Marella Cruises adventure from Norwich to Greece and Turkey

I have seen panoramic sunrises and sunsets that can only be described as sublime. I have had enough pina coladas to make a coconut blush. I have seen more sun than a Californian raisin. 

After an incredible seven-day adventure across the Aegean Sea on board Tui’s Marella Cruises, I am hooked on the joys of cruising and within hours of returning, I was already looking to set sail again.

Owen Sennitt and his partner Kelly got to see the sights of Istanbul while on a Tui cruise holiday (Image: Owen Sennitt)

In July, my partner Kelly and I had the privilege of being invited on Marella Cruises' Marella Discovery ship for the Ottoman Odyssey cruise, which visits six destinations in Greece and Turkey.

Together with more than 1,800 passengers, we explored the mesmerising streets of Istanbul, ancient ruins on the historic islands of Bozcaada, Crete and Rhodes and the port towns of Marmaris and Bodrum.

Tui's Marella Discovery, which caters for about 2,000 passengers, sails to a range of destinations across the Mediterranean and beyond (Image: Tui)

I'll admit I was initially somewhat sceptical about cruise holidays – I thought it may be more geared towards families or retirees.

But I was wrong and we both found there was so much to experience that there was never a dull moment.

RELAXATION FROM THE OUTSET

Since moving to Norwich nearly a decade ago, holidays abroad have often got to a chaotic and stressful start.

Getting a bus in the early hours of the morning or a train that arrives in the nick of time to a London airport is usually the routine.

But flying from Norwich has been a revelation, helping it turn into a relaxing experience right from the outset. Why did I not do this before?

While Norwich is small, it has all the facilities you need and going through security and checking in was a breeze.

You can fly from Norwich Airport to a wide range of Mediterranean destinations (Image: Tui)

Our flight to the Turkish airport of Dalaman went off without a hitch, despite a recent global tech outage that caused many larger airports to face huge delays.

By late afternoon following a short coach transfer, we were on board at the lively port town of Marmaris in southern Turkey.

I had also downloaded the Tui app beforehand, which made keeping track of our itinerary effortless.

The outdoor pool on board Tui's Marella Discovery was always a hive of activity day and night (Image: Tui)

LIFE ON BOARD

Arriving in our balcony room, we were greeted by panoramic views of the harbour and a bottle of fizz on ice, which was swiftly popped open.

Our balcony room was very spacious and comfortable (Image: Owen Sennitt)

It has everything you would need inside and ample storage. Throughout our stay, our home was kept in tip-top condition by Jemali, Ketut and Mark, who made us feel welcome and cared for, especially thanks to the little chocolates on the pillow at night.

We were greeted with a bottle of bubbly on ice, which we enjoyed while marvelling at the view across the port of Marmaris (Image: Owen Sennitt)

The ship is vast, with two swimming pools, numerous bars and restaurants, gym, casino and even a Broadway-style theatre, which had entertainment to enjoy every night.

Kelly enjoying a glass of fizz while sitting on our private balcony (Image: Owen Sennitt)

We enjoyed learning some Latin dance moves, which we later got to try out at the club, which stays open till 2am.

The Six Strings show was great fun - performers sang and danced through a medley of countryfied pop hits (Image: Owen Sennitt) The entertainment was fantastic and these events really helped bring everyone together – particularly the deck parties which were soundtracked by some great musical acts. Four Tunes, billed as the best band on the seven seas, lived up to the high praise.

Relaxing poolside with a pina colada was a delightful way to spend an afternoon (Image: Owen Sennitt)

For a real treat, we enjoyed a couple’s massage one evening, choosing the hot stones treatment, which left us feeling so relaxed it was hard not to stay horizontal.

FABULOUS FOOD
Of course, one of the most important things about a cruise is the food.

Despite mostly following a vegan diet, we found we were spoilt for choice.

Kelly enjoying a meal at Restaurant 47 (Image: Owen Sennitt) One night, you can enjoy a romantic Italian meal at Gallery 47 then the next, overindulge at the Islands buffet. 

More laid-back options like the Snack Shack were perfect for poolside treats.

The impressive decor of Restaurant 47 offered the perfect setting for a romantic meal (Image: Tui)

There are also three fine dining restaurants that serve steak, sushi and speciality pan-Asian dishes at a very reasonable additional cost between £16 - £30 for a three-course dinner.

There are seven bars to visit onboard Tui's Marella Discovery, all serving different cocktails (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Every meal we had was delicious and full of flavour. I particularly enjoyed the curry night and salad bar at the buffet restaurant while Kelly's favourite place to be wined and dined was in the beautiful setting of Gallery 47.

Exploring the streets of Bozcaada (L) and the amazing views from the Lindos Acropolis (R) (Image: Owen Sennitt)

RUINS AND MEZZE

The Ottoman Odyssey is a trip likely to satisfy everyone. From the vibrant city life of Istanbul to the gorgeous beaches of Crete, there is something to appeal to everyone, provided you don’t mind the heat - temperatures soared to 36C on some days.

Views from Bozcaada castle (Image: Owen Sennitt)

History buffs in particular will find the destinations fascinating, giving people the chance to explore the ancient ruins of Troy, the Minoan palace of Knossos, the medieval walls of Rhodes and much more.

This Turkish cat living in Bodrum is clearly a music fan (Image: Owen Sennitt)

We went on a number of excursions. These included paddle boarding at the beach, and a trip to Lindos to see the acropolis - one of the most stunning archaeological sites in the world.

Colourful boats moored up at Elounda's harbour on the island of Crete (Image: Owen Sennitt)

One of our favourite days was in Bozcaada, where we spent hours wandering through meandering cobbled streets marvelling at the white-washed buildings draped with vibrant-pink bougainvillea flowers.

Kelly enjoying a mezze feast at a restaurant tucked away on a quiet street on the Turkish island of Bodrum (Image: Owen Sennitt)

There was plenty of time at each stop to explore, giving you the opportunity to indulge in a wine tasting, stop for a Turkish coffee pick-me-up or enjoy a lavish mezze feast. 

Kelly enjoying a trip to the beach along the coast near to the port town of Bodrum, Turkey (Image: Owen Sennitt)

I would jump at the chance to visit any of these places again.

Kelly and Owen try some local wines made on the island of Bozcaada (Image: Owen Sennitt)

'A TRIP TO REMEMBER'

For Kelly and I, this cruise adventure was an incredible trip that we will be gloating about for years to come.

We were made to feel truly special and made so many memories in the process - I would recommend this trip to anyone. 

Sailing into Marmaris on the final day of the cruise (Image: Owen Sennitt)

CRUISE FACTS

Owen Sennitt was a guest of Tui's Marella Cruises, which has a seven-night all-inclusive Ottoman Odyssey cruise on the Marella Discovery ship from £1,112 per person. 

The trip included return flights from Norwich to Dalaman, Turkey.

Visit tui.co.uk for more information.