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Marella Explorer Deck Plans & Reviews

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

Marella Explorer

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

Activities & entertainment

  • Champney's *
  • Gamer Zone *
  • Indigo Casino *
  • Sports Court
  • The Veranda Cabanas *
  • Mini M Club
  • Indigo Club
  • Movies by Moonlight
  • Broadway Show Lounge
  • Production Shows
  • Kora La - Asian *
  • The Market Place - Casual
  • 53 - Cocktail Bar
  • The Mediterranean Bar - Cocktail Bar
  • The Coffee Port - Coffee Bar *
  • The Dining Club - French *
  • The Lounge - Funky Piano bar
  • Snack Shack - Grab-n-go
  • Scoops - Ice Cream
  • Latitude 53 - International
  • The Mediterranean Italian - italian
  • Vista - italian
  • Indigo Bar - Observation Bar
  • Pool Bar - Pool Bar
  • Squid & Anchor - Pub
  • Surf & Turf Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
  • Umi Sushi - Sushi *
  • The Mediterranean Tapas - Tapas
  • The Shack - Tropical drinks

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  • Excellent 227
  • Very Good 115
  • Terrible 44
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  • English ( 496 )
  • Russian ( 1 )

Upcoming itineraries

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Marella Explorer 2 Review

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

In April 2019, Marella Cruises introduced its first adults-only ship, the 1,814-passenger Marella Explorer 2. By removing areas previously dedicated to families, the line has cleverly created more spaces aimed squarely at adults -- with a total of 19 bars and restaurants onboard -- including four new-to-the-line venues.

Explorer 2 began life in 1995 as Celebrity Century, but Marella has done a nice job of transforming the ship to make it feel (almost) like new. Highlights include a gorgeous Champneys Spa and the new-to-the-line Nonna's Italian restaurant and Flutes Champagne bar.

Passengers don't seem to utilise the onboard programming so much during the day, preferring to lie by the pool instead. As a result, some areas of the ship can feel underused in the daytime. The Pool Deck, featuring the ship's only swimming pool, is the busiest area during the day.

During the evening, all of the venues -- and programming -- are in full swing. There's a buzzy atmosphere and a nice flow to the ship's internal space that easily allows passengers to drift between venues. The evening entertainment shows are excellent and left us wanting more (they are only 45-minutes performances). The show team take Sundays off, which is when the programme features a comedian.

We found the crew to be among the friendliest we've ever encountered, with service onboard faultless and jovial -- helped by the generous 2:1 passenger to crew ratio. Passengers and crew build up a lovely rapport, too, with many on first name terms early on in the sailing.

Passengers who value home comforts while on holiday will enjoy this ship. Expect kettles in cabins, Yorkshire Tea and Twinings teabags, top-notch curries and an excellent battered fish and chips, with Tartare and HP sauces readily available.

We like that Marella is making a conscious effort to reduce single-use plastics onboard. Straws are biodegradable and made from starch. The line also gives away re-usable straws as quiz bounty and there are water dispensers on decks with cabins to encourage passengers to refill their in-cabin carafes and bottles.

There's a constant reminder onboard of the value-for-money you get with a Marella cruise. Particularly when you order a drink (unless it's a premium brand), and you're not presented with a bill or added-on gratuity afterwards.

Solo travellers are well looked after, with special events scheduled to bring solo travellers together. Each solo passenger receives a letter in their cabin from the Social Hostess with information about all of the solo events taking place.

Being an adults-only ship, Marella Explorer 2 is not suitable for families -- so don't expect any of the frivolities that are often geared towards younger passengers -- nor is it suitable for anyone looking for a full enrichment programme. It's just not that kind of ship. It is perfect for couples, singles and groups of friends who enjoy home comforts, with some luxury extras, on a friendly and relaxed ship.

Bottom Line

Fellow passengers.

Brits, all over 18 years of age -- which is the minimum age to sail. As a result, the ship is extremely well suited to couples of any age or groups of friends looking to cruise together. We saw many younger couples on our sailing, though the age ranges from twentysomethings up to retirees.

Marella Explorer 2 Inclusions

Included with your cruise fare:

Flights and transfers

All meals in the main dining room, Vista, The Market Place, Nonna’s, Beach Cove at lunchtime and Snack Shack

Drinks, including soft drinks and alcohol

All theatre shows

All daily activities onboard

Use of the gym, but not most classes

Not included with your cruise fare:

Premium drinks such as Champagne

Speciality restaurants, including Surf & Turf, Kora La, The Dining Club and Beach Cove in the evening

Premium coffee in The Coffee Port

Room service

Spa treatments

Shore excursions

Photos and art work

Ice cream at Scoops

Minibar drinks

The onboard currency is in British pounds.

Marella Explorer 2 Dress Code

Daytime:  Beachwear, including swimmers, flip flops and cover ups around the pool, outside and in the Lido Buffet is acceptable. Jeans or shorts and T-shirts or casual shirts and sundresses are also fine.

Evening:  Two options are operated in the evening: Smart, which means you'll need to dress up with trousers and shirt, suit, dresses such as cocktail dress or smart two pieces, and the more formal Dress to Impress nights -- typically once a week -- which gives passengers the chance to go all-out glam. Jacket and tie are optional.

Not permitted:  No jeans on Dress to Impress nights.

For more information, visit Cruise Line Dress Codes: Marella

Find a Marella Explorer 2 Cruise from £635

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Marella Explorer 2 Deck Plans & Reviews

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

Marella Explorer 2

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Marella Explorer (1 and 2) – Cabins Honest Reviews and Cabins to Avoid

In this post, we will look at all cabin grades available onboard the Marella Explorer and sharing a review of the inside cabin which I cruised in. The Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2 have almost identical cabins so this post is relevant to both.

I recently stayed in an inside cabin on the Marella Explorer during a 90s themed cruise. It was one of the nicest inside cabins I’ve ever had with an incredible amount of storage. The cabin had 16 drawers, 16!

In this post we explore:

  • Inside Cabins

Outside Cabins

  • Balcony Cabins
  • Cabins with Premier Service (Suites)
  • Solo Cabins

We will also look at cabins to avoid.

All cabins were refurbished when the ship was taken over by Marella in 2018. The Marella Explorer was previously Mein Schiff and before that was Celebrity Galaxy.

Inside cabins:

Sleeps up to: 4

We stayed in an inside cabin on deck 4. The inside cabins on decks 4/5  only sleep 2 but the inside cabins on 8/9 either sleep 2 or 4. If the cabin sleeps 4 these will be pull down beds from the ceiling.

It can be quite a squeeze to share a cabin with 2 or 3 other people but it is doable. They drop down beds are most commonly used for children although they do accommodate adults too. If you’re particularly tall your feet may hang off the end though! I have shared a cabin with 3 other adults before, it isn’t ideal but for a short cruise it isn’t a problem.

Marella Explorer Inside Cabin Guide Review Photos

Size: 16m 2

The cabin was a good size. It is pretty standard size by cruise ship standards measuring around 16m2 but because of the number of mirrors and the light decor in the cabin, it felt much bigger. We only stayed in the cabin for 3 nights so didn’t have very much luggage, as a result, we only filled up about 4 of the 16 drawers!

Marella Explorer Inside Cabin Twin Beds

What I loved:

  • The light decor and mirrors
  • The storage space
  • The bed was comfy

What I didn’t love: 

  • The cabin vibrated a lot when we pulled into port

In ALMOST all cabins the beds can either be arranged as a twin or as a double bed. If you arrive and the beds aren’t set up how you’d like, just let your cabin steward know and they’ll change these for you.

In addition to the 16 drawers, there were also TWO wardrobes/closets in the cabin. The cabin had more storage space than I’ve ever had in any cabin. The same goes for the bathroom, there was lots of room to clear away your toiletries.

Marella Explorer Inside Cabin Desk TV Bathroom Wardrobes and Closet

Our cabin was 4187 which is right at the aft of the ship. We only had one cabin between us and the aft of the ship which did mean that we had a long walk from the other end. That wasn’t a problem for me though and a few extra steps on a cruise is usually for the best with all of the food available!

Trying to hit 10,000 steps a day is just one of the ways that I prevent weight gain when I cruise. If you’d like to find out how you can avoid cruise weight gain, while still treating yourself, start by reading this post:  Avoid Cruise Ship Weight Gain, 7 Easy Things You Can Do.

Do The Cabins on The Marella Explorer have TVs?

Yep. All cabins on the Marella Explorer come with TV’s. I have to admit I never turned mine on during my cruise on the Marella Explorer, it was SO busy.

Do The Cabins on The Marella Explorer have Kettles?

Yes. All cabins on the Marella explorer come with a kettle and some tea/coffee making facilities.

Do The Cabins on The Marella Explorer have Safes?

Yep, all cabins have safes. In our inside cabin, the safe was behind the mirror which was above the desk. It would be very easy to go the full cruise without knowing that it was there!

The outside cabins on the Marella Explorer are almost identical to the inside cabins. The style is the same but the size is slightly bigger.

Outside cabins come with either a porthole window or bigger square window like the one shown below. The size of the window depends on which deck you are on.

Marella Explorer Outside Cabin

Standard Balcony Cabins

Sleeps up to: 3

What is in the Balcony cabins on board the Marella Explorer?

  • Twin/Queen beds
  • A desk with mirror + chair
  • Sofabed/chair
  • Bedside tables

Marella Explorer Balcony Cabin

The balcony cabins onboard are very similar in style to the inside and outside cabins. There is an extra chair/sofa and a desk on the far side of the room. The balcony cabins are actually the same size as the outside cabins, measuring in at 17m2.

The size of the balcony is pretty standard. It isn’t the biggest in the industry but isn’t the smallest by a long way.

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

The sofa pulls out as is a sofa bed for the 3rd passenger. This might not be suitable if you are a particularly tall adult but these are usually fine for children or smallish adults. Unusually the cabins don’t have room for a 4th guest but there are some family cabins available for those that need an extra bed.

Large Balcony Cabins

Cabin sleeps: 3

The large balcony is exactly the same as the regular balcony but the balcony itself is bigger. The large balcony is HUGE. It has room for two chairs, a table, and a hammock.

Marella Explorer Balcony Cabin

Premier Service

The following cabins come with ‘premier service’.

