well equipped gym and many treatment rooms. There was plenty of information in the cabin and the Daily Times news letter was very helpful. The Cabin was clean and comfortable with more than enough storage for the two of us the. Great cruise only let down by what I would call the incompetence of the shore tour people, it seems the lack of communication between ship and shore made us nearly miss the transfer bus to the helicopter flight (it was driving off as we got to the gate) and at £250 each for my nephew and myself would have been very disappointing to say the least. Read Less

We travelled as a party of 8 and ranged in age from 13-72! We can definitely state that Marella Discovery has something for all ages, as each one of us has had a fantastic time. We left this morning already talking about where we wanted to go next. Embark was quick and well organised. We were soon on the ship and welcomed onboard by such friendly crew. They really cannot do enough for you and everyone is so friendly and will always say hello. As we booked fairly late, we had inside cabins but we were pleasantly surprised by the size and how much storage space we had in them. We were barely in our rooms and found them comfortable and quiet. (deck 7599-7593) The entertainment began with the sail away and continued throughout the week. There was always something to do and events are put on throughout the day. You could exhaust yourself going from one to the other. Our youngest teenager loved kids club and made so many friends. The hideout is a fantastic room/idea as it’s quite awkward to make friends at this age but both our teenagers spent time here and made friends because of it. The entertainment team on board are superb!! They are very experienced and it shows. The standard of their shows is incredible. They have already received great feedback and I can see why. The shows are fantastic. We loved festival (it had us up out of our seats dancing), the new Anton de Bec show with their dance couple Roland and Amy, and ‘Steel city’ which left us in stitches. Don’t miss some of their cabarets (Bring him home and Friends of Macintosh) in the Atrium either, as they have their chance to show off their voices in more of a musical theatre/ classical style. We also enjoyed the game shows/quizzes in venue. We usually came straight here after watching the first broadway show. They were always fun and Sophie, one of the hosts, is so bubbly and friendly. We also enjoyed Bar 11. It was somewhere we could all dance together and we particularly enjoyed the nights when The saxophonist played along with ge music. It was lovely to see so many people of all ages dancing together. Please don’t think this is a room for the youngsters. There was plenty of variety when it came to eating. We ate in most restaurants on board and never had a bad meal. There was always so much to choose from. Kota la and especially Surf and Turf are worth paying the extra for. We were also impressed by the range of gluten free food available. One of our party has coeliacs and I have never seen him eat so much. He could not believe the amount that was available and certainly took advantage of all the desserts that were available to him! We had a tour of the bridge and met the captain. I would definitely recommend doing this on board. It was so interesting and Captain Chris is so down to earth- having selfies with our teenager! His announcements with Gavin (the cruise director) used to make us chuckle. We didn’t do any excursions as we enjoyed just wandering around the ports by ourselves. The scenery is breathtaking and it’s worth doing this cruise just for the sail always alone. We had a fantastic week and didn’t want it to end. A great captain, cruise director, showteam and staff. Like my heading says ‘what’s not to like?’ I’d recommend this cruise/ship to anyone. Well done Tui. Read Less

I chose this cruise as it sails from North Shields where I was born and I had always wanted to sail out of the Tyne! The staff and food were amazing. The scenery was everything we expected and the whole thing went very smoothly. Would highly recommend. We did one excursion and then just went ashore and did our own thing. It was very expensive ashore but as we had an all inclusive package it wasn’t a problem as it wasn’t too far back to the boat to eat. The ship also provided buses and tenders to transfer us so it was very quick. We did have to pay for some items on the ship but the staff always told us when we ordered. The two restaurants were amazing 47 and Gallery 47 which served Italian food. The buffet was excellent as well with a huge choice of foods but sometimes found it tricky for us all to sit together as there were 6 of us. Grandson loved the fact he could get chips at any time of day! Read Less

