If you’re a UK traveler looking for a cruise without blowing the holiday budget, Marella vs. P&O Cruises is a particularly useful comparison.
Both brands have strong British identities, sail from UK ports, offer Mediterranean and European itineraries, and cater heavily to British vacationers. But the onboard experience is noticeably different.
Marella Cruises is built around the simplicity of a TUI-style holiday at sea, with an especially strong all-inclusive proposition. P&O Cruises offers a more traditional cruise experience with larger ships, more dining choices, sophisticated entertainment, and a broader range of onboard experiences.
So which is better for your money? Here are 12 key comparisons between these two cruise lines.
If you’re considering P&O Cruises and want a broader comparison of how it stacks up against another popular British cruise line, see our P&O Cruises vs Ambassador Cruises guide.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison
| Category | Marella Cruises | P&O Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple budget holidays | Traditional cruising |
| UK departures | Excellent | Excellent |
| All-inclusive value | Winner | Good |
| Drinks | Strong | Usually extra/package |
| Dining variety | Good | Excellent |
| Ships | Smaller | Larger |
| Entertainment | Strong | Excellent |
| Families | Very good | Excellent |
| Nightlife | Relaxed | More varied |
| Atmosphere | Casual & friendly | Traditional & polished |
| Cabins | Comfortable | More choice |
| Destinations | Strong Europe focus | Broad European & global range |
| Best for budget | Marella | P&O |
| Best overall cruise experience | Marella | P&O |
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Overall Cruise Style
Marella Cruises
Marella’s biggest selling point is that it feels more like a holiday package at sea than a traditional cruise vacation.
The atmosphere is casual, friendly, and distinctly British. You can spend the day by the pool, grab a drink, attend entertainment, and explore the port without feeling like you need to dress up or follow a complicated onboard routine.
P&O Cruises
P&O is more recognizably a traditional cruise line.
Its newer ships, including Arvia and Iona, combine large-scale resort facilities with British touches such as pubs, afternoon tea, traditional entertainment, and formal dining options.
Winner: P&O for the overall cruise experience.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Which Is Better Value?
Marella Cruises
This is where Marella becomes difficult to beat.
Its all-inclusive approach can cover meals, selected drinks, entertainment, and other major parts of the holiday, depending on the booking and sailing. That makes it easier to work out your actual holiday cost before departure.
You aren’t constantly calculating whether another cocktail, restaurant visit, or evening activity is going to increase the bill.
P&O Cruises
P&O can offer very competitive cruise fares, especially when promotions are running.
However, travelers need to look beyond the headline price. Drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, excursions, and other extras can increase the final cost depending on what you choose.
Winner: Marella.
For budget-conscious travelers who want predictable spending, Marella’s all-inclusive model is the stronger proposition.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Drinks
Marella Cruises
Drinks are one of Marella’s biggest advantages. On eligible all-inclusive bookings, passengers can enjoy a broad selection of drinks without having to purchase a separate drinks package.
That can make a substantial difference for couples and groups who enjoy wine, beer, or cocktails throughout the day.
P&O Cruises
P&O has extensive bars and lounges, but drinks are generally an additional expense unless you purchase an applicable package or fare that includes them.
For passengers who don’t drink much, this isn’t necessarily a problem. For passengers who do, the costs can add up.
Winner: Marella.
If you’re comparing the total holiday price rather than just the cruise fare, Marella has the clear advantage here.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Dining
Marella Cruises
Marella offers a good selection of restaurants, buffets, and casual dining venues.
The emphasis is on accessible food and convenience rather than an enormous number of specialty restaurants. For an all-inclusive cruise, the dining proposition is more than adequate.
P&O Cruises
P&O has the stronger culinary lineup. Its newer ships offer multiple restaurants, casual dining venues, specialty restaurants, and distinctive concepts.
You’ll also find British favorites alongside international cuisine. On ships such as Iona and Arvia, passengers have considerably more choice about where and how they eat.
Winner: P&O Cruises.