Premier service includes:

  • Express check-in
  • 3 Items of laundry pressed within the first 24 hours
  • Free breakfast in bed, one per week

Family Balcony Cabin

The family balcony cabins are new additions and they are massive! It’s 20m2 and sleeps up to five. These are actually the biggest non-suite balconies that I’ve ever found on a cruise ship. The balcony has two chairs, a table, a hammock, and two loungers.

We had a family balcony cabin on deck 10 and it was fab! Didn’t feel any rolling or vibration any more than on the rest of the ship. And quiet too, despite being under the Mediterranean restaurant and bar. The cabins are a good size too with a sliding door to divide the room for privacy. – Gail

Marella Explorer Family Balcony Cabin

Junior Suite Balcony Cabin

The junior suite is a whopping 22m2! My favourite part about this cabin is the fact that the bed faces the window.

This probably doesn’t affect anybody apart from me but… It is worth noting that this means that you are sleeping sideways in the ship (similar to the inside cabins) if the weather is rough you’ll feel yourself going up and down the bed which I really don’t like, in standard balcony cabins you end up going side to side which is better for me.

I do get quite seasick though so if you are worried about seasickness at all check out this post: 13 Cruise Seasickness Tips – From Somebody Who Gets Seasick.

Junior Suite Marella Explorer

Executive Suite

Cabin sleeps: 4

The executive suite is the biggest cabin on the ship measuring in at 49m2. It sleeps 4, two people in a regular bed and two more on a sofa bed. The cabin has a separate living room with a dining table.

Absolutely fantastic room. Booked for a ‘big birthday’ and definitely made the experience unforgettable! Well positioned, not too close or far from lifts, only one flight of stairs to pool deck. A little noise from above when sun loungers were being put out or tidied away but nothing much at all.  – Erin

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

Does The Marella Explorer Have Solo Cabins?

Technically speaking no, there aren’t any cabins created specifically for solo use. That said Marella do have some inside and outside cabins set aside as ‘solo’ rooms. This means that if you cruised in one of these cabins you wouldn’t have to stay in a smaller cabin which is often what happens to solo cruisers.

If you are considering cruising Solo start by reading this post, it details my personal favourite cruise lines for solo cruising. Marella are on the list along with many others. Best Cruise Lines For Solo Cruisers (Tried and Tested Pros and Cons). 

Do The Cabins on The Marella Explorer have Hairdryers?

Yes. All cabins on the Marella Explorer have hairdryers, there is no need to bring your own. Interestingly some of the cabins still have an old-style hairdryer on the wall of the bathroom, they also have a newer style one in the main cabin.

What plug sockets are on the Marella Explorer?

In the inside cabins, there is one EU and one US plug socket on the desk. Under the TV there is another EU socket. I would recommend bringing some sort of plug which allows you to charge more than one thing at once.

Make sure you pack adapters! This is one of the most common things for first-time cruisers to forget. You can find my full list of cruise essentials on our resource page here: Resources & Discounts.

Do The Cabins on The Marella Explorer have Irons?

No. None of the cabins on the Marella Explorer have irons. There isn’t a self-service laundry so if you do need something ironed you would have to pay for this. An alternative is to buy a spray which drops the creases from clothes.

Visit Marella’s website here: https://tui-uk.7cnq.net/4jPQM

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Marella Explorer – Cabins to Avoid

The following cabins to avoid were provided by guests who cruised on the ship. 

Marella Explorer, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 10

The following cabins towards the aft of deck 10 onboard Marella Explorer are directly below the buffet. Some cruisers staying in these cabins have reported noises of things like chairs being moved.

This shouldn’t be a big problem as the buffet isn’t open late into the night but it may be worth something to bear in mind.

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

Marella Explorer, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 8

The following cabins on board the Marella Discovery are under the Squid and Anchor. The Squid and Anchor is a very popular venue that has live music which often goes on into the night.

If you have young children/like to sleep early it may be worth avoiding these cabins as some guests have reported hearing music in these cabins.

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

Marella Explorer, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 5

The cabins at the front of deck 5 are belong the broadway theatre. Theatre shows usually end by 11pm but if you like to go to sleep earlier than this it may be worth avoiding these cabins.

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

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Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review

We cruised for 1 week on the Marella Explorer 2 in May 2019. This was our 4th Marella cruise , previously cruising on the Celebration , Dream and Discovery .

In our Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship review, we show you around the bar’s, lounges, restaurants, pool decks and discuss the food and dining options. We also show you around two types of cabins, a balcony and outside cabin and inform you of the navigate app and discuss the different WiFi packages that are available on board.

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Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship review - docked in Ancona #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #explorer#marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI #ship #cruiseship

Bars and Lounges –

The 19th hole bar.

Found on deck 7 this golf themed bar is a new concept to Marella. This bar has memorabilia and trophy’s adorning the walls with the decoration resembling Ronny Corbetts trousers, think we are showing our age now! There is comfortable seating including two golf buggies that have been converted in to tables and chairs, where you can enjoy your speciality golf themed cocktails.

The big bonus for avid golfers are the two state of the art golf simulators, which include the longest drive, closest to the pin plus many more on the famous golf courses from around the world. Free demos were available or for a additional cost could be hired by the hour with the golf instructors.

We are not into golf but did try a few drinks in here and its fair to say its not like anything else we have encountered on a cruise ship, excellent service and a fun environment.

19th Hole Golf Bar on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI

Flutes – The Champagne Bar on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship

If bubbles are your thing then you will love Futes! A very classy champagne bar with the the added bonus of the giant LED screen that stretches up from the floor below. The LED screen is mesmerising and when you add the classical pianist to the mix this is a beautiful place to sit and relax. This is also where you’ll find one of our favourite waiter’s Kamal, who provides exceptional service and has the biggest smile!

Piano in Flutes Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #cruiseship #bars #explorer #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI

Aperitif Bar

Found on deck 6, this is a great place for a pre dinner drink situated in between the speciality restaurants, Kora La and Surf and Turf. We were very well looked after by Alexandra here who we met on the Marella Discovery last year!

Apertitif Bar on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #aperitif #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI

The Indigo Bar , Lounge and Casino

This was are favourite bar on the ship and where we spent a lot of time. Found right at the front of the ship on deck 12 the floor to ceiling windows offer you the best views. Spacious with lots of seating its a excellent place to literally watch the world go by.

In the mornings it is a quiet place to sit for a chat or just read your book and come the afternoon you can get some gentle exercise with line dancing classes or test your general knowledge with the daily quiz. Our favourite time was definitely sunset when the live musical entertainment kicked in. There is  something very special about listening to great music while watching a beautiful sunset and we were treated to a few of these!

The standard of the the live entertainment in this lounge was excellent. We were treated to many performances and really enjoyed the variety that was on offer.

If you fancy a flutter its also the home of the casino situated to the right hand side of the lounge. Four tables and a dozen or so slot machines are there to keep you occupied. For all you night owls this is the place to be for a late night boogie with the resident DJ spinning your favourite tunes and is also the home of the silent disco which is hilarious. If you’ve never been to one its a must and we even managed to get Paul’s 84 year Dad John to give it a go, and he had a great time!

Indigo Lounge on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #indigo #lounge #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI

Squid and Anchor Pub

Marella call this the pub at sea and its easy to see why, a wide variety of seating from sofas to bar stools and a small dance floor. This is the home of band jam where all the musicians from around the ship come together to form a cruise super group sometimes with hilarious effect. They really are a very talented bunch, with musical director Tom Beech at the helm you know your in for a good time.

In here you will also find interactive game shows and quizzes, it can be a fun place to be. You will also find the Whiskey and Gin Bar which unfortunately is only included in the premium All Inclusive drinks package.

From here there is also access to an outside area at the aft of the ship, this is where you will find one of the smoking areas.

Here is an example of the standard drinks menu in the Squid and Anchor.

Squid and Anchor Drinks menu on the Marella Explorer Cruise Ship Review #pub #squid #anchor #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI

Pin for future reference!

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Broadway Show Lounge

This lavish Broadway Theatre had things we liked and things we didn’t. There were lots of steps so if you had mobility issues, as Paul’s Dad John does then you had no choice but to sit at the back. This was a real shame as the theatre shows are one of the things that John loves and you definitely do get a different experience if you are nearer the stage.

There is also no waiter service but you can collect drinks on the way in , drinks choices included bottled beer, presecco, some wines and a few different cocktails so not a brilliant choice. However, you could bring your drinks that you had ordered at the other bars and there were little tables in front of the seats so you could place your drinks there too.

Lavish costumes and a massive digital screen at the back of the stage really was impressive, as was the vocal and dancing performances of the show team.

Broadway show lounge Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #broadway #lounge #theatre #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI

Do also check out our Bars and Lounges guide here where we tour the areas described above.

Food and Dining Options

Latitude 53 restaurant.

The main dining room covers decks 5 and 6. Situated right at the back of the ship it offers excellent wake views. There is something very calming watching the wake of the ship as you enjoy your dinner. This restaurant is beautifully decorated with a winding staircase that links the two floors with a grand piano being the centre piece at the top of the stairs.

The food and service was excellent every time we visited and unlike some main dining rooms there was plenty of room between the tables. We really could not fault it here with the food high spots being an amazing lamb shank, a succulent beef wellington and an excellent selection of soups plus the best chocolate moose we have ever tasted!

The upstairs of Latitude, on the left hand side of the dining area converts into a Italian inspired restaurant in the evenings but we never managed to try it but were told by other passengers that it was very good.

Latitudes 53 restaurant Marella Explorer 2Cruise Ship Review #latitudes #restaurant #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI

To be honest we were really nervous about sitting on the Captain’s table but ended up having one of the best nights. If you are ever invited then make sure you accept the invitation too!

Captains Table on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI #explorer #review

The Market Place – The buffet restaurant on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship

The Market Place can be found on deck 11 and is open from 6 30 am for breakfast right through to 1 am for your late night snacks. Breakfast options include a full English to continental. A tea and coffee station including juices is also available. The restaurant is very spacious with lots of seating and also has a lovely out side area called the Terrace for those that prefer to dine alfresco.

Even at the busiest times there were always seats available. Lunch and dinner offered a decent choice if you didn’t fancy the waiter service restaurant but do make sure you check out both sides as sometimes different options can be found. there is also a self service beer cider and wine dispenser if you fancy a little tipple with your meal, the night buffet had a selection of burgers fries salads and curries plus a few puddings to send you off to bed with a sugar rush.

