Sailing the Med with Marella: Is Piccadilly’s Worth Booking? Our honest review
Is Piccadilly’s Worth Booking on Marella Cruises?
If you love comforting British classics served with sea views, Marella Cruises has something new you’ll want to add to your onboard dining list.
During our Mediterranean Medley sailing aboard Marella Explorer 2 in April 2025, we booked dinner at Piccadilly’s , Marella’s brand-new British-inspired restaurant now available across the fleet. After hearing plenty of buzz surrounding the venue, we were curious to see whether it delivered that “special evening out” feeling while still staying true to Marella’s relaxed cruise style.
The short version? We genuinely enjoyed it.
It wasn’t perfect, but Piccadilly’s offered tasty food, warm service, and a cosy atmosphere that felt like a lovely change from the standard dining room experience.
What Is Piccadilly’s on Marella Cruises?
Piccadilly’s is Marella Cruises’ newest included dining concept, bringing traditional British-inspired dishes into a more refined dinner setting.
The restaurant is located within the main dining room spaces onboard:
Marella Explorer
Marella Explorer 2
Marella Voyager
Marella Discovery
Marella Discovery 2
Dinner is included in your cruise fare, complete with full waiter service and a smart dress code that gives the evening a slightly more elevated feel.
For passengers wanting a relaxed but polished dining experience without paying speciality restaurant prices, it fills a really nice gap.
Our Mediterranean Medley Cruise
Our seven-night sailing departed from Palma, Majorca, with stops in:
Livorno, Italy
Savona, Italy
Toulon, France
Valencia, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Five ports in seven nights is one of the reasons we keep returning to Marella Cruises.
As a family of four, two adults in our 40s, a 21-year-old, and a 18-year-old , we find the smaller ship size works brilliantly for us. The ships feel manageable rather than overwhelming, which makes a huge difference.
Accessibility and atmosphere are also incredibly important for our family. June lives with chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia, multiple slipped discs, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, while both of our children are autistic. Calm spaces, friendly crew, and an easy-to-navigate ship really matter to us when choosing a cruise line.
Marella consistently gets that balance right.
The staff are genuinely welcoming, the entertainment is strong without feeling chaotic, and the overall onboard experience feels comfortable and relaxed.
That said… we still wouldn’t say no to a few newer ships joining the fleet.
The Menu
Menus can vary slightly depending on the sailing, but during our visit there was a strong selection of traditional British favourites mixed with a few modern additions.
The overall concept feels very much like “comfort food at sea,” and after a long day exploring Mediterranean ports, it absolutely worked.
Think roast-style dishes, hearty mains, classic desserts, and familiar flavours designed to feel satisfying rather than overly fancy.
A starter sharing board at Piccidilly’s on Marella Explorer 2
The Food
Overall, we were impressed.
The food was well presented, full of flavour, and very much in keeping with the British restaurant theme. The roast-inspired dishes especially stood out and felt comforting after busy port days.
Most of the menu hit the mark, but there was one noticeable disappointment.
Our 21-year-old daughter ordered the vegan steak and chips, and unfortunately, it was easily the weakest dish of the evening. The vegan “steak” was essentially mashed vegetables shaped into a steak form, lacking both seasoning and texture.
Considering how good some of Marella’s vegetarian meals elsewhere onboard can be, this felt like a missed opportunity.
It certainly didn’t ruin the experience, but improving the vegetarian options would make a big difference.
Service
The service was genuinely excellent.
Things did move a little slowly at times, but honestly, on a cruise ship, that almost added to the relaxed atmosphere rather than taking away from it.
Our waiter was attentive, friendly, and clearly worked hard to make sure everyone at the table enjoyed the evening.
He also did a sterling job of keeping my “pink water” topped up throughout dinner, just enough to keep the evening fun without accidentally turning it into karaoke night.
Little touches like that really do stand out.
Atmosphere & Sea Views
One of the best parts of Piccadilly’s is the atmosphere.
During our visit, we were sailing away from Barcelona, and the sea views added something genuinely special to the evening. Watching the coastline disappear while enjoying dinner gave the whole experience that classic cruise magic feeling.
There was one slight downside, though.
Because of the restaurant’s lower position in the ship, vibrations and rattling became noticeable as we left port. If you are particularly sensitive to noise or movement, it’s worth being aware of.
For us, it slightly distracted from the ambience but wasn’t enough to stop us returning.
Final Verdict
Piccadilly’s may be included in your cruise fare, but it genuinely feels like a step above the standard main dining room experience.
The food is mostly very good, the service is warm and attentive, and the atmosphere creates the feeling of a proper evening out at sea.
While we’d love to see Marella improve the vegetarian offerings, particularly the vegan steak option, we would absolutely return.
Would we recommend booking it?
Definitely.
If you are sailing with Marella Cruises and fancy a comforting British-style dinner served with ocean views, Piccadilly’s is well worth adding to your cruise plans.