Marella Adults-Only Cruises 2026/2027: Which Ships Are Adults Only?

Want to know which Marella ships are adults only? For 2026 and 2027 there are two. Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only all year, and Marella Discovery 2 is moving to permanent adults-only status, starting with winter 2026-27. Marella adults only cruises take guests aged 17 and over, and like every Marella sailing they are all-inclusive, with tips included.

Free: see this week's reduced fares from Southampton, checked by hand →

This guide covers where each adults-only ship sails in winter 2026-27, summer 2027 and winter 2027-28, what the fare includes, what costs extra and who these cruises suit best. If you are comparing child-free holidays across different cruise lines, see our wider guide to adults-only cruises from the UK.

Which Marella ships are adults only?

Marella Cruises, TUI’s UK cruise line, sails five ships: Marella Discovery, Marella Discovery 2, Marella Explorer, Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Voyager. This is where each one stands as of autumn 2026.

People often think Marella Voyager is adults-only because it is the newest and most modern ship in the fleet, but it takes families. Marella Discovery also caused confusion: it sailed adults-only from Limassol, Cyprus, in summer 2026 as a one-season trial, and it is open to all ages again from winter 2026-27. TUI also says the rest of the fleet runs occasional sailings for guests aged 17 and over, so check the cruise listing when you book.

For a side-by-side look at size, age and facilities across the fleet, see our Marella cruise ships comparison.

Is Marella Discovery 2 adults only?

Yes. TUI lists Marella Discovery 2 as adults-only for winter 2026-27. In June 2026, Marella said the ship will stay adults-only permanently. It sails adults-only from Dubrovnik in summer 2027, and its winter 2027-28 season is sold as a second adults-only winter. The ship’s former children’s areas are being turned into four new adult spaces: a speakeasy bar, an escape room, a karaoke room and an arts and crafts studio. Marella has not yet published final designs or an exact opening date for these venues.

Discovery 2 was built in 1995, sailed for Royal Caribbean as Legend of the Seas and joined Marella in 2017. It was last refurbished in 2024.

Marella adults only cruises 2026 and 2027: where each ship sails

Marella releases its programme by season, so this is the clearest way to plan. All the itineraries below are on one of the two adults-only ships.

Winter 2026-27 (late October 2026 to April 2027)

• Marella Explorer 2: a Caribbean season, mainly from Barbados. Itineraries include Cocktails and Coconuts (Antigua, St Maarten, Tortola, St Kitts, Guadeloupe), Exotic Islands (Bequia, Grenada and the ABC islands of Bonaire, Aruba and Curaçao) and A Christmas in Paradise. A transatlantic Escape to the Caribbean from Malaga, via Tangier, opens the season, and Mediterranean Moments sailings (Dubrovnik, Valletta, Tunis, Alicante, Almería, Malaga) run at the shoulder of the season.
• Marella Discovery 2: Canary Islands and Madeira cruises such as Atlantic Islands, Canarian Flavours and Island Explorer. In spring it switches to Mediterranean and Iberian routes such as Iconic Iberia, Spanish Flavours and Highlights of the Mediterranean.

Summer 2027 (from May 2027)

• Marella Discovery 2, from Dubrovnik (from 6 May 2027): its first summer based in Croatia. Ionian Shores adds new calls at Sarandë in Albania and Syracuse in Sicily, alongside Greek Mystique and Sail Three Seas, which cover the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean.
• Marella Explorer 2, from Malaga (from 12 May 2027): its first summer in Malaga in about nine years. Spirit of Spain brings back Mahón in Menorca, and Spanish Sights returns to Castellón.

Winter 2027-28 (November 2027 to April 2028)

• Marella Discovery 2: based in Tenerife and Gran Canaria from November 2027 to March 2028, then Malaga for March and April 2028. The new seven-night Atlantic Fusion sails from Las Palmas to Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Agadir in Morocco and La Palma. Repositioning sailings such as Canarian Collection 2 include an overnight in Funchal, Madeira.
• Marella Explorer 2: back in the Caribbean, with sailings from Barbados all season.

Port lists and dates can change, so always check the latest itinerary on TUI’s adults-only cruise page before booking.

