I’ve Been On Every Marella Ship — This One Is My Favourite

Note: This post is sponsored by Marella Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are my own based on my 8+ Cruises with Marella. My cruises with Marella were not press trips and I paid full price for them.

It is no secret that I love a Marella cruise. I have sailed on all five ships in the fleet – and have enjoyed each for different reasons.

I love Marella Cruises’ relaxed approach to cruising, the variety of dining options, the smaller, comfortable ships, and the fact that so much is included in the cruise fare.

Although the ships are similar in that they have many of the same venues onboard (like the friendly pub, Squid & Anchor, the Snack Shack poolside eatery, and the Coffee Port coffee house), there are subtle differences between them.

One ship stands out as my favourite – Marella Voyager.

In this article, we look at why I like her most and why she suits my cruising style best.

A Quick Overview Of The Marella Fleet

Marella operates five mid-sized ships.

All of them have had previous lives sailing for other mainstream cruise lines.

• Marella Discovery was built in 1996 as “Splendour of the Seas” for Royal Caribbean.
• Marella Discovery 2 was built in 1995 as “Legend of the Seas” again, for Royal Caribbean.
• Marella Explorer was built in 1996 as “Celebrity Galaxy” for Celebrity Cruises.
• Marella Explorer 2 was built in 1995 as “Celebrity Century” also for Celebrity Cruises. 
• Marella Voyager was built in 1997 for Celebrity Cruises as “MV Mercury” and later renamed “Celebrity Mercury” in 2008. She also sailed as Mein Schiff 2 and Mein Schiff Herz for TUI before joining the Marella fleet.

All of their ships have a passenger capacity of under 2000. There are between 720 and 750 crew members onboard.

That is about a third of the size of the biggest ships at sea  – Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, for example, can hold 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members!

What Marella Ships Get Right

There are so many things I like about Marella ships. They have:

• A friendly, British-focused atmosphere.
• Great entertainment with lots of original shows.
  • Typically, the cast performs 12 different shows, so there is little repetition for guests on 14-day sailings.
• There are lots of great dining options.
  • There’s a wide choice of included and speciality dining venues to choose from.
• Easy-to-navigate ships.
  • Smaller ships mean you get lost less often!
• All-Inclusive value.
  • Drinks, gratuities, flights and transfers are all included in the cruise fare.

I genuinely like all of the ships in the fleet. They all feel familiar, comfortable and very relaxing.

My Favourite Marella Ship: Marella Voyager

The newest ship in the fleet, Marella Voyager, is my favourite.

Marella Voyager is also Marella’s largest ship, she joined the fleet in 2023.

Marella Voyager Ship Statistics:

• Passengers: 1912
• Tonnage: 77,302GT
• Decks: 13

Why Marella Voyager Stands Out For Me

I really like the overall feel of Marella Voyager.

It has a mix of familiar venues, but there are unique spaces that you won’t find on other ships.

I love The Summer House area at the back of the ship with its retractable roof.

It makes a lovely sunny, sheltered space for winter cruises.

This area was a swimming pool when the ship was originally built.

This is The Summer House with the roof closed. When I sailed in August, I never saw the roof open.

They doubtless kept it closed, so the space was kept cooler.

The included Mexican restaurant, “Abuela’s”, is my favourite eatery onboard. I visited it multiple times on both of the cruises I took on Marella Voyager.

The food hall is great, it felt a lot more spacious than some other ships I have sailed on. Everything was well laid out.

I loved the selection of ice creams and sorbets available, free of charge, in the food hall.

Every day I would pop by and try a different flavour – for research purposes, of course!

But all of the ships have their own strengths…

My Highlights:

Marella Discovery and Marella Discovery 2

• The Glass House on Marella Discovery and Marella Discovery 2 are fantastic. I can’t wait to eat there if I am sailing on one of those ships.
• I love the atrium area, it’s really impressive.
• The big main dining room is a standout feature for me too, it feels so grand but is relaxed and welcoming.

Marella Explorer

• Has the largest spa in the Marella fleet, a well-equipped gym, a sports court, and minigolf up on deck 12.

A smoker friend told me that their favourite Marella ship was Marella Explorer, which has a smoking area directly behind the Squid & Anchor pub.

This is a perfect example of different ships suiting different people. As a non-smoker, I would have never given that a second thought!

Marella Explorer 2

• Is the only permanent adults-only ship in the fleet.
• This would appeal to travellers who want a chilled and relaxing holiday away from children.
  • This would be particularly good if you are looking for a child-free break in the school holidays.

All of the ships are great, but for different reasons. They all have their own unique character and feel.

There is a lot of consistency across the fleet. The entertainment is similar, there are a huge number of dining choices, and you will experience that great-value cruise experience, no matter which ship you choose.

The choice you make will often come down to itinerary and price.

Which Marella Ship Should You Book?

It’s all a matter of personal choice.

My top pick would be Marella Voyager – but you might prefer another ship.

If you love to spend time enjoying a drink in a grand atrium, Marella Discovery or Discovery 2 would be my recommendation.

If you are going to spend a lot of time in the spa, Marella Explorer may be the obvious choice.

If you want to have a child-free break, Marella Explorer 2, as the only adults-only ship, would be the one to pick.

If price matters most, any ship can work well. Just book the ship with the best fares. They are all great!

If you’re a first-time cruiser, you’re unlikely to go wrong with any Marella ship. A cruise with Marella is easy, well organised and offers great value for money.

Is It Worth Choosing A Ship — Or Just The Itinerary?

Itinerary often matters far more than the ship. 

Many of the itineraries Marella sails are very port-intensive with few sea days. You will spend less time on the ship and more time on land exploring new places and having new adventures.

If you were taking a repositioning cruise with multiple sea days, the ship choice might be more important.

But whichever ship you book, rest assured, there is no “bad” Marella ship.

Have a look at the last cruise I took around the Mediterranean on Marella Voyager below. I took my mum along for this trip, and we had a great time!

Quick Tips Before Booking Any Cruise

Things to think about when booking your cruise:

• Check the cabin location on each ship before you book.
  • You can make sure that you are close to things you care about and away from those that you don’t.
• Compare prices by sailing date.
  • You might get a better deal if you are flexible with travel dates.
• Look at themed cruise sailings.
  • Marella is one of the few cruise lines that offer themed cruises. Themes vary from year to year, but could include:
    • Electric Sunsets – Go back to the 80s and 90s on a music-themed mini cruise.
    • Musical Med-leys – a musical-themed mini cruise.
• Remember, book popular itineraries early.
  • If there is a particular itinerary or date you need, book early.
  • If you are flexible and don’t mind where you sail to, last-minute deals are often available.
• Check the Marella website for discount codes.
  • Marella runs offers at various times throughout the year, so keep an eye out for codes.
  • It won’t be applied automatically – so don’t miss out!

Before You Go

Find out more about using discount codes for Marella Cruises here:

How To Find Discount Codes For Marella Cruises

One of Marella’s ships had 314 extra balconies added, years after her launch. Find out more here:

How This Ship Added 314 Extra Balcony Cabins 11 Years After Her Launch