Marella Explorer

The 1996-built (as "Celebrity Galaxy") cruise ship Marella Explorer 1 was previously operated as "Mein Schiff 1" by TUI Cruises. She was TUI’s oldest liner, with sisterships Marella Voyager (ex-Mein Schiff Herz, 2018-2023) and Marella Explorer 2 (ex-Celebrity Century). The vessel joined Thomson’s/Marella’s fleet in 2017 under the name "TUI Explorer," and was renamed "Marella Explorer" in October the same year. In 2018, the newbuild TUI Mein Schiff 1 took over the “Schiff 1” name.

The vessel (IMO number 9106297) is Malta-flagged (MMSI 249051000) and registered in Valletta.

History - construction and ownership

Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises UK) is a British cruise line and travel brand owned by TUI Group. The company entered the cruise market in 1973 through Thomson Holidays (now TUI UK), but due to rising fuel costs, operations were suspended in 1976. Thomson Cruises resumed service in 1995, and the brand was officially renamed “Marella Cruises” in 2018. TUI Group, Marella’s parent company, also owns hotels, TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, International Expeditions, Zegrahm Expeditions, and several airlines, including Corsair International (France), TUI Airways (UK), TUI fly Nordic (Sweden), TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Deutschland, and TUI fly Netherlands.

The 1,900-passenger vessel was originally built for Royal Caribbean’s Celebrity Cruises as “Celebrity Galaxy.” In 2008, she was renamed “Galaxy,” and in 2009 transferred to TUI Cruises following an extensive drydock refit. She joined Marella’s fleet in 2017. Mein Schiff 1 was one of TUI’s two oldest Century-class vessels, along with Mein Schiff 2 (ex-Celebrity Mercury, renamed Mein Schiff Herz in 2018) and Celebrity Century (now Marella Explorer 2).

Marella Explorer was the third ship to join the Marella fleet from other RCCL brands, following Marella Discovery (2015, ex-Splendour of the Seas) and Marella Discovery 2 (2017, ex-Legend of the Seas), and just before TUI Explorer 2 (2018, formerly Mein Schiff 2).

Marella Explorer introduced several firsts for the brand, including a dedicated kids’ pool, an innovative entertainment program, and 10 dining venues. One highlight was a new intimate tasting-menu restaurant designed for couples and small groups.

The Indigo flagship bar is the ship’s focal point, while Aperitif (a London-style bar) connects the Kora La and Surf & Turf restaurants. Other notable venues include The Scoops ice-cream parlor with bicycle-inspired seating, The Lounge with a color-changing bar and piano, Umi Sushi, and The Mediterranean dining area with a glass roof, two inclusive restaurants (pizzeria and tapas), and a for-fee Hot Stone Grill.

Decks and Cabins

Of all Marella Explorer staterooms (962 total), around 40% have private step-out balconies. All cabins feature individual air-conditioning, wardrobes, smart HDTVs, hairdryers, tea/coffee-making facilities, and en-suite bathrooms. Accommodation categories include:

• Inside cabins (16 m², the fleet’s largest), Outside cabins (17 m²), and Single Inside/Outside cabins (Decks 4, 5, 8, 9)
• Balcony cabins (17 m²), 14 Family Balcony cabins (20 m²; Decks 9, 10, 12, each with two twin beds)
• Suites – Balcony Junior Suite (22 m²) and Executive Suite (49 m²)

The ship has 13 decks, 10 of which are accessible to passengers, with accommodations on six decks.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Marella Explorer offers 10 dining venues, including Surf & Turf, Kora La, Snack Shack, Umi Sushi, and the open-air Mediterranean Restaurant featuring pizza and tapas areas. Kora La showcases oriental décor and a pan-Asian menu, available at a small premium.