P&O provides a more sophisticated and varied dining experience.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Ship Size & Facilities
Marella Cruises
Marella’s ships are large enough to provide plenty of facilities without becoming enormous floating cities.
That’s a major benefit for passengers who dislike excessive walking and huge crowds. The ships are generally easy to navigate after a day or two onboard.
P&O Cruises
P&O’s newer ships are substantially larger.
Iona and Arvia are among the largest ships in the P&O fleet and offer multiple pools, restaurants, entertainment venues, bars, and activity spaces.
Winner: P&O.
If onboard facilities are important, P&O’s newer ships have more to offer.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Entertainment
Marella Cruises
Marella provides plenty of entertainment for a mainstream cruise. Expect theater productions, comedians, live music, quizzes, pool activities, and evening shows. The entertainment is designed to be accessible rather than spectacular.
P&O Cruises
P&O has a more extensive entertainment operation. Its newer ships feature large theaters, production shows, live music, comedy, guest performers, and a wider selection of evening venues.
Winner: P&O Cruises.
P&O simply offers more variety and larger-scale production.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Families
Marella Cruises
Marella is a strong option for families who want an easy holiday.
Its ships offer children’s clubs, family activities, and entertainment, particularly during school holidays. The smaller scale can also make it easier for parents to keep track of children.
P&O Cruises
P&O is especially strong for families on ships such as Arvia and Iona.
You’ll find children’s clubs, dedicated youth spaces, family pools, entertainment, and plenty of activities. The larger ships also provide teenagers with more places to spend time independently.
Winner: P&O.
For families who want the largest selection of onboard facilities, P&O has the advantage.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Cabins
Marella Cruises
Marella’s cabins are practical and comfortable.
You’ll find inside, outside, balcony, and suite categories, depending on the ship. The focus is on giving passengers a comfortable base rather than turning every cabin into a luxury experience.
P&O Cruises
P&O offers a broader selection of accommodation.
Alongside standard inside and outside cabins, there are balcony cabins, suites, and family-friendly options. The newer ships also have more contemporary cabin designs.
Winner: P&O.
The difference isn’t enormous, but P&O provides more variety.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Nightlife
Marella Cruises
Marella’s nightlife is lively but relaxed.
You can move between bars, live music, shows, and late-night entertainment without the atmosphere becoming excessively formal or club-oriented.
It works particularly well for couples and groups who want drinks and entertainment rather than all-night partying.
P&O Cruises
P&O offers more variety.
Depending on the ship, passengers can enjoy cocktail bars, pubs, live music, theaters, late-night venues, and other entertainment. The larger ships provide more places to spend an evening.
Winner: P&O.
If nightlife is important, P&O gives you more options.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Atmosphere
Marella Cruises
Marella feels informal and friendly.
There’s a strong British holiday atmosphere, and you won’t feel out of place wearing casual clothes around the ship. It is particularly appealing to travelers who don’t want cruising to feel too formal.
P&O Cruises
P&O is also unmistakably British, but its atmosphere is more polished.
You can dress casually most of the time, while special evenings and formal dining provide opportunities to dress up. It feels more like a traditional cruise holiday.
Winner: Depends on your preference.
Marella = casual British holiday. P&O = polished British cruise.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: U.K. Departures
Marella Cruises
Marella is highly convenient for British travelers.
The line regularly operates itineraries designed around UK holidaymakers, with European destinations that are particularly easy to reach. For someone trying to avoid complicated international travel, this is a major benefit.
P&O Cruises
This is another area where P&O is extremely strong. P&O has a long-established presence at UK cruise ports, including Southampton. That means British travelers can often begin their holiday without flying.
Winner: Tie.
Both are excellent choices if you want to drive or take a train to your cruise rather than start the holiday at an airport.
Marella vs. P&O Cruises: Itineraries
Marella Cruises
Marella has a strong European offering.
Popular regions include the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, and Northern Europe, alongside longer-haul destinations.
The itineraries are particularly well suited to travelers looking for a straightforward holiday rather than an ultra-specialized expedition.
P&O Cruises
P&O has a broader cruise portfolio.
