P&O Cruises vs Marella Cruises
A detailed side-by-side comparison of P&O Cruises and Marella Cruises covering ratings, fleet size, food quality, entertainment, value for money, and available sailings from UK ports. Updated for 2026.
The head-to-head
Ratings are based on aggregated passenger reviews, editorial analysis, and expert scoring. The cobalt outline marks the stronger line for each attribute.
Who should choose which?
Every cruise line has its strengths and weaknesses. Here is an honest look at who each line is best suited for, based on passenger feedback and our editorial assessment.
Choose P&O Cruises if you want…
- UK departures (no-fly)
- Families with children
- Traditional British cruising
- Food lovers (Marco Pierre White)
P&O Cruises may not suit you if…
- Ultra-luxury seekers
- Mega-ship thrill rides
- Non-English speakers
Choose Marella Cruises if you want…
- All-inclusive simplicity
- First-time cruisers
- Budget-conscious families
- Regional UK airport departures
Marella Cruises may not suit you if…
- Luxury seekers
- Food enthusiasts
- Those wanting UK port departures (fly-cruise only)
Ships at a glance
A quick comparison of each line's fleet including passenger capacity, tonnage, and year of launch.
P&O Cruises Fleet (7 ships)
Iona
Built 2020 · 5,200 guests
Arvia
Built 2022 · 5,200 guests
Britannia
Built 2015 · 3,647 guests
Azura
Built 2010 · 3,100 guests
Ventura
Built 2008 · 3,078 guests
Arcadia
Built 2005 · 2,094 guests
Aurora
Built 2000 · 1,874 guests
Marella Cruises Fleet (5 ships)
Marella Explorer
Built 2018 · 1,924 guests
Marella Explorer 2
Built 2019 · 1,814 guests
Available cruises
Current sailings from both cruise lines. Prices shown are per person based on two sharing the lowest-grade cabin available.
P&O Cruises Sailings
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Olden · Stavanger, Norway · Kristiansand, Norway
Save 3%7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Olden · Innvikfjorden (Scenic Cruising) · Flam · Aurlandsfjord (Scenic Cruising)
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Olden · Stavanger, Norway · Kristiansand, Norway
Save 3%7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Olden · Innvikfjorden (Scenic Cruising) · Flam · Aurlandsfjord (Scenic Cruising)
Save 2%14 NIGHTSMediterranean
15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - etc.
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta
Save 4%16 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - ...
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTS7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Valletta
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Lanzarote - Tenerife
16 NIGHTS16 Night Mediterranean Cruise
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Florence - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Lanzarote - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - ...
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%15 NIGHTS15 Night Mediterranean Cruise
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Valletta · Cartagena
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille
Ports: Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier · Lanzarote
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Various ports
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%16 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome)
Ports: Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier · Lanzarote
Save 4%15 NIGHTSCruise only from Valletta
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Florence - Civitavecchia (Rome)
Ports: Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome)
Save 4%15 NIGHTSAzura
15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille ...
