If you are British and thinking about a first cruise on your own, Marella Cruises is probably already on your list, and it should be. TUI's cruise line does three things that matter to a solo traveler and does them on every sailing: it has single cabins, it hosts solo get-togethers, and it includes the drinks and the tips so the bill at the end is not a surprise.
The ships
Marella runs five mid-size ships, all built in the mid-1990s for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity and refitted in the line's bright, casual style. Marella Voyager and Marella Explorer are the largest at around 1,900 guests. Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only, and Marella Discovery 2 joins it as a second adults-only ship from November 2026. Marella Discovery rounds out the fleet. None of them is a megaship. You can walk from one end to the other in a few minutes, and the atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious rather than formal.
For a solo guest, Explorer 2 is the one to look at first. With no children on board the pool decks are quieter and the evening crowd is older and more inclined to chat. The family ships are fine too, especially outside the school holidays.
Single cabins on board
Marella's single cabins come with the same fittings as the doubles, just sized for one, and they run from single inside cabins up to balcony cabins. They are popular enough that the line's own advice is to book early. You can reserve a specific cabin from booking up to 15 days before departure, for a fee from 65 pounds, and request a particular cabin number by phone afterward, which is worth doing if you want to be near a lift or away from the theater.
Marella also runs regular solo deals that cover the single cabins and, on some sailings, reduced supplements on standard cabins. The line does not publish a fixed supplement percentage; it changes by cruise. The practical path is to search with one passenger selected and compare the single-cabin fare against a standard inside for one on the same date.
Hosted events, not just a shared table
This is where Marella stands apart from most mainstream lines. On every cruise the onboard Guest Experience Coordinators host events for solo travelers: a coffee morning on the first day, a hosted dinner midway through and farewell drinks on the last night. The coffee morning is the one to go to. It is where you find out who else is traveling alone, swap plans for the port days and, more often than not, arrange dinner.
Dining is flexible. In the main restaurants you can ask to sit alone or join a table of other guests, and the buffet is an easy place to meet people over breakfast. The specialty restaurants are comfortable for one. Because drinks, snacks and tips are included as standard, there is no awkwardness about who is buying the round.
Flights included and no supplement surprises
Marella is a fly-cruise line. Fares include flights from a range of UK regional airports, transfers and the cruise, which removes the hardest logistical part of traveling alone. Itineraries run the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean in winter, mostly week-long loops with a port nearly every day. A seven-night Mediterranean cruise from Palma on Explorer 2 is the classic first solo Marella trip; the Caribbean winter season draws a loyal solo crowd who come back every year.
Who it suits
Marella suits the solo traveler who wants someone else to make the introductions, who likes an all-inclusive bar and an easy, casual ship, and who is flying from Britain. It is especially good for a first-timer or for someone traveling alone after years of traveling as a pair. It is not for anyone who wants a luxury product, a new ship, a US departure port or a long expedition. For a relaxed, sociable week in the sun with your own cabin and a coffee morning on day one, it is hard to beat.
Sources: TUI/Marella Cruises "Why book a solo cruise with Marella Cruises?" page (https://www.tui.co.uk/cruise/cruise-types/singles-cruise).
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