This was myself and wife 15th cruise all with Marella and the 4th time on the Dream as it was !! Our favourite ship in the fleet. I’ll keep the review practical many frequent Marbella cruise travellers hopefully get the key points. The positives are its an older ship but has some great venues and bars which makes the personnel touches better than the bigger ships and it proved no different from our previous sailings. The services from the bars and restaurant staff were excellent. The professional entertainment was excellent although some of the best act were too late in the evening. We read on an informative letter in our cabin on arrival that they listen to the cruise feedback reviews. They had decided they would let children use the adult pools which I’m not sure was thought through. We like the lido pool on deck 9 it has a children’s pool but they all used the adult pool. Not supervised by staff and parents and just basic chaos all week. Jumping,pushing,shoving,inflatables the size of a person. Water guns the size of cannons firing all over the deck. We are not stick in the muds we have 3 children who don’t behave in this fashion. Three times we complained to reception and all we got back was they are the same throughout the ship. Ruined the holiday and experience. The sail away party the life and sole of these cruises was ruined by the life safety drill taking place at 10.00 in the evening which is unheard off. The food which was always the stalwart of the Dream has gone backwards!! Repetitive basis offering and the sweet selection was really poor. The Cruise Director spent more time trying to sell upgrades than actually information around the entertainment. The 2 hour flight delay coming and 5 hour delay going back didn’t help either. This is our 2nd Marella cruise this year which hasn’t come anywhere near expectations with delays and standards going backwards.one of the biggest frustrations is trying to get your voice heard. The Tui App on the ship is loaded with questions they want to hear rather than anything they don’t. The questionnaire they send you is just as frustrating and if you criticising too much will not let you complete. Prices going up and standards going down. Read Less

Booked this cruise months in advance, all inclusive was a standard but we decided to pay £50 for a premium all inclusive which was well worth it. From the beginning our embarkation was quick and easy, obviously had to queue but nothing unreasonable. We immediately got settled into our cabin on Deck 7, which was a nice size, with two comfortable single beds, a small sofa and table, a desk with chair and mirror, two wardrobes with a full body mirror on one of the doors and a bathroom with toilet and shower. The bathroom includes a hairdryer which is decent but not very powerful. Our rooms got cleaned every day, with towels changed if needed, staff kindly fold up your clothes and make animals out of the towels which was a very nice gesture. There was a great choice of restaurants, breakfast buffet at either Sirens or Lido is the kind you would expect from any all inclusive package holiday, nice but nothing special. Orien restaurant is the only fancy restaurant which is part of the all inclusive package but the a la carte restaurants only cost about £18 for a three course meal. There is food available throughout the whole day at different restaurants, so if you are ever hungry you can eat either from the buffet or the terrace grill. There was even a late night buffet from 11.30 - 1am. Many different activities to get involved in throughout the ship, including the casino, bingo, late night disco, card games or the broadway lounge and even if you don't fancy any of those things you can always listen to the live music at the Tides Bar or Waters Edge. Every single member of staff on the ship was an absolute sweetheart. Ports are very lovely, but don't feel pressured to book your excursions in advance because you get way more options once you are actually on the ship and you end up meeting people which you would like to go on excursions with anyway. Some of the excursions are not worth the money, so make sure you research carefully what they actually provide for you on the excursion and whether you have any alternative cheaper options. Me and my bestfriend went alone, we are both 18, despite everyone saying that it's a holiday for older people and that we were better of going to a villa in somewhere like Greece like the majority of people our age, we chose to come on the cruise anyway and had an absolutely amazing time. You definitely get your money's worth with the drinks package and the bartenders are always so nice and friendly. We never had a boring moment on that ship and got to meet amazing people, we are already looking to book our next one for next year. We highly recommend a cruise with Marella Dream, no matter what age you are. Read Less

