The best Marella cruises for 2027 are the new Ionian Shores sailing from Dubrovnik on adults-only Marella Discovery 2, the Adriatic Explorer from Corfu, the Spanish itineraries from Malaga on Marella Explorer 2 and the classic Palma round trips in summer, plus Caribbean and Canary Islands fly-cruises in the winter months. Every Marella cruise for 2027 is all-inclusive, with flights from UK regional airports, drinks and tips built into the fare.
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Below you will find each ship’s 2027 base, the standout itineraries, a month-by-month guide to where Marella sails and when, and the repositioning cruises worth knowing about. All details reflect the programmes announced by Marella up to October 2026.
Marella cruises 2027 at a glance
Marella runs five ships, all bought second-hand and refitted for British passengers. In 2027 each ship spends the summer based at a Mediterranean homeport and the winter in either the Canaries or the Caribbean. Here is where you will find them.
| Ship | Winter 2026/27 base | Summer 2027 base | Winter 2027/28 base | Adults-only? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marella Discovery | La Romana, Dominican Republic | Palma, Majorca | La Romana, then Palma from March 2028 | No |
| Marella Discovery 2 | Canary Islands, then Malaga from March 2027 | Dubrovnik, Croatia (from 6 May) | Tenerife and Gran Canaria, then Malaga | Yes in summer 2027, permanently from winter 2027/28 |
| Marella Explorer | Tenerife and Gran Canaria | Corfu, Greece | Tenerife and Gran Canaria | No |
| Marella Explorer 2 | Barbados | Malaga, Spain (from 12 May) | Barbados | Yes |
| Marella Voyager | Barbados | Palma, Majorca | Barbados | No |
If you are still deciding between ships, our guide to Marella’s Western and Eastern Mediterranean cruises explains how the two halves of the summer programme differ in pace, ports and weather.
The best Marella cruises for summer 2027
Most summer 2027 Marella cruises are seven nights, with the first sailings leaving in early May. These are the itineraries that stand out this year.
Ionian Shores from Dubrovnik (Marella Discovery 2)
The headline newcomer for 2027. Marella Discovery 2 moves to Dubrovnik for its first summer there, sailing adults-only. Ionian Shores adds two ports Marella has never called at before: Sarandë on the Albanian Riviera, close to the ruins of Butrint, and Syracuse in Sicily, with its Greek theatre and the old island quarter of Ortigia. Fares have been advertised from around £1,930 per person. Discovery 2 alternates this with Greek Mystique, a Greek islands route, and Sail Three Seas, which takes in the Adriatic, the Aegean and the wider Mediterranean.
Adriatic Explorer from Corfu (Marella Explorer)
A strong choice if you want variety in a single week. The 7 May 2027 departure sails from Corfu to Koper in Slovenia, Zadar in Croatia, Ancona on Italy’s Adriatic coast, Dubrovnik and Kotor in Montenegro, with one sea day to settle in. Corfu is also a popular Cruise and Stay base if you want a beach week before or after.
Highlights of the Mediterranean from Palma (Marella Discovery)
The classic first Marella cruise. From Palma, the week takes in Ajaccio in Corsica, Civitavecchia for Rome, Livorno for Florence and Pisa, Sanremo on the Italian Riviera and Barcelona. It packs in a lot of big-name sights, so pace yourself with the excursions. Early May departures have been advertised from about £1,170 per person.
Spirit of Spain and Spanish Sights from Malaga (Marella Explorer 2)
Marella Explorer 2 returns to Malaga for the first time in nearly a decade, and it stays adults-only. Spirit of Spain brings back Mahón in Menorca, one of the Mediterranean’s most attractive natural harbours, while Spanish Sights revisits Castellón, the gateway to Valencia’s quieter northern coast. Malaga itself is an easy, short flight from most of the UK, which makes these good weeks for shoulder-season sunshine.
Treasures of the Mediterranean from Palma (Marella Voyager)
Marella Voyager, the largest ship in the fleet, shares Palma with Marella Discovery. Pairing two ships at one homeport gives you more choice of departure days and flights from regional airports. Check the exact ports for your date, because Palma itineraries are rotated across the season.
Marella cruises 2027 month by month
The old way of planning a Marella holiday was to pick a month first. That still works well, because each month of 2027 has a clear best fit.
| Month | Where Marella sails | Best pick |
|---|---|---|
| January and February | Caribbean from Barbados and La Romana; Canary Islands | A 14-night Caribbean fly-cruise for guaranteed warmth, or a Canaries week for shorter flights |
| March and April | Last Caribbean and Canaries sailings; ships reposition to Europe; Discovery 2 based in Malaga | A repositioning cruise for extra sea days and lower prices |
| May | Summer season starts in Palma, Corfu, Dubrovnik and Malaga | Highlights of the Mediterranean or Adriatic Explorer before school holidays push fares up |
| June | Full Mediterranean programme | Ionian Shores, with long days and warm but not scorching weather |
| July and August | Peak summer in all homeports | Palma or Corfu sailings for families; adults-only ships if you want a quieter week |
| September and October | Late summer in the Med; ships begin moving south | Spirit of Spain or a Greek islands week, with warm seas and fewer children |
| November | Winter 2027/28 starts in the Canaries and Caribbean | Atlantic Fusion on Marella Discovery 2 |
| December | Canaries and Caribbean | A Canarian Christmas on Marella Explorer, departing 23 December 2027 |
Fancy more than a week? Several homeports let you combine back-to-back itineraries, and our guide to Marella’s two-week cruises explains when a 14-night trip is better value than two separate holidays.
