This is a sponsored post for Marella Cruises.
There are five ships that make up the Marella Cruises ocean fleet, all of which offer an amazing experience onboard. Cruising is not just about the destination, and on a Marella holiday you’ll love the time you’re sailing just as much as the time spent ashore.
One of those five ships is Marella Discovery 2, and in this guide I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the ship – what’s onboard, where she sails and more.
Discover amazing cruises on Marella Discovery 2
With flights, tips and drinks included!
Marella Discovery 2 – Facts & Stats
Marella Discovery 2 has an odd quirk, in that she’s actually older than her sister ship Marella Discovery – though only by one year. The reason she is Marella Discovery “2” is because she joined the Marella fleet a year after her sister – both had originally sailed for Royal Caribbean.
Along with her sister, she’s the joint-smallest ship in the fleet in terms of gross tonnage, although she does have a larger passenger capacity than Marella Explorer 2, and she can accommodate six more passengers than her ‘twin’ ship Marella Discovery, as well.
Here’s how Marella Discovery 2 compares to the rest of the ships in the Marella Cruises fleet:
| Ship | Year Built | Year Joined Marella | Size (gross tons) | Passenger capacity | Length | Beam/width | Total Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marella Discovery 2 | 1995 | 2017 | 69,130 | 1,836 | 264m / 866ft | 32m / 105ft | 11 |
| Marella Discovery | 1996 | 2016 | 69,130 | 1,830 | 264m / 866ft | 32m / 105ft | 11 |
| Marella Explorer | 1996 | 2018 | 76,522 | 1,924 | 260m / 852ft | 32m / 106ft | 13 |
| Marella Explorer 2 | 1995 | 2019 | 71,545 | 1,814 | 248m / 814ft | 32m / 105ft | 14 |
| Marella Voyager | 1997 | 2023 | 77,303 | 1,912 | 264m / 866ft | 32m / 106ft | 13 |
Marella Discovery 2 History
Marella Discovery 2 wasn’t built for Marella Cruises – none of the ships in the fleet were.
Instead, she was first built to sail for Royal Caribbean, as the lead ship of the Vision Class under the name Legend of the Seas. She launched in September 1994 but officially debuted in 1995.
She remained with Royal Caribbean for over 20 years, finally being sold to TUI in 2017, two years after her sister ship Splendour of the Seas. Originally re-christened as TUI Discovery 2, that didn’t last long, and she became Marella Discovery 2 later that same year.
Despite her age, Marella Discovery 2 is a fantastic ship, and that’s testament to the quality of the refurbishment work carried out by Marella Cruises. They don’t just throw a lick of paint and some new soft furnishings around – a lot of care and attention goes into transforming each ship when they join the fleet.
As a result, she has plenty of life in her, and will offer a fantastic ship for cruises for many years to come.
Marella Discovery 2 Cabins
Marella Discovery 2 has 918 cabins that you can choose from, including a selection of Inside, Outside and Balcony Cabins, and some spacious Suite options. Every cabin onboard was given a refresh when the ship was bought, so they’re pleasant and comfy.
Every cabin – regardless of which one you choose – has air-conditioning, a flatscreen TV, a safe and a hairdryer. Because Marella’s a British cruise line, you also get tea and coffee facilities in the room.
The full range of cabins you can book on Marella Discovery 2 is as follows:
| Cabin | Sleeps | Deck Locations | Size (square feet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Cabin | 2 | 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 | 129 |
| Single Inside Cabin | 1 | 3 | 129 |
| Inside Plus Cabin | 2 | 2, 3, 7, 8 | 161 |
| Outside Cabin | 2 | 2, 3 | 151 |
| Single Outside Cabin | 1 | 3 | 151 |
| Deluxe Cabin | 4 | 7, 8 | 215 |
| Balcony Cabin | 2 | 6 | 140 (including balcony) |
| Deluxe Balcony Cabin | 4 | 6, 7 | 161 (including balcony) |
| Junior Suite | 4 | 8 | 226 (including balcony) |
| Family Junior Suite | 6-7 | 8 | 420-430 (including balcony) |
| Grand Suite | 4 | 8 | 344 (including balcony) |
| Executive Suite | 4 | 8 | 506 (including balcony) |
| Royal Suite | 4 | 8 | 990 (including balcony) |
Premier Service with Marella Cruises
When you stay in a suite on Marella Discovery 2, you get to enjoy the Premier Service. This is your perks for choosing a suite, and while the list isn’t huge, they are some nice extra benefits to make your stay even more relaxing.