We found plenty to eat here but did not feel there was the amount of choices that we have had on our previous Marella experiences.

market place buffet restaurant Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI #explorer #review

The Beach cove

If cooked meats and a wide array of salads is your thing then the Beach Cove is definitely for you. There is also a selection of cakes and cookies for you to enjoy. This restaurant is on the pool deck in an enclosed glassed area, it has lots of seating and even swing sofas. It is a great place to sit to have your morning cuppa.

Beach cove restaurant Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI #explorer #review

Nonna’s Pizza and Pasta Restaurant

Found on the pool deck in the opposite corner to the pool bar is Nonna’s. It is a pizza pasta restaurant with a difference. Open for lunch and dinner you can help yourself to slices of pizza from the the many on offer. You can then decide from the list provided what type of pasta dish you would like, just choose your pasta type, sauce and ingredients and within minutes you have a lovely fresh bowl of pasta presented to you. It really was excellent and is all part of the all inclusive. The only complaint we had is that we didn’t try this until near the end of our cruise and so wished we had found it earlier!

Pizza at Nonnas pasta restaurant Marella Explorer Cruise Ship Review #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI #explorer #review

Snack Shack

Found on the pool deck opposite the Beach cove, this snack bar offers traditional fish and chips, burgers and chicken wings. There is also a good selection of salads and sandwiches and fresh fruit which you can take away if you choose to do so. Set with a beach theme, tables are in beach huts it gives a real seaside feel, and the food is very good too!

Speciality restaurants

There are 3 speciality restaurants on board the Marella Explorer 2 cruise ship. The Surf & Turf Steakhouse, The Kora La and the Dining Club and more information about these, plus a tour of the restaurants mentioned above can be found in our Food and Dining Guide here.

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

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Pool decks on the marella explorer 2 cruise ship.

The main pool deck can be found on deck 11. It has two pools separated by a small raised walk way which weather permitting is used for day time entertainment and sail aways. There is also a stage where the resident bands perform daily, again weather permitting. As well as the two pools you’ll find another raised area which houses the four hot whirlpools these always seemed popular regardless of the weather.

The pool bar has a large seating area that is in the shade and ideal place for those who are not so keen on the sun. The bar opened at midday and with plenty of waiters also around the pools it was never an issue getting a drink. There is a self service coffee and tea station to enjoy too.

You can also find Scoops on the pool deck that sells ice cream and waffles but this was at a extra cost and to be fair never seemed that popular. There were lots of sunbeds but as with any ship there never seems to be quite enough on a sea day but we always managed to get one when we wanted one. Come night fall and the movies under the stars kicks in with blankets and hot drinks on offer.

One floor up is the upper pool deck where you will find the smoking area and more sunbeds. Here is where you will also find the Shack Bar. Tucked away in the corner of the upper pool deck, it is bright yellow so hard to miss. Open during the day and an ideal spot for a sail away, we always had great banter with the staff here and watching them try to hone there juggling skills always made us laugh!

This is where you will also find the Veranda a quieter sunbathing area. Here you can book private cabanas via the spa for £99 a day for a couple which included spa access too. If you just want access to the spa for the day it costs £15pp per day but you can come and go as you please from 8am- 10pm.

This is where you will also find one of two cows on board!

Whirlpools deck 11 Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI #explorer #review

The Promenade Deck on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship

One of our favourite places on a cruise ship is the promenade deck and this one did not disappoint. A quiet place in the day to sit and read your book and a perfect spot for a sunset at sea!

Promenade deck Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI #explorer #review

Deck 9 Balcony Cabin

We booked a balcony cabin and were allocated cabin 9194. Having a balcony cabin was a real treat and even though the weather was not kind to us on our cruise we spent a lot of time on our balcony. We were very happy in this cabin, watch our cabin tour video below to find out why.

Balcony cabin 9194 Marella Explorer Cruise Ship Review #cruise #ChooseCruise #cruising #marella #MarellaExplorer2 #TUI #explorer #review

Outside Cabi n Deck 4

We were travelling with Paul’s Dad and Brother and they stayed in an outside cabin on deck 4. Watch our cabin tour here.

Reception and customer service

We can not fault the service we received on board and we must give a special mention to Stefan on reception who was very patient with us when we had issues with accessing our WiFi. As mentioned above Captain Richard was a real character and his nonchalant addresses did make us laugh. Elaine the social hostess was great fun too and the service we received in the bars and restaurants was excellent.

Cruise News and the Marella Navigate App

The cruise news daily paper is delivered to your room every day on the Explorer 2. However, there is also a App which is free to use called the Navigate App. This app is only available to download onto your phone or tablet when you get on the ship. Here we explain how it works.

WiFi Packages

If you want to stay connected at sea then there are a number of WiFi packages available on board. Here we describe the options available.

We would like to thank Marella Cruises for providing complimentary WiFi during our stay that enabled us to share our experience on all our social media channels.

Pin it for future reference!

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship. It is a great ship with a fabulous crew.

Our cruise was all inclusive which takes away the worry of going over your budget. We didn’t feel the need to up grade to the Premier all inclusive package but that option is available to you if you wish to do so.

We have booked our 5th Marella Cruise and we are back on the Discovery this November. We are booked on the Red Sea Quest 2 visiting Jordan and Dubai and pretty excited about visiting a new part of the world for us and also cruising the Suez canal.

For more information about cruising with Marella, check out our Marella Page here or click through to their cruises page here to find out what cruise itinerary would suit you!

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Marella Explorer

Former names: tui explorer, tui mein schiff 1, celebrity galaxy, mv galaxy.

Marella Explorer cruise ship

Cruise line Marella Cruises

  • Corfu Island (Kerkyra, Greece)
  • Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)
  • Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Marella Explorer current position

Marella Explorer current location is at West Africa (coordinates 28.05063 N / -14.13936 W) cruising at speed of 12.7 kn (24 km/h | 15 mph) en route to ESFUE. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Marella Explorer

Marella Explorer current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Atlantic Islands . Prices start from USD 1607 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 22 Mar, 2024 and ends on 29 Mar, 2024 .

Specifications of Marella Explorer

  •   Itineraries
  •   Review
  •   Wiki

Marella Explorer Itineraries

Marella explorer review, review of marella explorer.

The 1996-built (as "Celebrity Galaxy") cruise ship Marella Explorer 1 was previously operated as "Mein Schiff 1" by TUI Cruises . Schiff 1 was TUI fleet's oldest liner, with sisterships the current fleetmates Marella Voyager (fka Mein Schiff Herz/between 2018-2023) and Marella Explorer 2 (fka Celebrity Century ) . The vessel entered Thomson's/Marella's fleet in 2017 under the name "TUI Explorer", but in October was renamed "Marella Explorer". In 2018, the newbuild TUI Mein Schiff 1 took the name "Schiff 1".

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

History - construction and ownership

Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises UK) is a British passenger shipping company and trademarked travel brand owned by TUI Group. The company entered the cruise market in 1973 via Thomson Holidays (now TUI UK), but due to rising fuel costs, this service was terminated in 1976. Thomson Cruises restarted passenger shipping operations in 1995. The Thomson brand was renamed to "Marella Cruises" in 2018. Marella's parent company (TUI Group) owns hotels, the sister-companies TUI Cruises, Marella Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the travel brands International Expeditions and Zegrahm Expeditions, also aircraft and the airlines Corsair International (France), TUI Airways (UK), TUI fly Nordic (Sweden), TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Deutschland, TUI fly the Netherlands.

Marella Explorer 1 cruise ship

The 1900-passenger ship was built for the Royal Caribbean’s Celebrity Cruises company, renamed to "Celebrity Galaxy" in 2008 and joined TUI fleet in 2009 after an extensive drydock refit . The vessel entered Marella's  fleet in 2017. Mein Schiff 1 was one of TUI's two oldest Century-class vessels - followed by Mein Schiff 2 (former "Celebrity Mercury", in 2018 renamed "Mein Schiff Herz") and Celebrity Century (now Marella Explorer 2 ).

The Explorer joined Marella Cruises fleet as the 3rd vessel transferred from other RCCL-owned fleets. It was preceded by Marella Discovery (2015, former Splendour of the Seas) and Marella Discovery 2 (2017, former Legend of the Seas) and followed by TUI Explorer 2 (2018, the old Mein Schiff 2).

Marella Explorer 1 cruise ship (TUI Explorer / Mein Schiff 1)

Marella Explorer features a new-for-the-fleet kids pool, an innovative entertainment program, 10 dining venues. Another first for Marella Cruises is the tasting menu-type restaurant in one of the brand new yet-unnamed venues, described as "an intimate space, suited for couples or friends".

The Indigo flagship bar is the ship's focal point. A new high-end London-style drinking venue named Aperitif links Kora La and Surf & Turf restaurants. Other features include The Scoops ice-cream parlor with bicycle-themed quirky seating; The Lounge - another new venue with a color-changing bar and brightly-colored piano; Umi Sushi counter; The Mediterranean dining venue with a glass roof inspired by local tavernas, housing two inclusive restaurants (pizzeria and tapas) and for-fee Hot Stone Grill.

Decks and Cabins

Of all Marella Explorer staterooms (962 total), ~40% have private steop-out balconies. All cabins are with individual air-conditioning, wardrobes, smart HDTV, hairdryer, tea-coffee-making facilities, en-suite bathrooms. Accommodation types include:

  • Indoor (16 m2, fleet's largest), Outdoor (17 m2), Single Indoor / Outdoor cabins (Decks 4, 5, 8, 9)
  • Balcony cabins (17 m2), 14x Family Balcony (20 m2; decks 9, 10, 12, each with 2 twin beds)
  • Suites - Balcony Junior Suite (22 m2) and Executive Suite (49 m2)

The boat has 13 decks , of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 6 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Marella Explorer has a total of 10 dining venues, including Surf & Turf, Kora La, Snack Shack, Umi Sushi and open-air Mediterranean Restaurant with Pizza and Tapas areas. The Kora La features Oriental-style lanterns and paintings paired with a pan-Asian menu of noodle dishes and curries. This is a fine dining addition and there is a small premium to eat here.

