Marella Cruises Cruise Control - All You Need to Know
Take (Cruise) Control of Your Marella Cruise
Planning a cruise holiday involves numerous preparations, from completing check-in procedures to booking excursions. This is particularly true when booking a fly-cruise.
To streamline this process, Marella Cruises offers ‘Cruise Control’, an online hub designed to simplify pre-travel arrangements and enhance the overall customer experience.
In fact, Marella Cruises offers two distinct digital platforms to enhance your cruise experience: ‘Cruise Control’ for pre-departure arrangements and the ‘Navigate’ app for onboard activities.
What is Cruise Control?
Cruise Control is Marella Cruises’ dedicated digital online platform that allows guests to manage various aspects of their upcoming voyage. Accessible via the Marella Cruises website, this user-friendly hub enables passengers to handle essential pre-departure tasks efficiently.
Key Features of Cruise Control
Online Check-In: Complete your check-in process ahead of time, reducing wait times at the port.
Advance Passenger Information (API): Submit required personal details securely before your journey.
Pre-Travel Medical Screening: Provide necessary medical information to ensure a safe and comfortable voyage.
Document Access: Download and print your cruise boarding passes and luggage labels directly from the platform.
Onboard Account Management: Register a payment card to your onboard account for seamless transactions during your cruise.
Excursion and Dining Reservations: Pre-book shore excursions and reserve tables at speciality restaurants to make the most of your time onboard.
Getting Started with Cruise Control
To access Cruise Control, visit the Marella Cruises website. You’ll need the following information:
departure date,
booking reference,
lead passenger’s surname.
Once logged in, you can manage your booking, complete necessary pre-travel steps, and personalise your cruise experience to suit your preferences. 
What is the Navigate App
The Navigate App is Marella Cruises’ onboard digital platform designed to help guests manage their cruise experience. Unlike traditional apps that require downloading from an app store, Navigate is a web-based app accessible through the ship’s Wi-Fi network.
Once onboard, the Navigate app serves as your digital companion, providing daily schedules, ship information, and the ability to book onboard services. Notably, the Navigate app operates through the ship’s network and does not require a separate download. You can access it via your device’s web browser once connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi. 
Onboard Experience with the Navigate App
While Cruise Control is designed for pre-travel arrangements, Marella Cruises ‘Navigate’ app is designed to enhance the onboard experience.
Features of the Navigate App
Daily Schedule – View entertainment, activities, and events happening onboard.
Dining Reservations – Book tables at speciality restaurants
View Restaurant Menus
Shore Excursions – Browse and book excursions at upcoming ports.
Onboard Account Management – Check your spending and onboard account balance.
Emergency Muster Drill (MyMuster) – Complete the mandatory safety drill via video.
The Navigate app is free to use and does not require an internet package, as it operates on the ship’s network. This ensures that guests can stay informed and make reservations conveniently during their voyage. 
How to Access the Navigate App
Once onboard, enable Wi-Fi on your device and connect to the ship’s Navigate Wi-Fi network (you should be able to do this in airplane mode).
This is a free network specifically for accessing the app and does not require an internet package.
Open Your Browser
Launch your preferred web browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge, etc.).
Enter the Navigate App URL (navigate.marella.co.uk). This will take you directly to the Navigate app’s homepage.
Log In - You may need to enter your cabin number and surname to access personalised features.
Guest Feedback
As with most technology, there is mixed feedback on Cruise Control and Navigate.
However, while specific reviews for the Cruise Control platform are limited, discussions on forums like Cruise Critic indicate that generally the Navigate app is user-friendly and enhances the onboard experience.
Criticisms usually arise from user-error when logging in initially to Cruise Control (missing or miss-typed details), or the fact that Navigate can only be used onboard. If your experience is different, please let me know in comments so I can include in my feedback.
In summary, Marella Cruises’ Cruise Control and Navigate app work in tandem to provide a seamless and personalised cruise experience, from pre-departure preparations to onboard enjoyment. By taking advantage of these digital tools, guests can focus on what truly matters: enjoying their all-inclusive drinks package and creating unforgettable memories at sea.