Last minute booking was a little dubious as had sailed with TUI before and was disappointed with the state of the ship (celebration)old and shabby looking.. I needn't have worried as Marella Explorer is stunning launched in May 2018 it is jam packed with all the things you would expect and much much more, beautiful public areas, cabins and large pool area, first class entertainment, show lounge is more like West end theatre and shows are breath taking, nice adult only deck to escape the lively pool area if needed, plenty of choice of food which was amazing. Had last meal at Kora Li Asian infusion restaurant, paid extra but so worth it, food, presentation and service were excellent. All the staff were verý friendly, welcoming and helpful, amazing cruise, amazing ship, would highly recommended. Fantastic value for money. Would definitely book with Marella again. My only criticism would be the high prices in the on board Champneys spa. Read Less

It was our 1st cruise and we thought it was a great experience the entertainment staff catering bar staff cabin staff highly recommended would do it again .would recommend it to other 1st time cruisers as well only thing we didnt like was that you was unable to watch england games in the world cup tournament and to have wifi would be rather expensive the captains announcements were very clear and accurate information. My wife unfortunately broke her ankle while we were in rome and the medical staff were great and was Amanda of entertainment who came with us to th hospital while we docked in palermos spain also the very kind taxi drivers who took great care with us .I travelled with my with and mother in law and none of us had been on a cruise before we would do it again one year liked it very much. Read Less

I have always enjoyed Thomsons cruises and wanted to have a Wedding Blessingfor my 15th annivesary onboard. This was an ideal opportunity to see if Marella cruises were as good as Thomsons. Pleased to say every bit as good. Yes she is an old ship but so much nicer than the floating resorts of other cruise lines. A lovely ship with a wrap round promenade deck, two good sized pools and great restaurants. Excellent food choices, varied menus and great service. I had booked three cabins, one outside plus, one single and one disabled. A minor problem in the cabin was resolved immediately. All cabins were spotless, mine had a bath with two powerful showers over. There was plenty of wardrobe space and tea and coffee facilities in the cabin. A stable ship, I never felt any movement even in rough weather. Captain Richard, Juliana and Lara helped to.make my Blessing very special and I was treated as a VIP all week. Staff in all areas very helpful and polite. The entertainment team work very hard, the CanCan was superb However, I wish the singers would not shout. They wear head mike so don't need to shout. I loved my holiday. Read Less

We initially booked this cruise last minute needing a well deserved break, we also wanted an all inclusive option and this cruise did not fail to meet all our requirements. We had read earlier reviews about noise levels in the cabin but have to say we never noticed this and our cabin was large, comfortable and immaculately clean Staff were out of this world - could not do enough for you, always very pleasant and everyone from the Captain to the waiter were very approachable and likeable. Food was excellent. Entertainment - what can I say, S T R U M J A M they could sing the "song book" very entertaining excellent repertoire and very entertaining. Unfortunately, we learned that the ship is being decommissioned hopefully the best of the cruise and STRUM JAM will secure roles on other Mirella ships, they deserve it. It is true what they say a businesses best asset are its people and this is so true on Mirella Spirit Read Less

This was my second cruise with Thomson, first the Dream 5 years ago and I took some persuading to go on this and I really did not want to leave the ship! Got to the ship at about 11.30am, embarkation was smooth and easy going. Ship compared to the Dream is amazing, we had chosen out aft cabin before we left and were not at all disappointed with this, having our 17 year old son with us there was more than enough room for us all. Bags emptied and put away and nothing left lying. Lots of little cubby holes to stash everything. Nice touch of the Clarins toiletries in the bathroom, kettle and coffee machine also. Sooooooooooooo much to eat and drink, we did not pay the extra to visit the two paying eateries as there was lots of choice. Drinks..........to much. lol There was always something going on whether it be a quiz, or film under the stars, in the show lounge or live music. There was a climbing wall, putting, an escape room, childrens clubs, swimming pools, hot tubs. The ports we stopped off at were really good, we did two trips one to Herculaneum and to Monaco. I would highly recommend this ship to anyone. During the cruise we were docked beside far far larger ships and I just hated the look of them as they just looked to me like floating flats. Albeit I have not been on one and it may be different. Read Less

