Marella Cruises has unveiled its Summer 2028 programme, giving UK and Irish cruise travellers more choice with a new Greek port, six new itineraries and an expanded range of cruise-and-stay options.
The biggest new destination is Patras, which will join the Marella Cruises programme for the first time when Marella Explorer sails the new Grecian Gems itinerary from Corfu from July 2028. The third-largest city in Greece, Patras combines archaeological sites, historic landmarks and views across the Gulf of Patras, offering an alternative to some of the country’s busier cruise destinations.
For Marella Cruises, the addition also strengthens its focus on the Eastern Mediterranean, where the cruise line says demand remains strong. Patras will be visited throughout the summer season by Marella Explorer on seven-night sailings from Corfu.
A New Route From Malaga
The second new itinerary will take Marella Explorer 2 back to Malaga for Summer 2028. The adults-only ship will operate the new Spanish Shores itinerary from June, with the seven-night roundtrip sailing combining Spain, Gibraltar and the Balearic Islands.
The itinerary calls at Gibraltar, Ibiza Town, Mahon in Menorca, Palma de Mallorca and Cartagena, alongside a day at sea before returning to Malaga. The return to the Spanish homeport follows previous successful seasons in the region, according to Marella Cruises.
Malaga will be one of several key European homeports for the fleet during Summer 2028. Marella Discovery and Marella Voyager will operate from Palma de Mallorca, while Marella Discovery 2, the cruise line’s second adults-only ship, will be based in Dubrovnik.
Four New Repositioning Cruises
Marella Cruises is also adding four repositioning cruises from April 2028, giving passengers the opportunity to combine longer voyages with destinations that do not feature on the regular summer itineraries.
Marella Explorer will operate Sail into Spring, with a 10-night sailing from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria to Corfu and an 11-night departure from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Corfu.
On Marella Discovery 2, Flavours of the Mediterranean will sail for five nights from Palma to Dubrovnik. Marella Explorer 2 will cross the Atlantic on the 13-night Transatlantic Treasures, travelling from Barbados to Malaga, while Marella Voyager will operate the 13-night Atlantic Horizons from Barbados to Palma.
These repositioning voyages will include additional entertainment, including special guest speakers, extra shows, new showcases and tribute acts.
More Choice for UK Cruise Travellers
The 2028 programme also expands Marella Cruises’ cruise-and-stay offering. A total of 119 hotels will be available in Majorca, Corfu, Dubrovnik and Malaga, allowing passengers to combine their cruise with a hotel stay before or after sailing.
For the UK market in particular, the programme offers departures from 22 airports across the UK and Ireland. Marella Cruises continues to operate an all-inclusive model, with tips and service charges included in the cruise fare.
Chris Hackney, CEO of Marella Cruises, said the company was building on the popularity of its established homeports while responding to continued demand for Eastern Mediterranean cruises. “Demand for our Eastern Mediterranean Cruises remains strong,” Hackney said, adding that the cruise line was also returning to Malaga following the success of previous sailings from the region.
He described Patras as an “exciting addition” to the programme, alongside the new itineraries and expanded cruise-and-stay options.
The Summer 2028 sailings will go on sale on 15 October 2026, with prices starting from £1,966 for the Grecian Gems itinerary.
Pictures courtesy of Marella Cruises
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