Prices and what’s included

Every Marella cruise is sold all-inclusive. The fare covers:

• Meals in the main restaurants and buffet, plus snacks
• A wide range of drinks, including many branded spirits, beers, wines and soft drinks
• Tips and service charges
• On fly-cruise packages, TUI Airways flights from UK regional airports, transfers and a 20kg hold luggage allowance

Extras that cost more include speciality dining (for example The Dining Club and the pan-Asian Kora La on Explorer 2), the spa, champagne bar drinks, Balinese beds, shore excursions and premium drinks. If you like higher-end spirits or cocktails, our Marella drinks package guide explains whether the upgrade is worth it.

Some recent launch prices give a guide to cost. These were published lead-in fares, so expect real prices to change with date, cabin and demand.

• Ionian Shores on Discovery 2 (summer 2027): from £1,930
• Caribbean Charms (winter 2027-28): from £1,817
• Grecian Discovery on Discovery’s adults-only summer 2026 season: from £1,528

Caribbean fly-cruises cost more because of the long-haul flight. Sailings in the school holidays often cost more too, even on adults-only ships, because many couples and friends travelling without children book those dates as well.

Marella Explorer 2 vs Marella Discovery 2: which adults-only ship suits you?

Both ships are similar in size and style, so the choice usually comes down to where you want to go and when.

A practical tip: the Canaries are about four hours’ flying time from the UK, compared with roughly nine hours to Barbados. If you want a week of winter sun on an adults-only ship without long-haul flights, Discovery 2 in the Canaries is the easier option. If you want the Caribbean, Explorer 2 is Marella’s only adults-only choice.

Who are Marella adults-only cruises best for?

These cruises tend to suit:

1. Couples and friends who want a calmer pool deck, quieter dining rooms and evening entertainment aimed at adults.
2. First-time cruisers who like the idea of an all-inclusive price with no tipping to budget for and flights from a local UK airport.
3. Value-focused travellers. Marella is a mid-market line. If you want butler service and fine dining in every venue, a luxury line will suit you better, and our round-up of the best adults-only cruise lines compares the options.

They are less suited to anyone wanting non-stop late nights or a party atmosphere. Marella’s adults-only ships are relaxed rather than lively, and the passengers are mostly British.

Tips for booking Marella adults-only cruises

• Check the ship, not just the itinerary name. Some itinerary names, such as Greek Mystique, have run on family ships in other years.
• Look at Cruise and Stay. Marella pairs many sailings with hotel stays in places like Malaga, Tenerife, Dubrovnik and Barbados, which works well if you want a few beach days as well.
• Book suites early. Marella is rolling out its upgraded Suite Service Max across the fleet’s Royal, Voyager and Executive Suites, and there are few of these cabins on each ship.
• Remember the age rule. The minimum age is 17. If anyone in your group is close to that age, check with TUI how the rule applies to your dates.

To see which Mediterranean homeports and routes the adults-only ships use, read our Marella Western vs Eastern Med guide.

If this would be your first cruise, we also look at whether Marella suits first-time cruisers, from what is included to choosing an itinerary.

If you want a child-free ship where drinks and tips are already paid for, take a look at the best all-inclusive adults-only cruise lines.

FAQs

Which Marella ships are adults only?

Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only all year. Marella Discovery 2 is adults-only for winter 2026-27, summer 2027 and winter 2027-28, and Marella says it will become a permanent adults-only ship. Marella Explorer, Marella Discovery and Marella Voyager are open to families.

Is Marella Discovery 2 adults only?

Yes. TUI lists Marella Discovery 2 as adults-only for winter 2026-27, it sails adults-only from Dubrovnik in summer 2027, and Marella has announced it will stay adults-only permanently, with former kids’ spaces turned into adult venues.

What age do you have to be for a Marella adults-only cruise?

TUI says you need to be 17 or over to sail on a Marella adults-only cruise. If anyone in your group is close to that age, check the exact rule with TUI before you book.

Are Marella adults-only cruises all-inclusive?

Yes. Every Marella cruise is all-inclusive as standard, with meals, a wide choice of drinks and tips included. Speciality restaurants, the spa and premium drinks cost extra.

Is Marella Voyager adults only?

No. Marella Voyager is a family-friendly ship. For a child-free holiday with Marella, choose Marella Explorer 2 or Marella Discovery 2.