Latest news with #Marella
Emirates Woman
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
10 summer sandals that will elevate your warm-weather wardrobe
Fashion by Aminath Ifasa 23 seconds ago As the sun shines brighter and the days grow warmer, it's time to step into the weather with summer sandals that effortlessly combine style and comfort. This season's must-have designs offer everything from laidback luxury to bold statement pieces, ensuring your footwear game is as chic as it is practical. Leading the pack is Fendi's Sunshine denim slides, featuring a striking Sea Garden motif and embroidered Fendi Roma detailing—perfect for adding a playful touch to any outfit. Bottega Veneta's Marella thong sandals bring understated elegance with their supple leather construction and signature Intrecciato insole, while the Goldie Gladiator sandals make a dramatic impact with their scalloped edges, gold buckles, and flatform soles. For those who love designer flair, Gucci's GG embossed sandals deliver with adjustable velcro straps and iconic Double G hardware, blending sophistication with ease. Meanwhile, Hermès' Cyphre sandal keeps things sleek and comfortable with its calfskin straps and anatomical rubber sole. Whether you're lounging by the pool, exploring a new city, or dressing up for a summer soirée, these summer sandals are designed to keep you looking polished while ensuring all-day comfort. With so many stunning options, the hardest part will be choosing just one pair—or maybe two. Summer is all about effortless style, and the right pair of sandals can make all the difference. From Fendi's fun denim slides to Hermès' minimalist Cyphre, this season's top picks prove that fashion and comfort go hand in hand. Whether you prefer bold details or understated luxury, these summer sandals are designed to complement every adventure, from beach getaways to urban escapes. So go ahead—step into the season with confidence, knowing your footwear is as stylish as it is comfortable. After all, summer is too short to settle for anything less than perfection. – For more on how to look smart and live smarter, follow Emirates Man on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Featured Image: Pinterest
Scottish Sun
29-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
I'm a travel editor who's been on 50 cruises – this is the best ship for cruise virgins and the one that's dirt cheap
Read on for the best cruises for party people, families and empty nesters SAIL OF THE CENTURY I'm a travel editor who's been on 50 cruises – this is the best ship for cruise virgins and the one that's dirt cheap I'VE been hooked on cruises since I stepped aboard my first ship more than 20 years ago – and with more than 50 trips under my belt, there's not much I don't know about life on the ocean wave. I never expected to love cruising as much as I did — my favourite holidays are spent camping. Advertisement 11 The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot, who has been on 50 cruises, reveals the best ships for all Credit: sbw-photo Cruising, I wrongly assumed, would mean eating with strangers at a set time in the same restaurant wearing formal clothes. I couldn't have been further from the truth. With a big family, I soon discovered the joy of a cruise meant the kids were entertained and happy, I could relax without having to cook and, every day, there was a new, amazing destination to explore. And I'm not the only one. The sheer scale of choice — and size of ship — means there's now a cruise line and destination for every type of holidaymaker. Advertisement More than 2MILLION Brits are now enjoying the suite life at sea every year, but which ship should you choose? And what's the one ship I'd always recommend for first-timers? Here's my ultimate guide to the best cruises for all. BEST FOR CRUISE VIRGINS 11 Owned by tour giant TUI, Marella's five ships sail from ports in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Credit: Tom Fallon 11 The ships are not new but have been recently refurbished with great entertainment and facilities such as spas IF you've never cruised before, I think Marella Cruises' mid-size ships, designed specifically for the British market, are a great place to start. Owned by tour giant TUI, Marella's five ships sail from ports in the Mediterranean and Caribbean and come with flights from multiple UK airports and transfers included. Advertisement For me, it's the chance to combine a few nights on land with your first cruise, and the all-inclusive nature of their sailings, that makes them