Marella Cruises is owned by TUI Group, the German headquartered tourism company that also runs package holidays, hotels, and airlines across Europe.
Marella operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of TUI UK, itself part of the wider publicly listed TUI Group.
The brand is built around value driven, all inclusive style cruising aimed squarely at British holidaymakers rather than a global audience.
TUI Group is one of the largest tourism companies on the planet, running hundreds of hotels, dozens of aircraft, and several cruise brands from its headquarters in Hanover, Germany.
Have you ever wondered why Marella looks and feels so different from its sister brand TUI Cruises, even though both ultimately answer to the same German parent company?
In this guide we will cover who owns Marella Cruises, how the brand grew out of Thomson Cruises, who runs it today, what ships it operates, and how it fits inside TUI Group’s much larger cruise portfolio.
Let’s take a closer look.
Table of Contents
What Is Marella Cruises?
Marella Cruises is a British cruise line that offers all inclusive style ocean voyages aimed mainly at UK holidaymakers.
The brand traces back to Thomson Cruises, which entered the cruise market in 1973 before being relaunched under the Marella name in October 2017.
Its ships are known for included drinks and gratuities, entertainment aimed at British tastes, and itineraries that pair naturally with land based package holidays.
The name Marella comes from a Celtic word meaning shining sea, chosen partly to keep the brand distinct from sister company TUI Cruises.
Who Owns Marella Cruises?
Marella Cruises is wholly owned by TUI UK, which itself sits under the publicly listed TUI Group.
Marella has no shares of its own on any stock exchange, since it operates as an internal brand rather than a separately listed company.
Ownership and financial control ultimately flow up through TUI UK to TUI AG, the German parent that oversees the whole tourism group.
Day to day, Marella is run as a distinct commercial unit with its own branding, ships, and leadership team inside the broader TUI structure.
Publicly traded parent company, Hanover, Germany
Chief Executive Officer, TUI Group
Wholly owned UK operating subsidiary
Wholly owned UK cruise brand
Is TUI Group Publicly Traded or Privately Owned?
TUI Group is publicly traded, and Marella Cruises benefits from that public backing without being separately listed itself.
TUI AG shares trade on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as part of the MDAX index, after the company delisted from the London Stock Exchange in February 2024.
Because it is publicly traded, TUI Group answers to institutional investors, private shareholders, and a board of directors, rather than to a single private owner.
Who Are the Largest Shareholders of TUI Group?
TUI Group’s shareholder base is a mix of institutional investors and private shareholders.
Based on recent disclosures, institutional investors collectively hold the majority of shares, with private and retail investors making up a large secondary portion.
| Shareholder Group | Approximate Stake |
| Institutional investors | Roughly 58 percent |
| Private and retail investors | Roughly 30 percent |
| Alexey Mordashov linked interests | Reduced holding following 2022 sanctions |
| RIU family interests | Small minority stake |
These figures shift with every filing, and Mordashov’s shareholding has been the subject of European Union sanctions since 2022, so readers should check TUI Group’s own investor relations pages for the latest confirmed numbers.
Who Founded Marella Cruises?
Marella Cruises does not have a standalone founder in the way an independent startup would.
Instead it grew out of Thomson Cruises, the cruise arm of the long running British tour operator Thomson Holidays, which entered the cruise market in 1973.
Thomson later became part of TUI UK, and in October 2017 the cruise division was rebranded Marella Cruises to give it its own identity.
The 2026 season marks the brand’s thirtieth year in continuous cruise operation under its various names.
A fuller history of the brand’s various names and ships is available on Wikipedia.
Who Leads Marella Cruises and TUI Group?
Sebastian Ebel has served as Chief Executive Officer of TUI Group since 2022, overseeing the entire tourism business including cruising.
At the brand level, Marella Cruises has its own managing director who reports through TUI UK’s leadership team and handles day to day strategy for the ships.
Readers who want background on that leadership structure can review coverage from Seatrade Cruise News.
