Top itineraries for spring sunshine with Marella Cruises
Spring cleaning usually refers to a house, but what about shedding the cobwebs in your mind, dusting off your passport, and refreshing your outlook for the year ahead? That's right, it's time to slough off winter hibernation mode and throw on your sunnies.
Pick from the volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands, Caribbean beaches, ancient Mediterranean cities or beyond; there's plenty of choice for a spring-in-your-step escape with British cruise line Marella Cruises. Plus, the brand's all-inclusive fly-cruise packages cover flights, transfers, meals, standard drinks, entertainment and tips.
March offers opportunities for Caribbean sunshine and Atlantic island-hopping, while May is an appealing time to explore the Mediterranean before the busiest (and sweatiest) summer months. Here are seven sailings worth considering, whether you're after an adults-only adventure or a family foray.
For a grown-up Caribbean getaway
- Itinerary: Cocktails and Coconuts
- Holiday type: adults-only
- Ship: Marella Explorer 2
- Duration: 7 nights
- Sailing from: Bridgetown, Barbados
- Date: 11 March 2027
In the UK, March is still a little nippy, so if the promise of warm seas, vibrant island towns and a cocktail or five appeals, we're very much with you. Sailing aboard adults-only Marella Explorer 2, this Caribbean itinerary calls at sun-soaked Antigua, St Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, St Kitts and Guadeloupe.
Fun fact: the island of Saint Martin is divided between Dutch (St Maarten) and French (Saint Martin) territories. Dutch-side Philipsburg is more duty-free shopping and beachfront bars, while French-side Marigot is croissants and, well, je ne sais quoi.
To see more of the coastline, Marella's powerboat excursion heads through Simpson Bay, past luxury yachts, before stopping for snorkelling and time on a white-sand beach.
Verdant St Kitts is more mountainous, with rainforest-covered slopes and a landscape shaped by its sugar-growing past. Its historic Scenic Railway offers a memorable way to chuff past former plantation country with views of volcanic peaks and the coast.
Elsewhere, Guadeloupe adds another French-Caribbean dimension, with Pointe-à-Pitre's markets, lush inland scenery and beaches offering plenty of possibilities for a day ashore. Fantastique!
Climate in St Kitts
- 29°C max daytime temperature
29 - 8 hours of sunshine per day
- 13 days with some rainfall
13 - 36 mm monthly rainfall
36
The above guide shows the climate in St Kitts. Find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in the Caribbean.
For volcanic adventures & Atlantic island-hopping
- Itinerary: Canarian Flavours
- Holiday type: adults-only
- Ship: Marella Explorer
- Duration: 7 nights
- Sailing from: Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
- Date: 13 March 2027
The Canary Islands might share a reputation for sunshine, but their landscapes are anything but alike, and this pre-Easter adults-only sailing reveals their contrasts.
Fuerteventura is famous for its long sandy beaches, particularly around Corralejo, where enormous dunes roll towards turquoise water. Venture inland, however, and you'll discover a more rugged island of traditional villages and volcanic mountains.
Marella's 4x4 excursion explores both sides, taking in Mount Tindaya (considered sacred by the island's Indigenous people) and the fishing village of El Cotillo.
Meanwhile, little La Gomera feels a world away from the larger Canaries: deep ravines, forested mountains and tiny settlements dominate the landscape. On an island tour, visitors can discover El Silbo, the remarkable whistling language traditionally used to communicate across its valleys.
Then there's Madeira, whose green mountains and colourful capital, Funchal, provide another change of scenery. Explore the old town, ride the cable car towards Monte or head out on the Atlantic in search of whales and dolphins, like a modern-day Captain Ahab (minus the harpoons).
Climate in Fuerteventura
- 21°C max daytime temperature
21 - 7 hours of sunshine per day
- 3 days with some rainfall
3 - 14 mm monthly rainfall
14
The above guide shows the climate in Corralejo, Fuerteventura. Find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in the Canary Islands.
