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I Took The Cheapest All Inclusive Cruise (On an Old Ship)

Emma Cruises
Emma Cruises
🏅Authority
👁️ 1.1M views📅 2 years ago⏱️ 17:52

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creator documents a four-night, all-inclusive weekend cruise aboard the Explorer 2, an older, adult-only ship operated by Marella. Sailing from Spain, the trip includes flights and transfers in the base fare. The creator explores various aspects of the vessel, noting its smaller size compared to modern ships and its unique layout. Food options range from a buffet and an Italian restaurant to a pizzeria, though the creator describes the quality as acceptable rather than gourmet. The cruise features various entertainment options, including theater shows, trivia, and karaoke roulette. While the ship is older, the creator observes that it has undergone a facelift, though some elements like bathroom doors hint at its age. The experience includes port visits to Alicante, Valencia, and Barcelona. Ultimately, the creator concludes that while the trip included several upgrades for a premium experience, the total cost provided good value for an all-inclusive package that covered most travel essentials.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for Marella Explorer 2
A Nibble
All-time creator consensus for Marella Explorer 2
A Nibble

This review is in line with the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsFull Ship Review🏅Authority Creator
👫 Best for GroupOther · Spring · 4 nightsFrom SpainVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

I wanted to cruise with my friend and because of her work schedule we had to stick to the school holidays

I knew that this Cruise might turn into a bit of a booze cruise given the unlimited alcohol

the ship that we were boarding was Mela Explorer 2 she started her life as the celebrity Century way back in 1995

Mela definitely aren't traditional or formal but they are good fun

Creator's Tips & Advice

Upgrade to the premium all-inclusive package for more drink choices and cans of soda
Book a quirky cabin if you want a unique experience, but be prepared for potential noise issues
Use the app to see menus beforehand and plan your dining times to avoid waits

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Whether 4 days would be long enoughThe short cruise was busy but manageable, and there was plenty to do
Fear of a 'booze cruise' atmosphereWhile there was unlimited alcohol, behavior was no worse than on other cruise lines

Questions This Creator Answers

QIs a cheap all-inclusive cruise on an old ship worth it?
QWhat is it like to cruise on an adult-only ship?
QHow does the experience compare to more modern cruise lines?

Topics Covered

Service Crew3 Happy BaconValue Pricing2 Happy BaconDrink Package2½ Happy BaconShip Condition1½ Happy BaconEntertainment Shows3 Happy BaconPool Deck2 Happy BaconDining Main1½ Happy BaconCabin Balcony1 Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Alakan3 Happy Bacon
Barcelona2 Happy Bacon
Valencia2½ Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube