Marella Explorer is a 76,998-tonne, 1,924-passenger all-inclusive cruise ship run by Marella Cruises, the UK cruise brand of TUI. Built in 1996 as Celebrity Galaxy and later sailed as Mein Schiff 1, she joined Marella in 2018 and is the fleet’s family-friendly ship with 11 restaurants, its largest spa and a fly-cruise programme split between the Canary Islands in winter and Corfu in summer.
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This guide covers what you need to know before booking Marella Explorer: her history and key stats, what is included in the fare, where to eat and drink, the entertainment and pool decks, where she sails in 2026-27, and how she compares with the other four ships in the Marella fleet.
Marella Explorer at a glance
| Fact | Marella Explorer |
|---|---|
| Operator | Marella Cruises (TUI UK & Ireland) |
| Built | Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany; entered service December 1996 |
| Former names | Galaxy / Celebrity Galaxy (1996-2009), Mein Schiff and Mein Schiff 1 (2009-2018) |
| Joined Marella | May 2018, after a four-week refit in Cadiz |
| Gross tonnage | 76,998 |
| Length | About 262 metres |
| Passengers | 1,924 (double occupancy) |
| Crew | Around 900 |
| Cabins | 962 |
| Decks | 13 in total (10 used by passengers) |
| Restaurants / pools | 11 restaurants / 3 pools plus whirlpools |
| Flag | Malta (Valletta) |
| Who she suits | Families, couples and first-time cruisers who want everything included |
A short history: from Celebrity Galaxy to Marella Explorer
The ship started life as Galaxy, one of Celebrity Cruises’ Century-class ships, and was renamed Celebrity Galaxy in 2008. In 2009 she moved to TUI Cruises, the German joint venture, where a major refit at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven added extra balconies and reshaped her for German holidaymakers. She sailed as Mein Schiff, later Mein Schiff 1, until 2018.
When the original Mein Schiff 1 name went to a new-build, the ship transferred to the UK side of TUI. Briefly announced as TUI Explorer, she launched as Marella Explorer in May 2018, the same year Thomson Cruises was rebranded as Marella Cruises. Her 2018 drydock in Cadiz rebuilt dozens of public venues, added a Champneys-branded spa and fleet-wide Wi-Fi hardware. Further drydocks followed in 2019 (Brest) and late 2021 (Cadiz), when several restaurants and bars, the Broadway Show Lounge and the pool deck were refreshed. She is now 30 years old, so expect a classic layout rather than mega-ship thrills, but the interiors are well kept and modern in style.
Her near-identical sister is Marella Explorer 2 (ex Celebrity Century), which is adults-only. The two names are easy to mix up when searching, so double-check which ship your holiday is on.
What is included on a Marella Explorer cruise
Marella is one of the few UK lines where the standard fare is genuinely all-inclusive. On Marella Explorer that typically covers:
- Flights from UK and Irish airports and overseas transfers (on fly-cruise packages)
- All meals in the included restaurants, plus room service options
- A wide selection of branded drinks, house wines, beers, soft drinks and hot drinks
- Tips and service charges
- Entertainment, kids’ clubs and most onboard activities
What costs extra: the four speciality restaurants, spa treatments, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, casino play and premium drinks. If you want higher-end spirits, cocktails and wines, our Marella drinks package guide explains the upgrade options and whether they are worth it. Suite guests get extra perks such as priority services and dedicated touches; the exact Suite benefits vary by cabin grade, so check the inclusions on your booking.
For an honest overview of how the brand’s style, food and value stack up across all its ships, see our Marella Cruises review.
Marella Explorer restaurants
With 11 dining venues, Marella Explorer offers more choice than most ships of her size. Most are included in the fare.
Included restaurants
- Latitude 53 – the two-tier main dining room with large windows, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from daily changing menus.
- The Market Place – the buffet, with themed counters and a broad international spread.
- Vista – linked to Latitude 53, it switches to an Italian menu in the evening.
- The Mediterranean – a glass-roofed space offering Italian dishes and pizza, plus tapas.
- Piccadilly’s – a British gastropub-style menu.
- Snack Shack – poolside burgers, hot dogs and light bites.
Speciality restaurants (extra charge, book ahead)
- The Dining Club – the ship’s fine-dining venue with a multi-course menu.
- Surf & Turf Steakhouse – premium steaks and seafood.
- Kora La – Pan-Asian dishes.
- Umi Sushi – sushi and sashimi.
Speciality restaurants are popular on sea days and on short Canary Islands sailings, so it is worth reserving soon after boarding (or before, if the option shows in your booking).
Bars and nightlife
Marella Explorer has around ten bars and lounges. Highlights include:
- The Lounge – a relaxed bar with live music in the evening.
- Indigo – the late-night hub combining bar, club and casino, with a DJ and dance floor.
- Squid & Anchor – a British-style pub with quizzes, live music and arcade games.
- The Mediterranean Bar and pool-deck bars for daytime drinks in the sun.
Entertainment, pools, spa and kids’ clubs
Shows and films
The Broadway Show Lounge hosts West End-style production shows, comedians and guest acts, usually over two nightly performances. There is also an indoor cinema and Movies by Moonlight, open-air screenings on deck.
