In this post, I will be discussing all cabin grades available onboard the Marella Discovery and sharing a review of the balcony cabin that I enjoyed during my two-week Baltic cruise. In this post we will cover:
Inside cabins
Solo inside cabins
Inside plus cabins
Deluxe cabins
Outside cabins
Balcony cabins
Balcony solo cabins
Suites
We also look at some cabins to avoid based on guest experiences.
NOTE: All information below is based on the Marella Discovery, however, the Marella Discovery 2 has exactly the same cabins.
Inside cabins
Sleeps up to: 4
Anybody who knows me knows that I am a lover of inside cabins. I love the price, of course, but also love the amazing night’s sleep that it provides. When I stay in an inside cabin I am more likely to get out and about to explore the ship which is an added bonus.
These cabins can be found on decks 2 and 3, and sleep up to 4 people. You’ll get twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed and an en suite with a WC and a shower. Deck 2/3 inside cabins cover 12 m². These 3 and 4-berth cabins have upper berths that fold down for extra sleeping space.
How big are the inside cabins on the Marella Discovery (Tui Discovery)?
The inside cabins are 12 meters squared. This is a pretty standard size. The bed is two single beds which push together to make a queen. It is totally up to you how you have this. On a couple of occasions, I have been cruising with my brother and arrived to find the beds pushed together. If this happens to you, don’t worry! Just let your room steward know and they’ll be happy to change it for you.
How many people can fit in the inside cabins on Marella Discovery?
Some inside cabins only fit two but others can take four adults although I would urge you to think before booking this. It may be the best option but can be very cramped. I have done it in the past but wouldn’t recommend it for a long period of time. The below video was filmed onboard Royal Caribbeans Independence of the Seas and should give you an idea of how 3/4 adults can share a cabin.
What is included in the cabin? (Included in all cabin grades)
Marella do offer solo inside cabins. These allow solo cruisers to have their own space and it is USUALLY cheaper than paying the dreaded ‘solo supplement’.
Outside cabins
I’ve only stayed in one outside cabin and would rarely choose it. I would choose an outside cabin if it wasn’t much more than an inside cabin but if I was going to upgrade I probably would upgrade to a balcony. Nevertheless, outside cabins are loved by many! Including Paul and Carole who cruised on Discovery two weeks after me! You can find their review of their cabin below:
Solo outside cabins
These are on deck 3, and accommodate solo travellers. A picture window or porthole offers sea views, and the cabin is kitted out with twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed, a sitting area with a sofa, and an en suite with a WC and a shower. These cabins measure 14 m².
It’s very rare for a ship to have solo outside cabins! Usually, solo travellers are confined to inside cabins. A few ships do have solo balconies, however, such as Britannia. Britannia cabin guide.
Top 7 Reasons to Take a Cruise With Marella Cruises
Balcony cabins
Sleeps up to: 4
I am usually an inside cabin cruiser but was lucky enough to have a balcony cabin onboard the Marella Discovery. I am so glad that we did. We spent a lot of time here despite it being pretty chilly.
The styling inside the cabin is exactly the same as the inside cabin and other cabins.
How big is the standard balcony on Marella Discovery?
This was one of the biggest balconies I’ve had in a standard room on a cruise ship. There was enough room for a ‘proper’ table and two chairs. Much bigger than the balconies on ships like Britannia or the Royal Princess. I appreciated the extra space and wespent a lot of time on the balcony watching sail aways.
What is in the Balcony cabins onboard the Marella Discovery?
Twin/Queen beds
A desk with mirror + chair
Another chair
Bedside tables
Tea + Coffee making facilities
Mini bar (no fridge so this is on the desk)
Hairdryer
My review of the Balcony cabin 6534.
Below are some pictures of our balcony cabin 6534.
(Video) 10 Worst Cruise Cabins on a Ship ~ How to Avoid Bad Staterooms
What I loved:
The cabin was so clean and didn’t look dated at all.
We had a lot of space.
The bed was SO comfortable.
The TV played Disney films!!
What I didn’t love
The balcony cabins don’t have a fridge so the mini bar contents are sat on the side of the table. Not really a problem but I was staring at a dairy milk for two weeks without being able to eat it!! (I’m sure they’d take it away if I asked them
There isn’t really much storage space in terms of drawers, only a few by the chair a little ones by the side of the mirror. It wasn’t a problem for me because I travel really light, I see how some other people might struggle.
Deluxe Balcony Cabin
Another option is a deluxe balcony cabin. These are basically slightly bigger versions of the standard balcony cabin with a few extras.