ideal for first-timers. Unlike other ships, all your travel, food, drinks and tips are included in the price. The ships are not new but have been recently refurbished and have a relaxed and informal atmosphere, as well as great entertainment. A bucket-list river cruise through Egyptian waterways with TUI GO: Seven nights' all-inclusive on Marella Voyager's Treasures of the Mediterranean itinerary is from £933pp including flights from Gatwick to Majorca and calls in Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and Spain. See Advertisement BEST FOR FAMILIES 11 Two nights' full-board on P&O Cruises' newest flagship, Iona, sailing from Southampton on October 23, is from 174pp 11 Of course, Disney Cruises would be a dream come true for the little ones ONE of the biggest changes in cruising has been the growth in facilities targeted at families. As well as children's clubs with tie-ins to big brands such as Lego, the size of ships now means a chance to spoil the little ones with everything from waterparks, dodgems and rollercoasters to fairground carousels. Royal Caribbean International, P&O and MSC are all stand-out lines for families — and with all offering sailings from the UK, the pricing can be very competitive. Advertisement You can even test the waters with two-night mini cruises. And, of course, Disney is a dream for little ones. The Disney Fantasy cruise will be sailing the Mediterranean this summer, perfect for combining sun-drenched ports of call with Mickey Mouse fun. GO: Two nights' full-board on P&O Cruises' newest flagship, Iona, sailing from Southampton on October 23, is from £174pp, based on two adults and two children sharing an inside cabin. See BEST FOR MULTI-GEN HOLS 11 Sky Princess, which sails out of Southampton this summer and next, has plenty of entertainment on board Credit: Princess CRUISE holidays — particularly on larger ships — promise to keep everyone happy. Advertisement Grandparents and mum and dad can enjoy time together with the kids onboard and in port, as well as time apart with sophisticated spaces and spas for grown-ups. Think everything from buzzing bars and speciality restaurants for adults to relaxed areas where the whole family can enjoy entertainment and fun kids' club facilities. Lines to explore include Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O and Royal Caribbean as well as Princess Cruises, whose latest ship Sun Princess has a whole deck at the top of the ship dedicated to family fun, plus some chic adult areas. And there's lots for families to explore on Sky Princess, which sails out of Southampton this summer and next. GO: Seven nights' full-board on Sky Princess is from £672pp, sailing from Southampton to Spain and France on March 23, 2026. Calls at La Coruna, Bilbao, Le Verdon for Bordeaux and Cherbourg. Advertisement See BEST FOR PARTY PEOPLE 11 Utopia of the Seas has silent discos and Vegas-style pool parties Credit: Royal Caribbean 11 Royal Caribbean's mega-ship Utopia of the Seas Credit: Royal Caribbean WITH West End-style shows, live music and buzzing nightclubs ALL included in the price, a cruise is fabulous value. And the line that has taken partying to a new level is Virgin Voyages. Advertisement With four adult-only ships — including Brilliant Lady, which launched this year — its cruise model is perfect for those who want to ramp up the excitement. Prices include tips, all dining, wifi and entertainment in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Carnival also offers a good value buzz in the Caribbean while Royal Caribbean's mega-ship Utopia of the Seas, with silent discos and Vegas-style pool parties, boasts 40 bars and restaurants. GO: Ten nights' full-board on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, sailing from Portsmouth on July 27 to Iceland and Norway, is from £987pp, calling at Amsterdam, Bergen, Lerwick/Shetland, Akureyri, Ísafjörður and Reykjavik. See Advertisement Pros and cons of going on a cruise ship Whether you're considering a long holiday, working remotely or even living on board a cruise ship for a few months or years, here are the pros and cons from a former cruise shipper. Pros Travel the world, learn and experience new cultures Meet new people Don't have to think or worry about room cleaning, or food Cons Internet connection can be painfully slow and expensive Limited luggage allowance so have to wear the same clothes on rotation Having no control of where the ship would go next and the possibility of visiting the same ports Having the same onboard entertainment, on-demand movies, and little