Cruise Line Announces Plans to Turn a Second Ship into a Permanent Adult-Only Vessel

After already turning one of their ships into an adult-only experience, a British cruise line with five ships in the fleet has announced plans to turn another vessel into a kid-free zone.

Along with the change to adult-only, the ship will be getting an escape room and a few other fun spaces for adults.

The ship making the big transition is Marella Discovery 2. Marella Cruises just announced that instead of just testing the waters with temporary child-free itineraries, it is making the change permanent ahead of the winter 2027–2028 season.

Every single kids’ club, teen zone, and youth play space currently onboard is being completely ripped out. By November 2027, the 1,836-passenger ship will only have adults on board.

So, what is taking the place of these spaces once dedicated to kids? The onboard space is being filled with four brand-new entertainment concepts built strictly for the 17-and-over crowd.

Guests can expect to find a hidden speakeasy bar, a high-tech escape room, a private karaoke lounge, and an upscale arts-and-crafts studio.

Adult-Only is a Growing Trend

While an adults-only transition is big news on its own, it’s the broader strategy that really highlights where the industry is heading.

Carnival recently has been experimenting with adults-only casino cruises, and even the luxury line Oceania Cruises has started going completely child-free earlier this year.

Almost Half the Fleet Going Child-Free

The British-based line, owned by travel giant TUI, already operates a dedicated adults-only ship, Marella Explorer 2, which has been a huge hit with travelers since it debuted in 2019.

By permanently transitioning Marella Discovery 2 in late 2027, nearly half of the line’s entire five-ship fleet will be dedicated exclusively to the grown-up crowd. I suppose we’ll use that term “grown-ups” loosely here.

The move is a direct response to a rise in guest demand. More and more cruisers are actively seeking out a relaxed, casual cruise vacation that doesn’t feel like a floating theme park.

While those waterslides and amusement part vibes work well in the shock-and-awe commercials, it doesn’t always work well when hard-working parents just want a break from it all.

But don’t worry if you’re a family cruiser that still wants to sail with Marella Cruises. The cruise line’s remaining ships (Marella Voyager, Marella Explorer, and Marella Discovery) will stay fully family-friendly to balance things out.

Where is the Ship Sailing?

The newly revamped, adult-only Marella Discovery 2 will be heading to sunny winter hubs across Europe and North Africa starting in November 2027.

The ship will split its time homeporting out of Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands through March 2028.

It will also debut a brand-new seven-night “Atlantic Fusion” itinerary, taking guests roundtrip to destinations like Lanzarote, La Palma, and Agadir, Morocco.

By March and April of 2028, the vessel will shift its homeport to Malaga, Spain, running shorter regional and repositioning cruises along the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar.

If you want to grab a cabin on these new adult-only sailings, you won’t have to wait until 2027. The itineraries officially go on sale next week on July 2, 2026.

Chris Hackney, CEO at Marella Cruises said about the news:

 “Our winter 2027 program will focus on the regeneration of Marella Discovery 2 returning as an adults-only ship for a second consecutive winter season. With demand for adults-only cruising continuing to grow, we’re investing in four new onboard concepts to enhance the experience even further. With brand-new itineraries, festive overnight stays, repositional cruises, transatlantic cruises and an expansion of 39 hotels for our cruise and stay offering, we’re continuing to evolve our holidays to give customers more ways to cruise with Marella Cruises.”