You get:
- A free pressing service – up to 3 items pressed in your first 24 hours on the ship
- Free continental breakfast in bed – one per week
Marella Discovery 2 – Bars & Restaurants
Despite being a smaller ship compared to many other cruise lines, you aren’t short of options when it comes to food and drink. There are 7 different bars to grab a cocktail or a beer, and 7 restaurant options for dining too.
Here’s a look at the restaurant options on the ship:
47°
47° is the main dining room of the ship, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Split across two decks, it offers a wide-ranging menu of favourites. The second floor, Gallery 47°, specialises in Italian cuisine.
Islands
Islands is the main buffet restaurant on the ship. Here, enjoy everything from breakfast omelettes to carvery roasts, with lots of show-cooking stations so you can see the food being prepared. Snacks are also available here.
Kora La
A favourite of the fleet, Kora La is a pan-Asian speciality restaurant serving an extensive selection of dishes from across the continent. An extra charge applies.
Snack Shack
Open throughout the day, the Snack Shack offers various snack dishes. It’s situated poolside so you don’t have to give up your lounger to get a bite to eat.
Surf & Turf Steakhouse
Surf & Turf is the ship’s main steak and seafood restaurant, also serving a selection of chicken and lamb dishes. Reservations are recommended, and an additional charge applies.
Sushi Bar
The Sushi Bar, tucked inside Kora La, is a speciality venue serving all kinds of sushi dishes, alongside classic Asian beers such as Tiger and Singha. Reservations are recommended.
The Glass House
By day, The Glass House offers various deli-style lighter bites, such as rotisserie chicken, salads, paninis and more. In the evening, it switches to sharer foods, such as meat skewers and tapas platters.
Marella Discovery 2 – On Board Activities
There’s plenty onboard Marella Discovery 2 to fill your time during the day and the evenings as you sail. Here’s just some of the things you can enjoy on the ship:
- An indoor and an outdoor pool, with whirlpools
- Mini golf on the top deck
- Shopping, including jewellery, fashion and souvenirs
- Jogging track
- Photo studio
- Arts & crafts activities
- Spa and beauty salon treatments
- A fully-equipped gym
- Virtual Reality Experience
And at night, you can look forward to:
- The Broadway Show Lounge, with two performances every evening
- Interactive games, quizzes and music performances at the Squid and Anchor British pub
- Casino with various games tables, including roulette and baccarat
- The outdoor cinema, showing Hollywood classics and the latest releases
- Relaxing bars to enjoy a quiet drink
The ship also has family facilities, including a kids’ club and a teens’ zone, along with a gamer zone for all ages (including the ‘big kids’).
Marella Discovery 2 – Itineraries
Marella Discovery 2 has some fantastic itineraries available throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Part of the year, she sails in the Mediterranean, visiting smaller ports such as St Raphael and Ajaccio along with favourites such as Civitavecchia (for Rome) and Barcelona.
She also offers Aegean cruises around Turkey and Cyprus, including sailing through the Suez Canal to explore Petra in Jordan.
Or choose an Iberian cruise, with more of a focus on ports such as Cartagena, Cadiz and Gibraltar.
FAQs
Marella Discovery 2 is not a big ship – she instead offers the benefits of small ship cruising, including being able to visit ports than larger ships can’t access. She has a relaxed, peaceful vibe onboard.
Marella Discovery 2 is not an adults-only ship on most cruises – she welcomes families and has activities onboard for all ages. She does host the occasional adults-only cruise, so check before you book.
To Conclude
If you want to explore sun-kissed destinations, relax in absolute comfort and enjoy a host of activities as part of your next cruise, Marella Discovery 2 could be an excellent choice.
She may be an older ship, but her tasteful renovation and continued care in the hands of Marella Cruises means that it doesn’t show – and she is ready to offer you some amazing cruise holidays.
Discover amazing cruises on Marella Discovery 2
With flights, tips and drinks included!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
