On the 13th of February 2025 we set sail on the Marella Voyager. Our last cruise was with P&O ten years ago. The online reviews on the Marella Cruises are mixed but after being on one of them I can confirm they are not that bad.
Yes they don’t have the fancy slides and it may not big or brand new ship however the Marella Voyager worked fine for us for the week. It went to the Eastern ports we wanted to visit and was at the time we wanted. The staff were friendly and made our experience great.
We went on the Taste of Tropics route, which was a week long cruise. With limited time we wanted an Eastern Caribbean Cruise and a package that would enable us to fly direct to one of the Islands and start the cruise. The two available for us were P&O and TUI Cruises. There are several other cruises that start from America but then you have to apply for Esta, pass immigration in Miami or Fort Lauderdale and wait around which would eat into our time.
We flew directly from Birmingham to Barbados and got the ship from there to explore six East Caribbean Islands. Shania at the local TUI Store in Leicester booked the Marella Package for us and advised us on cabins etc. The only extra we paid for was to have the cabins to be on Deck 9/10 cabins.
We never paid for seats on the plane and our allocated seats were behind each other, with the exception of my sister and her family who were in a row together. On the plane there and back many passengers were complaining saying they paid for seats but did not get the ones they wanted.
The food on board the TUI flight to and from Birmingham was ok going but coming back it was dreadful. On board you get 2-3 complimentary drinks, a main meal and a snack. The Birmingham airport check in was smooth and there were no queues.
Marella Voyager Reviews
Based on our one week visit, here are the pros and cons of the Marella Voyager:
Positive of the Marella Voyager Caribbean Cruise
- It is all inclusive and there is a good selection for the non premium drinks. The premium package costs £99 pp for the week and gives you access to the Coffee Port Lavazza drinks and all the drinks. We found what we had adequate and were able to work with what was available on the all inclusive. E.g. the premium package allows you to have a fancy Mudslide. We got Baileys and own brand coffee liquor and combined the two ourselves. There was ample beer available on the normal package including Sol, Carlsberg, Guinness, Heineken and Kronenbourg. If you want anything from the premium range you can always pay a supplement of around £3.95 instead of the weekly charge
- There were 3 rooms for children, ranging from younger kids to older kids. My nephews liked the Gamers room because it had arcade machines and X Boxes in there. They have a cinema room too
- There is ample food through out the day and it is all inclusive. Whether you fancy a fresh pizza or salad or chicken wings and seasoned fries, there is enough to choose from. There are two table service restaurants that
- The kitchen concept is a great idea for hygiene and food wastage. It is a buffet style eating area with little sections for each cuisine however staff serve you.
- The staff on board were helpful and always at hand. Unlike some of the bigger ships, the staff to guest ratio was better. Marella pride themselves in this
- The inside cabins were a reasonable size and there is a lot of storage space. One of the walls I magnetic too and you can take your own magnetic hooks if you want more hanging space. Compared to the P&O ship we went on 10 years ago the bathroom was bigger and had space. The room also has a safe.
- There is ample of gym equipment if you like to work out. Classes like pilates and cycling are chargeable and cost £7.
- They have a good spa area which is chargeable. You can have treatments too and we had the best massage we have ever had.
- There was entertainment for all ages and the shows in the main broadway lounge were maximum and hour. There was entertainment by the deck and in all the other bars too
- The sun beds are monitored during the day. If the bed is unoccupied for 45 minutes you get a ticket
- There are 2 small pools and 3 whirlpools
Negatives of the Marella Cruises
- There are only 2 outdoor showers. On check out day you can have a room for 20 minutes to change and have a shower however it is on a first come first serve basis and the queue is long. The toilets were getting crowded with people trying to change and freshen up on check out day
- The pool area can get very busy on sea days and the two pools are not that big either. 10 people mades the pool feel crowded.
