Marella Discovery

The 1996-built (as "Splendour of the Seas") Marella Discovery 1 cruise ship (fka "TUI Discovery") is one of the Vision-class Royal Caribbean liners, with sisterships Vision OTS, Grandeur OTS, Enchantment OTS, Legend OTS (now Marella Discovery 2), and Rhapsody OTS. The vessel is fully owned by TUI and chartered via its parent company TUI Cruises. Her operations for Marella Cruises (fka "Thomson Cruises", TUI’s subsidiary) began in June 2016, replacing Island Escape (now Ocean Gala) in the Mediterranean.

The vessel (IMO number 9070632) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 249639000) and registered in Valletta. Under Royal Caribbean, Splendour of the Seas was Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311804000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises UK) is a British passenger shipping company and travel brand owned by TUI Group. The company entered the cruise market in 1973 via Thomson Holidays (now TUI UK), but due to rising fuel costs, the service was suspended in 1976. Thomson Cruises restarted passenger operations in 1995. The brand was renamed "Marella Cruises" in 2018. Marella’s parent company (TUI Group) owns hotels, the sister companies TUI Cruises, Marella Cruises, and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the travel brands International Expeditions and Zegrahm Expeditions, as well as aircraft and airlines including Corsair International (France), TUI Airways (UK), TUI fly Nordic (Sweden), TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Deutschland, and TUI fly Netherlands.

The 2000-passenger Marella Discovery, as "Splendour of the Seas," was one of RCI’s older ships. She was among the first RCI vessels to offer balconies in multiple categories. Vision-class ships are known for their expansive glass skylights that flood interiors with natural light. A major refit in April 2016 transformed Discovery with a refreshed design. Her exterior was updated with a dynamic wave pattern highlighting her sleek hull.

On April 13, 2016, Thomson Cruises announced the newest fleet member would be named "TUI Discovery" (initially planned as "Thomson Discovery"). The renaming was part of the rebranding strategy transitioning from Thomson to TUI and introducing the TUI brand to UK travelers. Marella Discovery became the first in the fleet to feature an all-inclusive drinks package as standard, offering guests greater choice in entertainment and dining included in the fare.

MS Marella Discovery also introduced new technology to personalize the onboard experience. Guests can order drinks at the touch of a button from loungers on the adults-only deck "The Veranda," make reservations for entertainment, dining, and spa at self-service kiosks, browse and purchase voyage photography, and explore destinations at a hi-tech shore excursion shop.

Decks and Cabins

Marella Discovery staterooms (918 total) include nearly 40% with private step-out balconies. Standard cabins measure 150-190 ft² (14-18 m²). There are 15 cabin categories in total, including 17 wheelchair-accessible staterooms. The largest is the Royal Suite (990 ft² / 92 m² plus a 140 ft² / 13 m² terrace).

The ship has 11 decks, of which 10 are passenger-accessible, including 5 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Marella Discovery offers 8 dining venues, including two signature restaurants: "Gallery 47°" and "Snack Shack." The poolside Snack Shack, themed around British beach huts, has a casual festival-style atmosphere serving nachos and quesadillas by day and popcorn with cocoa during film nights. Gallery 47° is located above the main dining room and serves modern Italian cuisine.

Complete list of Marella Discovery restaurants and food bars:

• Main Restaurant (complimentary, open seating; buffet breakfast 8-10 a.m., buffet lunch 12-2 p.m., and waiter-served multi-course dinner 6:15-10 p.m.; once weekly hosts Captain’s Gala Dinner and Captain’s Reception with formal dress code and fixed seating times)
• Chef’s Table (specialty, reservations-only, part of the MDR; 5-course gourmet dinner at 7 p.m., with chef-prepared dishes showcased live)
• Gallery 47° (signature venue within the MDR; modern Italian specialties)
• Lido Restaurant (550-seat buffet; breakfast 7-10 a.m., lunch 12-3 p.m., afternoon tea 3-5 p.m., dinner 6:30-9:30 p.m., late snacks 9:30 p.m.-midnight; complimentary, with multiple food stations)
• Snack Shack (complimentary deli-style eatery serving the pool deck)
• A La Carte Restaurant (alternative fine-dining venue with international cuisine, part of the Sky Lounge; surcharge applies)

Kora La specializes in pan-Asian dishes (surcharge, reservations recommended).

Surf & Turf is a steakhouse offering premium meats, seafood, and gourmet dishes (surcharge, reservations recommended).

