Marella Discovery Cabins – Honest Reviews and Cabins to Avoid

In this post, I will be discussing all cabin grades available onboard the Marella Discovery.

I will also share a review of the balcony cabin that I enjoyed during my two-week Baltic cruise.

In this post, we will cover:

• Inside cabins
• Solo inside cabins
• Inside plus cabins
• Deluxe cabins
• Outside cabins
• Balcony cabins
• Balcony solo cabins
• Suites

We also look at some cabins to avoid based on guest experiences.

All the information in this post is based on the Marella Discovery. However, the Marella Discovery 2 has exactly the same cabins. 

Inside cabins

Sleep up to 4 People

Anybody who knows me knows that I am a lover of inside cabins.

I love the price, of course, but also love the amazing night’s sleep that it provides.

When I stay in an inside cabin I am more likely to get out and about to explore the ship which is an added bonus.

These cabins can be found on decks 2 and 3, and sleep up to 4 people.

You’ll get twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed and an en suite with a WC and a shower. Deck 2/3 inside cabins cover 12 m².

These 3 and 4-berth cabins have upper berths that fold down for extra sleeping space

My best inside cabin hack is to buy a Sunrise Alarm clock. I can sleep and sleep and sleep in an inside cabin – it is always pitch black!

These clocks light the room up slowly at the time you want. If I am in an inside cabin, I can sleep and sleep and sleep – it is always pitch black!

Find out more about Sunrise Alarm Clocks here:

Sunrise Alarm Clocks – The BEST Inside Cabin Hack

How big are the inside cabins on the Marella Discovery?

The inside cabins are 12 meters squared. This is a pretty standard size.

The bed is two single beds which push together to make a queen. It is totally up to you how you have this.

On a couple of occasions, I have been cruising with my brother and arrived to find the beds pushed together. If this happens to you, don’t worry! Just let your room steward know and they’ll be happy to change the beds to twins.

How Many People Can Fit Into The Inside Cabins on Marella Discovery?

Some inside cabins only fit two but others can take four adults.

I would urge you to think twice before booking four adults into an inside cabin!

It may be the best option but can be very cramped. I have done it in the past – but wouldn’t recommend it for a long period of time.

The below video was filmed onboard Royal Caribbean’s “Independence of the Seas” and should give you an idea of how 3 or 4 adults can share a cabin.

What Inside The Cabin? (Included In All Cabin Grades)

All cabins come with the following as standard:

• Air conditioning
• Hairdryer
• Flatscreen TV
• Tea and Coffee making facilities
• Safe

Solo Inside Cabins

Sleeps one person

Marella does offer solo inside cabins. These allow solo cruisers to have their own space and it is USUALLY cheaper than paying the dreaded “solo supplement.”

To find out more about cruising solo, and which lines cater for single cruisers best, read the article below:

Cruising For Solos (Solo Cabins, Cruise Fares and Onboard Events)

My favourite ever Inside Cabin was onboard P&O’s Iona. It was comfortable, modern and well-designed.

Find out all about that cabin here:

Outside Cabins

I’ve only stayed in one outside cabin and would rarely choose it.

I would choose an outside cabin if it wasn’t much more than an inside cabin, but if I was going to upgrade I probably would upgrade to a balcony. Nevertheless, outside cabins are loved by many!

Paul and Carole cruised on Discovery two weeks after me! You can find their review of their outside cabin below:

Solo outside cabins

These are on deck 3, and accommodate solo travellers.

A picture window or porthole offers sea views, and the cabin is kitted out with twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed, a sitting area with a sofa, and an en suite with a WC and a shower.

These cabins measure around 14 m².

The more modern the ship is, the more likely it is to have solo cabins. This is a growing area of the cruise market, and cruise lines are keen to attract solo passengers.

Balcony Cabins

Sleep up to 4

I am usually an inside cabin cruiser but was lucky enough to have a balcony cabin onboard the Marella Discovery.

I am so glad that we did. We spent a lot of time here despite it being pretty chilly.

The styling inside the cabin is exactly the same as the other cabins oboard.

How Big Is The Standard Balcony on Marella Discovery?

This was one of the biggest balconies I’ve had in a standard room on a cruise ship.

There was enough room for a ‘proper’ table and two chairs. It was much bigger than the balconies on ships like Britannia or the Royal Princess.

I appreciated the extra space and we spent a lot of time on the balcony watching sail-aways.

What is in the Balcony cabins onboard the Marella Discovery?

• Twin/Queen beds
• A desk with mirror + chair
• Another chair
• Bedside tables
• Tea + Coffee making facilities
• Mini bar (no fridge so this is on the desk)
• Hairdryer

The best balcony cabin I have ever had was onboard Norwegian Prima. Watch the video below to find out why I liked it so much…

My review of the Balcony cabin 6534 On Marella Discovery

Below are some pictures of our balcony cabin 6534.

What I Loved:

• The cabin was so clean and didn’t look dated at all.
• We had a lot of space.
• The bed was SO comfortable.
• The TV played Disney films!!

What I Didn’t Love

• The balcony cabins don’t have a fridge so the mini bar contents are just sat on the side. Not really a problem but I was staring at a bar of dairy milk for two weeks without being able to eat it!! (I’m sure they’d take it away if I asked them)
• There isn’t really much storage space in terms of drawers, only a few by the chair and a little one by the side of the mirror. It wasn’t a problem for me because I travel really light, but I see how some other people might struggle.