Dining venues are located on Decks 5, 6, 7, and 11. Complete list:

• Latitude 53 (Decks 5-6 aft) – main waiter-service restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows
• Vista (Deck 5, within Latitude 53) – transforms into an Italian venue in the evenings
• The Dining Club (Deck 5) – fine dining and experimental cuisine, surcharge applies
• Umi Sushi (Deck 7) – sushi and sashimi, dinner only, surcharge applies
• Kora La (Deck 7) – pan-Asian cuisine, cover charge applies
• Surf & Turf Steakhouse (Deck 7) – seafood and steak specialties, surcharge applies
• Snack Shack (Deck 11) – casual eatery with food stalls, oversized deckchairs, grab-and-go snacks
• The Market Place (Deck 11) – buffet-style restaurant with global cuisine stations
• Tapas @ The Mediterranean (Deck 11) – tapas restaurant for lunch and dinner
• Italian @ The Mediterranean (Deck 11) – pizzeria with wood-fired oven and salad bar

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

• 250-seat venue, open 6 AM–9 PM, complimentary, first-come, first-served
• Menu features British favorites and sharing plates (e.g. smoked chicken terrine, roast chicken, Yorkshire pudding roasts, burgers, pasties, Jaffa cake-inspired dessert)
• Complimentary dishes include traditional roasts, pies, and desserts, while premium options feature Seafood Thermidor Frites, Rack of Lamb, and Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Highlights include the top-deck Indigo Bar, Club & Casino, and the first-at-sea Champneys Spa. Indigo features the ship’s longest bar, a DJ booth, dance floor, casino, and the Broadway Show Lounge with 1,000 seats. Entertainment venues host cocktail demos, live shows, and late-night events.

Deck 11 features the main pool, Oceans Gym, and Champneys Spa with a Finnish sauna (floor-to-ceiling windows), thermal suite, treatment rooms, and spa cabanas on the adults-only Veranda Deck.

Other venues include:

• The Lounge (Deck 6) – bar with piano and color-changing lighting
• Bar 53 (Deck 5) – pre-dinner drinks venue adjacent to Latitude 53
• The Shack (Deck 12) – casual poolside bar
• Bar@The Mediterranean (Deck 11) – indoor-outdoor bar with frozen cocktails
• Indigo Bar (Deck 12) – cocktail demos and flair shows
• Broadway Show Lounge (Decks 6-7) – 1,000 seats, waiter service, new productions
• Indigo Casino (Deck 12) – slot machines and card tables
• Aperitif (Deck 7) – Champagne/Prosecco bar for pre- and post-dinner drinks
• Squid & Anchor (Deck 7) – Marella’s first pub at sea, with live bands and quiz nights
• Scoops – gelato parlor with quirky bike-seat seating (surcharge)
• Coffee Port – Lavazza coffee, pastries, and piano music (surcharge)
• Movies by Moonlight – outdoor film screenings
• M Club – kids’ club with M Crew characters
• The Hideout – teen lounge with gaming consoles, events, and supervised activities
• Broad Street Shops – duty-free boutiques
• Photo Studio & Kiosks (Deck 6) – professional photography services
• Outdoor pool and three whirlpools (Deck 11)
• The Veranda – adults-only retreat with Balinese beds and cocoon chairs
• Sports Court – basketball and mini-football
• Mini-golf and table tennis (Sports & Family Deck)

Champneys Spa offers premium treatments (massages, facials, body wraps) and beauty salon services. Since November 2022, Marella (through a partnership with OneSpaWorld Holdings) has offered a range of ocean-inspired treatments and salon services using premium brands such as Elemis, L’Oréal, and Kerastase.

Itineraries

Marella Explorer 1’s initial program featured 7-night Western Mediterranean roundtrips from Palma de Mallorca, calling at popular French Riviera ports. Sample itineraries included:

• “Cosmopolitan Classics” – Palermo, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Villefranche (Nice), Palamos
• “Highlights of the Mediterranean” – Ajaccio, Civitavecchia (Rome), Marina di Carrara, Saint-Raphael, Barcelona
• “Magic of Spain” – Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena
• “Mediterranean Secrets” – Porto Torres, La Spezia, Calvi, Sete, Tarragona

After the COVID-19 suspension, Marella Explorer 1 resumed service on June 25, 2021, with UK itineraries homeporting in Southampton. Her Winter 2021-2022 program was based in the Canary Islands with roundtrips from Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas. In Summer 2022, she was deployed on Adriatic and Greek Isles cruises roundtrip from Corfu.

The ship’s powerplant is powered by MAN B&W marine diesel engines (model 9L48/60) with a combined output of 31.5 MW (42,240 hp).