After reading some of the reviews, we were a bit worried we had booked the wrong ship, well we had a wonderful surprise, everything on this ship was wonderful. The staff were so friendly and helpful, from cabin staff through to restaurant staff everyone was very polite, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. This was our first cruise with TUI and we will most defiantly be sailing with them again. We had the drinks package which was well worth the money, we found the food superb, always some thing to eat 24 hours if you wanted it. Our cabin was a inside cabin with additional space on deck 4, we slept soundly every single night and woke up fully refreshed every morning. The cabin was quite spacious, we didn't feel claustrophobic at all, the cabin staff kept the cabin spotlessly clean, coming in twice a day to check it out. I would recommend this cruise Mediterranean Melody to anyone, visiting Corsica, Florence & Pisa, Monte Carlo & Monaco, Marseille and Barcelona. Thank you TUI for a unforgettable holiday and birthday. Read Less

A friend booked the cruise and her companion dropped out so I took that place. Lots of interesting ports of call after boarding in Majorca: Cartagena Spain, Gibraltar, Las Palmas Gran Canaria (6 days at sea crossing the Atlantic), Antigua, St Maarten, St Kitts, St Lucia, Barbados in the Caribbean. The newly refurbished ship, albeit 21 years old and ex-Royal Caribbean, was very pleasant, not too large to make finding one's way around difficult. The Atrium refit is particularly impressive, also the Venue entertainment area. Main negative was the Atlantic crossing. For me, 6 days at sea was too long. There were things to do if you like quizzes, bingo, dance classes etc, and plenty of entertainment to help pass the time. On the sunny days there was the usual towel saving of sunbeds, by 7am there wasn't a sunbed to be had. The advertised timing by the crew and removal of towels after 45 mins if no one there, never happened. In the main the crew were very good, attentive, polite and well trained except the reception, where wrong information was given a couple of times and on occasions I was unable to get a reply when calling from the cabin. The IT support was also slightly lacking. I was glad to be on All Inclusive as the cost of drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, was on a par with London prices. The food was good and it was nice to have the choice of buffet or waiter service in the restaurants. The entertainment was very good, some professional acts, the remainder being the cruise show team. An excellent band, Protege, who played soul, R&B, Motown. Also worth a mention are the show dance couple and the operatic duo. Both embarkation and disembarkation were well organised and relatively stress free. Enjoyed all the shore excursions, and would recommend booking them in advance, saving queuing and possible disappointment if fully booked once you are onboard. Read Less

Chose this as the newest ship in the fleet and decided to treat ourselves after 11 years cruising with Thomson. We had heard good things but when we arrived- it was a very different time. The main dining restaurant was a female who was sharp, rude and downright nasty. One evening we had to pay for a meal because once again we were kept waiting until after 9pm for dinner! There were food waiters but no wine waiters. We like a sherry before a meal - usually no problem - on this cruise we NEVER received one because no-one knew what is was! One evening the waiter brought us port instead and he was so pleased we didn't have the heart to tell him the truth - no, saving money on wine waiters is NOT a good idea. I did complain about the above and more and received a lovely letter saying how good we were spending the time to let them know our problems! We were not offered a penny - even for the meal we HAD to purchase because of incompetent restaurant staff. Meanwhile the upstairs Italian restaurant was. Instantly 25 - 75% occupied - absolutely bizarre. The ship - well she was stunning. But for the first time ever (before and after this disaster) the crew were a real letdown. No smiles, no conversation, no acknowledgement that we were even alive except the cabin Stewart - wonderful chap. Never sat in a bar area and was approached by crew to get us a drink - not once in 14 days. When I went to reception and said I wanted to complain - she pulled a sheet of A4 from the printer and gave it to me, going on to the next passenger. I now understand that the crew changed between Caribbean cruise and ours - what pity. We visited the a la carte restaurant at the end of week 1 - fantastic. Treated by people who SMILED, who TALKED, who wanted us to have a good time! Fantastic. If we had the money and went on evening 1 - we would have gone EVERY evening. The crew, happy, smiling, accommodating crew MAKE our cruise every year. The Discovery was blighted by the worst. The following year we went on the Majesty - cruising at its best! Thanks for that! Please take this feedback in the spirit in which it was sent - making sure your crew are picked for there ability to care rather than those you can get most cheaply. Not sure about start date - just wanted to right a review after being 'thanked' for sending a 6/7 A4 complaint - clearly that just didn't mean anything. Read Less

