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Original poster

TUI Cruise

75 replies

AlbertCampion · 30/01/2023 21:48

We're thinking of going on a Mediterranean cruise in August 2024. This would be a very special holiday for us - we'd need 18 months to save - so we want to make sure we get it right! We're looking at TUI as they seem to be good value and family-friendly (we'll have 11 to DS with us). Has anyone got any feedback on TUI cruises? Or tips/tricks? Must-dos? We're usually a week-in-a-self-catering-cottage family so v nervous about splashing out and getting it wrong.

OP posts:
NashvilleQueen · 30/01/2023 21:49

Personally I'd go for an American cruise line as I think the overall quality is thought to be better. Having said that I've not done a Tui one. Have a look st Cruise Critic for reviews.

PinkPondQueen · 31/01/2023 06:27

I've been with both P&O and Tui twice and although the P&O ship was more luxurious I much preferred Tui or Marella as they call themselves. The food was better and they were very generous with the all-inclusive drinks! It was such good value for money.

The only issue with Marella was that the evening entertainment was absolutely dire, apart from the Broadway shows which were generally pretty good. Most of the singers in the lounges were quite bad although there was a very good comedian!

Zipps · 31/01/2023 15:16

We've been with lots of different cruise lines and Marella are the one we keep going back to. We've got one booked this year and next 😁The all inclusive drinks are a bonus, the food overall is very good, we don't bother with the shows but enjoy the pianists, saxophone player, the late night discos and quizzes. You can get dressed up but it is more casual. However we always do as we mostly use the waiter service restaurant. There's always something to do or nothing if you prefer and they really cater for everyone. Also they seem to stop at more ports than some of the other cruises. The staff are brilliant.
You will get people on MN saying it's like Butlins etc those are the sort of people who we avoid on the other cruise lines. It's not, I have been to Butlins once- nothing like it!

Original poster
AlbertCampion · 31/01/2023 18:05

Brilliant, thanks so much for the replies! That Cruise Critic website is brilliant.

I've seen the "Butlins" comments in some of the reviews, and was wondering about it. We'd obviously love an upmarket, posh cruise, but we can't afford it and DS probably wouldn't enjoy it as much. It's great to hear the other side of things.

OP posts:
Funf · 31/01/2023 19:43

We have done 14 cruises kids loved them
Cruise critic is great
P&O was the worst, Grubby dirty ship poor service
Tui was an old ship but fantastic service and great ports of call.
Celebrity and Holland America where the best
Royal Caribbean was mid range
We usually plan our own shore excursions as its so easy and cheap too.
Post the itinerary and some of us will have been so can give you top tips

Blueberrycreampie · 31/01/2023 21:40

Have been on several cruises, RCI, Princess, Cunard etc but are going on a Marella cruise next week. We only booked a week ago and we are flying to Tenerife and cruising from there. I've looked at lots of YouTube and read reviews and think it will be fine. Looking forward to it and will feed back if you like?

Blueberrycreampie · 31/01/2023 21:41

PinkPondQueen · 31/01/2023 06:27

I've been with both P&O and Tui twice and although the P&O ship was more luxurious I much preferred Tui or Marella as they call themselves. The food was better and they were very generous with the all-inclusive drinks! It was such good value for money.

The only issue with Marella was that the evening entertainment was absolutely dire, apart from the Broadway shows which were generally pretty good. Most of the singers in the lounges were quite bad although there was a very good comedian!

I believe the entertainment is much better now on the explorer!

gogohmm · 31/01/2023 21:50

I've been with Marella (TUI's U.K. oriented ships) and they were good value, all inclusive and fun. Not up market like some lines and very much geared to the U.K. market. I've been with 5 lines now and they all have +&-

Mostly it really comes down to budget, you get what you pay for. If money is tight my best advice is to save up and buy your trip last minute as you can save so much as long as you can be a little flexible

gogohmm · 31/01/2023 21:52

I love Cunard but I'm looking at Marella for next winter in the Caribbean, I won't book until 2-3 weeks out

Blueberrycreampie · 31/01/2023 23:12

Funf · 31/01/2023 19:43

We have done 14 cruises kids loved them
Cruise critic is great
P&O was the worst, Grubby dirty ship poor service
Tui was an old ship but fantastic service and great ports of call.
Celebrity and Holland America where the best
Royal Caribbean was mid range
We usually plan our own shore excursions as its so easy and cheap too.
Post the itinerary and some of us will have been so can give you top tips

Ah that's a shame, P&O used to be great - I loved the Oriana for example but it seems to have gone really downhill!

Blindsandcurtains · 01/02/2023 06:06

We found TUI to be a bit Benidorm at sea. There are better cruise lines to sail with. We’ve found Royal Caribbean to be good and have good kids facilities.

cruises are so personal. Do you want lots of port days and few sea days or the other way around. Where would you actually like to see?

As someone above posted, what TUI cruise have you seen with what itinerary and we can see if we can help and give any advice.