- The rooms for a family of four is very crowded because of the additional bunk beds however the room is not any bigger than the standard room
- Toiletries in the room are basic – there is soap and one all in one shower gel. It is better to take your own
- In the evenings, especially between 7-9pm, it is not that easy to get a table in the bars (art house, squid & anchor, flutes) especially if there is entertainment
Marella Voyager Deck Plan
For photos of the whole deck, click here for the TUI information.
DECK 3: This is the gangway and the exit and entrance to the ship when on port. Your cruise cards are checked here and you go through security. It is quick and stress free.
DECK 4: This has cabins and the medical centre
DECK 5: Here you can find Vista, Latitude 53, The Atrium, Reception desk and Flutes bar. There are also some cabins on here.
DECK 6: Latitude 53 and Flutes is on this floor too. You can find the Arts house here, Shuffle board area, Gamer Zone, Coffee port,Cinema and the Broadway Show Lounge . The photo studio is here too.
DECK 7: Another cabin free deck like Deck 6. This is where you can find Squid & Anchor, Platter, Surf & Turf Steakhouse, Kora La, Aperetif, The Broad Street Shops and the higher level of the Broadway Show Lounge
DECK 8:The speak easy bar Exchange is located here. Look for the telephone booths. Other than that there are just cabins here.
DECK 9: The Mini Club is located on here along with cabins. This is where we were. Cabin 9037, 9041 and 9089.
DECK 10 : This is a cabin only deck.
DECK 11: Where most the All inclusive eateries are. Nonna’s, Abuelo, Summer House, Kitchens and Snack Shack are all here. The spa and pool is here too.
DECK 12: There is a jogging track on here which is great in the mornings. The gym is located on here along with the Electric Rooms, Casino and Hideout. The Shack, Mini Golf and Netted Sports Court is on here too.
Marella Voyager Restaurants and Bars
Here is the list of the restaurants and bars on the Marella Voyager.
restaurants INCLUDED IN the ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGES ON THE MARELLA VOYAGER
- The Kitchens – The main restaurant which is buffet style however not self service. You get served by the staff. It is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and late night snacks.
- Abuela’s – Mexican restaurant serving nachos, burritos and enchiladas
- Nonna’s – Pizza and pasta restaurant
- Snack Shack – Hot pool snacks and grab and go salads, fruit and sandwiches
- Vista’s – Table service sit down restaurant which is attached to Latitude 53. This serves dinner and is smart casual. The menu looked similar for dinner every night. We only went once
- Latitude 53 – Main table service sit down restaurant open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and is smart casual. The menu changes for dinner.
RESTAURANTS THAT CHARGE A SURCHARGE ON MARELLA VOYAGER
- Platter – Wine and Deli restaurant , Sharing charcuterie boards and wine pairing ( counter top style)
- Surf & Turf – Steak & Seafood Grill
- Silver Fork -Contemporary British Restaurant
- Kora La – Pan Asian Restaurant
- Coffee Port – This is for cakes
BARS ON THE MARELLA VOYAGER
- The Summer House: This is perfect for when you want a quiet drink and want to chill out. It has a retractable roof and has an open area too that is on the back of the ship. Drinks are served in glassware if you are staying there. Live entertainment available at certain times.
- Squid & Anchor: This is set up like a British pub and drinks are served in glassware. A lot of quizzes are held here
- The Shack: Above the pool deck, here the drinks are served in plasticware. It is also a common area with smokers
- Deck/Pool Bar: This is by the pool deck. There is waiter service too by the pool deck and they get their drinks from here. It is served in plastic wear
- Flutes: The champagne bar that has cosy seating areas. Drinks are served in glassware. Live music available at certain times
- The Arts House: A smart casual bar with a wide variety of drinks served in glassware. Live music available at certain times.
- The Exchange: Adults only Gatsby themed bar. This is open once a week to go for free. We went on the Saturday. Normally this is a ticketed bar and is also known as the Secret Bar / Speakeasy Bar. The free drinks are very limited here. Most have a surcharge of around £3.95 (or are free for premium customers)
- Electric Rooms Bar: Adults only bar attached to the casino. This also turns into a night club which has silent discos.
