Marella Cruise Ships Compared By Size, Age & More

Marella Cruises currently sails five ships, and they are closer in size than many people expect. Ranked by gross tonnage, Marella Voyager is the biggest (about 77,300 tonnes, roughly 1,900 guests), followed closely by Marella Explorer, then Marella Explorer 2, with the sister ships Marella Discovery and Marella Discovery 2 the smallest at around 69,000 to 69,500 tonnes. All five were built between 1995 and 1997 for Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises and have been refitted for British holidaymakers. As of October 2026 no ship has left the fleet and no new ship has joined. Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only, and Marella Discovery 2 is also adults-only for winter 2026/27 and is due to become permanently adults-only from winter 2027.

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Has the Marella fleet changed?

Not in terms of ships. The fleet has stayed at five since Marella Voyager (formerly Celebrity Mercury and TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff Herz) arrived in June 2023. There have been rumours about other ex-Celebrity or ex-Mein Schiff ships moving across, but nothing of the sort had been announced at the time of writing.

The bigger news was about new ships. In March 2025 TUI agreed a deal with Fincantieri for two new, smaller ships designed for Marella, due in 2030 and 2032. In September 2025 TUI changed course and passed those shipyard slots to TUI Cruises, its German joint venture with Royal Caribbean Group, which will build larger ships instead. For now, then, Marella is sticking with its existing, heavily refurbished fleet. The summer 2028 programme, announced in October 2026, still uses the same five ships.

The changes that do matter for passengers are about who can sail on each ship:

• Marella Explorer 2 remains the line’s dedicated adults-only ship.
• Marella Discovery sailed adults-only for summer 2026 from Limassol in Cyprus. TUI now lists it as family-friendly again, sailing from La Romana in the Dominican Republic for winter 2026/27.
• Marella Discovery 2 is adults-only for winter 2026/27 in the Canary Islands. Marella says it will become permanently adults-only from winter 2027, when four former children’s areas become a speakeasy, an escape room, a karaoke room and an arts and crafts space.

Marella ships by size

Here are the five ships ranked from largest to smallest. Tonnage and capacity figures vary slightly between sources, so treat them as close approximations.

To put that in context, the largest new ships from other lines sailing from Britain carry well over 5,000 guests. Every Marella ship is mid-sized by today’s standards. That means fewer queues, easier walking distances and less time getting on and off in port, but fewer big attractions such as water parks or multi-deck theatres.

Marella ships by age

All of the ships are around 30 years old, so the main difference between them is how recently they were refitted. Here they are ranked from newest build to oldest.

Marella Voyager is the newest addition to the fleet and had the most recent full transformation, at Navantia in Cádiz, before its first sailing in 2023. The others have had regular dry docks. Discovery 2’s last one, for example, was in autumn 2024. Older hardware can mean smaller standard cabins and fewer balconies than on a modern ship, so it is worth checking the deck plan before you book.

Restaurants and facilities on each ship

Marella’s fares are all-inclusive. Main restaurants, the buffet, a good range of drinks and tips are covered. Speciality restaurants such as Kora La (pan-Asian) and the Surf & Turf Steakhouse cost extra, as do spa treatments, Wi-Fi and excursions. The counts below are taken from TUI’s own ship pages and include casual eateries as well as sit-down restaurants.

Marella Voyager

Voyager has the widest choice of food in the fleet. Alongside the main dining room, Latitude 53, there is The Kitchens food hall, Nonna’s pizza, Silver Fork for modern British dishes, Abuela’s Mexican and Kora La. It also has a nightclub, a casino, the Broadway Show Lounge and a cinema.

Marella Explorer

Explorer has a Mediterranean restaurant, Vista for Italian, Latitude 53 and a buffet, all included. The Dining Club is the line’s most expensive fine-dining option. Piccadilly’s gastropub was added in 2025, and the spa is the largest on any Marella ship. There is no indoor pool.

Marella Explorer 2

This ship is set up entirely for adults. You’ll find Latitude 53, The Dining Place, Kora La, the Surf & Turf Steakhouse and Nonna’s. Bars include Aperitif, The Shack and Squid & Anchor, and there is The 19th Hole with golf simulators, minigolf, a running track and a Champneys spa.

Marella Discovery and Discovery 2

The two sisters share a similar layout, including a glass-roofed indoor pool, which is welcome on cooler days. On Discovery the included options are the 47° main dining room, Gallery 47° for Italian, Piccadilly’s pub food, the Islands buffet and The Glass House. Kora La, the Sushi Bar and the Surf & Turf Steakhouse cost extra. Discovery 2’s adults-only conversion will replace its children’s areas with new venues for grown-ups.

Which Marella ship suits you?

Where each ship sails matters as much as the ship itself. For winter 2026/27, Voyager and Explorer 2 are based in Barbados, Discovery in La Romana, and Explorer and Discovery 2 in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. In summer the fleet moves to the Mediterranean. For summer 2028, Explorer will be in Corfu, Explorer 2 in Malaga, Discovery and Voyager in Palma, and Discovery 2 in Dubrovnik. Seven-night fly-cruises including flights often cost somewhere around £900 to £2,000 per person, depending on the season, the cabin and how early you book. Prices change often, so check with TUI or your travel agent.

For help choosing a cabin, see our guide to the best cabins on Marella cruise ships. If you are weighing up other lines, our Marella Cruises vs P&O Cruises comparison may help.

Once you have picked a ship, our Marella drinks package guide explains what the standard and Premium options include.

If a child-free holiday matters to you, check which Marella ships are adults only before choosing a ship, as the answer changes for winter 2026-27.

If you are weighing up the top cabins, our Marella Royal Suite guide explains which ships have one, how big it is and what Suite Service Max includes.

FAQs

What is the biggest Marella cruise ship?

Marella Voyager, at about 77,300 gross tonnes, is narrowly the largest. Marella Explorer is almost the same size and carries a similar number of guests.

Which is the newest Marella ship?

Marella Voyager is the newest to the fleet, joining in 2023. It is also the most recently built, in 1997. Marella has no new ships on order after its planned newbuilds were transferred to TUI Cruises in 2025.

Which Marella ships are adults-only?

Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only. Marella Discovery 2 is adults-only for winter 2026/27 and is due to become permanently adults-only from winter 2027. Always check the age policy for your specific sailing.

Is Marella Discovery leaving the fleet?

No departure has been announced. Marella Discovery is scheduled to sail from La Romana in winter 2026/27 and 2027/28 and from Palma in summer 2028.