Carnival Cruise Line vs Marella Cruises

The core difference

Carnival Cruise Line and Marella Cruises serve the same broad market — budget-conscious mainstream cruisers who want value without pretension — but they serve it from different continents, through different distribution models, and with fundamentally different approaches to pricing transparency. Carnival is American, enormous, and entertainment-driven. Marella is British, mid-sized, and built around the TUI holiday package model where everything is bundled into one upfront price.

Carnival’s identity is the fun ship. Twenty-nine vessels, the world’s largest cruise line, with entertainment at every turn — the Punchliner Comedy Club, the BOLT roller coaster, Guy Fieri’s burgers, Shaq’s chicken, waterparks, game shows, and deck parties. The pricing model is a low base fare with add-ons for beverages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and excursions. Carnival’s value proposition is the lowest per-night fare in mainstream cruising, with guests choosing how much to spend beyond the basics.

Marella’s identity is the all-inclusive British holiday. Five mid-size ships, part of the TUI UK holiday ecosystem, with fares that bundle flights from 22 regional UK airports, all meals, selected drinks (beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks), entertainment, and gratuities into a single price. There is no onboard bill. No nasty surprises. No mental arithmetic about how much the cocktails are costing. The proposition is simplicity — you know what you are paying before you leave home, and you do not pay anything more.

For Australian travellers, Carnival is accessible through domestic departures from Brisbane and Melbourne. Marella is a UK-centric brand requiring a flight to Britain before joining the included flight to the ship. The comparison is most relevant for Australians who regularly visit the UK or who are planning a broader European trip with a cruise component.

What is actually included

The inclusion models represent the starkest difference between these lines — and the comparison illuminates two philosophical approaches to cruise pricing.

Carnival’s base fare covers the cabin, main dining room, buffet, complimentary casual venues (Guy’s Burgers, BlueIguana Cantina, Shaq’s Big Chicken on Excel-class ships), basic room service, pool access, entertainment, and fitness centre. Everything else is extra: the Cheers! beverage package (approximately USD $60 to $70 per person per day), Wi-Fi (from USD $13 per day), specialty dining (USD $25 to $45 per venue), and gratuities (USD $16 per person per day). For a seven-night Caribbean cruise, a couple adding the beverage package and gratuities spends roughly AUD $2,500 on top of the base fare.

Marella’s fare includes everything. Flights from UK airports, transfers to the ship, all meals (buffet and table-service restaurants), selected drinks (branded spirits, wines, beers, cocktails, soft drinks, juices, and hot drinks), gratuities, and entertainment. The only meaningful extras are premium drinks beyond the included selection, spa treatments, shore excursions, and Wi-Fi. The recently launched Piccadilly’s gastropub restaurant is complimentary fleet-wide.

For Australian travellers, the pricing transparency comparison is instructive. Carnival looks cheaper at the headline — but the total cost including drinks and gratuities often exceeds Marella’s all-inclusive fare for a comparable itinerary. Marella looks more expensive at the headline — but delivers a genuinely all-in price with no calculation required. For travellers who dislike mental arithmetic with holiday spending, Marella’s model is liberating. For travellers who drink lightly or not at all, Carnival’s a la carte model saves money.

Dining and culinary experience

Both lines deliver honest mainstream dining without culinary pretension — but the variety and approach differ meaningfully.

Carnival’s dining offers more choice. Guy’s Burgers (complimentary, fleet-wide) is the standout, joined by BlueIguana Cantina, Shaq’s Big Chicken on Excel-class ships, the pizza station, and the deli. The main dining room serves a rotating multi-course menu. Specialty restaurants (Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi, Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, Cucina del Capitano) charge per visit. The breadth of casual dining at no extra charge is Carnival’s competitive advantage — a family can eat well across multiple venues without spending beyond the fare.

Marella’s dining is simpler but evolving. The main dining room and buffet provide the core programme, with the 2025 launch of Piccadilly’s — a complimentary 250-seat gastropub serving traditional British comfort food from morning to evening — adding variety across the fleet. The Dining Club on Explorer 2 offers an upgraded evening restaurant experience. Speciality dining options are available on some ships at extra cost but the selection is narrower than Carnival’s. The food is honest British cruise fare — well-prepared without being adventurous, familiar without being exciting.

For Australian palates, Carnival offers more variety and the celebrity-branded casual venues deliver genuine quality at the complimentary level. Marella’s dining is adequate for the price point and improving — Piccadilly’s is a welcome addition. Neither line challenges the premium cruise dining segment, but Carnival’s complimentary casual programme gives it a meaningful edge on food variety.