These cabins are on decks 6 and 7, and have twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed, a sitting area, an en suite with a WC and a shower, and a balcony. They cover around 15 to 16 m² and if there are 4 of you, you’ll also get a sofa-bed.
What is the difference between a standard balcony and a super deluxe balcony?
Extra space. The main difference is that the deluxe balcony is bigger than the standard balcony.
Seating area – Deluxe balconies have a seating area with sofa whereas the standard balcony cabin only has one chair.
Suites (Junior Suites, Grand Suites, Family Junior Suites, Royal Suites, Executive Suite, Family Suite, Penthouse Suite)
Sleeps up to: 3
There are a number of suites available onboard the Marella Discovery.
All suites include:
Express check-in (subject to availability)
Free pressing service – up to 3 items per person in the first 24 hours onboard
Free continental breakfast in bed – 1 per person, per week
Types of suites
Junior Suite Cabin
Junior Suites sleep up 2. They’ve got twin beds that can convert to a queen-size double bed, and a sitting area, as well as a bathroom with a WC and shower over a bath, and a balcony. These cabins measure around 21m².
Grand Suite Cabin
The Grand Suites on Deck 8 have twin beds that can convert to a queen-size double bed, and a sitting area with a sofa-bed, and can sleep 4 people. You’ll get a bathroom with a WC and a shower over a bath. There’s a balcony for admiring the sea views, too. Grand Suites measure 32m².
(Video) Marella Discovery Deluxe Balcony Cabin Tour & Review
Family Junior Suite
This cabin sits on deck 8 and sleeps 6. It’s got one bedroom with twin beds, and a living area with a double sofa-bed and twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed if needed, as well as an en suite with a WC and a shower. A private balcony with double doors comes as standard. The cabin measures around 39 m².
Royal Suite Cabin
The most luxurious cabin measures up at a huge 92m², and sleeps up to 4. It comes with a separate living room with a sofa-bed, a bedroom with a king-size bed, and an en suite with a WC and a shower. Swish extras come in the form of a baby grand piano and a whirlpool bath. Expect plenty of light courtesy of glass doors that open onto a balcony.
Executive Suite
There are 5 Executive Suites, which sleep 4, and come with a separate living area with a queen-size sofa-bed, a queen- size bed, and an en suite with a WC, shower and bath. You can soak up the sea views from the comfort of your private balcony, it’s got glass doors, which let in plenty of light. Executive Suites are spacious, measuring in at 47m2.
Family Suite Cabin
The Family Suites sleep 7 people, and have 2 separate rooms – one with twin beds that convert to a queen-size double bed if needed and another with a fold-down bed. There are 2 bathrooms, one with a shower, and one with a bath. Plus, you’ve got a living area with a double sofa-bed. The cabin covers around 40m², and comes with a balcony.
Marella Discovery Cabins to Avoid
The Marella Discovery is a very well designed ship where the majority of cabins are very similar to one another. That said there are always some locations that are better than others. The following ‘cabins to avoid’ have been provided by cruisers who stayed in these cabins.
Marella Discovery, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 8
The aft cabins on deck 8 are directly below what is called the veranda on deck 9. Some passengers have reported hearing noise from the deck above such as sun loungers being moved at night.
Marella Discovery, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 6
(Video) Marella Discovery 2 Cabins
The coffee port on deck 6 is a very popular place for guests to stop to grab a drink. I stayed on deck six in a balcony cabin and didn’t have any problems with it but some guests have reported an increase in foot traffic on this deck compared to others.
This does make sense as many people will walk along here to get to the coffee port. If you would prefer a quieter deck it may be worth moving up or down one deck.
The cabins are the front of deck 6 are underneath the squid and anchor and main theatre of the ship. Evening entertainment happens in both these venues and some guests have reported being able to head noise travelling from these venues in the cabins at the front of deck 6.
If you are likely to be out in the evenings this shouldn’t be a problem as most shows in the theatre end before 11pm but if you have kids or like to go to bed early this may be an area to avoid.
Marella Discovery, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 3
The cabins are the front of deck 3 are right below the main theatre of the ship. If you would like to go to bed early or have children it may be worth avoiding these cabins are the sound can sometimes travel.
It’s rare to notice sound travelling too much throughout a ship but if you are trying to get to sleep this may be more noticeable.
What plug sockets are on the Marella Discovery (Tui Discovery)?
All cabins have at least two US and two EU plug sockets.
These cabins feature twin beds that can convert to a queen-size double bed and an en suite with a WC and a shower. These cabins are on decks 6, 7 and 8, sleep two, and measure between 12 and 13 m². Inside Cabins on decks 7 and 8 have been newly refurbished, and cabins on deck 6, weren't part of the refurb.
