Marella Cruises Unveils 2028 Summer Programme with Patras as New Port of Call

Marella Cruises has unveiled its 2028 summer programme, which introduces Patras, in western Greece, as a new port of call for the line. The season includes six brand-new itineraries and four repositioning cruises, as well as an expanded cruise and stay programme that now offers 119 hotels in Mallorca, Corfu, Dubrovnik and Malaga, with departures from 22 airports across the UK and Ireland. Sales for all summer departures will open on 15 October 2026.

Patras will feature on the new 'Grecian Gems' itinerary aboard the Marella Explorer, sailing out of Corfu from July 2028. The second brand-new itinerary is 'Spanish Shores', a seven-night voyage on the Marella Explorer 2 departing from Malaga from June 2028, calling at Gibraltar, Ibiza, Mahon (Menorca), Palma de Mallorca and Cartagena, plus a day at sea.

From April 2028, four new repositioning cruises will be added. 'Sail into Spring', aboard the Marella Explorer, will offer a 10-night sailing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Corfu and an 11-night sailing from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Corfu. 'Flavours of the Mediterranean', on the Marella Discovery 2, will cover five nights between Palma and Dubrovnik, while 'Transatlantic Treasures', on the Marella Explorer 2, will link Barbados with Malaga over 13 nights, and 'Atlantic Horizons', on the Marella Voyager, will sail the same 13-night route between Barbados and Palma. These crossings will feature guest speakers, additional shows and tribute acts.

The rest of the fleet will keep its European bases: the Marella Discovery and the Marella Voyager in Palma de Mallorca, and the Marella Discovery 2 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Marella Cruises CEO Chris Hackney said demand for Eastern Mediterranean cruises remains strong, with summer 2027 already running ahead of the previous year, and that the line is returning to Malaga following the success of previous seasons. According to Seatrade Cruise, prices for the 2028 summer 'Grecian Gems' itineraries will start from £1,966.