The vessel was built at Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) under yard/hull number 638. Her gross tonnage is 76,998 GT, deadweight tonnage (DWT) 6,500 tons, and maximum draught 8.3 m.

During her pre-Marella service (May 15, 2009 – April 11, 2018), the ship operated for 8 years and 11 months, totaling 3,254 days.

TUI Mein Schiff 1 was originally built for Celebrity Cruises (an RCCL brand) as MV Galaxy (later “Celebrity Galaxy”). In May 2009, she was transferred to Royal Caribbean’s TUI subsidiary and renamed in Hamburg, Germany, as “Mein Schiff” (meaning “my ship”). The vessel underwent a EUR 50 million refurbishment, with Ina Müller, a renowned German artist and TV personality, serving as her godmother. Her sistership is Celebrity Mercury (Mein Schiff Herz / Marella Voyager).

Fun fact: while sailing as “Galaxy,” the ship hosted the BBC TV docu-soap “The Cruise.”

Marella Explorer refurbishment 2021 review

In December 2021, the vessel underwent a four-week drydock refurbishment at Navantia’s Puerto Real shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, carried out by Trimline Ltd. The project involved 80 specialists, including upholsterers, decorators, tilers, polishers, joiners, welders, electricians, and floor layers.

Upgrades covered the Latitude and Vista restaurants, Indigo Bar & Casino (featuring an interactive LED dancefloor), The Mediterranean Bar, The Attic (Library), The Hideout (teen club), Broadway Show Lounge, Cinema, Squid & Anchor (pub), Umi Sushi, The Lounge, Bar 53, Coffee Port, Snack Shack, Cruise Holiday Store, and Destination Services (lobby area). The Pool Deck was also renovated. Additionally, 60 staterooms were recarpeted, and the ship’s entire lighting system was replaced with an ultra-efficient model (~15% more efficient than standard LED).

Marella Explorer refurbishment 2019 review

From October 11 to November 6, 2019, the ship was drydocked at DAMEN Shiprepair in Brest, France. The USD 25 million project, managed by CCS (COLUMBIA Cruise Services Ltd), focused on technical maintenance, machinery upgrades, and interior enhancements. The Hideout (teen lounge on Deck 14) received new AstroTurf, tiled outdoor flooring, and updated furniture, including loungers, deckchairs, and bar stools.

Marella Explorer refurbishment 2018 review

Between April 20 and May 13, 2018, the vessel entered drydock at Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. The project was managed by Trimline Ltd, a Southampton-based cruise ship outfitting company.

The refit included new carpeting (45,000 m² / 17 mi), installation of over 60 km (37 mi) of data cables, and 650 Wi-Fi access points. A total of 35 public venues and spaces were reconstructed and refurbished. New additions included the Flagship Bar, Disco Club, Indigo (entertainment complex), and Champneys Spa (the first at sea). The spa featured a Finnish sauna with floor-to-ceiling windows, a full-service thermal suite, and Treatment Suites with private showers and saunas. Spa cabanas were added to the adults-only Veranda (Deck 14).

Marella Explorer’s christening ceremony took place on May 18, 2018, in Palma de Mallorca, with godmothers Sue Stewart (Marella Cruises’ hotel operations manager) and Mandy Galloway (TUI Cruises’ retail agent). The inaugural cruise departed from Palma de Mallorca on May 19.

The Apollo Group was contracted to provide all onboard hotel operations and services across the Marella fleet, including administration, food and beverage staff, housekeeping, provisioning, and crewing. Apollo also serves other premium cruise lines, such as Oceania Cruises (6 ships) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (4 ships).

Like her fleetmates, Marella Explorer offers an all-inclusive product designed for the UK source market. She features 10 dining venues, including the signature Surf & Turf, Kora La, Snack Shack, and Umi Sushi. The top-deck Indigo Bar offers panoramic ocean views and transforms in the evening into a casino and nightclub. Another addition, Aperitif Bar, serves pre- and post-dinner cocktails.

Maiden Voyage 2018

The ship’s homeport is Palma de Mallorca (Majorca, Spain), operating mainly on “UK to Mediterranean” fly-cruise itineraries.