- Aperitif: This is a wine and cocktail bar and similar to The Exchange the items on the menu all had a surcharge
- Atrium Bar: This is by the reception and great for a low key drink
- Coffee Port: If you are on a premium package all coffee and teas are free from here. It is a chilled area where they have some day time activities and a few board games
What else is on the Marella Voyager Ship
As well as the 952 Cabins and several eateries and bars the Voyager has the following:
- Cinema
- Games Room
- Hide out club for older kids
- Mini Kids Club
- Spa & Gym
- Broadway Show Lounge
- Mini Golf and Netted Sports area
- Night Club with silent disco
- Speak easy bar, the Exchange
Marella Voyager Itinerary
Our one week itinerary on the Marella Voyager was as follows:
| DATE | PORT | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 13/02/2025 | Fly Birmingham to Barbados and get ship from Bridgetown | The flight arrived in Barbados at 1420pm and we got on the ship at 1605 after security/immigration |
| Friday 14/02/2025 | Sea Day | A sea day for the ship to get from Barbados to Guadeloupe |
| Saturday 15/02/2025 | Pointe a Pitre – Guadeloupe | Arrive at the port at 8am. Leave port between 530-630pm (varies) |
| Sunday 16/02/2025 | Castries – St Lucia | Arrive at the port at 8am. Leave port between 530-630pm (varies) |
| Monday 17/02/2025 | Kingstown – St Vincent & the Grenadines | Arrive at the port at 8am. Leave port between 530-630pm (varies) |
| Tuesday 18/02/2025 | St George’s – Grenada | Arrive at the port at 8am. Leave port between 530-630pm (varies) |
| Wednesday 19/02/2025 | Scarborough – Tobago | Arrive at the port at 8am. Leave port between 530-630pm (varies). Leave the checked in luggage outside the cabin with all the tags by 2 a.m the following morning. |
| Thursday 20/02/2025 | Bridgetown – Barbados | Leave the cabin by 8 a.m, completed immigration at time slot allocated and leave the ship to the airport at 1315 |
WHAT WE DID AT EACH CARIBBEAN PORT ON THE MARELLA CRUISE 2025
We did not book any excursions beforehand. None of the TUI ones appealed to us. We were a party of 8, age ranging from 6 to 70 years. We made sure we were back on the ship by 3pm to account for any delays when exploring the islands. If you book your own excursions and are late, the ship does not wait for you and your insurance generally does not cover you. We never had any issues because all the islands have plenty of taxis. Taxis were reliable too and were there to take us back at the time we gave them.
All the ports were walking distance from the ship. The ports all have similar shops and you normally get many cruise passengers there because of the free wifi.
The ports are not short of taxi drivers or vendors trying to sell you excursions. All the taxi’s we got were from the main port and were clearly labelled. Some took money up front at the ticket office and we got a receipt, others asked for money on return.
When leaving the ship you need your cabin card. This is how they monitor who comes in and out of the ship. Each card is scanned.
POINTE A PITRE – GUADELOUPE (pronounced gwaaduhloop)
You need EUROS for this island. They do not take dollars and if they do they over charge because they do not use it.
TRANSPORT: We got a mini bus that fitted 8 of us to Sainte Anne and went to Place du Bourg. There are several taxis outside the port. The taxi costs 20 euros per person for the return trip.
Saint Anne is known for its white sand beaches. It is around 30 minutes from the port however allow time for traffic because we encountered a lot on the way to the back. If you lucky you can see Iguanas on the beach. We saw one. The beach has restaurants and the area has shops and a market.
After some sun bathing and time in the sea, we enjoyed fresh guava and pineapple juice from Mamie Juice at 2.50 euros per bottle. A Mauritian lady runs the little stall by the beach. We also enjoyed some coconut juice and coconut pulp by the Sainte Anne Sign. A bottle of coconut juice for 4.50 and the pulp was 2.50 euros. Individual coconuts were 2 euros.
