Marella Discovery 2 accidents and incidents

07 November 2024Structural and Technical Issues

November 7, 2024, departure from Malaga (Spain) was canceled due to an extended drydocking in Port Cadiz (Spain).

The vessel was undergoing an extensive drydock refurbishment at Navantia Shipyard. The project's timeline was delayed by adverse weather in Southern Spain.

The canceled voyage (7-day “Spanish Flavours” itinerary roundtrip from Malaga) included stops in Palamos (Nov 9), Palma de Mallorca (Nov 10), Valencia (Nov 11), Cartagena (Nov 12) and Gibraltar UK (Nov 13).

All affected bookings were offered either a full monetary refund (100%) plus GBP 100 in compensation or a full refund (100%) plus discounts of GBP 200 per person (off a future voyage with Marella Cruises) or GBP 150 per person (off a TUI holiday) valid for bookings made by November 18th.

January 2023Propulsion / Power Loss

On January 30, 2023, TUI UK canceled Marella Discovery 2's next scheduled voyage (7-day "Pride Of Panama") citing "a technical issue with the catering facilities".

The issue occurred on day 6th of the current "Flavours Of The Caribbean" cruise (7-day itinerary/Jan 24-31, roundtrip from Montego Bay, Jamaica) with call ports in Mexico (Cozumel/Jan 26), Cuba (Havana/Jan 27) and Grand Cayman (George Town/Jan 27). The ship arrived in Montego Bay as scheduled (Jan 31).

The affected/canceled voyage was the 7-day "Pride Of Panama" itinerary (Jan 31-Feb 7, Jamaica roundtrip) with planned visits to Jamaica (Kingston/Feb 1), Colombia (Cartagena/Feb 3), Panama (Colon/Feb 4) and Costa Rica (Puerto Limon/Feb 5).

On social media, some of the passengers reported "food issues" which TUI rejected saying that the ship can deliver food and beverages to all its current guests.

Some passengers booked the canceled voyage as part of a 14-day B2B/back-to-back cruise (Jan 24 through Feb 7/Flavours Of The Caribbean plus Pride Of Panama). They were disembarked in Montego Bay and flown back to the UK. As compensation, they were fully refunded and additionally received GBP 300 (EUR 340 / USD 370) per person in future holiday vouchers/FCC (future cruise credit).

(CruiseMapper email1 by Marion Hutton)

I can confirm I am one of the guests from the cancelled TUI Discovery 2 boat.

We have not been fully refunded and TUI knew about this even before we left the UK. The internet published on the 25th that the cruise would come to an end a week early. We received a letter on day 4 put under the cabin door around 6 am! Telling us we would get money back pro rata for stops missed per night for the 7 days we lost. We lost more than that. The last 3 days we didn’t enjoy thanks to the lovely letter and the last day was spent at port (Montego Bay) arranging flights home together as they put us on separate flights 4 hours apart and not to our home airport. 6-hour drive on top of the 9-hour flight delayed for 2 hours.

We spent 38 hours travelling within the 7 days we went on our dream holiday. Half the money won’t even buy us 2 weeks in Turkey. I spent over GBP 4000 to get slapped in the face. I’m absolutely furious with TUI. They won’t even answer calls regarding the matter.

I’d love to know who told you we got a full refund plus a TUI CRUISE voucher not a holiday one. It’s ridiculous. There should be compensation for the customers too.

(CruiseMapper email2 by Marion Hutton)

We flew from Glasgow at 11 am on Jan 24th, to Sangster Airport (Montego Bay) arriving at 4:30/5 pm. Our flight home was supposed to be on Feb 7th at 6 pm (Jamaica time) and we would’ve landed back in Glasgow on Feb 8th.

Our changed flight was supposed to have left at 6 pm from Sangster Airport (Montego Bay). We arrived back to Manchester then travelled to Glasgow Airport at 11 am on Feb 1st.

I’m still waiting on word back. I went with my partner dad & wife, two of us use wheelchairs. Due to our illness, we can’t walk far and travelling puts its toll on my body. I’d never ever booked a week on a cruise ship - it’s far too much flying and travelling - 3hrs before at the airport, 9hr flight. We were supposed to be relaxing not stressing from the start. We didn’t see Jamaica when we arrived or left.

They booked me and my partner on the first flight to Manchester then my dad and wife on the second flight - 4hrs apart. This was the first cruise for my dad. He’s 66 and diabetic and his wife uses a wheelchair. I told TUI representatives I wasn’t leaving my dad in Jamaica alone. He’s not good in stressful situations so we spent our last few hours trying to arrange seats on the one flight to Manchester. Their explanation was that they didn’t have the assistance seats available and had to separate us.

When we finally got on our flight there were 9+ seats available In the assistance section. So much added stress and no communication from TUI. I felt it for the reception staff. CruiseCritic's boards published on Jan 25th that our flight would be cancelled - how did they know before us, the loyal TUI customers? If cruise boards knew on the 25th then TUI had made the decision well before the cruise was cancelled, so why not just refund us? Instead, customers who didn’t have to go through all the added stress, who didn’t even have to fly out on Jan 31st received a full refund and vouchers? It doesn’t seem fair we get half and cruise vouchers. we should be getting a full refund and compensation due to the upheaval and added stress.

It was supposed to have been a dream holiday and once-in-a-lifetime trip. I was booked prior for my 40th Birthday but it was cancelled due to COVID 2 weeks before we flew.

14 May 2018Propulsion / Power Loss

On May 14, 2018, the ship suffered an engine failure while navigating in Guidecca Canal (Venice, Italy). near Palazzo Ducale and San Marco Basilica. The liner remained disabled for about 30 min, then assisted by 3 tugboats it berthed at the terminal.