It offers Mediterranean cruises, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, and longer voyages. Its UK departure network also makes European cruising particularly convenient.
Winner: P&O, narrowly.
P&O offers more variety, although Marella covers the most popular European cruise regions very well.
Marella vs P&O Cruises: Which Is Better for Couples?
Marella Cruises
Marella is ideal for couples who want:
- Simple all-inclusive budgeting
- Casual evenings
- Plenty of drinks included
- Relaxed entertainment
- European destinations
- A straightforward holiday
P&O Cruises
P&O is better for couples who want:
- More restaurants
- Larger ships
- Better nightlife
- More sophisticated entertainment
- More cabin choices
- A traditional cruise atmosphere
Marella vs P&O Cruises: Which Is Better for Families?
Marella Cruises
Marella provides a more manageable family environment. It’s particularly attractive if parents want an all-inclusive holiday where food and many drinks are already accounted for.
P&O Cruises
P&O’s larger ships provide more family entertainment and dedicated facilities. For older children and teenagers, the additional onboard space can be particularly useful.
Winner: P&O.
Marella vs P&O Cruises: Which Is Better for Budget Travelers?
Marella Cruises
Marella is the stronger choice if your definition of budget means knowing your final holiday cost before you leave.
The all-inclusive structure reduces the number of additional expenses you’ll encounter onboard.
P&O Cruises
P&O can have cheaper headline fares, especially during promotions. But once you add drinks, specialty dining, the internet, and other extras, the difference can shrink.
Winner: Marella.
Which Should You Book?
| If You Want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Best all-inclusive value | Marella |
| Easier budgeting | Marella |
| Drinks included | Marella |
| Casual atmosphere | Marella |
| British holiday feel | Both |
| Larger ships | P&O |
| More restaurants | P&O |
| Better entertainment variety | P&O |
| More family facilities | P&O |
| More nightlife | P&O |
| More cabin choices | P&O |
| Traditional cruising | P&O |
| UK departures | Both |
| Best for budget travelers | Marella |
| Best overall cruise experience | P&O |
Final Verdict: Marella vs P&O Cruises
So, Marella vs. P&O Cruises, which is the better budget cruise line for UK travelers?
If the question is strictly about value and simplicity, Marella wins.
Its all-inclusive approach makes it easier to control your holiday budget, particularly if you enjoy drinks and don’t want to constantly add extras to your cruise bill.
But if you’re asking which line provides the better overall cruise experience, I’d give that to P&O Cruises.
P&O’s newer ships offer more restaurants, entertainment, family facilities, cabin choices, and onboard experiences. Its ships also feel more like traditional cruise resorts.
Overall Winner: Marella for Budget Value, P&O for the Better Cruise
Choose Marella if you want an affordable, relaxed, British all-inclusive holiday and care more about value than having the newest or biggest ship.
Choose P&O if you want a more sophisticated cruise experience, larger ships, and more dining and entertainment choices, and don’t mind paying extra for some onboard services.
FAQs: Marella vs. P&O Cruises
1. Is Marella cheaper than P&O Cruises?
Marella can offer better overall value, particularly because of its all-inclusive approach. P&O may have a lower starting fare, but additional costs for drinks, dining, and other extras can increase the final price.
2. Is Marella really all-inclusive?
Marella offers an all-inclusive cruise model, but exact inclusions depend on the specific fare and sailing. Check your booking terms carefully rather than assuming every Marella fare includes everything.
3. Which is better for families, Marella or P&O?
P&O generally wins for families because its larger ships offer more children’s facilities, entertainment, and onboard activities. Marella is still a strong choice if straightforward all-inclusive value is the priority.
4. Which has better ships, Marella or P&O?
P&O has the edge, particularly with newer ships such as Arvia and Iona. They offer larger public spaces, more restaurants, entertainment, and onboard facilities.
5. Should I choose Marella or P&O Cruises?
Choose Marella if your priority is all-inclusive value, simple budgeting, and a relaxed British holiday. Choose P&O if you want larger ships, more dining and entertainment, and a more traditional cruise experience.
