IonianShoresCruise

Yes. You’ll need your passport for all of our cruises. Without it, you won’t be able to board the ship.

You can use either a European or a US 2-pin adaptor in the cabins.

It’s not always possible to tie a ship up at a dock. If this is the case, the ship will anchor a little way out from the shore, and use tender boats to get you to and from the ship. Tender ports are indicated in the itinerary where possible. You’ll still get plenty of time in the port, plus you can use the tender services to go back and forth from the ship as much as you like. Guests with disabilities or mobility issues will need to have some independent mobility to step in and out of the tender boat as our crew aren’t allowed to lift you.

Ask for for advice on things like ship accessibility, bringing equipment onboard, disabled facilities, and medical care. Marella has also teamed up with AccessAble, who have created detailed access guides for each ship. Visit their website to find out more. All Marella ships also have a small number of adapted cabins for less mobile passengers. Just remember to make sure one is definitely available before you book. Making sure your wellbeing is looked after at all times while you’re onboard is really important. That’s why if you need help with daily tasks, like using the bathroom, eating, or moving around the ship, you’ll need to travel with a companion or a personal assistant who can help you. Unfortunately, the crew aren’t able to help with these kinds of responsibilities.

Each ship has a medical centre and there are English-speaking doctors and nurses on board who keep surgery hours. For emergencies, there’s always someone on call. If you need to pay for a medical procedure, the first £200 of your bill will be payable to the medical provider onboard.

All ships are non-smoking, which means you can only smoke in designated areas of the open deck. The same goes for e-cigarettes. Please note, e-cigarettes are banned in certain countries and will be confiscated at the airport. Make sure to check the Foreign Office website for the latest updates.

The baggage allowance is 20kgs.

All Marella ships have a cash-free system. Everything is priced in sterling and is charged to your cabin account. At the end of your cruise, you can settle it in cash, or by credit or debit card. If you decide to settle your bill in cash, you will be asked for up to £200 deposit per cabin per week.

As Marella ships are all inclusive as standard, so selected draught beer and cider, wines by the glass, branded spirits and aperitifs, and a range of cocktails and soft drinks by the glass are all included in the price of your cruise. Solos guests have been upgraded to the Premium All Inclusive drinks package for an extra range of drinks, which are normally chargeable. These include upgraded cocktails, premium spirits, Lavazza coffee, soft drink cans and a 1.5 litre bottle of water per cabin, per day.

There are designated Wi-Fi zones onboard. Internet access is charged to your cabin account at the rate advertised onboard. Mobiles can be used – so make sure to check with your provider for charges in each country and in international waters, which applies when the ship's at sea. There are telephones in each cabin too, so it’s easy to stay in touch with people back home.

Packing for a cruise is just like packing for any other holiday, but there are a few things to bear in mind. Hairdryers and all towels – including pool towels – are provided. And don’t panic if you forget any essentials as our onboard shops stock things like toothpaste and other toiletries. Other than that, it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket with you, as there’s often a strong sea breeze. 

You’ll normally need to leave your cabin by 8am on your last day, but you can still use all the onboard facilities until your transfer arrives. Speak to reception about a courtesy cabin so you can freshen up before you leave. Alternatively, you can organise a late check-out. Again, reception will advise on this.

Of course. If you've got any dietary requirements, please make sure you mention it to the restaurant manager know once you're onboard. Marella also provides vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and diabetic-friendly options on request.   Take a look at a sample menu to see the kind of dishes on offer.

It’s up to you if you want to explore without the help of a guide. The onboard Destination Services team can give you plenty of tips. Just remember that one of the benefits of the organised excursions is that if the tour is delayed, the ship will wait. If you’re on your own and you’re not back on the ship in time, the ship won't wait for you. Please be aware that any tour that you take which is not booked through Marella will not have been vetted for health & safety and is taken at your own risk

To enter Greece mainland or the Greek Islands your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be: 

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Albanian Lek

Euros

Greece is 2 hours ahead of the UK

Voltage 230v Travel adaptor type C (EuroPlug)

To enter Croatia your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

• less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 6 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’) 

Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old. 

Compulsory vaccinations: None. At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website. 

Croatia uses the Euro.

Passport validity requirements If you are travelling to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.Your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check if your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. Check with your transport provider or travel company that your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Passport stamping At Italian border control, you may need to:

• show proof of your accommodation, for example, a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if visiting your own property (for example, a second home)
• show proof of insurance for your trip – check FCDO’s travel insurance guidance
• show a return or onward ticket
• prove that you have enough money for your stay. The minimum amount required depends on your accommodation
• follow procedures if you are hosting a guest at your property in Italy

Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Italy as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit. You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets. Visa requirements You can travel to countries in the Schengen areafor up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

If you are travelling to Italy and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

Compulsory vaccinations: None. At least 8 weeks before your trip: All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. 

Euro

Italy is one hour ahead of the UK.

To enter Malta your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

• less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.

A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Malta Foreign Advice

From the 12^th October 2025 the EU is introducing a new European Entry System (EES) that will be phased in and fully operational by the 10^th April 2026. Non-EU nationals including British passport holders will now be required to complete biometric checks on arrival and exit to Schengen countries, which will include facial recognition and fingerprints. There is no cost for this, and no action needs to be taken prior to departure.

 If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Malta

Euro

Croatia is one hour ahead of the UK.

Croatia is six hours ahead of EST.