Spent to whole days at sea before we arrived in Iceland. Always wanted to visit Iceland and more of Norway. Was not disappointed with any of it. Our cabin was really good and so clean. Thanks must go to our Cabin Boys, they were superb and really friendly. Our cabin was checked twice every day and our bed turned down each night with 2 chocolates and our news letter for following day. Sometime they made an animal out of towels for us. 1st one was a Turtle, then a dog and an elephant. Last one was great, a money hanging on a coat hanger. Rally appreciated all they did for us. The corridors leading from the cabins to the bar areas was spotless. Even the decks were very clean and well kept. The bar waiters were great when you wanted a coffee/tea or any kind of drink and were always very curteous. Dining room 47 deg was excellent and thanks must go to Jade, Ann and Agnel who are excellent waiters and cannot do enough for you and they are such good fun even when we played a trick on them, they took it all in their stride. If you go on this cruise you must try to occupy tables 126 or thereabouts and you will meet them for yourselves. We would give them 12 out of 10 as expert waiters. The staff when booking in for a meal were also excellent if you wished to have a table for two you got one. If you were willing to share that was also okay with them and they couldn't be more helpful. From the Captain down all the staff were so friendly, helpful and pleasant to meet. The shows were excellent and the entertainers work so hard it is unbelievable and they are very energetic and have lovely singing voices. Would recommend that you take in a show or two. Last but not least from Captain Chris Dodds and his Officers and Reception and shop staff they were all excellent and Captain Chris I am glad to see did get up to dance on our last night at sea. Well done Chris and thank you and all of your staff for a wonderful holiday. Read Less

Just returned from 14 nights on the Marella Discovery, sailing from Newcastle to the Baltic Captials, and where the embarkation ran like clock work. We stayed in an outside cabin on deck 3 in cabin 3070. What a fantastic time we had during our cruise, ship was terrific, dining was extensive you wanted it you can get it. Our best dining was at No:47, can't comment on the pay for dining as we never used it. The entertainment was exceptionally good, all credit to the entertainment crew. Sebby Mercury was terrific, has was a tribute act to Queens Freddie Mercury, approx 45 minutes of non stop singing. 2 guest appearances were made from 2 comedians. There was plenty of activities going on at all times of the day during our cruise, so no time for boredom there. Service from the staff at restaurants / bars / cabin staff was to a high standard. All very friendly and always happy to help in anyway they could. We only did one organised excursion, and that was with ALLA TOURS in St Petersburg. Our guide for the 2 days was a lovely girl called Anya, very knowledgeable she was to. The tour that we undertook was called The Grand Tour, others are available. We travelled in a small group of 14 in a mini bus. On day 1 we had a 3 course dinner at a local hotel, it was excellent. On day two we had a loot to pack in so a packed lunch was also provided for us. Overall the 2 day Grand Tour was well worth the money BUT it is a long 2 days, but don't let that put you off. The visa for visiting Russia is also included in the price you pay. All other locations were done by ourselves, Gothenburg = Tallin = Helsinki = Riga = Rostock = Copenhagen = Oslo. If your a steam train fanatic then we recommend the train journey. Local train to Bad Dobran then board the steam train there to Mollie. This train goes straight through the town centre. Check it out on the web. It's not exspensive. Would I travel this cruise again, although we fully enjoyed our time on board and saw some fantastic places I feel that going back again would spoil it, but that's a personal view. Read Less

I thought you may like some feedback on our recent cruise in June 2018 to the Midnight Sun on TUI new ship Marella Discovery. We have been cruising with Thompson’s (TUI) since 2004 and have booked in excess of ten cruise trips with TUI. This is our second cruise with TUI in 2018. The ship is beautiful, with excellent recreation facilities, entertainment and lounge and bar service. In general, the facilities, bar and lounge staff were excellent. The two main areas that we were not too pleased with was the supervision and service provided in the Gallery 47 Restaurant and Island Restaurant. Maitr'd seldom visible did not help out. We eventually moved away from these facilities of the Gallery 47 and Island Restaurants and used the excellent facilities and food at the Black Rock Grill, Glass House, which was well supervised by Mr Anthony Tapiador, the Head Waiter and his most pleasant staff. I would recommend this excellent facility for your meals. Look forward to our next cruise. Read Less

Major problem on this cruise. Hot water pipes in my cabin ceiling broke and doused my whole cabin in scalding water. It destroyed all the furniture and all my possessions. The water escapes into the corridor entering other cabins and wetting the floors. Everyone was moved to new cabins. Wonderful. Then everyone compensated with £300. Wonderful. Unfortunately everything we had on the cruise was destroyed. ALL of our clothes suitcases and personal stuff. I’m told now, five weeks later that it is TUI company policy to give £300 compensation and nothing more. IT IS DISGRACEFUL that I receive the same as someone with wet shoes, when I have lost everything. Even our passports were destroyed. Unfortunately my insurance is insufficient to cover all that was lost and so I believe TUI should make up the difference at least? I have rated our experience below without taking into consideration the cabin disaster for Read Less