There were three generations travelling from 6 to 75, Thomsons offer something for every generation in a relaxed atmosphere with lots of choices. This was our second Thomsons cruise and we couldn't fault it. If you would enjoy a relaxed yet itinerary packed holiday then try cruising with thomsons, everything except excursions are included however you can easily see and enjoy every destination without having to buy any excursions, they give you maps and details for you to make your own way around which is great fun. I've cruised on Celebrity which was wonderful, however as a mum to a six year old daughter I would chose Thomsons every time, they offer fabulous entertainment and a great kids club, lovely food and you can choose to dress up or dress down. The time at sea is really just one day, with your first day in Palma and 5 ports of call. Ajeccio was great you can take an open top tour bus within a short walk of the ship, Same with Barcelona; in Livorno you can take the bus to the train station then an hours train to Florence or 20 minutes to Pisa. In St Raphael you can take a train to Cannes or just enjoy the beautiful beaches and local markets, there is really no need to travel anywhere else. Read Less

I have cruised with Thomson many times in the past and decided to try the Discovery as it is new to Thomson. Actually it is not Thomson but the first trial of a new concept with little evidence of Thomson branding. For seasoned Thomson cruisers it might be best to explain what you don't get! There are no baked Alaska parades or singing waiters and no formal night as such. They have a dress to impress night which had a good number of dinner jackets in evidence etc. Be warned that if you would be horrified with the next table being dressed in evening casual this ship might not be for you. The ship has been extensively refurbished, mainly in the public areas but I understand all the carpets were renewed. The heart of the ship is the atrium which goes from deck 4 all the way to deck 9 with 2 panoramic lifts to deck 11 which has the Turf and Surf and Kora La cover charge restaurants and Bar11 which is a cocktail bar morphing into a disco as the evening goes on. The Live room has entertainment and erratic aircon plus a small casino without a roulette table. I managed to play my favourite blackjack every night though. The venue is what I would call the 'Butlin Bar' with game shows and quizzes and bingo. at least this is kept all in one place. There is no quiet lounge playing classical music but if you don't mind the seating there is always the Glasshouse covered pool which is nice and quiet and has a bar and piped music. It is air conditioned and they don't open the roof. I enjoyed the restaurants but found the Islands buffet layout confusing at first. I now understand that the idea is you don't have to queue at those traditional linear serveries, the new concept is better IMO I only ate there twice in the evening and the food was good with no problem finding a seat. I ate several times in 47 degrees and Gallery 47 and enjoyed the food in both. In 47 Degrees the food was international cuisine with not much evidence of meat and two veg. there were always available options of chicken or salmon with a choice of veg/ Gallery 47 is an Italian restaurant with a rotating menu with lots of choice. I ate there 4 times and enjoyed each time. You start with a dish of antipasti then there are starters followed by a choice of several pasta dishes of 'traditional' Italian fare. Then the dessert, superb IMO. I had a light lunch in the Glasshouse some days. One roast meat choice, excellent pork shoulder and beef with an extensive salad selection and or chips!. They make up the salad for you, very hygienic.The is a small range of cakes and cookies as well. i ate there in the evening as well were there is a double sided menu. One side is free with sharing platters, a choice of tapas and thin dough pizzas. The pay side has antipasti, bread rolls, a choice of meats plus veggie on hot lava rock plus sides followed by dessert, few, i was stuffed. The snack shack is good with everything apparently freshly made, great for a swift sausages in bun as you are passing. I had the drinks package and thought it good with an extensive range of free drinks. there was a good choice of wines by the glass, all quite drinkable. I had early evening drinks in Bar11, try the infused vodka cocktails or even a smoked cocktail, with real smoke. I had some excellent service from the crew but it was noticeable that some of them looked confused. They just need time to settle down and learn to work as a team, This will improve as the season goes on. I travelled as a solo cruiser and was impressed by the social programme offered if you wanted it. All organised by the delightful Adeliene. we had coffee mornings on sea days and in the fortnight 2 hosted lunches. 4 hosted dinners, 2 hosted pre dinner drinks, all with free drinks. The 4 dinners were followed by well located reserved seats in the theatre. I like this new TUI concept even if I am not quite sure what it is and when the expected teething troubles are sorted would probably give it 5 stars. I have already booked for next year. Read Less

