In the next few minutes, the bar starts filling up with punters eager to bag a set of headphones for the silent disco. Soon, the floor is covered with people singing from one of three musical eras – 80s, 90s or 2000s.
Cocktails being mixed in the bar (Photo: Tui)
I am 22 and I have never been on a cruise – I did not think they were for me. But my age group is showing a growing interest in holidays at sea. Recent research by Cruise Lines International Association (Clia) found that Gen Z (people currently aged between 13 and 28) accounted for 14 per cent of all passengers worldwide in 2023.
Social media could be playing a part. I found more than 316,000 Instagram videos with the hashtag #cruisetok, for example.
The Marella Discovery 2 ship (Photo: Tui)
When I arrived with my boyfriend, also a first-time cruiser, we were both pleasantly surprised. The ship was spacious, as was our cabin. It had a generously sized wardrobe, a balcony with a table and two chairs, and a comfortable double bed.
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I was surprised by how much was on offer. There was a spa offering hair treatments, teeth whitening and massages, a gym and sauna, two pools, eight restaurants, a coffee shop, mini golf course and a climbing wall.
Throughout the day, snacks such as fish and chips, ice cream, pizza, pasta, cakes and cookies were available. Food was served in the buffet until the early hours of the morning.
The itinerary included time in Kusadasi, Turkey (Photo: ilkercelik/Getty Images)
It was surprisingly adventurous. We were driven over dirt tracks and up mountains, before stopping for a traditional Turkish snack with tea and Balzama (flatbread). We made one last stop at Pamucak Beach for a quick dip in the sea, which was pleasantly cool in the 28°C heat.
The days that followed were calmer. Our next port of call was Piraeus, the busy port outside Athens. In the city, we joined an excursion to the Acropolis, learning about the ancient civilisations and mythology that draws so many people here.
A cabin with balcony (Photo: Tom Fallon/Tui)One couple told me they had been taking cruises twice a year for the last two decades. “More young people are definitely coming onboard,” they said, “especially for some winter sun.”
The ship’s coffee shop (Photo: Tom Fallon/Tui)
Chris Hackney, managing director at Marella Cruises, said: “Our all-inclusive offering helps us appeal to the new to cruise customers highlighting that every step of the holiday is taken care of.”
We looked around Mykonos and Rhodes on our own, for example. By day, we could shop, eat and visit beaches at our own pace. At night, there was plenty of entertainment.
On the third night, we tried one of the three speciality restaurants, which can be booked at an extra cost. At The Surf and Turf steakhouse, we went for sirloin steaks with sides and ice cream sundaes, all of which were delicious. The service here, like everywhere on the ship, was attentive.
There was time to explore Mykonos independently (Photo: Elizabeth Beard/Getty Images)I had been sceptical of cruises, but after a week on board Marella Discovery 2, I’m a convert. I loved the excitement of waking up each day to a new destination, the variety of places to eat and things to do on board and not having to worry about any of the logistics. It is no wonder my generation is catching on to the appeal.
How to do it
A seven-night Aegean Gems cruise, starting and ending in Limassol, Cyprus on Marella Discovery 2 starts from £1,279pp all-inclusive. The price includes return flights from Gatwick to Larnaca, luggage allowance, transfers, tips and service charges.
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