We're just back from Wonders of the Fjords on Discovery 1 today and thought i'd review what I thought. We were first time cruisers travelling with a 7 year old so are able to view from all angles. Cabin: We booked an inside cabin on decks 2/3 and were allocated 2091 towards the rear of the ship. We're not ones for lounging around during the day and tend to use these places as a base or as some would put it 'a sleep, a shower, a S___ and a shave'.We found it to be the perfect size for the 3 of us, 2 singles on the bottom and one bunk folded down. The cases fitted nicely in the wardrobe space so we nicely out the way. Drawer space was more than adequate as was hanging space. Beds were comfortable and 'view from the bridge' on the TV gave us the slightest light at night. The bathroom was simlar to those found in a static caravan which we're used to from previous holidays. Shower was more than powerful enough. can't fault it at all!! 7yo view: 'it had 3 beds and it was awesome, the shower was tickly' Food/Restaurants: First place we visited on board was the snack shack. The food here was cooked to perfection and ideal for a grab and go snack. We also frequented around islands for breakfast, lunch and dinner/tea and found there was always a good selection and somethings we would all eat. We didn't go to the MDR however did pay for a meal at 'Surf n Turf' as it was my birthday whist on board. The £28.95 pp was well worth it. Excellent service and the food was delicious. I recommend the Angus Sirloin steak and the New York Cheesecake. 7 yo view 'the food was brilliant, my favourite was the fruit and crackers and also the pastries in the morning in Islands' Bars/drinks: Service could be slow at times but if theres a queue you can do no more. We're not big alcohol drinkers so mainly stuck to soft drinks. The mocktails were a particular favourite. Good choice for the basic AI package. 7yo view: I liked the fruit smoothie mocktail. Kids Club: Loved that the kids got an invitation to go to kids club on the first sea day. My son loved meeting new people and the activities they did. The girls even managed to teach him to tie his laces, we've been trying for over a year to do that!! He loved every minute, from breakfast club to the evening club activities. It gave us a much needed break and gave him the chance to still be a kid whilst stuck on board with his parents. The Mat Hatters tea at sea was great and he's not stopped talking about Splash! Live!! if you're travelling with kids i'd defo recommend it. Theres no max or min times you can use it as long as your child is registered. 7yo view: It was EPIC!! My favourite was Scout at Splash Live!!! Entertainment: Not everyones cup of tea but we enjoyed the live music (B12's and Taylor Made) and the daily quizzes gave us something to do particularly on the sea days. Not so sure about Nice and Easy, Nice and NOT SO easy would suit it better. Not enough seating in the atrium/ live lounge but not much ease to do with the space. 7 yo view: I liked the quizzes Staff: Not a member of staff from Cabin Stewards to bar staff walked by us without a smile and a morning/evening. The only time I saw misserable faces was when they had to do drill lol!! My son was hi-5'd regularly and everyone said hello to him in passing. 7yo view 'I liked the hi-5s' I think this is pretty much as much as I can review about the ship, yes it shows signs of wear and tear but do would you if you have thousands of people walking round you every year!!. I hope it can help someone to make decisions about cruising with Marella Discovery!! Read Less

First time cruisers and TUI did not disappoint. From embarking at North Shields it was a total pleasure. The ship is still in canny nick and the staff were brilliant. Food was of a high standard in all waited restaurants and buffet did was it said on the tin. Only booked 1 trip with TUI which was very good, the ship dropped us off and made its way to another port while we were taken by bus in land to view some brilliant villages and views. We had really good weather almost all of the time but saying that we would have enjoyed our holiday without the good weather!! We found the holiday very good value for money and had already booked many of our trips before we left from home which saved us a lot. Don't get me wrong the TUI trips are good but we like to set our own pace and not be in a large group. All in all fantastic weeks holiday and we will certainly be taken another's cruise in the future. Read Less

Seen an all inclusive cruise in TUI in Aberdeen and as we enjoyed the previous cruise with Barr head travel we thought we would enjoy this one been all inclusive we surmised we were getting a good deal. NOT. First we were given an inside cabin but paid for an outside had to move the next morning. The Food was cold all the time we were on the ship. The ship was delayed going into 3 ports so we had less time in those city's. The pool was out of order every day bar the very last day and the weather was above 20 c most days. We all came down with bronchitis in the last week.. So we put in a compliant and at first we were offered £100 voucher as compensation we rejected this and e-mailed again. No answer so rang them again. It took 10 minutes to answer the phone then after speaking to someone put back on hold for 30 minutes then was reconnected to the wrong department who could not help us. He asked us to ring the number again and this time it was CLOSED. Worst experience of a cruise and worse experience of a holiday company. Do not use them we are never going to. Read Less