As an engineer I did expect some hiccups with this cruise, its just like buying a second hand car the previous owner only tells you about the obvious problems, this in mind this was the 5th cruise my wife and I have had all with Thomson's. I am a fussy eater so I like the buffet restaurant where I see and choose what goes on my plate and I found the Island Restaurant very good although i must say that unlike the Spirit and Celebration which has 2 serving areas depending whether you enter from port or starboard you walk round and have the starters and main course food in front of you in the Islands you have to go from one to the other food areas but the food was excellent and the staff very good and helpful. The entertainment team under Paul are very talented with very good stage shows while the singers where also very good along with dance team Amy and Adam. The cabin stewards Nilesh and Dita ensured that cabin was kept very well and seen them mornings and evenings on deck 7, deluxe balcony rooms as I read in one other review the only fault if there was one it was the clingy shower curtain. While ordering drinks in the Broadway lounge waiting on the shows to start, Hazel not only got our drinks but made us feel as a family while entertaining everyone in her centre back area of seating area she was terrific, the only thing I found funny with the drinks package Coke, Sprite and Irn-Bru you had to pay 0.95 pence a can, no package it would be between £1.80-£1.90, where just before I went on the cruise I got 48 cans from Morrisons store for £10.00 As for Captain John, a very approachable and easy to talk with person who routinely went round the ship talking to people and through his actions the new people on his staff will only give a better than ever service to us when we are on holiday. Richard the general manager you would at first think that he and the captain worked together for years as he also went round and spoke to people but this is not the case, as I said this was our 5th cruise but the first to have not only contact with the crew you would expect to see but the first to have this contact with those in charge. The excursions my wife and I went on 9 days out of 10, were fantastic the guides were full of information and the lassies on broad were very helpful with any quires and the show on the Sunday mornings about the next weeks excursions were very helpful. Read Less

This was my first cruise and this review is for solo passengers, this is a budget cruise, so yes the ship is looking a bit tired and in need of a refit, even through you will pay a considerable supplement for your cabin, don,t expect a standard cabin, you get a very small single inside cabin that they do not show on the web site. On average they only get approximately 15 solo passengers out of 1500 passengers per cruise, so quite difficult to get a compatible group together. Passengers mainly consist of couples, groups and families, and I found that while they were willing to have a brief chat, they were not interested in arranging to meet for evening events or going on shore excursions together etc: which is understandable from their perspective. The ship and facilities are okay for this type of cruise and are value for money if traveling as a couple or more but not so much as a solo passenger due to the supplement. This small very tired looking inside cabin is not a standard cabin as shown on the Thomson web site, it only has one small single bed along the back wall with another bunk type bed folded on the side wall, it is poorly lit, torn wallpaper, dirty marks, old type tv, only one electric plug, incomplete bathroom taps and in general poor condition, needing a complete refit. The only good thing about it was the Cabin Stewart Kirk who was excellent. The food in the Oasis Restaurant was great, but the food in the Island and Beachcomber Restaurants could be hit and miss, with the salad items always fresh but the cooked items were sometimes just about warm, tasteless and dry. The one high quality aspect of this cruise is the crew, which are excellent and do whatever they can to make your holiday a happy event. When looking at all the other comments regarding this cruise, take 50% from each and its about right. Read Less