Guests aboard Marella Explorer will be able to explore the historic city, known for its archaeology, history and art.
The program also includes six new itineraries, including repositioning cruises. All Summer 2028 sailings go on sale October 15, 2026.The new port of call, Patras, will be featured throughout the season on Marella Explorer as part of the new Grecian Gems itinerary, sailing from its homeport in Corfu, Greece.
Patras offers a more authentic and less crowded Greek experience, with attractions including the Church of St. Andrew, historic landmarks and views across the Gulf of Patras. It will be the first time Marella Cruises has sailed to Greece’s third-largest city, beginning in July 2028.
Marella Explorer 2, the adults-only ship, will operate the new seven-night Spanish Shores itinerary from its homeport of Malaga, Spain. The cruise will call at Malaga, Gibraltar, Ibiza Town, Mahon in Menorca, Palma in Majorca and Cartagena before returning to Malaga. Sailings will begin in June 2028.
Four new repositioning cruises will also be offered from April 2028. They include Sail into Spring aboard Marella Explorer, with 10-night and 11-night sailings from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, and Santa Cruz, Tenerife, respectively, to Corfu; Flavours of the Mediterranean aboard Marella Discovery 2, a five-night cruise from Palma to Dubrovnik; Transatlantic Treasures aboard Marella Explorer 2, a 13-night sailing from Barbados to Malaga; and Atlantic Horizons aboard Marella Voyager, a 13-night sailing from Barbados to Palma.
The repositioning cruises will feature special guest speakers, additional shows, new showcases and more tribute acts.
The rest of the fleet will operate from several European homeports. Marella Discovery and Marella Voyager will be based in Palma, Majorca, while Marella Discovery 2, the second adults-only ship, will be based in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Marella Cruises is also expanding its cruise-and-stay program, giving customers more accommodation choices before or after their cruises. A total of 119 hotels will be available in Majorca, Corfu, Dubrovnik and Malaga, with cruise-and-stay packages operating from 22 airports across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Chris Hackney, CEO of Marella Cruises, said: “We’re building on the continued popularity of our core homeports for Summer 2028. Demand for our Eastern Mediterranean cruises remains strong, with Summer 2027 already ahead of last year. We’re also returning to Malaga for another summer season following the success of previous sailings from the region.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to offer customers new destinations and Patras is an exciting addition to our program. Alongside new itineraries and expanded cruise-and-stay options, Summer 2028 will give customers even more choice when planning their next cruise.”
Marella Cruises includes all-inclusive benefits as standard, with tips and service charges included in the fare.
Prices for the Grecian Gems Summer 2028 itineraries start at £1,966, with bookings opening October 15, 2026.
Tags:Chris Hackney, Marella Cruises