OJbreakfasttime · 01/02/2023 06:19

Been on a few Marella cruises. I've found that the itinerary tends to influence the types of people on board but I've never felt the Benidorm at sea vibe.

I like the fact everything including tips is included, along with flights and transfer. Staff are all lovely, food is great and their restaurants are really really good.

I'd say the money you save from booking with another cruise company; consider upgrading your cabin so at least you have a balcony. It makes a big difference to the overall experience in my opinion.

Blueberrycreampie · 01/02/2023 09:03

Just had a thought. There's a tv programme called Cruising with Susan Calman which is on ch 5, showing her aboard Marella's Explorer 2. The itineraries include Greece and Croatia, and it all looks very nice. They were only shown a couple of weeks ago so will be on catch up or on the 5app.

The ship we're going on (The Explorer), was originally a 'Celebrity' owned vessel and is the one Jane Macdonald rose to fame on.

Georgyporky · 01/02/2023 12:45

We did a Med cruise with Marella/Tui a few years ago - never again.
It was cheap, but not cheerful.
7 days dinners, we sent back 6 out of 14 because of the standard of food or cooking. Had D&V after a lunch; they denied all responsibility as "I could have eaten something anywhere" - I hadn't.
The tours were very poor, & very badly organised.
The entertainment suited the bingo-playing passengers.

WhiteRabbits2 · 01/02/2023 12:57

Have done a couple of tui med cruises as a family pre-covid and loved them. We managed to get all-inclusive packages. It was great not having to worry about the cost of drinks and the children enjoyed working their way through the non alcoholic cocktail menus . Research the excursions well because some of them can be done easily and much cheaper yourself. Have a lovely time.

sproutsandparsnips · 01/02/2023 14:57

I also highly recommend Marella. We certainly haven't had the experience of a PP - everything was very clean, service was fantastic, food really nice, and drinks all inclusive were fab. I do agree that the destinations affect the passengers, we went on an Adriatic and a Greek Island back to back and there was definitely a difference but didn't bother us as standards were still very high. Do your research re destinations as you don't need to go on an organised trip for all of them.

NCTDN · 03/02/2023 08:12

I've only ever done one cruise and that was Marella last year. It was on the explorer 2 so the adult only one that Susan calman was on (I don't think that programme gave it the best impression tbh). So I can't comment on children's activities but I was v impressed. Food in the waiter service restaurants was fabulous apart from one meal in the Italian. Buffet was ok but I'm not a buffet person.
The entertainment was amazing! I'm shocked that pps are stating it as mediocre. We went to a show every night and they were truly worthy of the west end.

maddy68 · 03/02/2023 08:18

I've been on several tui ones. It's great with kids because there are no extra charges as it's all inclusive. Highly recommended

ItsRainingPens · 03/02/2023 08:18

Royal Caribbean may be a good fit for you with you 11 year old

Arrrrrrragghhh · 03/02/2023 09:52

MSC Virtuosua cost £900 per person for 10 days on a balcony , including the alcoholic drinks package - first two weeks of August. I booked it 11 weeks before sailing through an online cruise agent.
It’s a great ship for kids. All cruises are a bit Butlins but MSC being Italian means you get more Europeans so it’s not all tat’s and fat p.

Zipps · 03/02/2023 17:40

Tui are the only cruises I can remember going on with tips included. While we do tip our cabin cleaners extra anyway, it's at our discretion but the other ships add tips on your account every day and the US cruise lines charge quite a bit for tips and it is per person. Just so that you are aware.

Arrrrrrragghhh · 03/02/2023 21:33

MSC don’t either. Most of the lines offer an exclusive package with the tips included.

Zipps · 04/02/2023 14:50

Arrrrrrragghhh · 03/02/2023 21:33

MSC don’t either. Most of the lines offer an exclusive package with the tips included.

That's good to know. We are tempted with MSC cruises since we moored opposite one and it looked amazing. They seem good value and itineraries look interesting too.

loobylou10 · 04/02/2023 15:14

Marella (tui) cruises are excellent. Not butlins like at all in our experience. Like a lovely briitish hotel but all inclusive and in the sun. Staff are incredible, would def recommend.

CraftyGin · 04/02/2023 18:02

We've been on 4 Tui Med cruises.

What I like about them is the medium sized boats fit into most ports, so you don't need to get on tenders very often. The mega boats have to dock quite far out so a lot of your port time is actually getting you to the port.

We also like the British entertainment.

The boats are big enough to provide the full experience. You don't really need that many choices.

Marella cruises are pretty much tip-free, and the only extras are premium dining which no one really needs. The main dining room is fine. You have to pay for excursions but may be able to work out DIY.

Our tween/teen children loved the cruises. They had their own drinks package passes, and could feel very in control. The youngest - probably around 10/11 at the time loved the kids club (eg breakfast together and fun games).

We are going on a Marella Cruise to Jamaica and Central America in a few weeks. Can't wait.

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