Marella Explorer 1 cruise ship (TUI Explorer / Mein Schiff 1)

Ship's dining venues are located on decks 5, 6, 7 and 11. Follows the complete list of Marella Explorer restaurants and food bars.

  • Latitude 53 (situated aft on decks 5 and 6) is the main waiter service restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and gold-and-grey color scheme.
  • Vista Restaurant (Deck 5, situated in Latitude 53) in the evening transforms into an Italian restaurant for regional favorites prepared with authentic ingredients.
  • The Dining Club on Deck 5 is a fine dining restaurant that serves experimental cuisine. There is a charge to dine here.
  • Umi Sushi on Deck 7 serves sushi, sashimi, nigiri rolls that are prepared in front of the guests of the eatery. Umi Sushi is open for dinner only, and costs extra.
  • Kora La on Deck 7 has oriental-style lanterns and paintings paired with a pan-Asian menu. Passengers pay a cover charge to eat here.
  • Surf & Turf Steakhouse on Deck 7 specializes in all things meat. Its menu includes mains like lobster, grilled chicken, and pork chops, but the highlight is the 28-day-aged steaks. There is a chopping board artwork as well as leather booth seating. Cover charge is applied for dining here.
  • Snack Shack (Deck 11) is a laidback eatery featuring food stalls, oversized deckchairs, and beach huts. It offers grab‘n’go snacks and lunches along with a drinks station.
  • The Market Place on Deck 11 is a buffet restaurant where guests can watch the chefs prepare dishes from around the world. It is made up of different food stalls.
  • Tapas @ The Mediterranean on Deck 11 is specialized in tapas dishes for both lunch and dinner.
  • Italian @ The Mediterranean pizzeria on Deck 11, with wood-fired oven and salad bar.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

A couple of the largest new features aboard the 13-deck Marella Explorer include the flagship bar, club and casino Indigo (situated at the top deck), and the first at sea Champneys Spa. Indigo is home to the longest bar onboard the ship and features the Broadway show lounge able to accommodate 1,000 guests. The Broadway street lounge is on Decks 6 and 7, which also houses other entertainment facilities. The venue hosts cocktail-making sessions and demos. Entertainment facilities include Indigo Club with a DJ booth and dance floor, and the Indigo Casino Lounge with card tables and slot machines.

A pool is situated on deck 11, which also homes the Oceans gym and spa. The spa offers a Finnish Sauna with floor-ceiling windows, full-service thermal suite and treatment suites with showers and mini saunas, spa cabanas on ship's adults-only Veranda Deck.

Follows the complete list of Marella Explorer lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

  • The Lounge (Deck 6) has a color-changing feature bar, ring-shaped seats, and hot-pink piano.
  • Bar 53 (Deck 5) is an indoor bar lounge (adjacent to Latitude 53), perfectly placed for pre-dinner drinks.
  • The Shack on Deck 12 offers cool-down drinks between sunbathing. It is above Snack Shack and overlooks the pool.
  • Bar@The Mediterranean on Deck 11 wraps around The Mediterranean and runs from the inside to the outside. It serves Mediterranean specialties, the usual drinks, and frozen cocktails.
  • Indigo Bar on Deck 12 boasts the longest bar in the fleet. Cocktail-making sessions and flare demonstrations take place here.
  • Broadway Show Lounge is situated on two Decks, 6 and 7, and has a capacity of 1,000 people. It offers waiter service and brand-new shows.
  • Indigo Casino on Deck 12 is the spot to try out the card tables and slot machines. Indigo Club is in the middle of Indigo.
  • Aperitif on Deck 7 is a stylish bar with Champagne and Prosecco on the menu. It is a great spot to head for a drink before or after meals at one of the specialty restaurants.
  • Squid & Anchor on Deck 7 is the first pub of Marella Cruises at sea. There are 2 bars to pick from, one of which deals in premium whiskies and gins, that are chargeable. The spot is home to quiz nights and a live band.
  • Scoops is a vintage-looking parlor that serves up gelato. The seating is quirky and includes a collection of bike seats sit that face out to sea. A charge is applied here.
  • The Coffee Port serves Lavazza and sweet treats. It overlooks the atrium and features live piano music. A charge is applied here.
  • Movies by Moonlight offers family-friendly movies, plus extra screenings during the high season.
  • M Club is the onboard Kids’ Club, with games from M Crew - characters exclusive to the ship.
  • The Attic is a quiet, noise-free zone.
  • Gamer Zone is for everyone onboard, fully stocked with machines.
  • The Hideout (aft-starboard) is an exclusive room/club lounge for older children and teens. The exclusive venue is fitted with gaming consoles and comfy chairs. In the high season, The Hideout hosts organized and supervised games and themed events.
  • Broad Street Shops are the onboard boutiques stocked with everyday essentials, duty-free products, perfumes, jewelry, and souvenirs.
  • Photo Studio & Kiosks on Deck 6 provides professional photoshoot. There are also kiosks, where passengers can view and buy the photos captured by the onboard photography team.
  • Outdoor swimming pool on Deck 11 is split in two by a stage, where the entertainment team run daily activities. The Pool bar sits next to the pool and is great for frozen cocktails. A trio of whirlpools sits next to the main pool.
  • The Attic (Library/reading corner)
  • The Veranda is adults-only and has Balinese beds and cocoon chairs.
  • Sports Court provides basketball and mini-football.
  • Minigolf and Table tennis is at the top of the ship, on the Sports & Family Deck.

Champneys: Marella Cruises partnered with Champneys to bring such a state-of-the-art spa. Guests can book in for treatments (facials, body wraps, massages), plus there is a beauty salon. The spa is the largest in the fleet and also includes a relaxation room, treatment cabins with hot tubs, made-for-two suites. The adults-only sauna has floor-to-ceiling windows and a steam room. Alternatively, passengers can work out at the Gym.

Since November 2022, Marella UK (via partnership with OneSpaWorld Holdings/health and wellness company) provides ocean-inspired wellness products and services on all its ships. The range of OneSpaWorld's services includes Ocean Body Treatments (massages and polishes), Ocean Facial, Ocean Salon Services. On Marella ships, OneSpaWorld uses premium beauty brands like Elemis, L'Oreal, Kerastase. The brands owned by OneSpaWorld include Mandara Spa, Bliss Spa, Chavana Spa, Glow Spa.

Itineraries

Marella Explorer 1 itinerary program was initially based on Western Mediterranean 7-night roundtrips from Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Spain) . Among the call ports were popular French Riviera ports . The itineraries were themed as:

  • "Cosmopolitan Classics" (Palermo Sicily, Livorno-Florence, Villefranche-Nice, Palamos Spain)
  • "Highlights Of The Mediterranean" (Ajaccio Corsica, Civitavecchia-Rome, Marina di Carrara Italy, Saint Raphael France, Barcelona)
  • "Magic Of Spain" (Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena)
  • "Mediterranean Secrets" (Porto Torres Sardinia, La Spezia, Calvi Corsica, Sete France, Tarragona Spain)

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in 2021 Marella Explorer 1 restarted operations on June 25, with UK itineraries and homeporting in Southampton England . Winter 2021-2022 program was scheduled for the Canaries with roundtrips from Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria .

Summer 2022 program was for Adriatic and Greece itineraries leaving roundtrip from Corfu Greece .

Marella Explorer - user reviews and comments

Photos of marella explorer.

Marella Explorer cruise ship (TUI Explorer / Mein Schiff 1)

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Other Marella Cruises cruise ships

  • Marella Discovery
  • Marella Discovery 2
  • Marella Explorer 2
  • Marella Voyager

Marella Explorer Wiki

The ship's powerplant is based on MAN B&W marine diesel engines (model 9L48/60) with combined power output 31,5 MW (42240 hp).

The vessel has Meyer Werft Papenburg yard/hull number 638, volume 76998 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 6500 tons, max draught 8,3 m.

During its pre-Marella service (May 15, 2009, through April 11, 2018), the liner served its previous operators for 8 years and 11 months, or a total of 3254 days.

TUI Mein Schiff 1 was built in Papenburg Germany for Celebrity Cruises (another RCCL brand) as MV Galaxy (later "Celebrity Galaxy"). In May 2009 the vessel was transferred to the fleet of the Royal Caribbean's TUI subsidiary. The vessel was renamed in Hamburg, Germany , to "Mein Schiff" (meaning "my ship") on 15 May 2009. The godmother of the newly refurbished (EUR 50-million) vessel became Ina Muller - a renowned German artist and TV personality. Of the same class is also Celebrity Mercury ( Schiff Herz / Marella Voyager ).

Fun fact is, that when operated as "Galaxy", the ship hosted the BBC TV's docu-soap titled "The Cruise".

Marella Explorer refurbishment 2021 review

The boat's 4-week drydock refurbishment in December 2021 (at Navantia's Puerto Real shipyard in Cadiz Spain ) was conducted by Trimline Ltd. The project involved 80 specialists, including upholsterers, floor layers, decorators, tilers, polishers, joiners, welders, electricians.

Works included renovations of the two dining rooms (Latitude and Vista restaurants), Indigo Bar & Casino (interactive LED dancefloor), The Mediterranean Bar (all seats and sofas), The Attic (Library), The Hideout (teens venue), Broadway Show Lounge, Cinema, Squid & Anchor (pub), Umi Sushi (food bar), The Lounge, Bar 53, Coffee Port (bar), Snack Shack (fast-food bar), Cruise Holiday Store, Destination Services (lobby area).

The Pool Deck was also renovated.

A total of 60 staterooms were recarpeted.

The ship's entire lighting system was updated/replaced with a new, ultra-high efficiency one that is ~15% more efficient than the LED standard.

Marella Explorer refurbishment 2019 review

In 2019 (October 11 through November 6) the ship was drydocked at DAMEN Shiprepair Brest France ).

The USD 25 million drydocking project was managed/supervised by CCS (COLUMBIA Cruise Services Ltd) and included mainly technical maintenance works, machinery upgrades and updates to interior spaces. Hideout (teen lounge on Deck 14) received AstroTurf (artificial grass surface and titled flooring outside) and new furniture (loungers, deckchairs, bar stools).

Marella Explorer refurbishment 2018 review

In 2018, the liner entered drydock in Cadiz Spain (April 20 through May 13) at Navantia shipyard. The 4-week drydocking project was managed by Trimline Ltd / Southampton-based cruise ship interior outfitting company).