Suites and accommodation

The accommodation comparison reflects the different ship scales and investment levels between these lines.

Carnival’s accommodation ranges from inside cabins (approximately 185 square feet) to the Excel Presidential Suite at roughly 1,120 square feet. Balcony cabins, suites, and the Loft 19 suite sundeck on Excel-class ships provide a range of options. The newest ships feature modern amenities and contemporary design. The fleet-wide variation is significant — Excel-class cabins far surpass the older vessels.

Marella’s accommodation on five refurbished mid-size ships offers inside, ocean-view, balcony, and suite categories at a more modest scale. The ships are not new-builds — they are older vessels acquired and refurbished by TUI, which keeps costs down but means the cabin hardware reflects previous-generation design. Marella Voyager (formerly Mein Schiff Herz, joined 2023) offers the most modern accommodation in the fleet. Explorer 2’s adults-only designation means the cabin experience is quieter and more grown-up than the family-oriented Discovery ships.

For Australian travellers, Carnival’s newer ships offer significantly better cabin quality and variety. Marella’s cabins are functional and clean but represent older design standards. The all-inclusive fare means less time in the cabin spending on the entertainment system and more time enjoying included drinks at the bar — which somewhat mitigates the cabin quality gap.

Pricing and value

The pricing comparison requires careful total-cost analysis rather than headline-fare comparison.

Carnival’s per-night base fare is the lowest in mainstream cruising. Seven-night Caribbean cruises start from approximately AUD $1,000 to $1,400 per person. Australian deployments from Brisbane and Melbourne start from roughly AUD $800. However, adding the Cheers! beverage package, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and one specialty dinner pushes the total to approximately AUD $1,800 to $2,800 per person for a seven-night cruise.

Marella’s all-inclusive fare for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise starts from approximately GBP $700 to $1,200 per person (roughly AUD $1,400 to $2,400) including flights from a UK airport, meals, drinks, and gratuities. The meaningful extras — shore excursions, spa treatments, Wi-Fi — add perhaps GBP $200 to $400 per person (AUD $400 to $800). Total cost for a seven-night Marella cruise including all onboard spending: approximately AUD $1,800 to $3,200 per person.

The total-cost comparison is remarkably close. When all add-ons are factored in, Carnival and Marella cost similar amounts for a seven-night cruise at comparable levels of consumption. Carnival’s advantage is the lower entry price for light drinkers and those who avoid add-on packages. Marella’s advantage is the certainty — you know the total cost before you leave home, and the onboard experience feels genuinely free because you are not signing for drinks or calculating tips.

For Australian travellers, the decision depends on distribution. Carnival is bookable through Australian agents with domestic departures available. Marella requires a UK booking with flights from UK airports — adding the cost of getting to Britain (AUD $1,500 to $3,000 return) before the cruise fare even begins.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer spa facilities appropriate to their scale and price points.

Carnival’s Cloud 9 Spa is a full-service operation with thermal suites, thalassotherapy pools, saunas, steam rooms, and comprehensive treatment menus. Cloud 9 Spa staterooms include unlimited thermal suite access. The Serenity Adult-Only Retreat is complimentary for all adult guests.

Marella’s spa offers standard treatment rooms, a sauna, and basic fitness equipment. The spa facilities are adequate but not a draw — Marella’s onboard spending model means fewer guests invest in spa treatments, and the facilities reflect that reality. There is no dedicated adult-only retreat comparable to Carnival’s Serenity, though the adults-only Explorer 2 ship provides a quieter atmosphere by default.

Carnival offers more spa infrastructure by a significant margin. For travellers who value spa and wellness facilities, Carnival’s Cloud 9 Spa and Serenity retreat are clear differentiators.

Entertainment and enrichment

The entertainment scale difference is proportional to the ship size difference — and favours Carnival decisively.

Carnival’s entertainment is the most extensive in mainstream cruising. The Punchliner Comedy Club, game shows, BOLT roller coaster, waterparks, SkyRide, deck parties, and stage shows create a programme that runs from morning to midnight. The entertainment is designed for ships carrying 2,000 to 5,200 guests and is the primary differentiator between Carnival and smaller competitors.