CASTRIES – ST LUCIA
We arrived on the port on A Sunday and lot of the shops in Castries are shut that day.
TRANSPORT: We got a taxi to Rodney Bay, which is meant to be a nice area. It took around 20 minutes and was 10 dollars per adult each was and 5 dollars for children. We had to negotiate the price and were initially told 12.50 per person.
A lot of reviews I read said the locals at Rodney Bay are very rude and I can confirm that is the case. We got dropped off on some back gate and someone came and guided us to the beach. I asked for a sunbed and that was hard work. The two sun beds he was giving us looked broken and he changed one and basically said take it or leave it. We paid 30 dollars for 2 beds and an umbrella. We should have just ignored him and carried on walking until we found a better spot. Most the ‘beach sellers’ don’t like it if you ask for the price of what they are selling and then do not buy it which is a shame and just spoilt our experience.
This was the place I was looking forward to the most but after our visit I don’t think I will return to St Lucia in a hurry. On Sundays they have beach barbecues and we walked to get one. It was delicious and cost 15 dollars. We had rum punch too which was 8 dollars so not cheap.
The sand is really soft in Rodney Bay but not white. The beach has an Aqua Park that is 15 dollars for an hour.
We walked back the same way to get the taxi back and the lady who was manning the taxis was very abrupt. She gave us brushes to clean the sand off our feet which was fine and then asked if we had towels to dry off even though we were not wet. Sadly for us we didn’t have the welcoming experience we were expecting here.
We got dropped off by the port and walked into Castries to see what was open. We enjoyed a strong rum punch at a local bar, pensioners bar. The rum punch for 6 dollars. The owner of the bar was pretty drunk and it took a while to get served. Even the bar staff said we can leave cause he is not doing a good job 😂. It was nice to sit and take in the atmosphere in the town.
ST VINCENT , GRENADINE, KINGSTOWN
The port is close centre of Kingstown. We chose to explore the town by foot and visit the Botanical Gardens. The town reminded me a lot of my hometown Nyeri. We visited the local market, had some ice lollies then walked 30 minutes to the Botanical garden. The walk is up hill. Entry to the gardens is 5 dollars and if you want you can get a tour guide for 6 dollars.
If you like walking you can explore this port on foot because it is not that big and does not have that much to see.
We wanted to try some local food but could not find a good spot anywhere.
ST GEORGE’S GRENADA
It was another beach day for us and we headed to Grand Anse beach. The beach is 15-25 minutes from the port in a water taxi. The water taxi costs 15 dollars return for adults. Children who can sit on their parents laps go for free. The actual journey is about 15 minutes however the staff wait for the whole boat to get full up before leaving and this can take time. The taxis run frequently.
Grand Anse is one of the best beaches in Grenada and Caribbean. most famous beach. Known for its turquoise water and white sand and I can confirm it was just that. We haggled for a bed further down the beach and paid 25 dollars for 2 beds and an umbrella. There are a lot of beach vendors selling the sunbeams.
There is a little craft and spice market on the beach. Nutmeg and Mace are very popular in the island. You can buy food and drink here too.
We got back to the ship around 2pm and went for a walk to the local markets. Here we bought some pure vanilla , nutmeg syrup and saffron powder. The locals use nutmeg syrup in their rum punches and it tastes really good.
SCARBOROUGH, TOBAGO
This was our last full day and we wanted to make the most of Vitamin Sea. We got a taxi to Pigeon Point which took around 35 minutes. It costs 10 dollars return per person for the taxi. Pigeon Point is a maintained beach and you have to pay entry. This is 20 local dollars which is around 3 us dollars.
You can get sun beds at 5 use each but you have to get there early. We arrived around 1045 am and they were all sold out.
Whilst on the beach we had a cocktail at the bar and then negotiated on a private boat tour with one of the vendors which cost us 35 USD per adult.