The current position of MARELLA DISCOVERY is at Caribbean Sea reported 16 hours ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Philipsburg, Sint Maarten (NL), sailing at a speed of 13.6 knots and expected to arrive there on Feb 12, 11:00.
There are 2 accessible cabins with interconnecting cabins. The cabin(s) with accessible facilities is/are 2083, 2085, 2087, 2554, 2556, 2558, 3550, 3552, 3554, 6060, 6062, 6064, 7083, 7085, 7087, 8026 and 8526. The accessible cabin(s) is/are located on Decks, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8.
On the Marella Discovery you are allowed to take a travel iron but they reserve the right to confiscate it if they believe it to be a hazard, whatever that means. There is a hairdryer in the cabin. There is also a chargeable laundry service.
starboard side of the ship is best to stay on. Your decision will depend on a variety of factors, from your stateroom type to your cruise itinerary. Here are helpful tips for choosing which side of the ship will suit you best.
You want to be as close to the pivot point as possible to feel the least movement. Avoid cabins near the front (bow) or back (stern) and on decks higher than the middle deck of the ship. So, on a ship with fourteen passenger decks, your best options are below deck seven.
How Many Formal Nights Do Marella Cruises Have? Marella has one formal night on every 7 night cruise. A 14 night cruise would include 2 formals nights and cruises shorter than a week may not have any formal nights.
Fully refurbished Glass House aboard Marella Discovery revealed. Marella Cruises has debuted its newly refurbished indoor pool and dining venue Glass House aboard Marella Discovery. The refurbished Glass House aboard Marella Discovery now features a modern beach-club vibe instead of the Greco-Roman design it had before ...
TUI UK cancels Marella Discovery 2 cruise ship's upcoming Caribbean voyage due to technical issue. Marella Cruises' parent company TUI UK canceled Marella Discovery 2 ship's upcoming voyage due to a technical issue in the catering facilities.
Is Wi-Fi free on Marella Cruises? Wi-Fi is not free on Marella Cruises – internet access is charged to your cabin at the rate advertised onboard, so do check when you embark!
Marella Discovery 2 is the sister ship to Marella Discovery, which means it shares most of the same top-notch facilities. These include an outdoor cinema, a rock climbing wall and a minigolf course. Not to mention the two pools – one indoor and one outdoor – plus, seven restaurants and a spa.
Guests can explore with the help of Marella guides or simply go it alone if preferred. Just be sure to be back onboard in time for the ship's departure. However, due to coronavirus safety measures, you may only be able to go ashore as part of an official shore excursion party.
All of our ships have a cash-free system, so while you're onboard you don't need to carry any money with you. Everything is priced in sterling and charged to your cabin account, which you can settle at the end of your cruise in cash, travellers' cheques or by debit or credit cards.
It's £8 an hour or £15 a day and is not accessible all the time. You can't roll over unused data. It can only be used for one device at a time so if you both want to use it at same time you have to pay twice!!!
The best cruise ship deck for many people is a lower deck because less movement will be felt there. However, for the best views, you should choose a higher deck. If you want to avoid taking the elevator, a mid-level deck would be best.
The back of the ship tends to be considered the next best cabin position after midships. Whilst the front of the ship gets the most movement the back also does get some. Whilst it's nowhere near as bad as the front of the ship, you may still notice some movement in rough seas.
Balcony cabins are great for giving you that much needed bit of personal space when you're both in the room. If he wants to nap but you're wide awake, a balcony offers you a place to hang out without worrying if you're making too much noise or using too bright lights.
Rear-facing balcony cabins are among the best balcony cabins on any ship. Often, their balconies are bigger than balconies on side-facing cabins and they also feel quiet. There are far fewer balcony cabins at the back of a ship than on the sides of a ship, so you don't hear a lot of noise from your neighbors.
Marella Cruises are ideal for families because of their range of entertainment and amenity options; children can enjoy the Kids' Club which caters for 3 to 11 year olds.
Most cruise ships require all passengers to be on board no fewer than one to two hours before the scheduled departure time, which is almost always in the late afternoon or evening.
Most of the nightly entertainment is contained within the ship's venues, though there's a Sail Away party, Movies by Moonlight open-air cinema and the Silent Disco that sometimes takes place on the Pool Deck.
In summer 2022, Marella Discovery is to be homeported in Palma de Mallorca (Majorca Island, Balearic Spain) with a special itinerary sailing from Barbados to Palma, visiting the Azores.
Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises) is a British cruise line operated by TUI UK, offering cruise holidays around Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia.