Marella’s entertainment is more modest. West End-style shows (not original productions but solid touring-quality performances), quiz nights, afternoon tea, and live music in the bars fill the evening programme. Escape rooms on some ships and rock climbing walls on the Discovery ships add activity variety. The atmosphere is distinctly British — quiz nights and afternoon tea rather than game shows and deck parties. The entertainment is pleasant without being spectacular and suits travellers who do not need constant stimulation.

For Australian travellers, Carnival delivers exponentially more entertainment per ship. Marella delivers a quieter, more British evening programme that suits travellers who prefer conversation and drinks over roller coasters and comedy shows. If entertainment is a primary holiday motivation, Carnival is the clear choice.

Fleet and destination coverage

Carnival’s 29 ships provide global coverage with hundreds of departure dates per year. Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, Australian waters — Carnival sails from more homeports than any competitor. The fleet spans from older vessels to the newest Excel-class flagships. Private island destinations include Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay, and Isla Tropicale.

Marella’s five ships cover a narrower range: Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Caribbean, and North Africa, with itineraries typically running seven to fourteen nights. The distribution model is unique — all sailings include flights from 22 regional UK airports, which means embarkation ports are wherever the TUI charter or scheduled flights land (typically Palma, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Barbados, or similar gateway ports). The fleet’s mid-size vessels access ports that mega-ships cannot reach, though the destination range is more limited than Carnival’s global footprint.

For Australian travellers, Carnival’s domestic departures and global fleet provide flexibility that Marella cannot match. Marella is exclusively a UK-departure product — practical for Australians already in Britain but not a standalone cruise booking option from Australia.

Where each line excels

Carnival excels in:

• Scale and entertainment. Twenty-nine ships with comedy clubs, roller coasters, waterparks, game shows, and celebrity dining. The most things to do on any mainstream cruise ship.
• Per-night base fare. The lowest entry price in mainstream cruising — short getaways under AUD $500 per person total.
• Australian departures. Carnival Luminosa from Brisbane and Melbourne for domestic cruising without flights.
• Casual dining variety. Guy’s Burgers, Shaq’s Big Chicken, BlueIguana Cantina — more complimentary food options than Marella.
• Global coverage. Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, South Pacific, and Australian waters across 29 ships.

Marella excels in:

• All-inclusive transparency. Flights, meals, drinks, and gratuities included in one price. No onboard bill. No hidden costs.
• Adults-only option. Explorer 2 is a dedicated adults-only ship with a more refined atmosphere — a rarity at this price point.
• British atmosphere. Quiz nights, afternoon tea, West End shows, and an unmistakably British guest mix. Familiar and comfortable for Anglophile Australians.
• TUI ecosystem. Flights, transfers, and pre-cruise hotel stays bundled into a single financially protected package through one of Europe’s largest tour operators.
• Budget certainty. The all-inclusive model eliminates the anxiety of onboard spending, making Marella ideal for first-time cruisers who are nervous about hidden cruise costs.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Carnival Luminosa: South Pacific from Brisbane or Melbourne (7 to 10 nights, seasonal) — Carnival’s domestic programme at AUD $800 to $1,200 per person. The most practical and affordable option in this comparison for Australian travellers.

Carnival Celebration: Caribbean from Miami (7 nights, year-round) — The Excel-class flagship with BOLT, themed zones, and celebrity dining. Fly from Australia to Miami. Fares from approximately AUD $1,200 per person.

Marella Explorer 2: Mediterranean from Palma (7 nights, summer season) — The adults-only ship cruising the Western Mediterranean with calls at Barcelona, Marseille, Ajaccio, and Italian Riviera ports. All-inclusive fare from approximately GBP $800 per person (roughly AUD $1,600) including flights from a UK airport. For Australian couples visiting Britain, a Marella Mediterranean cruise adds sun and relaxation to a UK trip. The adults-only atmosphere, included drinks, and no-bill simplicity make Explorer 2 a genuine hidden gem.

Marella Voyager: Canary Islands from UK (7 to 14 nights, winter season) — TUI’s newest cruise ship sailing winter sun itineraries to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. All-inclusive with flights from UK airports. For Australians visiting Britain in the UK winter, a Canary Islands cruise adds warmth at a competitive all-inclusive price.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Carnival

Carnival Celebration or Carnival Jubilee (Excel class, 180,000 GT, approximately 5,200 guests) — The flagships. Choose for the most feature-rich Carnival experience.

Carnival Luminosa (92,000 GT, approximately 2,260 guests) — The Australian deployment ship. Choose for domestic departures at excellent value.

