Marella Explorer

Marella Explorer is a mid sized Marella Cruises ship that entered service in 1996, carrying around 1,900 guests. Built by Meyer Werft in Germany, she has a long history under different cruise brands. She began life as Celebrity Galaxy with Celebrity Cruises, became Mein Schiff with TUI Cruises in 2009, and joined Marella Cruises in 2018. That background gives the ship a distinctly established character rather than the feel of a newly built vessel.

Dining is one of Marella Explorer's strong points, with 10 venues covering everything from relaxed outdoor meals to more specialised restaurants. Surf & Turf combines meat and seafood, while Umi Sushi focuses on Japanese favourites. Kora La has oriental décor and a pan Asian menu, available for a small additional charge. The open air Mediterranean Restaurant brings pizza and tapas into the mix, making it an easy choice when you want something casual outside. The main dining area has an art deco design inspired by ocean liners of the 1930s and can accommodate more than 1,000 diners at a single seating.

There is plenty to occupy the evenings, with the Flagship Bar, Disco Club and Indigo entertainment complex providing different settings for drinks, music and shows. A recent refurbishment also added Champneys Spa, which includes a Finnish sauna with floor to ceiling windows, a thermal suite and treatment rooms with private showers and saunas.

Outside, the ship has two swimming pools and a separate children's pool, along with three Jacuzzis. The combination of open deck spaces, entertainment and quieter areas gives the ship a fairly broad appeal, whether you prefer spending the afternoon by the pool or settling in for a drink before dinner.

Marella Explorer also has an unusual place in television history. Her maiden voyage was featured in the BBC series "The Cruise", which first aired in 1998 and helped launch Jane McDonald's career as a recording artist. The ship was christened in Palma de Mallorca in 2018, following her move to Marella Cruises.