For tropical beaches & rainforest thrills
- Itinerary: Paradise Islands
- Holiday type: family-friendly
- Ship: Marella Voyager
- Duration: 7 nights
- Sailing from: Bridgetown, Barbados
- Date: 21 March 2027
The Caribbean's headliners are undeniably its beaches, but this itinerary shows there's much more to the region than white sand and azure water (although sunbathing for the week is still very much encouraged).
Antigua delivers the classic Caribbean postcard, with palm-fringed bays, colourful streets and the historic Nelson's Dockyard, a beautifully preserved Georgian naval base. You can even explore the coastline on horseback before enjoying an optional swim for full travelling-back-in-time kicks.
The British Virgin Islands offer a quieter, laid-back atmosphere, thanks to Tortola's tropical gardens and sheltered bays. Dominica, meanwhile, is nicknamed the 'Nature Island'; it's covered in dense rainforest, with volcanic mountains, waterfalls and rivers cutting through the greenery.
For a splashingly fun introduction, Marella offers a river-tubing excursion along the Layou River, followed by a visit to a rainforest waterfall. Alternatively, discover the island's famous Emerald Pool or snorkel among the geothermal bubbles at Champagne Reef.
Why not ingest some bubbly back on-board, too? Prosecco is included in Marella's all-inclusive package, remember!
Climate in Dominica
- 30°C max daytime temperature
30 - 8 hours of sunshine per day
- 15 days with some rainfall15
- 93 mm monthly rainfall
93
The above guide shows the climate in Roseau, Dominica. Find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in the Caribbean.
For medieval towns & mountain scenery
- Itinerary: Adriatic Adventure
- Holiday type: adults-only
- Ship: Marella Discovery 2
- Duration: 7 nights
- Sailing from: Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Date: 6 May 2027
DUN dun, da-da-DUN dun, da-da-DUN dun... That's the Game of Thrones theme tune, obviously, and it's what you can play (in your head or, indeed, on Spotify) as you sail the Adriatic's dramatic coastline, feeling like you're bidding for the Iron Throne.
It's not entirely fanciful, either. This itinerary visits Croatia, stopping at Split, where nearby Klis Fortress doubled as the fictional city of Meereen in the hit series. But the real-life scenery gives Westeros a run for its money.
After all, few arrivals are as memorable as Kotor in Montenegro. The ship sails into a sheltered bay surrounded by steep green mountains before reaching a walled town of cobbled squares, stone churches and narrow alleyways.
Swot up on Kotor's Venetian heritage via a guided walking tour with Marella, swinging by the UNESCO-listed old town, home to the impressive Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, dating back to 1166.
Further north, Koper is a small Slovenian port with Italian influences, elegant squares and medieval streets. Cruisers can happily hang out here, but those looking to explore further can also head into the country's remarkable interior.
Marella's full-day excursion here covers Ljubljana, Slovenia's charming riverside capital, and Lake Bled, where a tiny island church sits beneath a clifftop castle and the surrounding mountains.
Climate in Croatia
- 21°C max daytime temperature21
- 8 hours of sunshine per day
- 12 days with some rainfall
12 - 69 mm monthly rainfall
69
The above guide shows the climate in Split, Croatia. Find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in the Mediterranean.
For Renaissance art & riviera glamour
- Itinerary: Mediterranean Medley
- Holiday type: family-friendly
- Ship: Marella Discovery
- Duration: 7 nights
- Sailing from: Palma, Majorca
- Date: 11 May 2027
Time to give those rusty language GCSEs a good spring clean, too! Italy, France and Spain are the Med's big hitters, and this voyage ticks off plenty of the standout stars.
Livorno port is the gateway to gorgeous Tuscany, where Florence's grand piazzas, churches and world-famous art collections await (no giggling at Michelangelo's naked David, please; it's not always warm in Italy...).
Alternatively, head to Pisa to admire its Leaning Tower, or climb the 296 steps to the top on Marella's dedicated excursion.
Over on the French Riviera, it's bonjour to Villefranche, a pretty harbour town of pastel-coloured buildings and waterfront cafés, while Nice and Monaco are also within reach. Marella's excursion in the latter visits the principality's historic sights and follows part of the famous Grand Prix circuit.