Deluxe Balcony Cabin

Another option is a deluxe balcony cabin. These are basically slightly bigger versions of the standard balcony cabin with a few extras.

These cabins are on decks 6 and 7, and have twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed, a sitting area, an en suite with a WC and a shower, and a balcony.

They cover around 15 to 16 m² and if there are 4 of you, you’ll also get a sofa-bed.

What is the Difference Between a Standard Balcony and a Super Deluxe Balcony?

• Extra space. The main difference is that the deluxe balcony is bigger than the standard balcony.
• Seating area – Deluxe balconies have a seating area with a sofa whereas, the standard balcony cabin only has one chair.

Suites (Junior Suites, Grand Suites, Family Junior Suites, Royal Suites, Executive Suites, Family Suites And Penthouse Suites)

There are a number of suites available onboard the Marella Discovery.

All suites include:

• Express check-in (subject to availability)
• Free pressing service – up to 3 items per person in the first 24 hours onboard
• Free continental breakfast in bed – 1 per person, per week

Suites

Junior Suite Cabin

Junior Suites sleep up to two people.

They’ve got twin beds that can convert to a queen-size double bed, and a sitting area, as well as a bathroom with a WC and shower over a bath, and a balcony.

These cabins measure around 21m².

Grand Suite Cabin

Grand Suites sleep up to four people.

The Grand Suites on Deck 8 have twin beds that can convert to a queen-size double bed, and a sitting area with a sofa-bed.

You’ll get a bathroom with a WC and a shower over a bath.

There’s a balcony for admiring the sea views, too.

Grand Suites measure 32m².

Family Junior Suite

This cabin sits on deck 8 and sleeps 6.

It’s got one bedroom with twin beds, and a living area with a double sofa-bed and twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed if needed, as well as an en suite with a WC and a shower.

A private balcony with double doors comes as standard.

The cabin measures around 39 m².

Royal Suite Cabin

The most luxurious cabin measures up at a huge 92m², and sleeps up to 4.

It comes with a separate living room with a sofa-bed, a bedroom with a king-size bed, and an en suite with a WC and a shower.

Swish extras come in the form of a baby grand piano and a whirlpool bath. Expect plenty of light courtesy of glass doors that open onto a balcony.

Executive Suite

There are 5 Executive Suites, which sleep four people.

They come with a separate living area with a queen-size sofa-bed, a queen- size bed, and an en suite with a WC, shower and bath.

You can soak up the sea views from the comfort of your private balcony, it’s got glass doors, which let in plenty of light.

Executive Suites are spacious, measuring in at 47m2.

Family Suite Cabin

The Family Suites sleep 7 people, and have 2 separate rooms.

One has twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed if needed and another with a fold-down bed.

There are 2 bathrooms, one with a shower, and one with a bath.

Plus, you’ve got a living area with a double sofa-bed.

The cabin covers around 40m², and comes with a balcony.

Marella Discovery Cabins to Avoid

The Marella Discovery is a very well-designed ship where the majority of cabins are very similar to each other.

That said there are always some locations that are better than others.

The following ‘cabins to avoid’ have been provided by cruisers who stayed in these cabins.

Marella Discovery, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 8

The Aft cabins on deck 8 are directly below what is called “The Veranda” on deck 9.

Some passengers have reported hearing noise from the deck above such as sun loungers being moved at night.

Marella Discovery, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 6

The Coffee Port on deck 6 is a very popular place for guests to stop to grab a drink.

I stayed on deck six in a balcony cabin and didn’t have any problems – with it but some guests have reported an increase in foot traffic on this deck compared to other cabins.

This does make sense as many people will walk along here to get to the Coffee Port.

If you would prefer a quieter deck it may be worth moving up or down one deck.

The cabins at the front of deck 6 are underneath “The Squid and Anchor” pub and the main theatre of the ship.

Evening entertainment happens in both of these venues and some guests have reported being able to hear noise travelling to the cabins at the front of deck 6.

If you are likely to be out in the evenings this shouldn’t be a problem,as most shows in the theatre end before 11 pm.

If you have children or like to go to bed early this may be an area to avoid.

Marella Discovery, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 3

The cabins at the front of deck 3 right below the main Theatre of the ship.

If you would like to go to bed early or have children it may be worth avoiding these cabins are the sound can sometimes travel.

It’s rare to notice sound travelling too much throughout a ship but if you are trying to get to sleep this may be more noticeable.

What plug sockets are on the Marella Discovery?

All cabins have at least two US and two EU plug sockets.

To find a full guide to plug sockets on Marella ships, and many many others, check out my guide here:

Complete Cruise Ship Plug Socket Guide: Search by Ship

The most recent Marella cruise I have taken was over a busy Easter weekend.

We had a wonderful time! Find out all about that cruise here:

Before You Go

I often book “Guaranteed” cabins when I cruise. They are cheaper, but the cruise line gets to choose the location. Find out whether this option would suit you here:

I Always Book Guaranteed Cabins on Cruise Ships – (Photo Examples, Regrets & More)

Find out where is the best place to book a cabin onboard a cruise ship if you are worried about seasickness here:

What is The Best Cabin Location on a Cruise For Avoiding Seasickness? (I’ve Tried Them All!)