Princess Cruises vs Marella: Which Cruise Line Is Better?

Choosing a cruise line can feel surprisingly difficult.

Every cruise company promises incredible food, amazing entertainment and unforgettable holidays — but once you start researching, they can all begin to sound exactly the same.

Having now sailed with both Marella Cruises and Princess Cruises, we thought it was finally time to compare them honestly.

Not as cruise experts.
Not as travel agents.
Just as genuine travellers who love cruising.

And the truth is — both cruise lines do certain things brilliantly.

First Impressions

Marella Cruises

Marella feels friendly, relaxed and immediately approachable.

There’s a very easy-going atmosphere onboard which makes it particularly appealing for:

• first-time cruisers
• families
• relaxed sunshine holidays
• people who dislike formality

It feels very “British holiday abroad” in the best possible way.

Princess Cruises

Our first experience aboard Sky Princess felt noticeably more premium from the moment we stepped onboard.

The décor, layout and overall atmosphere felt elevated without ever becoming stuffy or pretentious.

It still felt relaxed — just calmer and more refined.

Food Comparison

Food is one of the biggest talking points on any cruise.

And for us, this was one area where there was a noticeable difference.

Marella Food

We’ve always enjoyed the food onboard Marella ships.

There’s plenty of choice, generous portions and a relaxed dining atmosphere that suits casual cruising really well.

You’re never short of options and there’s usually something for everyone.

Princess Cruises Food

The food onboard Sky Princess genuinely impressed us.

The overall quality felt a step above what we’d previously experienced. There was a great balance between comfort food and more refined dishes, with consistently high standards throughout the cruise.

The dining experience overall simply felt more premium.

Entertainment Comparison

Entertainment is hugely important to us on a cruise — and this category was actually much closer than expected.

Marella Entertainment

This is where Marella Cruises really excels.

The entertainment teams are energetic, engaging and create a genuinely fun atmosphere onboard.

There’s always something happening and the ships have a lively holiday feel that many people absolutely love.

Marella’s onboard service also deserves huge praise. The staff consistently create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Princess Cruises Entertainment

The entertainment onboard Sky Princess was excellent and honestly exceeded expectations.

The theatre productions felt close to West End standard and the guest acts throughout the cruise were extremely strong.

While the atmosphere felt slightly calmer than Marella overall, the quality of the shows was outstanding.

Cabin Comparison

Marella Cabins

Marella cabins are comfortable, practical and perfectly suitable for most cruises.

Depending on the ship, some cabins can feel slightly dated compared to newer cruise lines, but we’ve always found them clean and functional.

Princess Cruises Cabins

Our balcony cabin onboard Sky Princess was one of the highlights of the cruise.

Modern, spacious and extremely comfortable.

On our Norwegian Fjords sailing, sitting on the balcony surrounded by snow-covered mountains became one of our favourite travel memories ever.

For scenic itineraries especially, the balcony experience completely elevated the cruise.