We wanted the glass boat experience but only for an hour and on our own. Richardo and Michael were our tour guides/boat drivers who stopped to show us the coral and fishes and talk about them before going to Nylon Pool. It is a shallow part of the sea with white sands and clear waters. Nylon pool is great for snorkelling but no one wanted to do that so we spent some time in the water then went on the top deck of the boat for the return journey. We didn’t get to see any turtles but it was a great experience and much better because it was our own private boat.
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS
When boarding the ship, we did not have time to explore Bridgetown because we had to wait for the Musket drill and this was at 530pm.
On the last day, we got on port at 8a.m but we could not leave until after we did the immigration process. Each deck is called out and one person from the party has to go with all the passports. The passports are scanned. This was done by 11 a.m.
Many say Bridgetown is about 15 minutes walk however we walked around 30 minutes and did not see a lot so turned around. Our transport back to the airport was at 1315. The nicer parts are further away and we saw these on the drive to the airport. After speaking to others on the plane back, they said the better area of Bridgetown is near the hotels rather than the port. It would have been nice to have more time in Barbados or at least an afternoon to explore.
HONEST REVIEW ON THE MARELLA VOYAGER
Was the cruise good? Yes it was. The reviews are mixed online. It is not a bad ship. The food and drinks on the all inclusive package were adequate for us. We were a party of 8 ranging from 6 years to 70 years and the cruise ship catered for our needs.
The ship had enough facilities for the week we were on there. We wanted to explore the islands and were able to do this easily. If you want luxury then maybe this is not the cruise for you but for us the TUI Caribbean Cruise was to explore the Eastern Caribbean Islands, see the white sand beaches and spend family time together. We were able to do this.
The entertainment was good and there was a mixture. The service was great through out. Thanks for Richelle, Nilesh, Sagar in Latitude 53. The cabin cleaning team ( Joan, Ajay and Donny) were brilliant and the bar staff were always friendly.
Did I mention the spa treatment we had – it was one of the best we have ever had. They have deals everyday and we were able to negotiate something for 6 adults.
The ports we explored were great. St Lucia was our least favourite but that is due to the arrogance of the locals on the beach.
WHAT TO PACK FOR A CARIBBEAN CRUISE
Here are some cruise essentials and any Amazon link if you want to get some ideas (affiliate link)
- Water Bottle: There are several water stations dotted around the ship. It is always handy to fill water bottles up with the water and keep it with you to stay hydrated. The water from the taps is apparently safe to drink – it just tastes like chemicals
- Bands for the sunbeds: These bands worked great for us. They were light weight. The sea is windy and towels get blown away easily
- The obvious Sun Cream and After Sun Care: The sun is strong and may not seem it especially with the wind. Always top up on the sun cream.
- Light weight /microfibre beach towels: I got these micro fibre towels. The cruise ship does provide you with towels you can use by the pool and take on the beach but they are heavy to carry around. These light weight ones were great on sea days and we did not need to worry about losing them. The cruise charges £10 for any missing towels
- Mini Iron: There are no irons on board the ship. If you like crease free clothes bring your own mini iron. The staff can iron clothes for you but it is at a cost.
- Charging cables including a magnetic one or a battery pack ( which you need to put in your hand luggage) . Not sure about other phones but sometimes the iPhone will not charge and says there is trace of water in the charging port. With many sea and pool days, it is worth having a magnetic charger in case your phone does not charge.
ROAMING E SIM
Another thing I recommend is an E Sim. The ship wifi is very costly and previous passengers have said it does not work properly. Rather than get a sim just for the Caribbean islands, we got one that is world wide. The company is called Roamless and you get an international e sim. We topped it up when there were promotions. Roamless can be used it in most parts of the world. It worked in all the Caribbean islands. It is an E Sim and you just need to ensure you switch the sim before leaving home. Here is my referral code and a link to Roamless.
Want to read about our Vietnam tour? Check our this post on our 2 weeks Vietnam Itinerary.
