Ship reference
Marella Discovery
Ship specifications and sources.
Quick facts
- Cruise line
- Marella Cruises
- Class
- Vision
- Entered service
- 1996
- Status
- In service
About us Marella Discovery
Marella Discovery began passenger service in March 1996 as Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas. The original operator's factsheet identifies construction at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. It belongs to the original Vision family. Its later arrival in the British cruise programme in June 2016, initially as TUI Discovery, is a separate stage rather than its original service date.
The current operator publishes a length of 264 metres, width of 32 metres and gross tonnage of 69130. Malta is the published registry. An individual US port-entry record connects the current name with IMO 9070632, preserving continuity through the name changes. That record's actual passenger count is not a maximum-capacity statement.
Today's accommodation inventory comprises 918 cabins. Family Suites and Family Junior Suites are among the choices highlighted for families. Compare category, bed arrangement and location together, particularly when several people share a room. The current passenger headline and a later group berth inventory differ, so an older double-occupancy number should not be assumed to describe every current configuration.
The ship is presented as a family-friendly option within the five-ship Marella fleet. Its public areas include an atrium extending through five storeys, a rock-climbing wall and minigolf. Two pools offer different settings, including one indoors. Choose activities according to the onboard timetable and applicable participation conditions rather than assuming every facility is available continuously.
An outdoor cinema and show lounge add evening alternatives. The operator publishes nine restaurants and seven bars. The choice of venue should be considered alongside the dining conditions of your booking. Specialty meals and other optional purchases can have separate charges even when the standard fare is marketed as all inclusive.
The itinerary programme links Mediterranean and Caribbean departures with seasonal crossings. Check embarkation instructions, flights and transfer arrangements for the actual sailing. Compare port hours with the time you expect to spend aboard, allowing room for any independent excursion. Discovery's earlier Royal Caribbean history explains the underlying ship; the current Marella accommodation and confirmed departure determine the holiday you are booking.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Year built | 1996 |
| Entered service | 1996 |
| Gross tonnage (GT) | 69,130 |
| Guests at double occupancy | — |
| Maximum guests | — |
| Crew | 753 |
| Cabins | 918 |
| Decks (total) | 11 |
| Length (m) | 264 |
| Beam (m) | 32 |
| Last verified refurbishment year | — |
| Maximum speed (knots) | — |
| IMO | 9070632 |
| Shipyard | Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire, France |
| Flag | Malta |
| Propulsion / fuel description | — |
| Previous names | Splendour of the Seas, TUI Discovery |
A dash means no independently verified value is available. Guest counts at double occupancy and maximum capacity are different measures. GT measures enclosed volume, not weight.
Other ships in the same recorded class
Shared class does not guarantee identical cabins, venues or deck layouts.
| Marella Discovery 2 | Vision | 1995 | 69,472 |
|---|
Last checked:
Sources
- Marella — current individual facts and facilities — Accessed
69130GT264m32m753crew11decks918roomsMalta;1830unqualifiedpassengers versus FY25factbook1836berths unresolved.24knunqualifiedspeed notmaximum.
- Royal Caribbean — original individual fast facts — Accessed
Operatorissued historicalsheet:31March1996maiden;ChantiersStNazaireFrance;11TOTALvs10GUESTdecks. Historical915rooms761crew1830DOUBLE2074TOTAL not assumed current afterconversion.
- Royal Caribbean — original built and service table — Accessed
Splendourbuilt1996enteredbrand1996(originaloperator);notFY25factbook1995earlyconstruction.
- Royal Caribbean — original six-ship Vision family — Accessed
SixVisionclassshipsdelivered1995–1998;individual fleettable identifiesLegendSplendourGrandeurRhapsodyEnchantmentVision inthat deliveryrange.
- TUI — actual retrospective British programme introduction — Accessed
ActualJune2016TUIDiscoveryformerlySplendour;notoriginalbuild.
- TUI — original explicitly labelled acquisition capacity — Accessed
2015original1830DOUBLE;notautomaticallycurrent afterroomschanged915to918andlatergroup1836berths.
- US Customs and Border Protection — actual April2025individual portentry — Accessed
April9CharlotteAmalieMarellaDiscovery9070632MT;actual1861passengers747crew notcertifiedmaxorstandardcrewcomplement.
- Marella — present five-ship offer — Accessed
Discoveryfamilyfriendly;notDiscovery2futureadultsonlyprogramme.
- Marella — current practical dining and account guide — Accessed
Optionalrestaurantsandextrascharged separately;actual confirmedbooking conditionsgovern.
- TUI — FY25 fleet berth inventory — Accessed
Discovery1836berthsvscurrent1830headline;1995constructionnot1996completion. Noassertionofcurrentexactdoublebasis.