Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines vs Marella Cruises
A detailed side-by-side comparison of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines 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 Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines if you want…
- No-fly cruising from UK
- Small-ship intimacy
- Unusual itineraries
- Solo travellers (low supplements)
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines may not suit you if…
- Families with children
- Those wanting mega-ship facilities
- Modern luxury seekers
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.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Fleet (4 ships)
Borealis
Built 2021 · 1,360 guests
Bolette
Built 2021 · 1,380 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.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Sailings
Save 3%5 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%13 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%9 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%13 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 9%12 NIGHTS12 Night Mediterranean Discovery
Ports: Cadiz · Malaga · Cartagena · Gibraltar
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%8 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%14 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%5 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
5 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%6 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
1 NIGHTSOne Night Mini Cruise from Rosyth
Ports: Rosyth · Newcastle
5 NIGHTSExploring the Landscapes of Green Spain from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Getxo (tours to Bilbao) · Santander
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%9 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Save 2%11 NIGHTSExploring the Scenic British Isles
Ports: Southampton · Belfast · Tobermory · Kirkwall · Stornoway · Galway
Save 3%5 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%12 NIGHTSSpain & the River Cities of France
Save 2%7 NIGHTSRegions of Northern Spain
Ports: Southampton · Santander · Getxo · Gijón · La Coruña
Save 3%16 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 3%8 NIGHTSWestern Europe
23 NIGHTSIslands & Bays of the Mediterranean from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Ceuta · Cartagena · Cagliari · Messina · Siracusa
Save 3%16 NIGHTSMediterranean
14 NIGHTSCanary Islands & Geminid Meteor Shower from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Leixoes · Funchal · Santa Cruz de La Palma · Santa Cruz · Vigo
Save 3%6 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
5 NIGHTSA Celebration of Dance at Sea with Dame Arlene Philips & Ian Waite!
Ports: Southampton · Amsterdam · Honfleur
Save 3%6 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
15 NIGHTSCanary Islands Christmas & Cadiz New Year from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Santa Cruz de La Palma · Santa Cruz · Las Palmas · Puerto del Rosario · Cadiz
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 3%16 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%8 NIGHTSFrance & Belgium Easter Break
7 NIGHTSCapitals & Cultures of Scandinavia
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%14 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%9 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
9 NIGHTSScenic Summertime Fjords of Norway from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Andalsnes · Olden · Skjolden · Bergen
5 NIGHTSScottish Isles Bank Holiday Break from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Kirkwall, Orkney Islands · Lerwick, Shetland Islands
5 NIGHTSBank Holiday Fjords of Norway from Newcastle
Ports: Newcastle · Lysefjord · Bergen · Ulvik · Hardangerfjord · Maurangerfjord
Marella Cruises Sailings
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Palma de Mallorca
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Limassol
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Dubrovnik
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Palma de Mallorca
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Limassol
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Dubrovnik
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 3%7 NIGHTSGrecian Discovery from Cyprus
Ports: Limassol · Piraeus (tours to Athens) · Thira, Santorini · Bodrum · Heraklion, Crete · Rhodes Town, Rhodes
Save 2%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Dubrovnik
Save 2%7 NIGHTSAegean Gems from Cyprus
Ports: Limassol · Souda Bay · Piraeus · Izmir · Mykonos · Rhodes
Save 10%11 NIGHTSTransatlantic Passage to Paradise from Malaga to Barbados
Ports: Malaga · St. John's, Antigua · Roseau · Bridgetown, Barbados
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
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines vs Marella Cruises: the bottom line
Choosing between Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines 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.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, founded in 1848 and headquartered in Ipswich, UK, operates a fleet of 4 ships. It is categorised as a traditional cruise line and scores 4.4/5 overall based on 5,600 reviews. The line is particularly strong for no-fly cruising from uk and small-ship intimacy, 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, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines scores 6/10 compared to Marella Cruises's 5/10. For entertainment, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines comes in at 5/10 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.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines vs Marella Cruises — FAQ
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