The “Inaugural Cruise” (maiden voyage) departed on May 19, 2018:

7 nights / 8 days (“Cosmopolitan Classics”) – Inside Cabin fares from USD 1000 pp (GBP 1130 pp), based on double occupancy. The itinerary included the following ports of call:

(Old) TUI Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship

The ship’s itinerary program included Eastern and Southern Caribbean cruises from Barbados and the Dominican Republic, as well as European voyages (Mediterranean departures from Palma de Mallorca, Baltic cruises from Hamburg) and Asia (roundtrips from Singapore).

The former Mein Schiff 1 featured 962 staterooms, including suites, junior suites, family balcony cabins, standard balcony, oceanview, inside, and accessible cabins. Standard amenities included a safe, air-conditioning, bathroom (WC/shower), minibar, telephone, and flat-screen TV. Family balcony cabins measured 20 m² and accommodated up to five passengers.

The main dining venue was the two-deck Atlantic Restaurant (950 seats) located aft. The other complimentary option was the Anckelmannsplatz Buffet. Room service was available 24/7.

List of Mein Schiff 1 dining venues:

• Atlantic Classic (950-seat complimentary restaurant for buffet breakfast and waiter-served lunch and dinner; some items at surcharge)
• Richards Fine Dining (70-seat, dinner only, surcharge, reservations required)
• Surf & Turf (specialty seafood and steakhouse, surcharge)
• Blaue Welt Bar (45-seat sushi bar, dinner only, surcharge)
• Anckelmannsplatz Buffet (412-seat, partially outdoor, complimentary, multiple food stations)
• GOSCH Sylt (80-seat complimentary seafood restaurant, à la carte, outdoor seating)
• Cliff 24 (24-hour complimentary grill bar, 40 seats, pool deck)
• La Vela (66-seat complimentary bistro)
• Aussenalster Bar (91-seat complimentary alfresco dining and sports bar)

Entertainment centered around the 927-seat Theater (main show lounge) with two nightly productions. A 200-seat cinema also served as a lecture hall. Fortunes Casino offered roulette, blackjack, and slot machines. Duty-free shops sold liquor, tobacco, jewelry, perfume, and travel essentials.

Other amenities included multiple bars, clubs, and discos (Nightclub, Rendezvous Lounge, Cigar Bar). Activities featured computer classes, bingo, trivia, dance classes, and more.

The ship had three swimming pools—two saltwater (with five whirlpools) and one freshwater (covered). The Steiner AquaSpa (Japanese-inspired) featured a rock garden, massage services, and thalassotherapy. An extensive art collection was displayed throughout. Below is the full list of Mein Schiff 1 lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues:

• Main Theater (927 seats, revolving stage, LED screens)
• Internet café
• Wii-Corner (kids/teens arcade)
• Sturmfrei (teen lounge with video games, dance floor, foosball, karaoke, cooking classes, movies, etc.)
• Atelier workshop/art studio; Walentowski Art Gallery; Photo Gallery; Library
• Wein & Wahrheit Vinothek (15-seat fine wine bar)
• Aussicht Bar (25-seat cocktail bar)
• Neuer Wall shopping arcade
• Blaue Welt Bar & Lounge; Nasch Bar; TUI Bar; Abtanz disco nightclub; Uberschau wellness bar
• Casino (170 seats, open at sea)
• Himmel & Meer Lounge and X-Lounge (Suite guest-only lounges)
• SPA & Meer (spa and wellness complex with Finnish sauna, steam bath, relaxation area, Spa Suites, La Vida Bar, Spa Shop, Beauty Salon)
• Fitness Center (classes and personal training at surcharge), jogging track
• Aussenpool (outdoor pool, 25 m, sun deck, Aussenalster Bar & Grill)
• Pirates’ Island (kids’ club)
• Sun deck area (11,990 m², forward relaxation zones with rentable mini-balconies)
• Sports court (basketball, volleyball, golf simulator)
• Grüne Oase (outdoor fitness/yoga area), jogging track
• Lounges & Bars: Aussenalster, Abtanz, Aussicht, Blaue Welt, Nasch, TUI, Unverzicht, Uberschau, La Vida Sana, Casino Lounge, Wein & Wahrheit, X-Lounge