choice of TV channels No fresh newspapers or new books unless someone adds them to the library Relatively the same food week after week unless major menu changes occur seasonally. Occasional rough seas, bad weather and viral outbreaks while inboard. BEST FOR NO-FLY VALUE 11 Ambassador Ambition's Channel Islands and the Netherlands Experience from Liverpool is from £499pp Credit: Alamy ONE of the joys of a cruise is you can visit multiple destinations without having to keep unpacking. And with no air fares, ex-UK cruises - which sail directly from a British port - offer some great prices too. Ambassador Cruise Line has two smaller ships offering traditional cruising with modern touches. Known for their friendly staff and over-50s clientele, ships sail from London Tilbury, Bristol, Dundee, Falmouth, Liverpool and Newcastle upon Tyne making it easy for guests to board at a local port. Fred Olsen also offer similar ex-UK cruises on smaller ships. Advertisement GO: Six nights' full-board on Ambassador Ambition's Channel Islands and the Netherlands Experience from Liverpool is from £499pp, departing July 13 and calling at Guernsey and Ijmuiden for Amsterdam. See BEST FOR EMPTY NESTERS 11 Holland America's mid-size ships has stunning dining options without the crowds 11 Nieuw Statendam sails from Dover in summer 2025 and 2026 Credit: Holland America THE kids are grown and gone and you've got the freedom to head away when and where you fancy. Advertisement A cruise is the perfect option and there are plenty of companies ready to offer those looking to meet like-minded fellow travellers. Holland America's mid-size ships offer the perfect mix, with lots of facilities and dining options without the crowds — and its ship Nieuw Statendam sails from Dover in summer 2025 and 2026. Saga's two impressive ships offer premium cruising with great extras, including chauffeur-driven cars to your UK port of departure and travel insurance. The likes of Fred Olsen and Ambassador Cruise Line both offer great value, longer cruises for retirees who don't need to dash back to work. GO: Enjoy 14 nights on Holland America Line's Viking Trails and Celtic Origins cruise on Nieuw Statendam, departing Dover on August 9 from £1,119pp with stops in the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and Scotland. Advertisement For details, see
The Sun
29-04-2025
- The Sun
I'm a travel editor who's been on 50 cruises – this is the best ship for cruise virgins and the one that's dirt cheap
I'VE been hooked on cruises since I stepped aboard my first ship more than 20 years ago – and with more than 50 trips under my belt, there's not much I don't know about life on the ocean wave. I never expected to love cruising as much as I did — my favourite holidays are spent camping. 11 Cruising, I wrongly assumed, would mean eating with strangers at a set time in the same restaurant wearing formal clothes. I couldn't have been further from the truth. With a big family, I soon discovered the joy of a cruise meant the kids were entertained and happy, I could relax without having to cook and, every day, there was a new, amazing destination to explore. And I'm not the only one. The sheer scale of choice — and size of ship — means there's now a cruise line and destination for every type of holidaymaker. More than 2MILLION Brits are now enjoying the suite life at sea every year, but which ship should you choose? And what's the one ship I'd always recommend for first-timers? Here's my ultimate guide to the best cruises for all. BEST FOR CRUISE VIRGINS 11 IF you've never cruised before, I think Marella Cruises' mid-size ships, designed specifically for the British market, are a great place to start. Owned by tour giant TUI, Marella's five ships sail from ports in the Mediterranean and Caribbean and come with flights from multiple UK airports and transfers included. For me, it's the chance to combine a few nights on land with your first cruise, and the all-inclusive nature of their sailings, that makes them ideal for first-timers. Unlike other ships, all your travel, food, drinks and tips are included in the price. The ships are not new but have been recently refurbished and have a relaxed and informal atmosphere, as well as great entertainment. A bucket-list river cruise through Egyptian waterways with TUI GO: Seven nights' all-inclusive on Marella Voyager's Treasures of the Mediterranean itinerary is from £933pp including flights from Gatwick to Majorca and calls in Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and Spain. See BEST FOR FAMILIES 11 ONE