During the refit, the vessel received new carpeting (45 km2 / 17 mi), new data cables (over 60 km / 37 mi), 650 wi-fi access points.

A total of 35 venues and public areas were reconstructed and refurbished. Among the new venues installed during the reconstruction were the Flagship Bar, Disco Club, Indigo (entertainment complex), Champneys Spa (first at sea). The new spa has a Finnish sauna with floor-ceiling windows, full-service thermal suite, treatment suites (with showers and their own saunas). Spa cabanas were added to the adults-only The Veranda (Deck 14).

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

The Apollo Group company was contracted for providing all Marella ships with the entire onboard hotel product and services. This includes administration, food staff (preparation and serving), housekeeping staff, also the vessel's provisioning and crewing. Other luxury cruise lines served by Apollo are Oceania (6 ships fleet) and RSSC-Regent (4 ships fleet).

Like the other fleetmates, Marella Explorer offers an all-inclusive product designed specifically for the UK source market. The ship has a total of 10 dining venues, among which company's signature Surf & Turf, Kora La, Snack Shack, Umi Sushi. The new top-deck bar (Indigo) has panoramic ocean views. In the evenings, Indigo Bar doubles as ship's Casino and disco-nightclub. Another new bar (Aperitif) offers pre- and post-dinner cocktails.

Maiden Voyage 2018

The ship's homeport is Palma de Mallorca (Majorca Island, Spain) . The ship is also operated with "UK to Mediterranean" fly-cruise program.

Next table shows the "Inaugural Cruise" (maiden voyage) scheduled for May 19, 2018.

7 nights / 8 days (themed "Cosmopolitan Classics") - prices starting from USD 1000 pp (GBP 1130 pp) double occupancy Inside Cabin rates. The itinerary shows all ports of call in the ship's Mediterranean roundtrip program.

(OLD / alte) TUI Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship

The TUI ship's itinerary program was based on Eastern and Southern Caribbean cruises leaving from Barbados and Dominican Republic. Other operational regions included Europe (Mediterranean departures out of Palma de Mallorca , and Baltic Sea from Hamburg ) and Asia (leaving roundtrip from Singapore ).

The old Mein Schiff 1 had a total of 962 staterooms, including suites, junior suites, balconied family cabins, balcony rooms, oceanview and inside. In addition, there were barrier-free staterooms. All cabins as amenities offered safe, air-conditioning, bathroom (WC / shower), minibar, phone, flat TV. Family cabins with veranda were sized 20 m2 with capacity up to 5 passengers.

The ship's main dining room was the aft-located, 2-deck Atlantic Restaurant (capacity 950 seats). The other main dining option was the complimentary Anckelmannsplatz Buffet. Room service was available 24 hours.

Follows the complete list of Mein Schiff 1 restaurants and food bars.

  • "Atlantic Classic" (950-seat, complimentary main dining room (of all three) for buffet-style Breakfast and waiter-served Lunch and Dinner. Some menu inclusions are at extra charge
  • "Richards Fine Dining (70-seat dinner restaurant, reservations required, at surcharge PP)
  • Surf & Turf (specialty seafood and steakhouse restaurant)
  • Blaue Welt Bar (45-seat sushi bar at surcharge, dinner-only 6:30 - 11:00 p.m.)
  • Anckelmannsplatz buffet restaurant (412-seat, with a partially covered outdoor area for al-fresco dining; complimentary, self-service, with various food stations)
  • GOSCH Sylt (80-seat complimentary seafood restaurant, a la carte menu; with outdoor seating area)
  • Cliff 24 (24-hour, 40-seat complimentary Grill Bar, serving the pool deck area)
  • La Vela (66-seat complementary bistro)
  • Aussenalster Bar (91-seat complimentary al fresco dining and sports bar).

The primary shipboard entertainment was in the 927-seat Theater (ship's main show lounge) with 2 nightly shows. A 200-seat cinema doubled as a lecture room. Fortunes Casino's gambling options included roulette and blackjack tables and slot machines. The ship's duty-free shops had liquor, tobaccos, jewelry, perfumes, travel essentials, and convenience goods.

The ship had several bars, clubs, and discos, including the Nightclub, the Lounge, Rendezvous Lounge, the cigar bar. Among the onboard activities were computer classes, bingo, trivia games, dancing classes.

Of all 3 swimming pools, 2 were saltwater (with 5 large whirlpools / hot-tubs), and 1 was freshwater (located under the greenhouse-like roof). The Steiner AquaSpa (Japanese-styled) had its own rock garden and offered many personal services, massages, and thalassotherapy. The ship had an extensive art collection on display. Follows the complete list of Mein Schiff 1 lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for adults, kids, and teens.

  • Theater (main show lounge for grand-style show productions; with a revolving stage and eight dynamic LED screens)
  • Internet computers room
  • Wii-Corner (kids/teens gaming arcade)
  • Sturmfrei (Teens Lounge featuring video gaming consoles, dance floor, foosball table, activities like karaoke, cooking classes, teen parties, movies, etc.)
  • Atelier (Workshop/art studio for painters); Walentowski Art Gallery; Fotogalerie (Photo Gallery); Library/Bibliothek
  • Wein & Wahrheit Vinothek (15-seat fine wine shop)
  • Aussicht Bar (25-seat night cocktail bar)
  • The Neuer Wall shopping arcades
  • Blaue Welt Bar & Lounge; Nasch Bar (40-seat); TUI Bar; Abtanz Bar (100-seat disco nightclub); Uberschau Bar (25-seat wellness bar with a "healthy drinks" menu)
  • Casino (170-seat; open only during sea days)
  • Himmel & Meer Lounge (Suite Guests only); X-Lounge (Suite-guests only lounge)
  • SPA & Meer (SPA & Sea complex with a Finnish Sauna, Oriental steam bath, relaxation area, Spa Suites, La Vida Bar, SPA Shop, Beauty Salon)
  • Sport & Gesunheit (Sport & Health Fitness Centre; Fitness classes/personal trainers provided at a surcharge)
  • Aussenpool (outdoor pool area with a 25 m long swimming pool, extensive sunbathing area, Aussenalster Bar & Grill)
  • Insel der Seerauber (Pirates' Island Kids Club complimentary lounge)
  • Sun deck area (11,990 m2; the forward section features Entspannungsinseln/Relaxation Islands with mini-balconies, available for rent)
  • Outdoor sports area (with a full-size sports court for basketball, volleyball, golf simulator)
  • Grune Oase (Green Oasis - outdoor sports area for open-air classes - stretching, relaxation, Yoga, Pilates); Power Walking / Jogging Track
  • Lounges & Bars: Ausenalster, Abtanz, Aussicht, Blaue Welt, Nasch, TUI, Unverzicht, Uberschau, La Vida Sana Bar, Himmel & Meer, Casino Lounge, Wein & Wahrheit, X-Lounge.
  • Spa, Fitness Center (aerobic classes), jogging track, 3 jacuzzis, 2 outdoor swimming pools (1 with salt water, 1 freshwater /covered), duty-free shops, shop, 927-seat Theater, Casino, Kids Club.

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Marella Explorer Reviews

Everything was very good.

couple

Being new to cruising we didn't really know what to expect but we thoroughly enjoyed our time on the Marella Explorer with the ship being the right size and quality for our requirements.

One of the best cruises we have been on, fabulous crew, good food, great entertainment. Would definitely recommend this cruise!

I booked this cruise with Jacob who was helpful & assisted us to book our holiday. The process on the phone was clear, simple & in our price range. Fights with TUI were comfortable & all transfers the same & on time. The cruise on Marbella explored was amazing as was the hotel stay.

Good cruise for a bit of winter sun.

Lovely cruise for winter sunshine. All the staff are excellent, especially cabin attendants always ready with a smile and greeting, and keeping everything in order! No complaints at all.

Really enjoyed the cruise. All the staff were cheerful and helpful. The food in Latitude Restaraunt was excellent. Shows we're excellent.

Good value.

group

Excellent cruise, brilliant staff, had a great time.

Fantastic, great all round.

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TUI Marella Explorer Cruise Review – Cruising with kids

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This summer we took our first ever cruise.  We had spent weeks searching online looking for a holiday, but nothing really stood out so we thought let’s try something different with the kids this year.  We found a cruise holiday on TUI and made the booking which would see us sail around the Adriatic Sea.

As we had never cruised before and if we were being honest after we booked it we did have some scepticism about this sort of holiday – cruising often has the perception as more for older travellers rather than for families.  What if the food or entertainment was poor – we would be stuck on this floating hotel for a week.

However, we needn’t have worried, this was one of our most memorable holidays and we can’t wait to take another cruise – let me tell you why you should try a Marella cruise with your family, with this honest review.

About Marella Explorer

The Marella Explorer is one of four ships operated by TUI UK, a British cruise line.  The ship was originally built for Celebrity called the Celebrity Galaxy, before being transferred to TUI CRUISES as Mein Schiff.  It joined the TUI Marella fleet in 2018 and is one of their most modern and recently renovated.  Their latest ship the Marella Voyager sets sail in June 2023 and looks really impressive.

Embarkation

One of the main reasons we booked the Adriatic Explorer cruise with TUI was because everything is taken care of from the flights from our local airport to the transfers to and from the ship.

When we arrived at Ioannis Kapodistrias airport in Corfu, the whole process was seamless and stress free.  We were met by the TUI reps who took us to our coach for the short transfer to the cruise terminal.  This was one of the reasons why we selected TUI Marella for our first cruise compared to the other cruise lines where flights and transfers are not always aligned with cruises, but with TUI we had the reassurance that this was all taken care of.

Whilst we waited for our test result we watched the muster drill and within 15 minutes we were informed that our PCR test result was negative and we were allowed to progress to check-in, which again was welcoming and efficient.

It’s a short walk along the harbourside to board the ship and once we cleared customs and made our way towards the ship’s gangway, we looked up in awe and couldn’t get over the scale and size of this huge floating hotel on the water.

The Marella Explorer is what is classed as a mid-sized ship and carries just over 1,900 passengers at full capacity, the result is it doesn’t feel as busy and hectic as some of the other cruise lines who have launched mega ships in recent years carrying up to 6,000 passengers.

It was such an exciting feeling as we got close to the Explorer as we started our first ever cruise.  Upon boarding we were directed to a designated point on the ship to collect our cruise cards and we excitedly made our way to our staterooms which already had our luggage waiting outside.