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Multiple Destinations
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Florence
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome)
16 NIGHTS16 Night Azura Cruise
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Various Destinations
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Florence - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Valletta
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Valletta
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSAzura from Valletta
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Valletta
15 NIGHTS15 Night Azura Cruise
Save 4%7 NIGHTS7 Night Azura Cruise
Save 4%16 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Tangier · Lanzarote
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Valletta - Cartagena - Tangier - Lanzarote - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Valletta · Cartagena
Save 4%15 NIGHTSValletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Cartagena - Tangier - Lanzarote - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Florence - Civitavecchia
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome)
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Valletta
Ports: Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia · Cartagena · Tangier · Lanzarote
Save 4%16 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Valletta - Cartagena - Tangier - Lanzarote - Tenerife - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Valletta · Cartagena
15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Various Locations
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
16 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Various Locations with Added Stops
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Multiple Locations
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%15 NIGHTSValletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Valletta - Cartagena - Tangier - Lanzarote - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Florence - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Valletta
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome)
Save 4%16 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%16 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSLondon fly cruise
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Valletta
Save 4%15 NIGHTSBristol fly cruise
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%7 NIGHTSValletta - Marseille - Florence - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Valletta
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Florence · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Valletta
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Marseille - Livorno - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Cartagena - Tangier - Lanzarote - Tenerife
Ports: Valletta · Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier
Save 4%15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Multiple Ports - Valletta
15 NIGHTSDeparting Valletta - Valletta - Various
Ports: Marseille · Livorno · Civitavecchia (Rome) · Cartagena · Tangier · Lanzarote
Save 4%15 NIGHTSBristol fly cruise from
Marella Cruises Sailings
7 NIGHTSAegean Gems from Cyprus
Ports: Limassol · Souda Bay · Piraeus · Izmir · Mykonos · Rhodes
7 NIGHTSHighlights of the Mediterranean from Majorca
Ports: Palma · Majorca · Ajaccio · Corsica · Civitavecchia (tours to Rome) · Livorno (tours to Florence/Pisa)
7 NIGHTSMediterranean Moments from Dubrovnik
Save 10%11 NIGHTSTransatlantic Passage to Paradise from Malaga to Barbados
Ports: Malaga · St. John's, Antigua · Roseau · Bridgetown, Barbados
14 NIGHTSEscape to the Caribbean from Malaga
Ports: Malaga · Tangier · St. John's · Basseterre · Roseau · Castries
Save 2%7 NIGHTSCanary Islands Explorer
Save 2%14 NIGHTSParadise Islands & A Christmas in the Tropics from Barbados
Ports: Bridgetown, Barbados · St. John's, Antigua · Road Town, Tortola · Philipsburg, St. Maarten · Basseterre, St. Kitts · Roseau
7 NIGHTSCanarian Flavours
Ports: Tenerife · Gran Canaria · Lanzarote · Agadir · Funchal · La Palma
7 NIGHTSAtlantic Islands from Tenerife
14 NIGHTSA Taste of the Tropics & Paradise Islands from Barbados
Ports: Bridgetown, Barbados · Castries, St. Lucia · Pointe-à-Pitre · St. George's, Grenada · Scarborough, Tobago · Kingstown, St. Vincent & Grenadines
7 NIGHTSCanarian Flavours
Ports: Tenerife · Gran Canaria · Lanzarote · Agadir · Funchal · La Palma
14 NIGHTSParadise Islands & A Christmas in the Tropics from Barbados
P&O Cruises vs Marella Cruises: the bottom line
Choosing between P&O Cruises and Marella Cruises ultimately comes down to what kind of holiday you are looking for. Both are well-established cruise lines with loyal followings, but they cater to different preferences and budgets.
P&O Cruises, founded in 1837 and headquartered in Southampton, UK, operates a fleet of 7 ships. It is categorised as a premium cruise line and scores 4.5/5 overall based on 12,400 reviews. The line is particularly strong for uk departures (no-fly) and families with children, making it a natural choice for cruisers who value those attributes.
Marella Cruises, established in 1995 from Luton, UK, has a fleet of 5 ships. As a value line rated 4.1/5 from 7,800 reviews, it excels at all-inclusive simplicity and first-time cruisers. If those are your priorities, Marella Cruises deserves serious consideration.
On food, P&O Cruises scores 8/10 compared to Marella Cruises's 5/10. For entertainment, P&O Cruises comes in at 7/10 versus Marella Cruises's 6/10. Value for money favours Marella Cruises with a score of 9/10.
Our recommendation: browse the available sailings above and compare itineraries, dates, and total cost including what is bundled in the fare. The best cruise line is the one that matches your specific needs, budget, and travel dates. Use the scores as a guide, but remember that individual ship and itinerary matter just as much as the cruise line brand.
P&O Cruises vs Marella Cruises — FAQ
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