of the biggest changes in cruising has been the growth in facilities targeted at families. As well as children's clubs with tie-ins to big brands such as Lego, the size of ships now means a chance to spoil the little ones with everything from waterparks, dodgems and rollercoasters to fairground carousels. Royal Caribbean International, P&O and MSC are all stand-out lines for families — and with all offering sailings from the UK, the pricing can be very competitive. You can even test the waters with two-night mini cruises. And, of course, Disney is a dream for little ones. The Disney Fantasy cruise will be sailing the Mediterranean this summer, perfect for combining sun-drenched ports of call with Mickey Mouse fun. GO: Two nights' full-board on P&O Cruises' newest flagship, Iona, sailing from Southampton on October 23, is from £174pp, based on two adults and two children sharing an inside cabin. See BEST FOR MULTI-GEN HOLS 11 CRUISE holidays — particularly on larger ships — promise to keep everyone happy. Grandparents and mum and dad can enjoy time together with the kids onboard and in port, as well as time apart with sophisticated spaces and spas for grown-ups. Think everything from buzzing bars and speciality restaurants for adults to relaxed areas where the whole family can enjoy entertainment and fun kids' club facilities. Lines to explore include Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O and Royal Caribbean as well as Princess Cruises, whose latest ship Sun Princess has a whole deck at the top of the ship dedicated to family fun, plus some chic adult areas. And there's lots for families to explore on Sky Princess, which sails out of Southampton this summer and next. GO: Seven nights' full-board on Sky Princess is from £672pp, sailing from Southampton to Spain and France on March 23, 2026. Calls at La Coruna, Bilbao, Le Verdon for Bordeaux and Cherbourg. See . BEST FOR PARTY PEOPLE 11 11 WITH West End-style shows, live music and buzzing nightclubs ALL included in the price, a cruise is fabulous value. And the line that has taken partying to a new level is Virgin Voyages. With four adult-only ships — including Brilliant Lady, which launched this year — its cruise model is perfect for those who want to ramp up the excitement. Prices include tips, all dining, wifi and entertainment in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Carnival also offers a good value buzz in the Caribbean while Royal Caribbean's mega-ship Utopia of the Seas, with silent discos and Vegas-style pool parties, boasts 40 bars and restaurants. GO: Ten nights' full-board on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, sailing from Portsmouth on July 27 to Iceland and Norway, is from £987pp, calling at Amsterdam, Bergen, Lerwick/Shetland, Akureyri, Ísafjörður and Reykjavik. See BEST FOR NO-FLY VALUE ONE of the joys of a cruise is you can visit multiple destinations without having to keep unpacking. And with no air fares, ex-UK cruises - which sail directly from a British port - offer some great prices too. Ambassador Cruise Line has two smaller ships offering traditional cruising with modern touches. Known for their friendly staff and over-50s clientele, ships sail from London Tilbury, Bristol, Dundee, Falmouth, Liverpool and Newcastle upon Tyne making it easy for guests to board at a local port. Fred Olsen also offer similar ex-UK cruises on smaller ships. GO: Six nights' full-board on Ambassador Ambition's Channel Islands and the Netherlands Experience from Liverpool is from £499pp, departing July 13 and calling at Guernsey and Ijmuiden for Amsterdam. See BEST FOR EMPTY NESTERS 11 THE kids are grown and gone and you've got the freedom to head away when and where you fancy. A cruise is the perfect option and there are plenty of companies ready to offer those looking to meet like-minded fellow travellers. Holland America's mid-size ships offer the perfect mix, with lots of facilities and dining options without the crowds — and its ship Nieuw Statendam sails from Dover in summer 2025 and 2026. Saga's two impressive ships offer premium cruising with great extras, including chauffeur-driven cars to your UK port of departure and travel insurance. The likes of Fred Olsen and Ambassador Cruise Line both offer great value, longer cruises for retirees who don't need to dash back to work. GO: Enjoy 14 nights on Holland America Line's Viking Trails and Celtic Origins cruise on Nieuw Statendam, departing Dover on August 9 from £1,119pp with stops in the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and Scotland.
Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
I went on the unique all-inclusive cruise where even drinks and tips are included – as well as stops in Greece & Turkey
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JOIN Marella Discovery 2's Aegean Gems cruise – and you'll soon be ready to do a PHD in ancient history and Greek mythology. From marvelling at the majesty of the Parthenon in Athens to exploring the Mediterranean's best-preserved classical city, Turkey's Ephesus, every day was an education. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The ancient Lindos Acropolis, on the Greek island of Rhodes Credit: Getty 5 The Marella cruise ship We also saw the splendour of the fortified city of Rhodes and heard stories of the ancient gods at the temple at Lindos. But the fact that blew everyone away as we chatted over lunch? There's snow in Crete in April. Six years ago, my wife and I travelled on this same ship on our very first cruise, visiting Florence, Rome, St Tropez and Barcelona — and we'd never had better value for money on any holiday. I can happily report that the value is as good as ever, maybe even a little better since the latest spruce-up to the rooms and bars — where you can drink to your heart's content, from morning till late at night. It is no exaggeration to say that the food on this ship matches anything you would get in a high-end city restaurant. There are three types of waiter-service eateries as part of the standard all- inclusive package — an Italian, a British and one that varies the menu daily. You can also enjoy breakfast delivered to your table. If you're looking for something more casual there's a buffet which is similarly top quality. And you can pop in there for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner as well. Martin Lewis gives travel advice about checking your passport If you fancy going ultra-exclusive, pay a little extra and try out the surf-and-turf, Asian or sushi restaurants. All of these are treats well worth experiencing. When you're done eating and drinking, it will be time for a trip to Ocean's Spa, which has every type of treatment you could wish for. Honestly, you'll come out feeling like a new person. I didn't realise how many aches and pains I had until the hot-stone therapy rubbed them all away. You can also chill out in the coffee bar or enjoy games of bingo, dancing classes, and a spot of darts. For the more energetic, there's table tennis and a climbing wall. We drew the line at the latter. You might just want to relax on the open-air deck, though, and listen to the house band while waiters bring more drinks to your sun lounger. For a bit of sophistication in the evening, take in a show featuring West End- standard performances twice a night. There are some seriously talented individuals on display who would not look out of place gracing the stage at the London Palladium. My wife has never heard a better rendition of Defying Gravity from Wicked — and she watches a whole lot of musicals. But it's the small things that really put the icing on the cake of a Marella cruise experience. Like having enough hangers for your clothes, which some major hotels could learn from. We counted 30 in our surprisingly spacious cabin. 5 Take a dip in the Marella pool Credit: Supplied 5 Head for the hills and visit the Acropolis in Athens Credit: Getty 5 Take a truck safari in Crete Credit: Alamy Our cabin was among those given a recent refresh, with new furniture, renovated bathrooms and vibrant artwork. And when you come back to your room at night, there is a chocolate on each pillow and an animal made out of the bath and hand towels. The dinosaur was an absolute work of art. Happy juice The ship's staff all seem to have been injected with happy juice — whether they are entertainers, who are obviously paid to keep the mood buoyant, cleaners, deckhands, waiters, chefs or engineers. They want to make you feel special and genuinely seem interested in your day, even though they must have heard the stories a hundred times before. There are different ways of cruising. You can spend all day on the ship and never leave — and some people really do just that. But it seems a bit of a shame when there are so many activities to enjoy, as the ship stops off at a different port every day. Mind you, while some excursions involve a relatively relaxing stroll — like those to the ancient ruins — there are others that can seriously test you. Ephesus near Kusadasi is a proper gem. While Pompeii in southern Italy gets all the Press, Ephesus goes under the radar but is one of the world's must-see places. The Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens are always great experiences, no matter how many times you've been. And it is interesting to learn that there is more to places like Mykonos and Rhodes than just lounging on the beach all day and partying all night — not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. But beware of signing up for the Jeep safari in Crete if, like me, you're over six foot, a tad on the hefty side and have dodgy knees. It's quite an ordeal to be cramped in the back of a Jeep as you wind your way down bumpy dirt tracks, with 500ft drops on either side. But, hey, we did see snow.