Further along the coast, Toulon boasts Provençal character, and in Tarragona there's Roman history aplenty.
In Valencia, you'll find both a historic old town and modern architecture. Its futuristic City of Arts and Sciences is home to Oceanogràfic, Europe's largest aquarium (fried egg jellyfish, anyone?), making it an appealing stop for families.
Climate in the French Riviera
- 19°C max daytime temperature19
- 8 hours of sunshine per day
- 11 days with some rainfall11
- 61 mm monthly rainfall61
The above guide shows the climate in Villefranche, France. Find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in the Mediterranean.
For ancient wonders & Greek island escapes
- Itinerary: Aegean Shores
- Holiday type: family-friendly
- Ship: Marella Explorer
- Duration: 7 nights
- Sailing from: Corfu Town, Corfu
- Date: 14 May 2027
If genuine ancient mythology is on your holiday bucket list (although Greek legends are no less shocking than George R. R. Martin's concoctions, mind), this temple-toting itinerary is a good introduction to Greece and the eastern Mediterranean, and comes with considerably more feta.
From Corfu, the ship sails to Piraeus, gateway to Athens, where the Acropolis rises above a sprawling city of historic neighbourhoods and bustling streets.
A guided excursion takes visitors up to the Parthenon, while the tavernas and shops of Plaka offer a more leisurely way to spend the afternoon.
In Turkey, don't miss Ephesus, one of the Mediterranean's most gobsmacking ancient cities; its marble streets lead past the magnificent Library of Celsus and an enormous Roman theatre.
Marella also offers an excursion combining the ruins with the House of the Virgin Mary (traditionally believed to be where Mary spent her final years after Jesus's crucifixion). Santorini, well, you'll know about its whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches thanks to the myriad influencers clogging up Thira's alleyways.
If you don't fancy joining the scrum, Marella's Volcano & Thermal Springs excursion takes you across the volcanic terrain of Nea Kameni, then on a boat trip to the mineral-rich waters near Palea Kameni. Iron deposits can turn the sea a rusty orange, so leave the white swimsuit onboard unless you fancy looking like you've been Tangoed.
Climate in Greece
- 24°C max daytime temperature
24 - 10 hours of sunshine per day
- 5 days with some rainfall
5 - 23 mm monthly rainfall23
The above guide shows the climate in Athens, Greece. Find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in the Mediterranean.
For wine, winding streets & Moroccan colour
- Itinerary: Iberian Treasures
- Holiday type: adults-only
- Ship: Marella Explorer 2
- Duration: 7 nights
- Sailing from: Málaga, Spain
- Date: 19 May 2027
Back east, this adults-only cruise plates up a Moor-ish (geddit?) mix of North African and European cultures. From M´laga, the ship visits Gibraltar before heading north to Leixões, the port for Porto.
Portugal's second city is famous for its port wine, but there's plenty more to discover, from the grand São Bento railway station, decorated with thousands of blue-and-white tiles, to the buzzy Ribeira district on the banks of the Douro. Those after a beach day (and fresh seafood) can head to the sands of Matosinhos, close to the cruise port.
Lisbon is equally rewarding to explore on foot. Its historic neighbourhoods are a maze of steep cobbled lanes and traditional cafés, with trams rattling past viewpoints overlooking the Tagus. Highlights include Alfama, Belém Tower and the lively Bairro Alto district.
Oh, and munching on a buttery, delicious pastel de nata; the pastry's origins are traditionally traced to the monks of Jerónimos Monastery, so it must be good for you, right?
Across the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier introduces a different world of bustling souks and Moorish architecture. Roam alone or take Marella's excursion to nearby Asilah, the whitewashed coastal town is known for its painted murals, blue-accented medina and centuries-old ramparts overlooking the sea.
Climate in Portugal
- 22°C max daytime temperature
22 - 9 hours of sunshine per day
- 8 days with some rainfall
8 - 39 mm monthly rainfall39
The above guide shows the climate in Lisbon, Portugal. Find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in the Atlantic.
Ready to set sail? Don't miss the latest offers on itineraries with Marella Cruises, which has many more sailings to choose from throughout spring 2027.
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