Overview
About
Passengers: 1,836 | Crew: 771
Passengers to crew: 2.38:1
Launched: 1996
Cabins
Balcony
Cabin size: 139 - 172 sq. ft.
Connected rooms: 54
Accessible rooms: 0
Maximum passengers: 4
Number of cabins: 268
Reviews
Traveller rating
- 142
- 92
- 44
- 24
- 34
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My wife and I did 2 weeks to the Caribbean on this ship had a good holiday with many things I’d like to share. Having spent over 35 year in the holiday and leisure industry in the UK I like to offer I rounded view. Having stopped over at Manchester airport the night before we flew I decided to read some of the reviews on this ship and was quite concerned about the negative feedback from other guests. However have done around 10 Marella Cruises before I was open minded with what to expect. In a nutshell. Food was excellent we ate in Islands buffet every day, if you cannot find anything you like from this menu please stay at home. Cabin service as always top class. Bar service from all bars top class. Entertainment is a mixed bag with the “ some great Dem Boys” to the terrible Lee Symonds “ the other bands and singers pretty good. The ships entertainment crew and the game shows were tacky and dated ,they have been doing them for the last god knows how many years. You don’t actually get any free time on deck around the pool on in the bars without having this thrown in your face. The most annoying thing is the constant selling of the upgrades every day around the pool. The Cruise Director who is basically a “ Sales Director “ rams this down your throats every day. A tip for TUI give up flogging the Spa and Gym these customers want to drink alcohol,eat loads of food and get off the ship and experience other countries. Which leads to the worst experience. Getting off the ship at port took over 2 hours in some cases and if you hadn’t booked a tour through Marella you were made to wait till last. Basically treated like a 2nd class citizen. The standards of service with bars,cabins and likes should be a given on cruises but the key why people come on them is to get on/off in a timely fashion and this did no happen. On another note we didn’t book any excursions through Marella as for the cost, we got the same trips off shore for a third of the price. Marella does exactly what it say on the tin for an all exclusive cruise and the staff of which most are unnoticed hold the ship together. They need to move onto the next step with regards quality entertainment rather quantity and giving customers a better experience on disembarking and personal time for relaxation.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Booked this trip for my birthday so paid £900 (£450 each) for a deluxe cabin with a balcony. When we got there, there was no seating furniture in the room, due to "supply chain issues" so we were given £50 each to spend on board. OK, I wasn't planning on spending any time sitting in the cabin anyway, so not that big a deal but the balcony! It was horrible. Dirty, rusty, holes in it, black mould everywhere. We complained and were offered £50! Ooooo £25 each so refused that. In the meantime was sent a bottle of plonk and some chocolates, which I thought were for my birthday but no, they were compensation for the balcony! Complained again and we were offered £100 - an amazing £50 each. That night we went to the Surf and Turf restaurant and were served the most sub-standard steak I have ever had. The restaurant manager even came to our table to say he had seen the food going out but wasn't in time to stop it getting to us. He offered a full refund, which we accepted but nearly 6 weeks later have still not received. Had a phone call from TUI today saying the maximum they will refund is £100. So please folks, heed my advice and if you do book on this old, worn out, tired boat, save your money and do not get a balcony. Also on the at sea days, there aren't enough sun beds either unless you get up at 4 am!!! Plus not enough seats in the restaurants so you are having to wait hours for your dinner! Be warned. I wish I had read the reviews properly. Very, very disappointed!…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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Cruised on both Discovery ships at various times. Always had a good time. My last cruise included a one night stay in CUBA Jan 2023. Not a good move as I want to visit America in the future. I will now need a 10 year VISA not a 2 YEAR ESTA. To get a 10 year VISA can be quite expensive also requiring a visit to an American Embassy. I am just posting this as general information if you intend going to America on future holidays. If you have recently visited CUBA…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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2 week cruise around Western Caribbean and Central America, destinations were fantastic - Jamaica/Cayman/Cuba/Columbia/Panama/Costa Rica. Some ports of call are remote so you need to research and book excursions. Balcony cabin was generally good, cabin staff are excellent. Food variety and quality generally good, you can always find something you like at the buffet. We had balcony cabin so didn't get too involved with the sunbed scrabble during at sea days, this is more of a people problem than Marella it happens everywhere. I have read of the previous problems with this cruise and sympathise, I noticed myself that when things do not go as planned there is a lack of leadership and communication on this ship. Overall though a very enjoyable cruise experience for us.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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poor quality food and drink could be watered down as we wernt drunk once. dont get the premium not worth it. excursiions cut short and far too expensive cabin decor needs updating very tired and old fashioned, shower curtains and bed linen seen better days. good things staff very friendly and clean ship SHOCK HORROR I saw one of bar staff exchanging small package in his hand to another staff member in a very suspicious way. I did report this to security but member of staff still there at end of our two weeks.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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