In June 2025, the gastropub Piccadilly’s was introduced fleetwide.

• 250-seat venue, designed in traditional British style, open 6 a.m.-9 p.m., complimentary and walk-in only (no reservations).
• Menu highlights include starters like "Chicken or the Egg" (smoked chicken terrine, soft hen eggs, piccalilli), mains like "Chicken cock-a-leekie" (stuffed roast chicken with vegetables), sharing plates such as "Great British Burgers" and "The Arthur Duke Pasty Duo," and desserts like Orange Jaffa Cake.
• Complimentary items include starters (Chips and Gravy, Devilled Chicken Livers, Smoked Salmon Roulade), mains (Angus Beef & Yorkshire Pudding Roast, Steak & Ale Pie, Roast Chicken Dinner), and desserts (Warm Apple Fritters, The King of Nice Puddings, British Cheese Selection).
• Payable options include Seafood Thermidor Frites, Rack of Lamb, Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak, and Belgian Chocolate Dome.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Marella Discovery is the largest ship in the Marella fleet. She features diverse dining options (7 restaurants, 8 bars), a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course, casino, and indoor pool. The Broadway Show Lounge accommodates over 800 guests with plush seating. The Outdoor Movie Screen is a first for Marella Cruises, allowing open-air movies under the stars.

Complete list of Marella Discovery entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Broadway Show Lounge (802-seat theater with large-scale productions featuring dance, acrobatics, comedy, and games)
• Cocktail & Piano Bar (104 seats)
• Lounge (338-seat multipurpose venue for live shows, bingo, karaoke, dance parties, art auctions, game shows)
• Broad Street Shops (duty-free arcade with boutiques selling jewelry, watches, perfumes, fashion, Marella merchandise, liquor, tobacco, and convenience items); Boutique (spa cosmetics, beauty products)
• Photo Gallery & Shop
• Library with Internet access
• Atrium (5-deck high central hub, served by the Atrium Bar)
• The Coffee Port (12-seat café serving specialty coffees and teas with complimentary desserts)
• Casino (240 seats, with its own bar)
• Main Pool area (kids’ pool, 4 whirlpools, sunbathing area, served by a poolside bar)
• Outdoor Movie Screen (LED cinema for movies, sporting events, and live shows)
• Observatory Deck (indoor lounge with 270° panoramic views)
• Sky Lounge & Bar (top-deck observation lounge served by Sky Bar)
• Marella Kids’ Club (play area for ages 3-11, supervised activities; plus a video arcade)
• Solarium (adults-only relaxation with pool, 2 whirlpools, table tennis, under a glass roof)
• Oceans Spa & Gym (Wellness Center: treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, beauty salon, relaxation area; gym is the largest in the fleet with separate aerobics studio)
• Café (within Spa, offering fresh juices and healthy menu)
• Sports Deck (outdoor tennis tables); Jogging Track; Greens (9-hole mini-golf); Rock Climbing Wall

During her 2021 drydock, Marella Discovery gained "The Glass House" – a redesigned pool deck aft on Deck 9 styled as a beach club with indoor swimming pool and an à-la-carte restaurant. The entire sundeck was upgraded with cabana-style daybeds, garden furniture, new flooring, wall coverings, and mood lighting. The Glass House offers daytime deli-style food and tapas-style evenings. A glass ceiling ensures natural light for this all-day dining venue, serving continental breakfast, salads, sandwiches, tapas, pizzas, and sharing platters.

Since November 2022, Marella UK has partnered with OneSpaWorld Holdings to provide ocean-inspired wellness services fleetwide. Treatments include Ocean Body Massages, Ocean Facials, and Ocean Salon Services, with premium beauty brands like Elemis, L’Oreal, and Kerastase. OneSpaWorld brands include Mandara Spa, Bliss Spa, Chavana Spa, and Glow Spa.

Itineraries

Marella Discovery began her itinerary program in June 2016 with her inaugural cruise from Palma de Mallorca. In 2017, she operated 7-day Mediterranean itineraries from Palma, followed by a winter Caribbean season with roundtrips from Bridgetown, Barbados.

In May 2018, Marella Discovery started UK roundtrips from Newcastle (Port of Tyne), featuring Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia and Russia, Iceland, and Baltic capitals such as Stockholm, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Oslo, Helsinki, and Rostock. In September 2018, she was homeported in Southampton for 4 themed roundtrips ("Baltic Treasures," "European Experience," "Fantastic Fjords," "Seeking the Northern Lights").