How Has Marella’s Ownership and Brand Changed Over Time?
Marella’s story stretches back further than most rival cruise brands, though its current name is relatively recent.
The line began life as Thomson Cruises in 1973, was folded into TUI Group after a series of tourism mergers, and was renamed Marella Cruises in 2017.
What Cruise Lines Does TUI Group Own?
TUI Group’s cruise portfolio includes three distinct brands.
These are Marella Cruises, TUI Cruises, and Hapag Lloyd Cruises, each aimed at a different market segment.
| Brand | Market Position |
| Marella Cruises | Value focused, all inclusive style line for UK travelers |
| TUI Cruises | Joint venture with Royal Caribbean Group serving the German market |
| Hapag Lloyd Cruises | Premium and expedition cruising |
Unlike Marella, TUI Cruises is a fifty percent joint venture with Royal Caribbean Group rather than a wholly owned TUI brand.
Readers can see the full ownership breakdown for that sister brand in WhoMakeThis’s guide to who owns TUI Cruises.
Because TUI Cruises is jointly owned with Royal Caribbean Group, readers may also want WhoMakeThis’s guide to who owns Royal Caribbean for context on that partner company.
Marella Cruises Fleet
Marella Cruises operates a mid sized fleet built for warm weather, port intensive itineraries.
The current fleet includes Marella Discovery, Marella Discovery 2, Marella Explorer, and Marella Explorer 2.
For summer 2026 the line announced Marella Discovery would sail as an adults only ship, alongside a special solar eclipse sailing on Marella Discovery 2.
Where Does Marella Cruises Sail?
Marella focuses heavily on the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and Caribbean.
Winter 2026 itineraries added new port calls in Tunisia, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Many sailings depart directly from Mediterranean homeports rather than requiring guests to fly long haul, keeping trips convenient for UK holidaymakers.
What Is Marella Cruises Known For?
Marella built its reputation on relaxed, all inclusive style cruising with a distinctly British feel onboard.
Drinks, tips, and entertainment are typically bundled into the fare, which appeals to travelers used to package holiday pricing.
The brand markets itself as a friendly, easygoing alternative to larger international mega ship lines, with a strong following among repeat UK cruisers.
Is Marella Cruises Really Good or Worth It?
Marella generally earns solid reviews from UK travelers for value and included extras compared with premium international lines.
Its ships are older than the newest builds from bigger competitors, which shapes expectations around cabin size and onboard technology.
- All inclusive style pricing with drinks and tips typically included
- Itineraries pair easily with land based package holidays
- Backed by the financial scale of publicly traded TUI Group
- Older ships compared with the newest builds from bigger rivals
- Smaller fleet size limits itinerary variety
- Recent newbuild orders were redirected to sister brand TUI Cruises
Customer Service and Official Contact Information
Guests with booking or onboard questions should start with Marella’s own official channels through TUI.
The official booking site is tui.co.uk, which lists current contact details and travel agent resources.
Marella Cruises is wholly owned by TUI UK, part of publicly traded TUI Group, which is led by CEO Sebastian Ebel and answers to institutional and private shareholders on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marella Cruises
Who owns Marella Cruises?
Marella Cruises is wholly owned by TUI UK Limited, part of the publicly traded German tourism company TUI Group.
Is Marella Cruises the same as TUI Cruises?
No. Marella Cruises and TUI Cruises are separate brands with different ships and target markets.
Marella is wholly owned by TUI Group and aimed at UK travelers, while TUI Cruises is a fifty percent joint venture between TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Group aimed at the German market.
Was Marella Cruises formerly called Thomson Cruises?
Yes. The brand operated as Thomson Cruises from 1973 until it was rebranded Marella Cruises in October 2017.
Who is the CEO of TUI Group?
Sebastian Ebel has served as Chief Executive Officer of TUI Group since 2022, overseeing all of the company’s tourism divisions including cruising.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.