The Irish Sun
26-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
I went on the unique all-inclusive cruise where even drinks and tips are included – as well as stops in Greece & Turkey
JOIN Marella Discovery 2's Aegean Gems cruise – and you'll soon be ready to do a PHD in ancient history and Greek mythology. From marvelling at the majesty of the Parthenon in Athens to exploring Advertisement 5 The ancient Lindos Acropolis, on the Greek island of Rhodes Credit: Getty 5 The Marella cruise ship We also saw the splendour of the fortified city of Rhodes and heard stories of the ancient gods at the temple at Lindos. But the fact that blew everyone away as we chatted over lunch? There's snow in Crete in April. Six years ago, my wife and I travelled on this same ship on our very first cruise, visiting Advertisement Read More on Travel I can happily report that the value is as good as ever, maybe even a little better since the latest spruce-up to the rooms and bars — where you can drink to your heart's content, from morning till late at night. It is no exaggeration to say that the food on this ship matches anything you would get in a high-end city restaurant. There are three types of waiter-service eateries as part of the standard all- inclusive package — an Italian, a British and one that varies the menu daily. You can also enjoy breakfast delivered to your table. Advertisement Most read in Cruise If you're looking for something more casual there's a buffet which is similarly top quality. And you can pop in there for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner as well. Martin Lewis gives travel advice about checking your passport If you fancy going ultra-exclusive, pay a little extra and try out the surf-and-turf, Asian or sushi restaurants. All of these are treats well worth experiencing. When you're done eating and drinking, it will be time for a trip to Ocean's Spa, which has every type of treatment you could wish for. Advertisement Honestly, you'll come out feeling like a new person. I didn't realise how many aches and pains I had until the hot-stone therapy rubbed them all away. You can also chill out in the coffee bar or enjoy games of bingo, dancing classes, and a spot of darts. For the more energetic, there's table tennis and a climbing wall. We drew the line at the latter. You might just want to relax on the open-air deck, though, and listen to the house band while waiters bring more drinks to your sun lounger. Advertisement For a bit of sophistication in the evening, take in a show featuring West End- standard performances twice a night. There are some seriously talented individuals on display who would not look out of place gracing the stage at the London Palladium. My wife has never heard a better rendition of Defying Gravity from Wicked — and she watches a whole lot of musicals. But it's the small things that really put the icing on the cake of a Advertisement Like having enough hangers for your clothes, which some major hotels could learn from. We counted 30 in our surprisingly spacious cabin. 5 Take a dip in the Marella pool Credit: Supplied 5 Head for the hills and visit the Acropolis in Athens Credit: Getty Advertisement 5 Take a truck safari in Crete Credit: Alamy Our cabin was among those given a recent refresh, with new furniture, renovated bathrooms and vibrant artwork. And when you come back to your room at night, there is a chocolate on each pillow and an animal made out of the bath and hand towels. The dinosaur was an absolute work of art. Advertisement Happy juice The ship's staff all seem to have been injected with happy juice — whether they are entertainers, who are obviously paid to keep the mood buoyant, cleaners, deckhands, waiters, chefs or engineers. They want to make you feel special and genuinely seem interested in your day, even though they must have heard the stories a hundred times before. There are different ways of cruising. You can spend all day on the ship and never leave — and some people really do just that. But it seems a bit of a shame when there are so many activities to enjoy, as the ship stops off at a different port every day. Advertisement Mind you, while some excursions involve a relatively relaxing stroll — like those to the ancient ruins — there are others that can seriously test you. While Advertisement And it is interesting to learn that there is more to places like But beware of signing up for the Jeep safari in It's quite an ordeal to be cramped in the back of a Jeep as you wind your way down bumpy dirt tracks, with 500ft drops on either side. But, hey, we did see snow. Advertisement GO: AEGEAN CRUISE GETTING/SAILING THERE: Seven nights' all-inclusive on Marella Discovery 2's Aegean Gems cruise costs from £1,279 per person, including flights from Gatwick on June 11, 20kg luggage, all-inclusive food, drinks and tips. Ship sails from Limassol, Cyprus, and calls at Kusadasi for Ephesus in Turkey, Mykonos, Piraeus for Athens, Crete and Rhodes. For more information, and booking, see