Following the Coronavirus crisis, Marella Discovery resumed service in September 2021 with roundtrips from Corfu Island (Port Kerkyra, Greece). Program 2021 featured 3x 7-day itineraries:

• "Iconic Islands" (Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Chania Crete, Katakolon-Olympia)
• "Aegean Discovery" (Chania Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Piraeus-Athens, Katakolon-Olympia)
• "Aegean Shores" (Heraklion, Santorini, Rhodes, Piraeus-Athens, Zakynthos)

This was followed by the 2021-2022 Caribbean season homeported in Bridgetown.

In 2021, the liner was scheduled to homeport in Florida USA (Port Canaveral/Orlando City) with 4 new Caribbean itineraries across 11 ports and 26 departures (May-Oct 2021). These were 7- and 14-night roundtrips (B2Bs). The program was later canceled and rescheduled for 2023 (May-Oct).

Marella Discovery’s Port Canaveral program featured 4 itineraries and 11 call ports:

• "American Dream" and "Big Apple Adventure" (overnights in New York City)
• "Sunshine States and Sands" (Miami, Grand Turk Island, Amber Cove Dominicana, Key West FL)
• "Floridian Favorites" (7- and 14-night roundtrips with an overnight in Tampa and a call at Nassau)

These sailings were also available with cruise-and-hotel packages in Orlando. In 2023, Marella Discovery completed 28 Caribbean cruises, serving 85,533 passengers. Most itineraries were 7 nights.

The ship’s powerplant consists of Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 12V46) with a combined power output of 57.5 MW (77,110 hp).

The vessel was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique (yard/hull number 103348) with a gross tonnage of 69,472 GT, deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 5,200 tons, and maximum draught of 8.1 m.

Marella Discovery (formerly "Splendour of the Seas" and "TUI Discovery") was acquired by Marella in March 2015. The following month, the company announced her new name as “Thomson Discovery”. However, in April 2016, the parent company TUI Cruises renamed her “TUI Discovery” to introduce the TUI brand to the UK market.

The ship officially joined Marella’s fleet on June 9, 2016, as its largest vessel, with 915 staterooms (40% featuring private balconies). Highlights include multiple dining venues, a mini-golf course, casino, indoor swimming pool, and the Broadway Show Lounge with seating for more than 800 guests. She was the first Marella ship equipped with an Outdoor Movie Screen and a Rock-Climbing Wall, as well as the first in the fleet to operate with an all-inclusive drinks package included as standard.

Following a GBP 10 million drydock refurbishment at Navantia Shipyard (Cadiz, Spain), her christening ceremony was held on June 9, 2016, in Palma, Majorca. The naming ceremony was attended by more than 600 suppliers, travel agents, and media representatives. The ship’s twin godmothers were a bar waitress from the Philippines and a head waiter from East India. The event featured an open-deck after-party with traditional music and dances from Marella UK’s cruise destinations, as well as a 30-minute live show by UK singer Jess Glynne, accompanied by the ship’s own band.

The Apollo Group was contracted to provide all onboard hotel services for both Marella Discovery ships, including administration, food preparation and service, housekeeping, provisioning, and crewing. Apollo also assisted with the refit of the former Legend of the Seas in Singapore. In addition, Apollo manages Marella Celebration and Marella Dream, and also serves luxury lines such as Oceania Cruises (6 ships) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (4 ships).

Ex-Florida USA itineraries 2023

In 2021, Marella planned to deploy Discovery in the Caribbean with homeporting at Port Canaveral, Florida. The program included 4 itineraries (11 ports of call) and 26 departures (May–October 2021) with 7-day and 14-day back-to-back cruises. This deployment was later postponed to 2023 (May 7–October 22).

The 2023 Caribbean program from Port Canaveral (Terminal 5) included itineraries such as “American Dream” and “Big Apple Adventure” (NYC overnight), “Sunshine States and Sands” (Miami and Key West), and “Floridian Favorites” (7- and 14-night roundtrips with Fort Lauderdale and Tampa overnight).

7-day "Sunshine States and Sands" itinerary

7-day "American Dream" itinerary

7-day "Floridian Favorites" itinerary

14-day "East Coast Adventure" itinerary

These ex-Florida voyages could also be combined with cruise-and-hotel packages in Orlando. The 2023–2024 winter season was based on 7-day Caribbean roundtrips from Bridgetown, Barbados.

