Marella Cruises, the UK cruise brand operated by TUI, has announced that Marella Discovery 2 will become a permanently adults-only vessel from the winter 2027 season. The conversion will be accompanied by the introduction of four new onboard entertainment venues, replacing the ship's former children's facilities as the cruise line continues to expand its adults-only product in response to growing market demand.
As part of the refurbishment, the existing children's areas will be transformed into a speakeasy-style lounge, an escape room, a dedicated karaoke venue and an arts and crafts space, creating a range of facilities tailored exclusively to adult passengers. The enhancements are scheduled to be completed before the vessel begins its winter deployment.
During the winter 2027–28 season, Marella Discovery 2 will operate from three homeports. Between November 2027 and March 2028, the vessel will sail from Tenerife and Gran Canaria before repositioning to Málaga for March and April 2028. The programme will introduce a new 7-night Atlantic Fusion itinerary, featuring calls at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura, Arrecife in Lanzarote and Agadir, Morocco, before returning to Las Palmas.
Marella Cruises indicated that the decision to permanently dedicate the vessel to adults-only cruising follows sustained demand for child-free holidays and the positive response to previous seasonal deployments. The company also confirmed that the investment in the four new onboard concepts is intended to further enhance the guest experience for this growing market segment.
The wider winter 2027 programme will see Marella Cruises' 5-ship fleet operating from 6 European and Caribbean homeports. Marella Voyager and Marella Explorer 2 will continue Caribbean itineraries from Barbados throughout the season, while Marella Discovery will be based in La Romana, Dominican Republic, until March 2028 before repositioning across the Atlantic to Palma de Mallorca for a series of Mediterranean cruises. Meanwhile, Marella Explorer will continue its Canary Islands programme from Tenerife and Las Palmas.
Alongside the fleet deployment, the cruise line has expanded its Cruise & Stay programme with the addition of 39 hotels, increasing the portfolio to 197 properties. The new hotels are located in Barbados, La Romana, Gran Canaria, Málaga, Palma and Tenerife, providing passengers with a wider range of pre- and post-cruise accommodation options.
Marella Cruises has also introduced Suite Service Max across its fleet. Guests booked in Royal Suites, Voyager Suites and Executive Suites will receive an enhanced package of in-suite amenities, exclusive dining privileges and additional personalised services designed to elevate the premium accommodation experience.
The company stated that the expanded winter programme combines new itineraries, festive overnight stays, repositioning voyages, transatlantic crossings and an enlarged Cruise & Stay portfolio, reflecting its continuing strategy of broadening holiday options while strengthening its adults-only cruise offering.