Marella Discovery Cruise: Treasures of the Mediterranean – Review

By Mason Oldridge, July 2022

Marella Discovery’s Treasures of the Mediterranean cruise combines stops in Italy, France and Spain with a week aboard one of Marella’s best-known ships. Sailing from Palma, the itinerary includes destinations such as Sardinia, Naples, Rome, Corsica and Barcelona, alongside a full programme of entertainment, dining and activities on board.

Marella Treasures of the Mediterranean: Itinerary and Cruise Experience

The Treasures of the Mediterranean itinerary offers a mixture of historic cities, island destinations and time at sea. From Palma, the cruise heads towards Sardinia before giving passengers the opportunity to visit Pompeii, Rome and its landmarks including the Colosseum and Vatican, followed by Corsica and Barcelona before returning to Spain.

The route provides plenty of opportunities for sightseeing and excursions, but much of the appeal of a Marella Discovery cruise lies in the ship itself, with restaurants, bars, live entertainment, pools and activities filling the time between ports.

Marella Discovery – Treasures of the Mediterranean Review

“You can teach to serve but you can’t teach service” were the words of Harlequin, the Head of Entertainment on our cruise, and yes, that really is his name. His words stood out because they summed up the outstanding service we received throughout our week aboard Marella Discovery.

Arriving in Palma, we sailed towards our first stop, Sardinia. Italy is a beautiful country and, from our first morning in port, it became apparent what astonishing views we would be waking up to each day. The next stops offered trips to the eerie archaeological site of Pompeii, monuments such as the Colosseum and the Vatican in Rome, before moving on to the French island of Corsica and finally back to Spain for the chance to visit Barcelona. However, despite the opportunity to visit so many amazing places, it was the experience on board that stood out most.

Dock view of Corsica, France

Entertainment on Marella Discovery

The entertainment team, simply put, were fantastic. It might be assumed that poolside sunbathers would prefer to be left alone to sizzle in the sun, but the games and activities organised by the reps made time on the pool deck far more entertaining. The 90s and 00s rave game was a personal favourite. Whether it was a quiz or a puzzle, the reps gave it their all and had both port and starboard sides in stitches. A special mention must go to Ross, who was constantly hilarious and even played a song request in the nightclub, and Antony, a lovely guy despite always being on the losing side of the games.

The evening shows might not have been to everyone’s taste, but the cast were excellent in their performances and brought some impressive talent to the stage. At the helm of the entertainment was Harlequin, who presented the shows and joined in with the games in his friendly manner, proving a real credit to the ship’s crew.

Harlequin, the entertainment director (left), with Mason

Food and restaurants on Marella Discovery

The cruise liner was packed with food and drink venues. Guests could help themselves at the Islands buffet or choose waiter service at the more formal 47° restaurant. Whichever venue was chosen, the quality of service was consistently high, with friendly staff ensuring an enjoyable dining experience. The waiter service at 47° was excellent, although the portion sizes were rather small. Fortunately, there were plenty of other places to eat.

These included Gallery 47, the ship’s Italian restaurant, and The Glass House, a relaxed venue centred around the indoor pool and located close to the gym and spa.

Specialising in pizza, pasta and tapas, the crew went overboard, pun intended, to cater for guests and were a real asset to the team. We might have eaten there more often had there not been a dress code. The Snack Shack was ideal for a quick lunch, serving favourites including fish and chips, burgers, hot dogs and fried chicken as well as pre-packed sandwiches.

Other restaurants and cafés carried an additional charge, including The Coffee Port, Sushi Bar, Asian fusion restaurant Kora La and the Surf & Turf Steakhouse. For travellers expecting every venue to be included within the all-inclusive price, that is worth bearing in mind.

Come night-time, or perhaps earlier, there was plenty of choice when it came to drinks. The Pool Bar was a favourite during the day and the Squid & Anchor proved popular in the evening. Karaoke was a regular feature, while guests looking for something quieter could head downstairs to the Atrium Bar or Live Room for piano sessions and other music performances. The Live Room also featured a casino.

Banana daiquiri from the Pool Bar

Bars, nightlife and drinks

Understandably, Marella tailors its holidays to its core audience, but it would have been good to see more nightlife aimed at younger guests. Bar Eleven was a fantastic venue on the very top floor and could have made a brilliant nightclub, but even when the lights came on and the dancefloor opened, the soundtrack remained geared towards an older demographic.

Whichever venue guests chose, there was a wide selection of drinks available. However, many appeared on a separate premium list, which felt at odds with the idea of an all-inclusive holiday, and it was not always immediately obvious which drinks were included.

Pool and activities

The pool was the centrepiece of the ship and a mainstay during the daytime. It offered a welcome way to cool down from the Mediterranean sun and was accompanied by two hot tubs. The main drawback was the saltwater, while the pool itself felt small in relation to the size of the ship. Even so, it was difficult to look out across the blue water and sunlight and not appreciate the setting.

For more active guests, Marella Discovery offered a climbing wall, running track, mini golf course and table tennis, along with an escape room available at an additional cost. On one evening, the pool deck became an outdoor cinema and attracted a good crowd despite coinciding with the evening show. The same deck also hosted a midweek party attended by much of the ship.

Towel animals left by housekeeping

Cabins and service

However guests spent their time, they could retreat to their cabin at the end of the day to find a towel animal on the bed alongside chocolates. Whether it was a swan, crab or mouse, the gesture highlighted the dedication of the housekeeping team, whose creations were displayed during the final night’s flag parade.

Even when returning to the cabin during the day, guests were met with friendly smiles and polite welcomes across the whole floor. It was easy to understand why Harlequin’s statement about service was met with such enthusiastic applause.

Is Marella Treasures of the Mediterranean worth it?

Despite a few shortcomings, particularly the size of the pool, premium drinks and extra-cost restaurants, the Treasures of the Mediterranean cruise was a memorable week. The combination of major European destinations, varied on-board entertainment and consistently friendly service made Marella Discovery an enjoyable base for exploring the Mediterranean.

For travellers considering a Marella cruise that combines ports including Sardinia, Rome, Corsica and Barcelona with plenty to do on board, Treasures of the Mediterranean offers a strong mixture of sightseeing and traditional cruise-ship entertainment.

For current Marella cruise itineraries and booking information visit: tui.co.uk/cruise