Marella cruises 2027 in the Caribbean and Canaries
The first months of 2027 fall in Marella’s winter 2026/27 season. Marella Explorer 2 (adults-only) and Marella Voyager are based in Barbados. Their routes include Cocktails and Coconuts, which visits Antigua, St Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, St Kitts and Martinique, and Exotic Islands, which heads south to St Lucia, Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire and Grenada. Marella Discovery sails from La Romana in the Dominican Republic until March 2027. TUI has advertised 14-night Caribbean sailings from about £1,703 per person.
Closer to home, Marella Explorer sails Canary Islands itineraries from Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and Marella Discovery 2 runs from the Canaries until March 2027 before moving to Malaga. The Canaries are a four-hour flight or so from most UK airports, so they suit anyone who wants winter sun without a long-haul trip.
Winter 2027/28: what’s new later in the year
From November 2027, Marella’s winter 2027/28 programme takes over. These are the changes to know about:
- Marella Discovery 2 goes permanently adults-only. Its former children’s spaces become a speakeasy, an escape room, a karaoke room and an arts and crafts area.
- Atlantic Fusion is new. This seven-night round trip from Gran Canaria visits Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma and Agadir in Morocco.
- Six homeports. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma, La Romana and Barbados, with Cruise and Stay hotels at each.
- Suite Service Max across the fleet. Guests in Royal, Voyager and Executive Suites get in-suite breakfast, priority boarding, an internet allowance and other extras.
Marella repositioning cruises 2027
Repositioning cruises happen when a ship moves between its summer and winter bases. They usually have more sea days and unusual ports, and they often cost less per night than a standard week. In 2027 these are the ones to watch:
- Spring moves to Europe (March to May). Marella Discovery leaves La Romana for Palma in March 2027, and the Barbados ships cross back to the Mediterranean ahead of their May starts.
- Canarian Collection 2 (5 to 8 nights). Marella Discovery 2 sails from Malaga via Gibraltar and an overnight in Funchal, Madeira, to La Palma, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
- Voyage to the Tropics (13 or 14 nights). A transatlantic from Malaga via Gibraltar, with eight sea days, to Antigua, St Kitts, St Maarten, the British Virgin Islands and La Romana.
Repositioning sailings are one-way, so flights home leave from a different airport. Check the flight details carefully when you compare prices.
How to choose and book your Marella cruise for 2027
A few practical points will help you pick the right sailing:
- Flights are part of the package. TUI offers Cruise and Stay departures from 21 airports across the UK and Ireland for summer 2027. Pick a homeport your local airport serves on the day you want.
- Drinks and tips are already in the fare. You can upgrade to Premium All Inclusive for branded spirits and coffee-shop drinks.
- Adults-only or family ship? Discovery 2 and Explorer 2 suit couples and groups of friends. Discovery, Explorer and Voyager are the family ships. Ship sizes are fairly similar, at roughly 69,000 to 77,000 gross tons, so the atmosphere matters more than the hardware.
- Book early for school holidays. Inside cabins on July and August Palma sailings tend to be the first to go up in price.
- Watch for offers. Our round-up of cruise deals for 2027 is a good place to compare Marella’s offers with other lines.
Whichever you choose, a Marella cruise in 2027 gives you a wide spread of homeports, the new ports of Sarandë and Syracuse, and a clear choice between family ships and adults-only ships. Confirm current fares and itineraries on the official Marella Cruises site before you book.
If you’re tempted by a festive sailing, our guide to Christmas cruises and their alternatives covers pre-Christmas, markets and New Year options.
FAQs
Can you book Marella cruises for 2027 yet?
Yes. Summer 2027 sailings went on sale in October 2025 and the winter 2027/28 programme opened on 2 July 2026, so the whole of 2027 is bookable through TUI and cruise agents.
Which Marella ships are adults-only in 2027?
Marella Explorer 2 is the line’s established adults-only ship. Marella Discovery 2 sails adults-only for summer 2027 from Dubrovnik and becomes permanently adults-only from the winter 2027/28 season.
How much does a Marella cruise cost in 2027?
Seven-night summer 2027 Mediterranean sailings have been advertised from roughly £1,170 to £1,600 per person for an inside cabin, including flights, drinks and tips. Ionian Shores starts from about £1,930, and 14-night Caribbean fly-cruises from around £1,700. Prices move with demand, so treat these as a guide.
Do Marella cruises sail from Southampton in 2027?
The announced 2027 programme is built around overseas homeports such as Palma, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Malaga, the Canary Islands, Barbados and La Romana, with flights from UK and Irish regional airports. Check TUI for any one-off sailings before assuming a UK departure.
What are Marella’s repositioning cruises in 2027?
The main ones are the spring moves from the Canaries and Caribbean back to Europe and the autumn moves the other way, including the 5 to 8-night Canarian Collection 2 from Malaga and the 13 and 14-night Voyage to the Tropics transatlantic from Malaga to the Caribbean.