Tapas and Tavernas is an eight night cruise from Marella departing on 24th March 2026. Sailing from Malaga and calling at Palma, Majorca, Valleta, Malta, at Souda (for Chania), Crete and Limassol, Cyprus. Read on to find out more:
Sailing 24th March 2026 Tapas and Tavernas Marella Discovery, 8 nights Malaga, Spain – Adults Only
Tapas and Tavernas Cruise Itinerary - Marella Discovery -Fly Cruise
;img.resize(height:608);img.crop(width:1080%2Cheight:608))
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, for 8 night cruise - onboard the Marella Discovery, Tapas and Tavernas itinerary, Decks 6/7/8 Inside Cabin - All Inclusive with Marella Cruise - fly from London Gatwick airport, departure port Malaga.
Your Itinerary: Malaga - Ship at Sea - Palma - Ship at Sea - Valletta - Ship at Sea - Souda (for Chania) - Ship at Sea
Detailed Itinerary:
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary day 1: Malaga
;img.crop(width:1080%2Cheight:608))
Set on the sun-drenched Costa del Sol, Malaga is a Moorish delight. During the Arab occupation of Spain, the city was the principal port of the Moorish kingdom of Granada. So what does that mean for you? It means the city of Granada and its striking Alhambra Palace are just a short drive away. Prepare to be blown away.
- See Malaga’s 16th-century cathedral. It’s known as ‘La Manquita’ or ‘one-armed woman’ because lack of funds meant only one of the two planned towers was completed.
- Visit Marbella, a Spanish town known for its hot climate, beautiful landscape and friendly locals. Wander its quaint narrow streets and have your camera ready for the famous Naranjos Square and the City Hall.
- Take a drive to the millionaire’s playground that is Puerto Banus. Admire the luxury yachts and pull up a pew in one of the open-air restaurants and bars that cater for an exclusive clientele.
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary day 2: Ship at Sea
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary day 3: Palma
Think leafy boulevards that echo with the stilettos of stylish shoppers, tiny tapas bars tucked down narrow side streets, and architectural gems hidden in the historic quarter. With its trademark cathedral dominating the skyline, cosmopolitan Palma never fails to impress.
- Spend some time exploring the city, snapping photos of 14th century Bellver Castle, browsing boutique shops, and tasting tapas in the authentic bars that barnacle the backstreets.
- Take a short drive into the Tramuntana mountains to visit Valldemossa, a village of cobbled streets, artisan shops and cafés, and the Royal Charterhouse where Chopin and George Sand once stayed.
- Don’t miss Palma Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece with soaring arches and sweeping bay views – and try to catch it glowing as your ship leaves the city.
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary day 4: Ship at Sea
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary day 5: Valletta
;img.crop(width:1080%2Cheight:608))
As your ship cruises into Valletta, a magical skyline of soaring steeples and bulbous church domes rises to greet you. This is Malta's quintessential capital, a captivating city steeped in history.
- Stroll the colourful streets of Valletta, taking in sights like the Grandmaster's Palace, the House of Parliament and Castille Palace.
- Visit Mdina, the island's old capital. It's an impressive walled city dripping in Medieval and Baroque architecture. They call it the Silent City because cars are forbidden. Carriage-laden horses trotting through the streets and the gentle chatter of Mdina's inhabitants are the only sounds likely to pierce the sleepy calm.
- Take a boat ride to the spellbinding Blue Grotto, an impressive 50 metre-deep cave.
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary days 6: Ship at Sea
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary days 7: Souda (for Chania)
;img.crop(width:1080%2Cheight:608))
Souda sits just 15 minutes’ drive from Chania – one of Crete’s most charming cities. Most snap-happy tourists pin the old harbour on their maps, with its lighthouse, pastel-painted buildings, and a café-lined promenade. If history calls, there’s plenty of museums, from the Maritime Museum set in a former Venetian prison to the Archaeological Museum, tucked inside a Gothic church.
- Work your way along Chania’s Skridlof Street, AKA Leather Lane. It’s stuffed with shops selling shoes, bags and belts, plus other items like handmade jewellery and clothes.
- Visit Agia Triada Monastery, perched almost in the clouds on a pillar-like rock outside Chania. Built by Venetian monks, it offers history and views that stretch for miles.
- Taste your way through Cretan flavours – think fresh cheeses, honey, and olive oil straight from the press – or sip a local wine at a family-run winery.
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary day 8: Ship at Sea
Tapas and Tavernas - Itinerary day 9: Limassol
;img.crop(width:1080%2Cheight:608))
Set on Akrotiri Bay, Limassol is the island’s biggest seaside town with plenty to offer its visitors. Whether you’ve come here in search of age-old sights or bubbling bars, the town’s a mixed bag of delights that never fails to impress.
Cruise Ship Details - Marella Discovery :
%3Bimg.crop(width:1080%2Cheight:608))
- 9 restaurants
- 8 bars
- 2 lounges
- Casino
- 4 whirlpools
- 2 swimming pools
- Minigolf
- Rock climbing wall
Marella Discovery is the sister ship to Marella Discovery 2, so you can expect nearly all of the same facilities, such as a fantastic dining scene and a show lounge to rival the West End. Top highlights include seven bars and nine restaurants, plus an outdoor cinema and a five-storey atrium. Families are well catered for on this ship. Family Suites and Family Junior Suites are kitted out with a chalkboard and a PlayStation 4, plus there’s a rock climbing wall, a minigolf course and two pools onboard, one of which is indoors.