Pools and sun decks
Expect a main outdoor pool, a children’s pool and whirlpools rather than waterslides or large water parks. The Veranda is a quieter sun terrace with cabanas and cocoon chairs set aside for adults, which is handy on a family ship. A sports area offers mini-golf and a basketball court.
Spa and fitness
TUI describes Explorer’s spa as the biggest in the Marella fleet. The Champneys spa offers massages and facials, and the thermal area includes a sauna and hot tubs. There is also a gym. Treatments and thermal access are charged separately.
Kids and teens
Children aged 3-11 are looked after in M Club, which runs age-grouped activities, while teenagers get their own space in The Hideout. This is the main reason families choose Explorer over the adults-only Explorer 2 and Discovery 2.
Cabins on Marella Explorer
The ship has 962 cabins, from inside and outside cabins to balconies and suites, including eight wheelchair-accessible cabins. Many balconies were added during the ship’s 2009 refit. Because some cabins sit near noisy venues or have restricted views, it pays to research before choosing. Our separate guide to Marella Explorer cabins to avoid (and the best cabins to book) goes through the locations deck by deck.
Where does Marella Explorer sail in 2026-27?
Marella Explorer follows a seasonal pattern: Mediterranean in summer, Canary Islands in winter. Based on published schedules:
- Autumn 2026: seven-night round trips from Palma de Mallorca, followed by a late-November repositioning from Malaga to the Canaries.
- Winter 2026-27: seven-night Canary Islands cruises from both Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, typically calling at islands such as La Palma, Lanzarote and Madeira, depending on the itinerary.
- Late April 2027: 10- and 11-night repositioning voyages from Tenerife and Gran Canaria to Corfu.
- Summer 2027 (May-October): seven-night round trips from Corfu, covering the Greek islands, the Adriatic and nearby coastlines.
- Winter 2027-28: back in the Canary Islands, alternating Tenerife and Las Palmas, including a Christmas sailing calling at Funchal.
Marella has already announced that Explorer returns to Corfu in summer 2028, with Patras added on a new Grecian itinerary. Ports and dates can change, so always confirm on the official Marella Explorer page, and compare prices in our cruise deals for 2027 round-up.
How Marella Explorer compares with the rest of the Marella fleet
Marella Cruises has five ships, all bought second-hand and refitted for British passengers. They are similar in size, so the biggest differences are who they are aimed at and where they sail.
| Ship | Former name | Built | Approx. passengers | Who it suits | Bases announced for 2027-28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marella Explorer | Celebrity Galaxy / Mein Schiff 1 | 1996 | 1,924 | Families and all ages; biggest spa | Canary Islands (winter), Corfu (summer 2027) |
| Marella Explorer 2 | Celebrity Century | 1995 | About 1,800 | Adults only | Barbados (winter), Malaga (summer 2027) |
| Marella Voyager | Celebrity Mercury / Mein Schiff Herz | 1997 | 1,912 | Families; most dining choice (food hall, 18 venues) | Barbados (winter), Palma (summer) |
| Marella Discovery | Splendour of the Seas | 1996 | 1,830 | Families; climbing wall and escape room | Dominican Republic (winter), Palma (summer) |
| Marella Discovery 2 | Legend of the Seas | 1995 | About 1,830 | Adults only | Canary Islands and Malaga (winter), Dubrovnik and Palma (summer) |
Which is the best Marella cruise ship?
There is no single winner; it depends on your group. For families who want a calm, classic ship with lots of included dining and a strong spa, Marella Explorer is a sound choice. Couples who prefer a child-free atmosphere should look at Explorer 2 or Discovery 2. Food lovers often lean towards Marella Voyager, the newest arrival (2023) with the widest restaurant line-up, and families wanting more activities may prefer Marella Discovery. For more on the smaller sister, read our Marella Discovery ship guide.
Tips before you book Marella Explorer
- Check the ship name carefully. Explorer is family-friendly; Explorer 2 is adults-only.
- Canary Islands winter sailings are warm rather than hot, so pack a layer for evenings and sea days.
- School holidays bring more children on board; term-time Corfu sailings are usually quieter.
- Book speciality dining early if you have a particular night in mind.
- Look at cruise-and-stay packages, which pair the cruise with a hotel in Corfu, Tenerife or Gran Canaria.
FAQs
Who owns the Marella Explorer cruise ship?
Marella Explorer is owned and operated by Marella Cruises, the UK and Ireland cruise brand of TUI. She previously sailed for TUI Cruises in Germany as Mein Schiff 1 and, before that, for Celebrity Cruises as Galaxy.
Is Marella Explorer adults-only?
No. Marella Explorer welcomes families and has kids’ and teens’ clubs. Her sister Marella Explorer 2 is the adults-only ship, as is Marella Discovery 2.
How many passengers does Marella Explorer carry?
She carries 1,924 passengers at double occupancy in 962 cabins, with around 900 crew.
Where is Marella Explorer sailing this winter?
For winter 2026-27 she is based in the Canary Islands, sailing seven-night cruises from Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, before moving to Corfu for summer 2027.
Are drinks included on Marella Explorer?
Yes. A selection of branded spirits, house wine, beer, soft drinks and hot drinks is included, along with tips. Premium drinks and speciality restaurants cost extra.