Marella Cruises has rolled out 70 new shore excursions for its winter 2026 Caribbean season, and a few of them are genuinely unusual. Think riding one of the world's steepest zip lines down a St Maarten hillside, sailing a wind-powered land yacht across Bonaire, or learning the steelpan in Tobago from the people who build and tune the instruments by hand.
Bookings are open now, and one experience is already filling up fast. The Flying Dutchman zip line on St Maarten starts with a Sky Explorer chairlift up Sentry Hill, the island's highest point, before a descent that reaches 56mph. Marella says more than 60% of the spots are already sold, so early booking matters if that's on your list.
The ships doing the island-hopping are the Marella Discovery, sailing round-trip from La Romana in the Dominican Republic, and the Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Voyager, both based in Bridgetown, Barbados. Marella positions these as all-inclusive fly-cruise holidays — the flights, drinks and meals are bundled in, so excursions are the main optional extra. There's also a seven-night Tropical Isles round trip on Marella Discovery, paired with TUI Airways flights from London Gatwick to La Romana.
Beyond the headline grabs, the new line-up leans into culture rather than just beach time. In St Kitts, the Sugar City Trolley Train ambles through Basseterre with commentary on the island's colonial past. Puerto Rico gets two very different options: a Sounds of Ponce and Salsa day pairing a guided drive with a beginner-friendly music and dance workshop, and an expedition from San Juan to the Window Cave, where a guide leads you through chambers holding ancient rock carvings and pre-Columbian history. In Tobago, the steelpan experience in Scarborough wraps up with a live band performance and a stop at Fort King George.
Marella CEO Chris Hackney says the itineraries are built to squeeze the most out of every port call, and the company reports strong early demand across the range. For travellers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you're booked on a Marella Caribbean sailing this winter — or considering one — the new excursion menu is live and the popular options won't hang around. The mix also suits people who've done the standard Caribbean beach-and-snorkel circuit and want something with a bit more local flavour, whether that's a dance class in Ponce or land sailing in Bonaire. Prices weren't listed in the announcement, but excursions can be added to existing bookings through Marella.