The accident occurred while the ship was leaving Venice bound for Split Croatia, on 7-day "Adriatic Explorer Cruise" (itinerary May 11-18) roundtrip from homeport Corfu Greece to Kerkyra, Koper, Venice, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor.

10 April 2018Other Incidents

On February 15, 2018, Marella Cruises emailed all passengers booked on the Transatlantic repositioning crossing (repositioning cruise itinerary April 10-28, from Montego Bay Jamaica to Palma de Mallorca, Spain) about major itinerary changes. Due to port congestion (berth double-booking/official version), call ports Havana Cuba, Nassau Bahamas, and Lisbon Portugal had to be dropped.

Unofficially was reported, that the reason for the 3 ports cancellation was a USA cruise line to which was given priority docking in Havana (on April 12, at Sierra Maestra Terminal). The other berth booking for April 12 was made by Royal Caribbean for the ship Empress of the Seas.

As compensation, all Marella Cruises passengers received GBP 25 in onboard credit.

25 January 2017Coast Guard Medevacs

(Legend Of The Seas) On January 25, 2017, a 20-year-old female crew sustained a spinal injury (lower back fracture) “while performing her regular duties” (RCI statement). The incident occurred around midnight, while the ship was in New Zealand (South Island’s east coast, approx 32 km / 20 mi southeast of Cape Campbell) and en-route to Brisbane Australia.

Maritime NZ (maritime safety authority) dispatched a rescue helicopter to the scene (at Clifford Bay’s southern end, near Blenheim). The woman was airlifted from the ship by a response team equipped with night-vision goggles. The operation took ~20 min. She was flown to Wellington Hospital in a stable condition. The cruise ship was on 14-night New Zealand cruise (itinerary Jan 15-29) roundtrip from homeport Brisbane.

02 November 2015Propulsion / Power Loss

(Legend Of The Seas) On November 2, 2015, during the 10-day Asian cruise (itinerary Oct 31 – Nov 10) from Hong Kong China to Singapore, the ship experienced a mechanical issue (engine or propulsion) resulting in serious vibrations and itinerary change (call port Keelung Taiwan was dropped). The incident started during rough sea, but the strong vibrations continued on the following days. Passengers reported their beds shaking and even making their drinks slosh at Viking Crown Lounge (deck 11).

April 2015Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Legend Of The Seas) April 2015, CDC reported on itinerary March 30 to April 14, Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected a total of 135 passengers (out of 1746, or 7,7%) and 7 crew (out of 748, or 0,9%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (headache, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours. The ship was on 14-day Panama Canal relocation cruise from Fort Lauderdale Florida to San Diego California.

20 January 2012Fire Accident

(Legend Of The Seas) On January 20, 2012, in the Royal Promenade area, a parade was just started, when the alarm sounded and was publicly announced that the bar “Cafe Promenade” was on fire. The ship was en-route to homeport Southampton, England.

18 October 2010Boat Rescue

(Legend Of The Seas) On October 18, 2010, the ship was en-route from Taiwan to Hong Kong, navigating in rough seas. The 14-night Asian cruise itinerary started on Oct 7 from Tianjin China. While in Taiwan Strait, the ship received a distress call from the cargo vessel “Xin Yi”(Monday, 10:20 pm). The cargo ship was taking on water and sinking.

The Royal Caribbean ship marked the freighter’s position, turned around and arrived there first (Tuesday 12:15 am) just to witness how the vessel sunk. The crew started search and rescue operations, joined later by Taiwan Coast Guard assets (boats and a helicopter). During the 12 hours effort, the Royal Caribbean ship rescued 3 crew and assisted in rescuing another 9 crew. Still, 10 crew members from the sunk ship remained missing.

09 February 2009Propulsion / Power Loss

(Legend Of The Seas) On February 9, 2009, the ship docked in call port Key West Florida due to malfuction of one of its Azipods (propulsion units /aka “azimuth thrusters”). The unit was leaking oil into the water. The vessel remained moored there until the evening, when repairs were completed, then continued on the scheduled itinerary.

29 January 2006Crew / Passenger Crimes

(Legend Of The Seas / sexual) On January 29, 2006, a 34-year-old crew (of Colombian origin, working as bartender) was arrested when the ship docked in Tampa Florida. The arrest was on charges for attempted rape of a 22-year-old female passenger. The woman was pulled in a dark room, but managed to escape. The offender was held in the brig until the arrival in Port Tampa.

27 June 2005Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Legend Of The Seas) On June 27, 2005, while the ship was at sea, a male passenger got very sick. He was suffering from Legionnaires’ Disease symptoms (type of pneumonia), including fever, chills, cough, headache, ataxia. When the ship docked in Barcelona Spain, the man was disembarked and ambulanced to a hospital. The cruise ship was quarantined in Barcelona for an extra day.

07 June 2003Crew / Passenger Crimes

(Legend Of The Seas / sexual) On June 7, 2003, a 41-year-old male crew (working on the ship as “Food & Beverage Manager” was arrested in Seward AK. He charged for sexually assaulting (on June 5) a 22-year-old female crew.

23 April 2003Crew / Passenger Crimes

(Legend Of The Seas) On April 23, 2003, a 20-year-old female passenger was arrested in Honolulu Hawaii. She was accused of planting threatening notes that led to an FBI search for weapons on the ship. The young woman hoped the voyage will be cancelled so she could go home early. Due to this incident, the cruise itinerary was changed, skipping port Hilo and shortening Kona port's stay.