Anybody that has read my blog posts will know that I am usually a diehard independent traveller.

However, with a landmark January birthday to celebrate I decided to give cruising a whirl, with a 14-day trip in the Eastern Caribbean.

So how did I fare?

Marella Cruises

Mrs Wilbur & I wanted a relatively small ship, so the 2,000 passenger Marella Voyager was chosen. Its Caribbean cruise would take in 8 countries and 3 territories. It was actually two back to back cruises in and out of Barbados.

We chose a premium flight and a balcony cabin. So far so good.

As virgin cruisers we were not well versed in the nuts & bolts of it so were a tad surprised to be wedged into a cramped bus at Barbados Airport with no passport control or customs to clear.

Cruise passengers are to be trusted evidently.

At our embarkation point we were issued with our cruise cards – effectively our passport, room key and onboard charge card.

Marella is an all inclusive cruise line. You could eat and drink all day if you wanted. Some passengers appeared to do exactly that.

Destinations

We joined in Bridgetown, Barbados and were then due to sail to Tortola on the British Virgin Islands. Due to logistical reasons that first port of call was scrapped – two days at sea it was to be then.

Plenty of entertainment on offer plus some spa treatment and a visit to the gym.

Our first landing was to be Sint Maarten/St Martin, a small island shared by the Dutch & French. Philipsburg was the Dutch entry point, plus we taxied over to Marigot on the French side.

Next up Antigua, docking at capital St John’s and a chance to pay homage to the great West Indian batsman Sir Viv Richards who the international cricket ground is named after.

We also visited the much renovated Nelson’s Dockyard, a very pleasant spot to wander around. We finished back in St John’s for a viewing of the cathedral.

Port three was Basseterre, capital of St Kitts & Nevis. This was our first booked excursion as we visited a rain forest to learn about the flora, including an amazing banyan tree.

Roseau of Domenica was next up. We did not venture very far, deciding to amble around the port area.

We then returned to Barbados for our 2nd excursion – a visit to a pretty botanical gardens, an interesting church and a sail on a catamaran for a dip in the Atlantic.

The second cruise leg had a day at sea before calling on the French territory of Guadeloupe. Lively markets, live music and the slave museum made up our independent itinerary as we dodged heavy showers.

St Lucia featured next. We took a tour to some colonial houses, a fishing village and a rum distillery. We did not touch a drop at the rum tasting but the rest of our small group did – a lot!

Some great views of the island along the way.

St Vincent gave us our next trip on a catamaran as we toured the coast before mooring up for that all important Caribbean swim.

Next up was probably my favourite island nation of the cruise – Grenada. A pretty port and an excellent taxi tour taking in fort, forest, lake & beach.

Scarborough in Tobago was to be our last destination. Toured out, we stayed in port – a rather scruffy affair with just some horrid shopping malls.

We then returned to Barbados for disembarkation day. We had to vacate our cabin at 8 for a surprisingly leisurely breakfast. Passport control happened on board before a long wait for our bus to the airport.

On Board Ratings

Employees

Most of the waiting and cleaning staff were from countries such as the Philippines & India. 10/10 for friendliness, efficiency and artistic towel creations.

Entertainment

The broadway show lounge treated us to a 45-minute song & dance number each evening. Loved it all – 10/10.

Various musicians performed in 5 or 6 venues. All accomplished in their art. 9/10.

Quizzes, karaoke, art & dance lessons were offered, as well as a nightly disco & casino. 7/10.

Each night at 5 there was what was billed as an ‘impossibly hard quiz’. After scores of 2,3 & 4 out of ten I won one day with 10/10 and as a result I am now the proud owner of a certificate & some Marella flip flops!

Food & drink

Catering for so many guests is not easy but the food was pretty good on the whole. A few restaurants were bookable & chargeable, with the steakhouse very good.

The Kitchens was a freestyle multi cuisine affair that we christened IKEA+. Fab ocean views and decent fodder.

Lots of cocktails, beer & wine was readily available. It bugged me that I had to pay for can of coke, but as a non-drinker I was in a tiny minority. 7/10.

Cabin

We went for a balcony cabin in the 9th deck of 12. We booked ten months prior and researched a good position. Quite small as you’d expect with plenty of storage room, a comfortable bed and an excellent shower.

Sitting on the balcony for a morning cuppa as we arrived or in the evening with a cold one as we departed was a great pleasure. 8 ½/10.

The Ship

The Marella Voyager set sail for the first time in mid 2023 and is smart throughout. Lots of tasteful decor, themed venues, comfortable seating, an ocean view gym (used once!), spa (also used once) and nice deck areas for sundowners.

Sunsets, Sunrises & Rainbows

We were treated to some beautiful sights courtesy of Mother Nature.

Overall Verdict

We had to adjust to cruising but on the whole enjoyed the experience.

We won’t be rushing to do it again, but probably will a good few years from now.

8 out of 10 as an overall experience.

TUI have done very well. Twenty years ago I worked with the cruise industry a lot and I ventured dockside on board both Sapphire & Emerald that Thomson Holidays (as they were then known in UK) used to charter for summer cruises on the Med. They have come a long way since then.

For me, normal travels are now to be resumed…