Marella Voyager's the newest member of our fleet, and will set sail from its homeport of Majorca in summer 2023. It'll boast 10 bars and restaurants, including a couple of one-offs you won't find on any of our other ships, like a Mexican eatery and a stylish Speakeasy Bar.
Marella Cruises has extended its cancellations into 2022 owing to concerns about a resumption of cruising owing to the Covid crisis. Planned sailings onboard Marella Discovery 2 from 1 November to 30 April 2022 have been cancelled.
Did you know that every Marella Cruise ship is All Inclusive as standard? That means that you can focus on the important things, like enjoying yourself. A selection of hot drinks, soft drinks, cocktails, mocktails, beers, and wines are included in our standard All Inclusive packages.
You can use your credit to pay for onboard internet access, thereby getting Wi-Fi on your cruise for free! On most cruise lines, you'll need a minimum of $100 in onboard credit per device for a week's worth of free basic Wi-Fi.
Is Marella Explorer a good ship to cruise on? Marella Explorer won 7 awards over the years, including Best for Cabins, Best for Embarkation and Best for Entertainment in 2019.
All gratuities and drinks, including non-premium alcohol and soft drinks, are also included in the cruise fare. For fly-cruises, flights and transfers are included.
Is it cheaper to book shore excursions on the ship? No.Most cruise lines either charge the same prices for shore excursions booked online and on board or offer a discount for tours purchased in advance.
It turns out a cruise line has the right to kick you off a cruise, at least according to its ticket contract, the legal agreement between the passenger and cruise line.
As a general rule, plan to have $50 to $100 each day in the local currency. Also, you may want to bring an extra $20 a day for tipping crew members. Make sure to include smaller bills for tips. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port.
You can take 1 piece of hand luggage per person (excluding infants) weighing up to 10kg and with maximum dimensions of 55x40x20cm on a TUI Airways flight. Things like laptops, handbags and items bought at the airport must fit within your 1 piece of hand luggage.
On nonformal nights the dress code in the main dining room is usually 'smart casual'. Shorts are not allowed and guests are encouraged to wear open-necked shirts or dress/trouser combinations. During our cruise on Marella Discovery we never got changed for dinner.
It's possible to send and receive text messages at sea on a cellular signal, as long as you have a signal through your ship's roaming network. (Just make sure you turn on data roaming in your settings.)
Packing for a cruise is just like packing for any other holiday, but there are a few things to bear in mind. Hairdryers and all towels – including pool towels – are provided. And don't panic if you forget any essentials as our onboard shops stock things like toothpaste and other toiletries.
A Marella Cruises holiday comes with an Inside Cabin on Deck 2 or 3 as standard, and you can pay extra to upgrade to a cabin or suite that's perfect for your needs.
Our Deluxe Cabins are getting a full refurbishment in November 2022. The first picture shows the planned appearance after the refurb, the other pictures show the cabins for sailings up to October 2022.
The higher you are on a cruise ship, the more motion you'll feel. If you're trying to avoid elevator rides or too many stairs, keep in mind how many decks there might be between your cabin and the main areas of activity (dining rooms, theater, atrium, etc.).
The lower and more central you are in a ship, the less roll and sway you will feel. Even if you choose a balcony room, choose a low level and a room closest to the ship's center. The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most.
The back of the ship tends to be considered the next best cabin position after midships. Whilst the front of the ship gets the most movement the back also does get some. Whilst it's nowhere near as bad as the front of the ship, you may still notice some movement in rough seas.
The best location to book your cabin will be in the center of the cruise ship and on the lower deck. The lower you go down, the less rocking you will experience during your trip. If you suffer from any motion sickness, this area is ideal for you.
The areas around elevator banks and stairways on cruise ships can be noisy, just like they can be at land-based resorts and hotels. You'll get people milling around talking as they wait for an elevator car. On some ships, you'll also hear a distinctive chime every time an elevator arrives.
Can You Sleep on a Cruise Ship Balcony? There are no rules that say that passengers on cruise ships can't sleep on their balconies. That said, cruise lines do generally advise against it. Despite this many people enjoy sleeping on their balconies and you won't have any problem doing so if you want to.
Rear-facing balcony cabins are among the best balcony cabins on any ship. Often, their balconies are bigger than balconies on side-facing cabins and they also feel quiet. There are far fewer balcony cabins at the back of a ship than on the sides of a ship, so you don't hear a lot of noise from your neighbors.
The best cruise ship deck for many people is a lower deck because less movement will be felt there. However, for the best views, you should choose a higher deck. If you want to avoid taking the elevator, a mid-level deck would be best.
Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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