This was a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords with out two sons, which was planned as possibly our last family holiday. it was booked on the basis of value and location. Overall we all really enjoyed our holiday on Magellan, especially the exemplary standard of food and service we received in the restaurant and elsewhere. In particular, I must praise our waiting staff, Roy and Miu, for their attentiveness and their friendly efficient conduct. My one Son, who travelled with us, works in a Michelin listed restaurant and felt that the service they offered would meet the standards expected in his restaurant. Unfortunately, two issues impacted on our enjoyment of the cruise. First, my wife and I were given room 5176. Whenever the boat was under power there was a dreadful noise in this room. Interestingly, when we walked along the corridor this noise completely disappeared a few cabins further forward of us. The level of noise was such that it was almost impossible to sleep. When my wife raised this issue with reception she was told that since the ship was fully booked we would be unable to change cabins. They did give us earplugs, which did enable us to have improved sleep; however, the earplugs gave my wife earache and left me with mild deafness. The level of disturbance that we experienced does mean that we would find it difficult to book with Cruise and Maritime again. Second, on boarding the ship we purchased the All-Inclusive Drinks package for all four of us, including a reduced price package for our older son who does not drink alcohol. Unfortunately, on the first night when our younger son (dob 13 June 1999) attempted to order a drink he was refused. The Maître D’hotel in the restaurant cited that this was because the ship was registered in the Bahamas Bahaman law applied. On the first evening the problem was resolved by my wife signing to give consent for him to drink alcohol. The matter was eventually sorted out by reception on the Sunday evening when my wife showed them the small-print in the advert for the All-Inclusive package, which clearly stated ‘...Offer only available to passengers aged 18+’. Although I appreciate that maritime laws are somewhat complex, the above raises a number of issues. First, it was very disappointing that people in management positions were not fully aware of the terms of the All-Inclusive drinks package. Second, from a simplistic position we had assumed that since the boat was sailing from the UK to Norway, but was actually in a British port when the issue was raised, that the alcohol laws of these countries would apply. Finally, and of major concern to my wife and I as people who have been involved in safeguarding of young people, was the notion of parental consent. Since he was eighteen he no-longer needed to seek our consent for anything that he did. Thus, the consent that my wife gave had no legal basis and the asking of such consent could be construed as an infringement of his rights. Luckily our relationship with our son is very good and asking for consent did not create a problem. However, both of us have been involved with young adults where asking for such consent would erode trust between the parent and child. At a practical level, by the time the issue had been resolved, the continual discussion of this issue whenever he wanted a drink caused my wife and I considerable annoyance and our son embarrassment: two emotions that are not really appropriate on a holiday. The combination of both of the above does mean that Cruise and Maritime will not be particularly high on out list of companies for future cruises. Read Less

Chose this as we had a special anniversary & wanted to try something new. At first we were a bit wary as there is an age demographic in Cruiseville! Actually a pretty good mix & what the hell we were on holiday. We loved everything about it, great food, entertainment was fun and very professional. OK no Adel but they gave us everything & made the trip! Norway spectacular. Service & staff really attentive & helpful. We went "steerage" after all we went for the sights not the room. Absolutely fine, clean & compact, everything we needed. Spent the savings on having fun! Paid our tips in advance & took full advantage of the "drinking package" a wonderful way to "empty ones head" Beats flying any day. Boarding & disembarking were the easiest things, relaxed Chilled. Looking forward to Cruising with Fred again in 2018 The only shame was our Fishing trip was cancelled. Read Less

An e mail dropped into my inbox with an exceptional offer 6 weeks before this cruise & it was the first time I had seen it advertised it just had to be done!! Suzie Quatro, Troggs, Manfreds, Animals, Slade, Big Country, Jam & many more the entertainment was fantastic & future cruises will be a little quiet in comparison. Embarkation in Newcastle was a breeze it took all of 15 minutes which is the fastest ever (this was cruise number 13 & 6 different cruise lines) We were shown straight to our cabin which was lovely we normally have to find it ourselves & our cases were already there. The cabin was spacious & comfortable (6206 superior single inner) Although its called a single It had a queen size bed which was 2 pushed together & space for 2 people it caused much confusion before we sailed as I had seen a photo online with a single with upper bunk!! We had dinner in the Waldorf restaurant & were superbly looked after by James & Aung they went above & beyond & really made us feel special, the food was amazing & among the best that we have had at sea, 5 courses to choose from, well cooked & presented & always hot. The Entertainment was spectacular we haven't stopped talking about it this was a different cruise to normal so can't comment on the usual entertainment. Read Less