Staterooms on the Marella Explorer

The Marella Explorer has 962 staterooms, ranging from inside cabins, outside ocean view cabins, two types of balcony cabins and family cabins.  If you want to splash out then they have junior and executive suites, and we had a sneak peak on-board and looked fabulous for couples, a selling point for me was that they came with Clarins toiletries.

Interconnecting Large Balcony Cabins

We booked two large balcony staterooms on deck 10 that had interconnecting balconies, so they were perfect for a family of four. When we were looking for cabins for us on the TUI website we nearly opted for a single cabin that it said would hold four people.

Although it would have been much cheaper than 2 cabins it would have really affected our first cruise experience as there would not have been enough room for all of us – 2 adults and an 11 and 14 year old.

One of my favourite things to do in our room, was to open the curtains each morning, step out onto our balcony and take in the views – these rooms are definitely worth upgrading to.  They are also perfect for families due to the fact that they were interconnecting which allowed us to have a walkthrough balcony.

Our rooms were a reasonable size at 16m2 with a queen size bed for us and twin beds for the girls, along with a desk, sofa, safe and plenty of storage space.  Although the décor in the cabins was not as luxurious as what we had seen on some of the other cruise lines, it had all the mod cons you would expect including

  • air conditioning,
  • large wall mounted smart TV,
  • tea and coffee making facilities

The cleanliness of the room was superb and the girls enjoyed the attention to detail from the towel art to the chocolates left on our pillows at turn down.  We never travel light so it was great to see that our cabins had a lot of storage, with three wardrobes, two for hanging clothes and the other with shelves and drawers so we had more than enough room for all of our things.

There was a small desk area that you could use for charging your devices or doing hair and makeup,  but the hairdryer was attached to the wall in the bathroom.   What let the room down slightly was if you needed to charge any electrical devices as there were only 2 sockets in the room.

If you are like us and have multiple devices from phones, watches and iPad’s to charge then you need to bring a travel adapter with you. I recommend you get the adapters with extra USB ports.

We paid the extra £50 per cabin to select our rooms on the 10 th floor, because we wanted to ensure our rooms were next door to each other. 

No wi-fi was included which I believe is standard practice on many cruise lines, but in 2022 it does seem excessive to charge for this – it’s the equivalent of charging for water or electricity in your cabin.  We did take out their wi-fi plan at £49 for a week but it was really slow and the signal was so poor it was practically unusable across the ship so we had to rely on our mobile data when we arrived at the various ports.

What did work well was their free to use Navigator app through your web browser on your phone or tablet.  This contained all the information you needed from daily itineraries, port information, dining and excursion booking and access to your online account, we found this really helpful and useful.  Alternatively, just off the reception area, were self service kiosks containing the same functionality as their Navigator app.

As the cost of a large balcony cabin is a noticeable increase over their standard cabins, it would have been nice if they had the Clarins toiletries included that are standard in their junior and executive suites.  Plenty of towels were provided and you had separate ones for the pool which were refreshed each day but no bathrobes or slippers were provided.

You can view a video tour of our rooms below.

Dining and Drinks on the Marella Explorer

With 10 restaurants on board, there was no chance that we would go hungry or get bored of the food on the Marella Explorer.  We could have eaten in a different restaurant on each night of our cruise if we wanted to.

Although Marella market these cruises as all-inclusive, that’s not exactly the case as some of it’s restaurants are at an extra cost

Starting with the complimentary restaurants, our favourite was in the main dining room, home to Latitude 53 and Vista the Italian restaurant.  We loved it in here, and we were given the same table each day, perfectly located next to the huge floor to ceiling windows allowing us to have spectacular views of the wake and the ocean as we dined.

This two-storey dining room was so grand and elegant, just has I had imagined it would be on a cruise, and although it was formal dining it was without the strict formal dress code that is often associated with cruising – no dinner jackets or tuxedos required, just smart clothing that you would wear at a nice restaurant back home.

The food and service on offer here was some of the best we have had on holiday and we have been lucky enough to stay in some of the best hotels across the world.  What made it most appealing was the rapport we built with the restaurant staff by being allocated the same waiters each night.

What we also liked on a Marella cruise was the fact that there are no set dining times, like you have on other cruise lines, meaning that we could dine when we wanted to, rather than having to try and fit our schedule around when the cruise line wanted us to dine at.

Latitude 53 was also open for breakfast and though many chose the self-serve buffet breakfast at the Market Place, we made the most of the white linen tablecloths and waiter service as we tucked into our delicious made to order breakfasts each morning.

For lunch we would often stop off at the Italian in the Mediterranean restaurant on deck 11 at the back of the ship.  We enjoyed freshly made pizza and made to order pasta dishes here, which were always a favourite with the kids and we loved the setting offering great views of the ocean at the back (aft) of the ship.

You could also visit the Tapas restaurant here at lunch serving a range of light bites from sandwiches to fries.

Beer, wine and soft drinks served at mealtimes were included in all of the restaurants at no extra cost. An upgraded premium drinks package was available at additional cost, but we didn’t feel it was necessary to upgrade as the cost of bottled water and other drinks we paid for wouldn’t have been the same amount as the upgrade cost.

The brightly coloured beach huts and oversized deck chairs not only were popular Instagram spots on board they provided a lovely setting to enjoy lunch alfresco.  A grab and go fridge containing sandwiches, salads and fruit boxes are also available here, so there was something for everyone.

Scoops was another popular stop for us, although not included in the all inclusive, the ice creams were delicious and only a £1 per scoop, we particular loved the theming in this area and the cool uni-cycle seats.

Marella, also offered their traditional English afternoon each day at the Marketplace buffet, offering a wide selection of cakes, sandwiches, hot scones and jam.  We loved escaping here from the afternoon heat and sample the different cakes each day!  Afternoon tea was also served in the more formal setting of the Latitude restaurant one day each week called The Great Musical Afternoon Tea at £15 per person.

There are also several specialty restaurants on-board the Marella Explorer which come at an extra charge and all need to be pre-booked , especially the steakhouse, Surf and Turf and Kora La, the Indian restaurant.

These restaurants book up fast, so don’t make the mistake we made and leave it too late as we didn’t get a chance to try them.  Everyone we spoke with said  both were a fantastic dining experience – it’s a shame they were not included in the dining package that comes with the cruise.

We would often have pre-dinner drinks at Aperitif one of the most stylish bars on board followed by post dinner drinks at Indigo.  Indigo was spectacular with lots of comfortable seating and 360 degree views, plus it was close to the disco – one of the girls favourite areas on the ship.

The Squid and Anchor pub was really popular with other guests, but it was far too busy for us – we preferred the The Lounge with its neon pink piano and live band.

On deck 7 was a shopping arcade called the Broad Street shops containing a range of stores including a large duty free to shops selling jewellery, designer and high street clothing.

I found the prices to be reasonable and cheaper than back in the UK.  As you will know from our travels, we love a little retail therapy and it was nice to be able to do this onboard picking up perfume and beauty products and the girls had a unique ship charm from Pandora.

Things to Do on the Marella Explorer

Although Marella Explorer is not one of the mega cruise ships, there was still a huge variety of entertainment available for all the family.

Every evening we would receive our copy of Cruise News in our cabin, which displayed the full agenda for the next day’s entertainment so we could plan our schedule.

As we explored the ship we were amazed at just how much there was to do for families and marvelled at the size of this ship and the amount of things they managed to fit onboard.

Although you won’t find water slides or go-karts that you would find on the newer, larger cruise lines there was still plenty of things on-board to keep all of us entertained for our week cruise.

Swimming Pools

When we stay at a hotel, the pool is the most important thing for the kids and it was no different on a cruise ship.  Located on the top decks of the ship, the pool deck featured hot tubs and two pools which the girls loved.

The pool deck and the deck surrounding the pool did get very busy in particular on the sea day which was the first full day if our cruise it.  Being our first cruise we made the mistake of thinking there would be enough sun loungers but it was packed and it took us a while to find empty loungers on another deck which was a long way from the pool, so it wasn’t ideal for the kids.

For families with younger children there was a small kids pool and slide at the rear (aft) of the ship which looked great and it was always much quieter than the main pool deck.

Entertainment and Activities

The daily entertainment around the poolside was a little holiday camp like but fun all the same and the kids in particular loved it, with Holly winning an award for being the best dancer and the entertainment team did a great job encouraging guests to take part.  For adults wanting to escape the noise from the main pool deck, the adult only area of the verandah on deck 14 looked perfect which lots of comfortable padded loungers.

During each day there were lots of other entertainment options going on around the ship, where the girls encountered their first ever game of bingo in the Squid and Anchor bar.  The Gala Night was an opportunity to dress to impress where we got to meet the captain and crew in the beautiful atrium setting of the ship.

Marella translates from Celtic as ‘shining sea’ and the interior designers have cleverly managed to add in shimmering design features throughout the ship, but our favourite was the photo spot infront of the glitzy Marella logo.

For children there was a dedicated gaming zone, home to lots of Playstation and Xbox consoles while the library area had a good selection of family board games to play.  For movies there was a large indoor cinema but our favourite was watching movies at night on the large screen on the pool deck with freshly made popcorn.

The main evening entertainment area onboard is called the Broadway Show Lounge, a huge theatre with a seating capacity of 1000 which two shows nightly.  This is really a spectacular space and this auditorium wouldn’t look out of place in the West End, with lots of comfortable and spacious seating each with their own personal table.

Each evening , we enjoyed walks on the deck especially the wide promenade deck and I loved the fact that there was plenty of space to relax to escape the crowds.

When we weren’t at the movies or the disco’s, we preferred to relax in the comfortable seating areas in the many beautiful public areas of the hotel playing card games or listening to the live music in the Lounge bar.

There is a Champneys Spa on-board which looked fabulous and takes up the front of the ship on deck 11, but unfortunately I didnt get a chance to try it out.  The use of their thermal spa is not included and comes at an extra cost of £15 for a day pass and there are also wide range of spa treatments available to book including facials, massages and body wraps.

The literary on our 7-night Adriatic cruise, round-trip from Corfu, had stops in Koper, Slovenia – Trieste, Italy – Split, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Croatia and Kotor, Montenegro.