Marella Discovery refurbishments review

During her 2022 drydock (at Navantia Shipyard, Cadiz), MJM Marine Ltd (part of MJM Group, Northern Ireland) carried out a full refurbishment of all staterooms, including new bathrooms and the installation of UV-free Antimicrobial Light technology (by Vyv Tech, NY, USA), fitted by LightPartner Lichtsysteme GmbH (Bremen, Germany).

Her 2021 drydock introduced “The Glass House” – a redesigned, beach club-style pool deck (aft on Deck 9) with an indoor pool and a specialty restaurant.

The Sundeck was also fully revamped with new cabana-style day beds, premium outdoor furniture (loungers, dining tables, sofas), new pool tiles, wall coverings, deck flooring, and lighting with evening mood settings. The Glass House offers deli-style dining during the day and tapas-style menus in the evening.

Itineraries 2016

In 2016, Marella Discovery offered 7-day Western Mediterranean roundtrips from Palma de Mallorca, starting at USD 740 per person.

• French Riviera: Ajaccio (Corsica), Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), St Raphael (France), Barcelona.
• “Cosmopolitan Classics”: Messina (Sicily), Naples, La Spezia, Villefranche (France, for Nice), Palamos (Spain).
• “Cosmopolitan Classics” variant: Messina, Naples, La Spezia, Villefranche, Barcelona.
• “Magic of Spain”: Cadiz (Seville), Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena.
• “Magic of Spain” variant: Gibraltar, Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena.

Winter 2016-2017 Caribbean itineraries (7-night roundtrips from Barbados) visited Fort de France (Martinique), Roseau (Dominica), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Castries (St Lucia), Kingstown (St Vincent), and St George’s (Grenada) – with no sea days.

In 2018, Marella Cruises homeported a ship in the UK for the first time – Marella Discovery from Newcastle (May 2018), operating Iceland and Baltic Sea itineraries (Scandinavia, Russia, Norwegian Fjords). Ports included Stockholm, Tallinn, Reykjavik, St Petersburg. In September 2018, she repositioned to Southampton for 4 themed itineraries – “Baltic Treasures”, “European Experience” (Germany, Belgium, France, Amsterdam overnight), “Fantastic Fjords” (Norway), and “Northern Lights”.

Splendour of the Seas ship

Details on the former "Splendour of the Seas":

• Passenger decks: 10
• Cabin grades: 26
• Total cabins: 902 (87 Suites, 144 Balcony)
• Main Dining Room: King & I
• Other dining venues: Windjammer (buffet), Park Cafe (deli), Chops Grille (steakhouse), Izumi (Asian), Dog House
• Lounges & Bars: Top Hat, Viking Crown (nightclub), Concierge, Diamond, Optix (teen), Adventure Ocean (kids), Schooner, R Bar, Cafe Latte-tudes, Ben & Jerry’s, pool bars
• Amenities: 24-hour room service, Adventure Ocean youth program, WiFi/Internet, laundry
• Spa & Fitness: Vitality at Sea Spa, 6 Jacuzzis, 3 pools, Rock-Climbing Wall, Nursery
• Built in 1996 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique (France). Godmother: Lise Wilhelmsen, wife of Arne Wilhelmsen (RCI Board member). Maiden Voyage: March 31, 1996.

RCI scheduled a major refit for Splendour OTS in November 2013. Public areas were stripped to steel and rebuilt, 124 new balcony cabins were added, and all staterooms (including bathrooms) were refurbished. The Atrium was redesigned, and 450 containers of outdated furnishings were removed. The refit involved 800 crew, 200 extra RCI staff, 800 contractor firms, and 200 shipyard workers in Cadiz, Spain.

The refit also introduced iPads in all cabins, allowing guests to order room service, check bills, book restaurants, or browse the Internet. Splendour featured RCI’s signature Rock-Climbing Wall, ice-skating, mini-golf, a family pool deck, and digital “Wayfinder” signage.

Splendour of the Seas itineraries 2016

Splendour OTS left the RCI fleet in April 2016. Her final voyage was a 16-day Suez Canal transition (April 4, 2016) from Dubai to Venice.

Her last RCI itineraries included:

• 6-day roundtrip from Dubai (March 28–April 3, 2016): Khasab, Muscat, Abu Dhabi – from USD 780 (Inside) to USD 2370 (Suite).
• 16-day one-way Dubai–Venice (April 4–20, 2016): Salalah, Suez Canal, Port Said, Ashdod, Haifa, Santorini, Athens – from USD 960 (Inside) to USD 2160 (Balcony).

These were her final cruises with RCI before transfer to Marella Cruises.