Pizza, Pasta & Bread in a Plant Pot – Why I Kept Going Back to This Restaurant (Marella Cruises)

Note: This post is sponsored by Marella Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are my own based on my 6 Cruises with Marella.

When I was on Marella Discovery 2, most people headed straight to the buffet or main dining room to eat, but there’s a restaurant that many completely overlooked – The Glass House.

When I was on board, The Glass House quickly became my favourite place to eat.

They serve a range of food, some included in the cruise fare, and some dishes at an extra charge.

As it was advertised as an extra-cost restaurant in the cruise ship’s app, people didn’t realise that plenty of free options were available there too.

It was never too busy when we went.

What is The Glass House?

The Glass House is a casual, poolside restaurant offering a mixture of light bites, grilled dishes, pizza, and pasta.

Unlike the buffet, it feels much more relaxed, and you don’t have to find a table. Food is served to you.

The tapas, sharing boards, pizza and pasta are all included in the cruise fare. There are other dishes at an extra charge on the other side of the menu.

Here are the Tapas options from The Glass House menu:

TAPAS

• Croquettes (Choose one):
  • Ham & Bechamel (G, D) – Creamy, deep-fried croquettes filled with ham and béchamel sauce.
  • Mushroom & Bechamel (V, G, D) – Vegetarian version with a rich mushroom filling.
• Champiñones al ajillo (GF) – Garlic mushrooms cooked with mild dry sherry.
• Patatas Bravas (V, GF) – Crispy fried potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce.
• Pollo Andaluz (GF) – Andalusian-style chicken, marinated and served with a mild, flavorful sauce.
• Gambas pil pil (GF, D) – Spicy garlic prawns, cooked in olive oil with chili and garlic.

These Spanish-inspired small plates are designed for sharing, making them a great way to sample different flavours.

SHARING BOARDS

Generous platters designed for two or more people.

• Deli Meat Board – A selection of cured meats including Serrano ham, chorizo, and salami, served with pickles, olives, and ciabatta bread.
• Deli Cheese Board – A mix of cheeses, chutney, walnuts, and crackers.
• Combo Board – A combination of both meat and cheese selections.

FLATBREAD PIZZA

Thin, crispy flatbread topped with fresh ingredients.

• Margherita (G, D) – Classic tomato, mozzarella, and basil.
• Pepperoni (G, D) – Tomato base with mozzarella and spicy pepperoni slices.
• Quattro Formaggi (G, D) – A blend of four cheeses including mozzarella and Gorgonzola.

PASTA

Handmade pasta dishes with rich sauces. Gluten-free pasta available.

• Various pastas are available for you to choose from.
  • Spaghetti, Rigatoni, Ziti etc
• You can then choose your handmade pasta sauce to make your perfect dish.
  • Bolognase, Carbonara, Alfredo or Tomato and basil. (see below for further details.)

SAUCES

Optional sauces to accompany pasta or other dishes.

• Bolognese (G) – Traditional meat-based Italian sauce.
• Carbonara (G) – Creamy pasta sauce with eggs and pancetta.
• Alfredo (V, G, D) – Rich buttery cream sauce.
• Tomato & Basil (GF) – Light and fresh tomato-based sauce.

CALZONE

Oven-baked folded pizzas filled with delicious ingredients.

• Vegetarian Calzone (G, D, V) – Stuffed with tomato, mozzarella, and mixed vegetables.
• Panone Giuseppe (G, D) – Filled with tomato, mozzarella, and deli meats.

SIDES

Simple, classic side dishes.

• French Fries (V, GF) – Lightly seasoned crispy fries.
• On-the-Cob Grilled Corn (V, GF) – Grilled sweetcorn served on the cob.
• Signature Coleslaw

DESSERTS

Decadent sweet treats to finish your meal.

• Bailey’s Cheesecake (V, G, D) – Creamy cheesecake flavoured with Bailey’s Irish Cream.
• Crème Catalana (V, GF, D) – Spanish-style citrus-infused crème brûlée.
• Spiced Baba au Rhum (N) – Rum-soaked sponge cake served with vanilla cream.

Dietary Notes:

• (V) = Vegetarian
• (GF) = Gluten-Free
• (G) = Contains Gluten
• (D) = Contains Dairy
• (N) = Contains Nuts

Why It’s So Easy to Miss

The location isn’t obvious. The restaurant is tucked away near the indoor pool.

Many people walk past without realising it’s a proper dining venue with a range of food included in the cruise fare.

The Glass House is not heavily advertised, so unless you’re actively looking for different food options, you might never notice it at all.

What’s on the Menu?

• During the day: Grab-and-go sandwiches, light bites, and healthy options.
• In the evening: A full à la carte menu featuring grilled dishes, pizza, pasta, and sharing plates.
  • Some food is included, and some comes at an extra charge.

I had pizza one night and pasta another, and we also tried the sharing plate, which was a great way to sample different flavours.

My absolute favourite? The bread, served in plant pots! It was a fun little touch that made the meal even more memorable.

Why I Loved It So Much

• The Atmosphere
  • It was more peaceful than the buffet, but less formal than the main dining room.
• The Food Quality
  • Everything I tried was delicious.
• The Service – Our waiter, Fara, was amazing
  • She was super friendly, attentive, and always remembered us.
• No Booking Needed
  • We showed up at 6 PM every night and were seated straight away.

The Glass House can be found on Marella Discovery 1 and Marella Discovery 2. If you are sailing on a Marella ship with a Glass House, I highly recommend you visit it!

Before You Go

All of the ships in the Marella fleet had previous lives sailing for other cruise lines. Find out more about that here:

How Marella Cruises Transformed Ex-Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Ships

Find out about the most expensive cruise ship restorations in history and whether it is worth cruise lines spending so much on older ships here:

The Most Expensive Cruise Ship Renovations in History (Were They Worth It?)