Marella Cruises has confirmed that Marella Discovery 2 will become a permanent adults-only cruise ship from November 2027, with the vessel undergoing a significant onboard transformation that will see its children’s facilities replaced by four new venues designed exclusively for adults.
The announcement forms part of the cruise line’s newly unveiled winter 2027-28 programme, which also introduces new itineraries, repositioning and transatlantic cruises, expanded Cruise & Stay options and homeport operations across six ports in Europe and the Caribbean.
Marella Discovery 2 is already scheduled to operate adults-only sailings during the 2026-27 winter season on a trial basis. Following that programme, the ship will officially join Marella Explorer 2 as the line’s second dedicated adults-only vessel.
As part of the refurbishment, the ship’s existing kids’ spaces will be transformed into four new venues: a speakeasy, an escape room, a karaoke room and a dedicated arts and crafts area.
“Our winter 2027 programme will focus on the regeneration of Marella Discovery 2 returning as an adults-only ship for a second consecutive winter season. With demand for adults-only cruising continuing to grow, we’re investing in four new onboard concepts to enhance the experience even further.
“With brand-new itineraries, festive overnight stays, repositioning cruises, transatlantic cruises and an expansion of 39 hotels for our cruise and stay offering, we’re continuing to evolve our holidays to give customers more ways to cruise with Marella Cruises.”
Chris Hackney, chief executive of Marella Cruises
New Itineraries And Winter Deployment
The entire five-ship Marella Cruises fleet will operate from six homeports throughout the winter 2027-28 season, offering a combination of Canary Islands, Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings alongside repositioning and transatlantic voyages.
Marella Discovery 2 will spend November 2027 through to March 2028 sailing Canary Islands itineraries from both Tenerife and Gran Canaria before repositioning to Malaga for cruises from March until April 2028.
One of the highlights of the season will be the debut of a new seven-night Atlantic Fusion itinerary. Sailing roundtrip from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, the cruise will call at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura, Arrecife in Lanzarote, Agadir in Morocco, followed by a day at sea, Santa Cruz de La Palma and back to Gran Canaria. The itinerary also marks Marella’s return to Agadir.
Elsewhere in the fleet, Marella Discovery will spend the first part of the season sailing from La Romana in the Dominican Republic before moving to Palma, Majorca, for spring departures.
Marella Explorer will alternate departures between Tenerife and Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, operating a range of Canary Islands cruises. The ship will also feature a festive overnight stay in Funchal, Madeira, as part of its A Canarian Christmas itinerary departing on 23rd December 2027.
Meanwhile, Marella Voyager and the adults-only Marella Explorer 2 will both operate Caribbean itineraries throughout the season, homeporting in Barbados.
The programme also includes a selection of five to eight-night repositioning cruises, including Canarian Collection 2 sailing from Malaga to Gibraltar, alongside several longer voyages.
Among the transatlantic options is Voyage to the Tropics aboard Marella Discovery. Sailing from Malaga, the itinerary calls at Gibraltar before eight consecutive days at sea, followed by visits to St John’s in Antigua, Basseterre in St Kitts, Philipsburg in St Maarten and Road Town in the British Virgin Islands before arriving in La Romana, Dominican Republic.
All winter 2027-28 cruises go on sale on 2nd July 2026.
Expanded Cruise & Stay Programme
Alongside the new itineraries, Marella Cruises is also expanding its Cruise & Stay programme with the addition of 39 new hotels across Malaga, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Romana, Barbados and Palma.
The additions increase the number of hotels available through the programme to 236, giving guests more options to combine a cruise with a land-based holiday before or after their sailing.
The announcement reflects Marella Cruises’ continued focus on expanding its adults-only offering while also broadening its range of itineraries and holiday packages across both Europe and the Caribbean for the winter 2027-28 season.
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