What we loved was waking up to a new destination to explore each day and this was one of the highlights of what cruising can offer families and allowed us to visit destinations that we would have overlooked. We loved each destination that we arrived at, each having their own unique charm and attraction, here are some of the highlights.

At each and every port you dock at there are numerous excursions that can be booked either via the TUI website before you go on holiday or through ‘Navigate’ Marella Cruises on-board app and some of the more popular excursions can sell out early.  There was definitely a wide selection of things to do, from cycling trips, city tours on a TukTuk to visiting a water park.  Some destinations offered more family friendly excursions than others but there is nothing stopping you arranging your own trips like we did in most of the ports.

We were unsure if cruising was right for us before we went and it was an expensive gamble for a family holiday.  However our experience with Marella on their Explorer ship changed our perception of cruising and we are so glad we booked it.

TUI Marella should be proud of their staff on board the Explorer, they are a credit to your brand and each and everyone of them made us feel so welcome from the moment we stepped on board to the moment we left.

Marella cruises are often overlooked for the bigger and more popular cruise lines such as MSC,  Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, but it would have to be a strong all-round product to beat our first cruise experience with Marella.

So would we cruise again and what about Marella?  Definitely, we were really impressed with the TUI Marella cruise experience, so much so that we are planning a cruise for next year on their brand new ship to join their fleet called Marella Voyager.

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Hi Thankyou for your review, it was very interesting to read your families experience. We have cruised several times & find Matella to be just right for us. We love waking up in a new port every morning & going to explore it. The food is always of a high standard & as yet we have never come across any bad crew. They all seem to love their jobs & looking after us We are on Explorer in April & it seems like we will be in for a treat again! Thankyou x

Thank you for your great review. Has really given me an on-site to so many aspects of our first cruise booked for October 🛳️😊

This has been so helpful in helping us choose if a TUI cruise is the right choice for us! Thank you so much for your detailed review! It is extremely detailed!

It was lovely to read you all had a wonderful first cruise. We are going on the same cruise on 5th May 2023. Although we have been on the ship before we have not done the Eastern Med. We wondered if you could give us some tips on the ‘do it yourself’ ports of call. Eg. In Kotor and Dubrovnik. Did you use public transport or were there tuktuk’s? Would be grateful for anything. Thanks.

This is one of the best reviews of the Marella Explorer I have read; the youtube videos of ship are often poor and your still photos are much more professional. Although we were on a different route, we were on the Explorer two weeks ago, for my husbands big birthday, around the Canary Islands. It is a great restorer after a cold Scottish winter to get out each day with only tee shirt and summer clothes on. The only other place you can do this, in March, is apparently the Carrabean, which we dont fancy as we are not beach people. We prefer cities and touring, which is why the Canary Islands is so great. We have done this tour twice before, but on the Marella Dream, which is now out of commission. We were concerned a bit about the larger ship, but the Explorer is wondeful! We especially like that Tui cruises have free access dining, no set times or set tables to sit on every night, we would hate that. You can have a drink or two in the bars first, then go to dinner when you fancy it, never had to wait, except one night, for 10 mins for a table to be free, just like a restaurant on land. The main restaurant food is wonderful, but we loved the italian restaurant best of all, again no booking, just go when ready. The entertainment was great, and caught up with some newly released films we would have paid a lot to see at home in the cinema. The staff are fantastic, kissed and hugged some before leaving and promised to come back next year for my big birthday. They simply could not do enough for you, and all with a smile.

Great review. Just booked to go on the same cruise/stops and this really helped and has given us something to look forward to.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. I’ve been weighing up booking a TUI cruise for my family and after reading this I definitely will be. It will also be our first cruise and with 5 children! Pleased to hear you all had a great holiday 🙂

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Tui marella explorer review - family holiday with kids 2024.

Marella Explorer Review

This is the first cruise we have taken as a family in 10 years, the first time we cruised I took my son aged 8 and daughter aged 14, back before TUI purchased the Marella fleet. 

Marella Explorer Review with Children

I had high hopes for this as our first cruise as a family was absolutely amazing, with the kids club being the best we had ever experienced on any holiday. There was SO much for children to do on our first cruise so I really bigged this trip up to my family, unfortunately, I was left a tad deflated. 

Marella Explorer Review

We took our family on a one week TUI Marella cruise around Greece and here's what we thought about the experience...

This review is solely based on the point of view of a family with children - It would have been completely different if we went adults only.

Overall Rating

>> Kids Menus Available

>> Kids allowed to eat from the Adult Menu

>> Kids Club until 9:30pm

>> Free Air Hockey Table in the Hangout

>> Staff make a fuss of the younger children

>> Kids Club wasn't great

>> No Family Screenings in the Cinema

>> Very Expensive Wifi for Teens

>>  Hard to get beds by the pool after a day out

>> No Children Allowed in Speciality Restaurants

Here's a bit more explanation of the pros and cons listed above...

Marella Explorer Cinema

This was a really big letdown for us. There was not one family-friendly screening the entire week we were there. The film choices were repeated daily and diabolical.

Kids club even did a movie night and didn't take them up there! I found this such a shame. They watched a film on a tiny TV in the M club instead - another wasted opportunity on behalf of the TUI kids club team. 

Marella Explorer Mini Golf

marella explorer golf

We love crazy golf so were pleased there was a course on board, and we did make use of it twice. The view is incredible whilst you play.

There were no pens or scoresheets available both times we played.

Marella Explorer Pool Deck

marella explorer pool deck

My children enjoyed the pools as they are huge fans of water. Although it's very hard to get beds close enough to watch them on the days we left the ship. When we got back the beds around the pools were always taken.

As a parent with little ones, it's important that I can see them in the water at all times, especially when the water is so deep, so this was always a battle - we had to decide between going out and doing excursions and having bored kids when we got back or having a quick stroll around and getting back so they could have a swim.

Tip:   The Pools are very deep so make sure you bring swimming aids for any non-swimmers.

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult in the jacuzzis and under 12s aren't allowed in at all. 

Both Pools are freezing and saltwater which my twins hated 

Marella Explorer Hideout

marella explorer hideout

The Hideout is an area on deck 14 designed for teens and it's massively wasted. there's one board game that was broken, a few bean bags and a free air hockey table. But with no one in it, it was pointless.

In my opinion, and my teens there is absolutely nothing to draw them in. In every other hotel I have been in, the teens hang around the areas where the wifi is best and then they all start talking and hanging around.

I spoke to the kids club rep about it and asked why free wifi was not offered up there and she said it was due to the fact they didn't want them to be stuck on their phones. but honestly, that's what teens enjoy! So I thought that was ridiculous.

Marella Explorer Gamer Zone

There is a gamer zone available on deck 8 and although my girls weren't interested, and we didn't see anyone use the room, I'm sure my son would have enjoyed the area when he was younger.

Marella Explorer Kids Club (M Club)

Kids club ran 2/3 times a day for 2-hour sessions. Unfortunately, the quality of Marella's M Club was very poor. It was arts & crafts most of the time, which left my twins bored and they only went because they wanted to see a friend that they had met. Cruise kid's clubs are usually superior, but not on this ship.

Staff were friendly.

No breakfast wake ups - Most cruise lines offer this and my previous TUI cruise did, but not on the Explorer. 

They didn't leave the room! There were no cinema trips, no treasure hunts around the ship....nothing. 

No Pirate (or any other) theme day.

The evening kids club finished at the same time as the first Broadway show, meaning we had to leave early to ensure we weren't late.

No coordination! They had a chocolate party on the same day as the white party! 

Marella Explorer Family Cabins

We had a family cabin on deck 10, cabin number 10147 and it was very spacious. I was worried it would be tiny and we would be in each other's way a lot but it was honestly fine. There were two large double beds and a fixed dingle above the one. There was also a sliding privacy door between the children's room and ours. 

Tip:   There aren't many family inside cabins (3 in total) and the family balcony cabins cost at least £1000 more due to the cost being calculated per person, so if you want one, it's advisable to book early. 

Marella Explorer Family Entertainment

marella explorer entertainment

The daytime or evening entertainment on the Marella Explorer isn't catered towards kids in any way, shape or form. 

The Broadway Lounge - had one show that my children would sit through in the week and that was the circus show, the rest were just singing and one comedian show that they were too young to understand. 

Pool Deck - They really enjoyed the white party, they danced the night away to the amazing Muzzic Unlimited and played with their friends.

Squid and Anchor - It's a pub with quizzes, live music and game shows. Nothing particularly fun for the kids but we sat there most nights and played UNO with them which they enjoyed.

Indigo - Doesn't open until 11pm and children aren't allowed in after 12pm.

The Lounge - Nice for a drink, there's usually a pianist on, but not a place for children. 

Marella Explorer Food 

marella explorer latitude 53

The food on Marella Explorer for Children is exceptional as is the service and staff's attitude toward our girls. The staff made our girls feel like royalty.

Every free restaurant offers a children's menu which has the usual suspects such as chicken nuggets, bolognese, burgers etc, but they are also free to choose from the main menu if they wish. 

Children are not allowed in any of the speciality restaurants 

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Is Marella Explorer Good for Kids?

Yes and No! A holiday is what you make it and no holiday is a bad holiday in my opinion, but the Marella Explorer is not particularly catered for children, despite the facilities shown.  If family fun is important to you, the Marella Explorer really doesn't cut it. 

Is Marella Explorer Good for Teenagers?

There are things for teenagers to do, although they need improvement.

The hideout was such a wasted space. It comprises of one air hockey table, one board game with missing pieces and a few beanbags. There was absolutely nothing to draw the teens in and get them talking. In every hotel I have ever been in, the teen zone was a free wifi area, which always attracts the teens and eventually gets them chatting.

The gamer room did look good, but no one used it that we saw and it's nowhere near the hideout, which means the teens would be separated depending on what they liked doing.

A pool table is also something the teens love but there isn't one on the Explorer

There were a few teens on the ship and none of them would even look at each other. I did query the member of staff and she said they don't offer free wifi there as they don't want to encourage teens to be on their phones - which is very out of touch. 

Is Marella Explorer Child Friendly?

Yes, on the Explorer you will find family rooms, children's menus, a kids club, a teens hangout, two pools, three whirlpools, mini golf, mocktails, and the staff are very friendly towards the children. 

Do kids get Seasick on Cruises?

