Marella Cruises Unveils Summer 2028 Schedule Featuring Patras Maiden Call and Six New Routes

TUI UK's cruise brand Marella Cruises has officially launched its Summer 2028 sailing schedule, introducing Patras, Greece, as a maiden port call alongside six new itineraries and four repositioning voyages. General bookings open on October 15, 2026, offering flights from 22 airports across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

[London, Oct 6, 2026] — Marella Cruises has unveiled its Summer 2028 cruise program, expanding its Eastern Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Caribbean offerings. The major highlight of the new schedule is the addition of Patras, Greece's third-largest city, marking Marella's first-ever port call to the western Greek mainland hub.

The Summer 2028 program includes six new itineraries, four long-distance repositioning sailings, and an expanded Cruise and Stay package incorporating 119 hotels across Majorca, Corfu, Dubrovnik, and Malaga. All sailings maintain Marella's standard all-inclusive pricing model, covering onboard meals, drinks, and service gratuities.

MARELLA CRUISES SUMMER 2028 PROGRAM SUMMARY

Category	Key Details & Metrics
General Sale Date	October 15, 2026
Maiden Port Call	Patras, Greece (via Marella Explorer)
New Itineraries	6 new routes + 4 repositioning sailings
Cruise & Stay Hotels	119 properties across 4 Mediterranean hubs
UK & Irish Airports	22 regional departure gateways
Starting Price	Lead-in rate from £1,966 per person

Maiden Call to Patras: Expanding Eastern Mediterranean Options

The inclusion of Patras on Marella Explorer's new Grecian Gems itinerary introduces passengers to the northern Peloponnese peninsula. Departing from its seasonal homeport in Corfu, Marella Explorer will begin calling at Patras in July 2028.

Unlike heavily visited island destinations, Patras offers access to historical landmarks including the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, the Roman Odeon, and the medieval Patras Castle overlooking the Gulf of Patras. The call provides cultural depth for travelers seeking mainland Greek heritage alongside traditional island stops.

Ship	Summer 2028 Homeport	Primary New Itinerary	Notable Port Calls
Marella Explorer	Corfu, Greece	Grecian Gems	Patras (Maiden Call), Katakolon, Greek Islands
Marella Explorer 2	Malaga, Spain	Spanish Shores (Adults-Only)	Malaga, Gibraltar, Ibiza, Menorca, Majorca, Cartagena
Marella Discovery	Palma, Majorca	Western Mediterranean Routes	Palma, Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno
Marella Discovery 2	Dubrovnik, Croatia	Eastern Med / Adriatic (Adults-Only)	Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, Venice gateways
Marella Voyager	Palma, Majorca	Western Mediterranean & Atlantic	Palma, Corsica, Southern France ports

Spanish Shores and Fleet Homeport Allocations

For adults-only cruising, Marella Explorer 2 will introduce a new seven-night Spanish Shores itinerary operating out of Malaga starting in June 2028.

The seven-night round-trip route combines mainland Spanish cities, the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, and the Balearic Islands:

        [ Malaga Departure ] ---> [ Gibraltar ] ---> [ Sea Day ]
                                                          |
                                                          v
        [ Cartagena ] <--- [ Palma ] <--- [ Menorca ] <--- [ Ibiza Town ]
              |
              +---> [ Return to Malaga ]

The rest of the five-ship Marella fleet will return to established European homeports for the Summer 2028 season:

• Palma, Majorca: Base for Marella Discovery and Marella Voyager.
• Dubrovnik, Croatia: Homeport for adults-only vessel Marella Discovery 2.
• Corfu, Greece: Base for Marella Explorer.
• Malaga, Spain: Seasonal hub for adults-only vessel Marella Explorer 2.

Four New Repositioning Voyages with Enhanced Onboard Entertainment

Beginning in April 2028, Marella Cruises will operate four long-duration repositioning voyages as ships transition from winter Caribbean and Canaries homeports to summer European bases.

SUMMER 2028 REPOSITIONING ITINERARIES

Entity / Route	Metrics	Operational Status
Vessel & Program	Route	Duration & Scope
Marella Explorer	Las Palmas to	10-Night Trans-Med
(Sail into Spring)	Corfu	Atlantic to Greece
Marella Explorer	Santa Cruz to	11-Night Trans-Med
(Sail into Spring)	Corfu	Canaries to Greece
Marella Discovery 2	Palma to	5-Night Mediterranean
(Flavours of the Med)	Dubrovnik	Western to Adriatic
Marella Explorer 2	Barbados to	13-Night Transatlantic
(Transatlantic Treasures)	Malaga	Caribbean to Spain
Marella Voyager	Barbados to	13-Night Transatlantic
(Atlantic Horizons)	Palma	Caribbean to Majorca

These extended repositioning sailings will feature expanded entertainment packages, including guest lecturer series, West End-style production showcases, tribute acts, and specialized culinary events during sea days.

Expanded Cruise and Stay Options Across 119 Hotels

To support flexible holiday planning, Marella Cruises is expanding its Cruise and Stay product for Summer 2028. Passengers can combine a seven-night cruise with a three, four, or seven-night hotel stay across 119 partner properties located in Majorca, Corfu, Dubrovnik, and Malaga.

Package holidays are backed by TUI UK's flight network, offering direct charter flights from 22 departure airports across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, including regional hubs such as Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, and Dublin.

All-Inclusive Model and Booking Information

Marella Cruises maintains its standard all-inclusive onboard offering across all Summer 2028 sailings. The base fare covers all meals in main restaurants, standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and all onboard crew tips and service charges.

Lead-in pricing for the Grecian Gems itinerary aboard Marella Explorer starts at £1,966 per person. General bookings for all Summer 2028 sailings open on October 15, 2026, through TUI retail stores, official websites, and authorized travel agents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new maiden port call for Marella Cruises in Summer 2028?

Marella Cruises will call at Patras, Greece, for the first time in July 2028 as part of Marella Explorer's Grecian Gems itinerary from Corfu.

When do bookings open for Marella Cruises' Summer 2028 program?

Reservations open to the public on October 15, 2026, across TUI retail branches, online booking portals, and travel agencies.

What is included in Marella Cruises' all-inclusive pricing?

Marella's all-inclusive package covers onboard meals, select alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, entertainment, and all crew service charges and gratuities.

Which homeports will Marella ships operate from in Summer 2028?

The fleet will operate from four main European homeports: Palma (Majorca), Corfu (Greece), Dubrovnik (Croatia), and Malaga (Spain).

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