Chosen as embarked Newcastle.Embarkation first class suitcases outside cabin on arrival.Stayed in oceanview deck 4 quiet cabin 4116 first time in many years of cruising there was a bath if you had time to wait for it to fill.The cabin was a good size kept very clean with plenty of wardrobe space.No noise from adjacent cabins We chose second sitting the meals where palatable but similar to pub meals the dining time was 8.30 but we always waited til at least 9 to be served on some occasions faulty towers comes to mind.The best meal of the week was a fish buffet which was excellent.Eating in the palm court at breakfast and lunch was very busy and the same choice everyday Entertainment by the cruise team was the best we have seen on any ship energetic and professional west end quality.We are ballroom dancers and did find a small dancefloor with dance hosts sadly the singer of the band kept changeing tempo mid dance and was very slow dancing to prerecorded music was better.There was a variety of entertainment around the ship on an evening. Unfortunately any entertainment during the day is poor and geared at older passengers but on this cruise there was a good mixture of all ages. We visited 2 ports and had a kayak trip outstanding and breathtaking hard work but worth it highly recommended if you are fit led by an excellent guide there is a fully equipped gym with fa bulous views but £5 for a 30 min class is steep . The service from barstaff was a massive let down as there are very few.Olsen seem to have promoted all inclusive drink packages so I assume to save money waiters are few and far between we waited up to 30 mins for drinks and several occasions we gave up waiting pleased we hadn't the package Disembarking was easy as we carried own luggage and we were home within an hour We would travel on the balmoral again but would be prepared by ordering several drinks and carrying a water bottle as there are no drink stations open all day .Compared to their sister ship boudica which we would certainly not travel on again we feel giving them another chance worked but in comparison to Cunard or celebrity they have to raise the bar substantially Read Less

I did not think a holiday could be this good & relaxing. 100% effort from every body, we arrived at Port of Tyne and baggage handlers descended to take our luggage, very easy & simple check in, & of to the ship after a short wait. Our cabin was spotless & the cabin stewardess kept it that way till we left, calling 2 or 3 times a day. The crew were all happy & smiling & this rubbed off onto the passengers, who all seemed to love the cruise. The entertainment was fantastic, especially the Ministry of Rock Show, performed by the Balmoral Show Company, led by Charlie Legg, faultless performance by them all. If I had to fault anything it would be the toast at breakfast, white bread toasted was still white!!! & if that is all I can find to complain about, it shows what a great time we had. Once again Thanks Fred. Read Less

We are 1st time cruisers, family of four, including two older teenage children. Everything went smoothly, journey and embarkation. Lovely welcome on board by staff. All staff were excellent their whole aim was to keep you happy and serve in any way possible. The ship was very comfortable, cleaning was continual, everywhere so nothing was ever dirty or untidy. Rooms were made up twice a day, always clean towels. Cabin Steward Joko was very friendly helpful and pleasant. Ours was an outside cabin on deck 2 with the girls next door. These were not huge but were perfectly comfortable and kept clean and tidy. Food was fabulous we used a combination of the Lido and Meridian restaurants. Food was good in both but particularly in the Meridian Restaurant where we enjoyed excellent service from our waiter Alpin. We had a free upgrade at the point of booking to all inclusive, this was well worth it for a family party. After our evening meal we enjoyed the nightly shows in the Broadway Show Lounge, entertainment was very good and was enjoyed by the whole family. we also enjoyed the other entertainers around the ship performing in different bars and decks at various points throughout the day and night. We enjoyed all our destinations and ports of call. Being an active family we were happy to walk into many of the destinations on our own and found most walk in ports were about 20 mins on foot to get to the main points of interest. We did take a couple of payable shuttle busses in Stockholm and Helsinki as these were a longer distance and also a shorter amount of time was allowed in these two places as it was an early leaving sail time. We found this the only disappointing thing, that that some shore days were not as long as we may have liked. Excellent full day trip in St Pertersburg which included a guide who spoke excellent English, and a very good Russian meal, which we all enjoyed. All in all a good holiday with very good memories to take away. Read Less