It's very rare for seasickness to occur on large ships, particularly when cruising in calm summer months. Stabilisers on cruise ships have come a long way in the last few years and really the only time you feel any movement is when docking, and then it's very little. 

My three children suffer terribly from travel sickness and never once complained and we did have one windy day. 

Cruise Insurance

You will need specialist travel insurance for cruise holidays. We paid less than £100 for a family of 5 for 1 year multi-trip, travel insurance with cruise cover - which I thought was very reasonable. We purchased our cover from Holiday Extras

Help and Advice 

There's a really good group on Facebook that I found really helpful for any questions we had regarding anything on the ship and also for the itineraries. You can speak with people who are going on the same date as you and also get answers from past cruisers. Visit Group

The Marella Explorer is a great ship, there's plenty to do and it was worth the money, but I wouldn't rush to go back as a family. I wouldn't hesitate to go back as a couple though. 

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Sail Date: February 2023

Review for a Europe - All Cruise on Mein Schiff

Perhaps one thing in advance. This is not the first time we have travelled with TUI, and so far we have spent about 150 days on board various ships and shipping companies - but we do not belong to the TUI fan club that lives on Artisan Bread and cannot live without the departure anthem and makes this known in the evenings at the bar by slandering Aida - so much for parts of the crowd. But from ... Read More

Sail Date: September 2021

Review for a Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Mein Schiff

Hi folks, two weeks ago i went for my first cruise after the corona-break. The german-market-focussed cruise line TUI cruises offers 7-night cruises from Heraklion(Crete) to Piraeus and Corfu. As the price for these cruises are very attractive for solo travellers i could not resist. Due to the current Covid-19 situation there were some changes in the usual processes. First of all it was ... Read More

Sail Date: September 2020

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Right now, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic there isn't much of a choice. I live in Dusseldorf, Germany. Started cruising in 2013 and just celebrating my 50th cruise. The well-known cruise line AIDA failed due to lack of permission of its registry country Italy and Corona positive crew members. It seemed that TUI Cruises was doing better. The planned itinerary - from Hamburg (Mein Schiff ... Read More

Sail Date: August 2020

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

TUI Mein Schiff Cruises is a nice cruise line, but not for everyone. I had the pleasure of participating in a historic event. The July 24 2020 cruise aboard the Mein Schiff 2 was the first large ship cruise after the coronavirus lockdown in the world. Here I must admit that the TUI did a great job with the new safety measures. Muster Drill was conducted in small groups, the crew checked the ... Read More

Sail Date: July 2020

Review for a Canary Islands Cruise on Mein Schiff

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

Just came back from our first ever Mein Schiff cruise, and my first German speaking ship experience (my partner has been once on the AIDA). This was our 28th cruise. I, a non-german, but German speaking person, give this ship a 3 out of 5. My partner, German born and raised, gives it a 4. Both of us liked a few things, and disliked a few others. All in all, we found the "Premium All Inclusive" ... Read More

Sail Date: January 2020

tui explorer cruise ship reviews

We are loyal Celebrity cruisers (8 cruises sind 2013, mostly Aqua Class), but with the newly introduced price increases we wanted to try something new. As German natives it was logic to try a German cruiseline. As we love being serviced at the table, TUI was the only option for us. Unfortunately we were not as happy as with Celebrity (although we did enjoy the cruises of course): - In ... Read More

Sail Date: December 2019

Review for a Asia Cruise on Mein Schiff

The boat itself is very nice. The decor and surroundings are tastefully done. Cabin is a good size. Food is good although there is not much variety among the different restaurants. Excursions are pricey and better deals can be found elsewhere online. Working level staff (i.e. not Germans) are friendly and nice and do their jobs well. German management staff are all young (20s) ... Read More

Sail Date: November 2019

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COMMENTS

  1. Marella Explorer

    Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. This was my 2nd cruise, my first one being a Disney so this one had a lot to live up to. The staff onboard Marella are so kind, welcoming and always ready to help. The selection of places to eat were sensational and extremely tasty. Every day I looked forward to the next….

  2. Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Reviews

    Review for a Caribbean - All Cruise on Marella Explorer 2. fizzy470. 6-10 Cruises • Age 60s. Sail Date: January 2024. Helpful. Brilliant tui cruise holiday. Review for a Caribbean - All Cruise ...

  3. Marella Explorer

    Marella standards dropped. We have travelled with Marella on many cruises. This was by far the worst. On arrival no one to show you where to go. Found reception staff very unhelpful. Staff not very friendly overall. Standards have definitely dropped. Not enough entertainment on the pool deck during the…. This review is the subjective opinion ...

  4. Marella Explorer 2 Cruise: Expert Review (2023)

    Very Good. In April 2019, Marella Cruises introduced its first adults-only ship, the 1,814-passenger Marella Explorer 2. By removing areas previously dedicated to families, the line has cleverly ...

  5. Marella Explorer 2

    fabulous time on marella explorer 2. excellent cruise ,staff superb on deck 4 ,thanks to troy and rocksan and all the other staff,would recommend to all ,brilliant food and entertainment ,although on the top deck ,sometimes things got to loud,one trip we went on was to the black river boat trip ,two hours on the…. Read more.

  6. Cabins Honest Reviews and Cabins to Avoid

    Sleeps up to: 4. The outside cabins on the Marella Explorer are almost identical to the inside cabins. The style is the same but the size is slightly bigger. Outside cabins come with either a porthole window or bigger square window like the one shown below. The size of the window depends on which deck you are on.

  7. Marella Explorer Reviews from Travelers

    A Lovely Winter Cruise by mon2dar. Sail date: Jan 24, 2022 / Traveled as: Family (young children) Ship: Marella Explorer. Weather-generally nice and warm. Ships are getting busier which is a good sign. Ship comfortable and clean. Covid measures not too intrusive, mainly masks indoors and on trips and daily temperature checks. Read full review.

  8. Marella Explorer 2 Reviews from Travelers

    Ship: Marella Explorer 2. Obviously apprehensive as this was our first cruise since the pandemic, but I have to say it was wonderful. The ship was only at 30% occupancy, service was exelent, food yummy, entertainment brilliant. We was upgraded from ocean view to balcony. Fab ports and blessed with mostly good weather.

  9. Marella Explorer Reviews, Ship Details & Photos

    A Lovely Winter Cruise by mon2dar. Sail date: Jan 24, 2022 / Traveled as: Family (young children) Ship: Marella Explorer. Weather-generally nice and warm. Ships are getting busier which is a good sign. Ship comfortable and clean. Covid measures not too intrusive, mainly masks indoors and on trips and daily temperature checks.

  10. Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Tour & Review

    This is the ultimate in Marella Explorer 2 tours! This is the complete tour of ALL passenger deck facilities including every restaurant, all bars, cafés, sho...

  11. Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Review

    The Market Place - The buffet restaurant on the Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship. The Market Place can be found on deck 11 and is open from 6 30 am for breakfast right through to 1 am for your late night snacks. Breakfast options include a full English to continental. A tea and coffee station including juices is also available.

  12. Marella Explorer Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    The 1996-built (as "Celebrity Galaxy") cruise ship Marella Explorer 1 was previously operated as "Mein Schiff 1" by TUI Cruises.Schiff 1 was TUI fleet's oldest liner, with sisterships the current fleetmates Marella Voyager (fka Mein Schiff Herz/between 2018-2023) and Marella Explorer 2 (fka Celebrity Century).The vessel entered Thomson's/Marella's fleet in 2017 under the name "TUI Explorer ...

  13. Marella Explorer reviews

    I booked this cruise with Jacob who was helpful & assisted us to book our holiday. The process on the phone was clear, simple & in our price range. Fights with TUI were comfortable & all transfers the same & on time. The cruise on Marbella explored was amazing as was the hotel stay. couple. 6-10 cruises Outside (2 berths) - Deck 8/9.

  14. Marella Cruise Reviews (2024 UPDATED): Ratings of Marella Cruises

    1 - 10 of 1,293 Marella Cruise Reviews. My honest opinion. Review for a Caribbean - All Cruise on Marella Voyager. Bell bell. First Time Cruiser • Age 50s. Sail Date: February 2024. Traveled ...

  15. Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship (Formerly TUI Explorer 2)

    This is a review of Marella Explorer 2, after Marella Cruises rebranded from Thomson Cruises. Marella Explorer 2 (or also, known as Tui Explorer 2) is an all...

  16. TUI Marella Explorer Cruise Review

    About Marella Explorer. The Marella Explorer is one of four ships operated by TUI UK, a British cruise line. The ship was originally built for Celebrity called the Celebrity Galaxy, before being transferred to TUI CRUISES as Mein Schiff. It joined the TUI Marella fleet in 2018 and is one of their most modern and recently renovated.

  17. Marella Explorer Tour and Review in 4K

    Marella Explorer is a part of TUI UK and Marella cruises. We took a tour and reviewed the cruise ship. Marella Cruises, formerly known as TUI Cruises or Thom...

  18. TUI Marella Explorer Review

    TUI Marella Explorer Review - Family Holiday with Kids 2024. This is the first cruise we have taken as a family in 10 years, the first time we cruised I took my son aged 8 and daughter aged 14, back before TUI purchased the Marella fleet. I had high hopes for this as our first cruise as a family was absolutely amazing, with the kids club being ...

  19. Marella Explorer Cruise Ship

    ABOUT THE SHIP. Marella Explorer joined the fleet back in 2018. The ship stepped up to the plate with a bumper batch of 10 restaurants and 10 bars. You'll find fleet favourites like Snack Shack and Kora La onboard, plus brand new spaces like The Dining Club for foodies and a swanky bar, club and casino. The highlights don't stop at food and ...

  20. Tui Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Ratings of TUI Cruises

    Nice ship but everything else is bad. Review for a Caribbean - Eastern Cruise on Mein Schiff. Happydays2023. 10+ Cruises • Age 40s. Read More. Sail Date: February 2023. Helpful. Very good Corona ...

  21. Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship

    ABOUT THE SHIP. The adults-only Marella Explorer 2 flaunts a range of exciting facilities, from a large spa to a chic bar-club-casino space. You've got ten bars and nine restaurants on this ship, too. Top spots include The 19th Hole - a golf-themed bar with a golf simulator - Flutes, where you can sip Champagne* or Prosecco to the sounds ...