A true gem of a cruise around Mediterranean Dean Mellor samples Marella’s Mediterranean Gems cruise and sees how Explorer 2 compares with its sister ship Explorer

GETAWAY

I’m reclining on a sun lounger on the deck of the Marella cruise ship Explorer 2 under a blazing Mediterranean sun, the obligatory piña colada in hand – well, it would be rude not to – when the giant TV screen splutters into life.

It’s cruise director Matthew Shaw – who’d been on sister ship Explorer on our previous Marella cruise – being asked his take on the differences between the two vessels.

“This ship is very much like its sister” he says. “Both excellent and special, but the Explorer 2 is perhaps a bit quirkier.”

He sums up my thoughts exactly. I was amazed at the luxury and thoughtful design of the first ship, but can see that a few heads got together and made even more of space, layout, decor and content.

My wife and I were on Marella’s Mediterranean Gems itinerary, which on my week-long cruise visits Toulon in the south of France, Tarragona in Spain and three Italian ports – Livorno, Civitavecchia and Olbia in Sardinia – but more of that later, as there’s much more of the ship to explore.

So where to start?

FOOD AND DRINK

Everywhere you stroll exudes class, from the luxury cabins to the gleaming stairwell balustrades, from the rich pile carpets to the elegant fixtures and fittings. Dining is no exception to this, with a selection of enticing places to eat and drink, whatever your whim or fancy. The Market Place restaurant is open throughout the day for self-serve breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner – ideal for those who don’t want any fuss, and there is an amazing selection for every mealtime

For those who do like the fuss, you can visit either Vista or Latitude 53 restaurants, where every courtesy is extended by the hardworking waiters, and these are included in your all-inclusive price, as are pizzas and pasta dishes in Nonnas, Beach Cove (in the day) and the Snack Shack on the pool deck. For those who want to try something that extra special in the evening, for an additional cover charge, why not try the ship’s a la carte restaurants which include The Dining Club for a gastronomic food and wine tour de force, Surf and Turf for a steak or fish prepared just as you like it, Kora La for a Pan-Asian fusion experience second to none and the BBQ-inspired Beach Cove for a bellybusting bonanza. Did I just say all-inclusive? Yes, all Marella Cruises are all-inclusive, so once you’ve paid your fare it’s fine