Marella

Marella Explorer 2 (approximately 1,800 guests, adults-only) — The standout in the Marella fleet. Adults-only, The Dining Club restaurant, a more refined cocktail bar programme, and the all-inclusive fare. Choose for couples wanting a grown-up British cruise at exceptional value.

Marella Voyager (approximately 2,200 guests) — The newest ship in the fleet (formerly Mein Schiff Herz, joined 2023), offering the most modern onboard experience with better cabin hardware than the older Discovery ships. Choose for the most updated Marella experience.

Marella Discovery or Discovery 2 (approximately 2,000 guests each) — The family-oriented ships with kids’ clubs, rock climbing walls, and escape rooms. Choose for family cruises where the all-inclusive pricing keeps the budget under control.

For Australian travellers specifically

The distribution model difference is the defining practical consideration for Australian travellers choosing between these lines.

Carnival is accessible from Australia. Domestic departures from Brisbane and Melbourne, Australian travel agent booking, AUD pricing through the Carnival Australia website, and the P&O Cruises Australia legacy all make Carnival a natural choice for Australian cruisers. Whether you cruise from home or fly to a US port for a Caribbean voyage, the booking process is straightforward and familiar.

Marella is a UK product. The line is marketed and sold through TUI UK. The included flights depart from UK airports. The booking currency is British pounds. The guest mix is almost entirely British. For Australians, booking a Marella cruise means first getting yourself to the United Kingdom — at your own expense and arrangement — and then joining the TUI package from a UK airport. This adds complexity and cost that makes Marella impractical as a standalone cruise booking from Australia.

Where Marella makes sense for Australians is as part of a broader UK visit. If you are already in Britain — visiting family, on a business trip, or holidaying — a Marella cruise from a UK airport is an excellent value-add. The all-inclusive pricing, included flights to the ship, and no-bill simplicity remove the stress of booking a European cruise independently. Explorer 2 for adults or one of the Discovery ships for families — both deliver genuine British holiday value at prices that undercut most competitors when the flight-inclusive nature of the fare is considered.

Neither line’s loyalty programme crosses to the other. Carnival’s VIFP Club and Marella’s loyalty programme are entirely separate. For Australian travellers, booking either line through a specialist cruise agent ensures the best fare and the most practical logistics.

The onboard atmosphere

The cultural gap between these lines is significant and reflects their national origins.

Carnival’s atmosphere is American and high-energy. Pool deck music, frozen cocktails in oversized glasses, game shows with audience participation, and a dress code that barely exists. The demographic is American families, groups of friends, and first-time cruisers. The energy is constant and participatory.

Marella’s atmosphere is British and laid-back. Quiz nights, afternoon tea, a proper pub-style bar on some ships, and West End shows. The dress code is smart casual — a step up from Carnival’s resort casual. The demographic is British families and couples, with a high proportion of first-time cruisers attracted by the all-inclusive simplicity. The atmosphere is sociable without being boisterous — friendly conversation over included drinks rather than competitive game shows.

For Australians, Carnival’s energy suits travellers who enjoy American-style holiday excess. Marella’s atmosphere suits Australians who grew up with British cultural influences — the humour, the quizzes, the afternoon tea, and the gentle social rhythm feel familiar in a way that American cruise culture does not always replicate.

The bottom line

Carnival and Marella serve the same purpose — accessible, budget-friendly cruising for families and first-timers — through entirely different models and cultural lenses. Carnival does it with scale, entertainment, and the lowest base fares. Marella does it with simplicity, inclusion, and British charm.

Choose Carnival for the most entertainment per dollar, the biggest ships, and the lowest entry-level pricing. Choose it for Carnival Luminosa from Brisbane and Melbourne. Choose it for families who want waterparks, roller coasters, and celebrity dining. Choose it if you prefer to pay a low base fare and control your spending through add-on choices. Accept the American cultural orientation and the add-on pricing model.

Choose Marella for the most transparent pricing in cruise travel — flights, meals, drinks, and tips included with no onboard bill. Choose it for Explorer 2’s adults-only atmosphere. Choose it as part of a UK visit where the included flights from a British airport add a Mediterranean or Caribbean cruise to your trip. Choose it for the certainty of knowing your total holiday cost before you leave home. Accept that the ships are older and refurbished, the entertainment is modest, and the product is designed for the British market.

For most Australian travellers, Carnival is the practical choice because of domestic departures and Australian distribution. Marella is the opportunistic choice — brilliant value when you are already in the UK, impractical when you are not. Both deliver honest cruising at honest prices, and neither pretends to be something it is not.