New Marella Explorer 2 will offer features and venues designed to meet the needs of couples and groups
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Marella Explorer 2 will be the first adult-only ship in the Marella Cruises fleet when she debuts in May 2019.
Currently sailing as SkySea Golden Era for China’s SkySea Cruise Line, Marella Explorer 2 was designed as a sister ship to TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1 and will be renovated with features and venues that meet the needs and preferences of couples and groups of adults. The decision was prompted by the popularity of Marella Cruises’ adult-only sailings from Croatia and its upcoming winter 2018 Asia itineraries.
The 1,814-guest Marella Explorer 2 will offer 907 cabins – almost 40% of which will have their own balconies – and various new cabin types. These will include the 102-metres-squared Royal Suite, which has a separate bedroom, dressing room, dining area and whirlpool bath.
Other adult-friendly venues will include a Champneys Spa, which will first launch first on sister ship Marella Explorer this year, and The Veranda sunbathing area, which will be twice the size as on Marella Explorer. Dining venues and bars will be similar to those onboard Marella Explorer, including Kora La, Snack Shack, Surf and Turf, Aperitif, and Squid and Anchor.
Following her May 2019 debut, Marella Explorer 2 will sail from a new homeport Naples, Italy. Her four itineraries will include calls in European cities like Venice and Rome in Italy, and Dubrovnik in Croatia.
“We are really pleased to announce Marella Explorer 2 as an adults-only ship from next summer, sailing from our brand new home port of Naples, offering customers yet more choice and flexibility,” said Chris Hackney, managing director of Marella Cruises.
Marella Cruises has also revealed that Marella Explorer 2 – and Marella Dream and Marella Celebration – will join the rest of the fleet in offering all-inclusive cruises as standard from May 2019. This move follows a steady increase of all Inclusive upgrades across the line’s classic fleet over the past three years.
Marella Cruises will also offer 11 new itineraries and seven new ports of call in summer 2019. Highlights will include Skagen in Denmark, Castellon in Spain, Norway’s Alta and Santa Margherita in Italy.
“Our summer 2019 programme offers guests an array of exciting destinations and itineraries and all-inclusive as standard on all of our ships,” said Hackney. “We continue to look at ways to offer something different to our current customers who have come to enjoy our ships and friendly service onboard and those who may be thinking about booking a cruise for the first time. We expect our Cruise & Stay offering to continue to prove popular especially for the new to cruise market.”