great 1st cruise, but believe there is better to come.

Item: Marella Explorer
Rating: 4.6
Author: bryanhill

Marella Explorer Cruise Review

bryanhill

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 41

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5

Atlantic Adventure

Sail date: October 27, 2018

Ship: Marella Explorer

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 4 years ago

Review summary

Great cruise, love the fact everything is in, ie grats and drinks. But from what I believe other cruise lines are a lot better but the attraction of marella is that you know what your spending as everything is included but now other cruise lines are beginning to include grats as standard and do regular offers of free drinks packages etc I think marella need to just up there game a little as there usp is about to become ununique with other cruise lines adapting.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Extremely effecient, no delays and luggage was at our cabin before we were.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

The Dining club is outstanding, an experience in itself and very good quality food. Surf and turf also excellent and exceeded expectations. Kora la was a big disappointment personally, they misunderstood my order and I ended up with 2 main courses, which wasnt an issue but they were both poor flavour and generally just not very nice. We didnt try the sushi restaurant and there never seemed to be anyone in it but I hear it was very good. The little tapas place at the back of the ship was a big surprise. We only went towards the end of the cruise as it wasnt a real restaurant so believed it was just snacks and not a substantial meal, how wrong we were we could order as much as we liked and it was all fantastic. We ended up going the next night aswell. Buffet was fine, inline with most buffets you get in all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean or Mexico for example. Main dining room was good but not great. The food was good but nothing special but certainly nothing to complain about.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Plenty things to do but I just think there could of been more. If there wasnt the sun and pool I think it would of been a boring cruise.

Entertainment

4 out of 5

The guest shows they did were generally very good and well worth a watch and one of the entertainment teams shows (The last night) The clock one, was good but other than that they were very basic and standard of singers etc wasnt very good..

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

I'm giving 5 stars because the vast majority of the staff were outstanding and really made the trip. However there is the odd bad apple who marella really need to deal with as they have the potential to tarnish the good nature of other staff. One guy in the main dining room really didnt care about customers and caught him mocking and laughing about guests and it just seemed as if it was his holiday and the guests were an inconvenience that he just had to serve inbetween enjoying himself and if you asked for something if really felt that you had disturbed him. There were one or 2 like this but it isnt enough to ruin what's on the whole a very committed and friendly crew but just think it needs solving before it becomes a major problem.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

I really like it. When we were on the coach and the ship came into view it looked a lot older than I expected from the outside especially next to other ships so I was a little disheartened but upon boarding I was soon shown a beautiful interior than didnt look anything like the outside. The only thing I think I would of liked is one on the big glamorous atriums you see on most ships.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

We started on an inside cabin then after 3 days we upgraded to a large balcony. Interior cabins are perfectly adequate but balconies are well worth the extra. We did view an executive suite and were very tempted but honestly I dont feel you spend enough time in your cabin to warrant it. But it's a very personal thing and everybodys budget it different. But from being in different rooms on our cruise I can tell you which ever you go for it perfectly adequate and spacious.

Ship tip

Try the little tapas place at the back of the ship. Really good. Amd if you want more you can always ask they will give you a second main course if you want it. Dont be afraid to ask for anything.

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