Ship reference
Marella Explorer
Ship specifications and sources.
Quick facts
- Cruise line
- Marella Cruises
- Class
- Century
- Entered service
- 1996
- Status
- In service
About us Marella Explorer
Marella Explorer began its original service in 1996 as Galaxy for Celebrity Cruises. Meyer Werft identifies Galaxy and Mercury as the longer members of its Century series, following the original Century. The individual construction record therefore explains a real design relationship without implying identical present-day accommodation across every ship in that family.
Later names included Celebrity Galaxy, Mein Schiff and Mein Schiff 1. TUI's retrospective annual report confirms introduction as Marella Explorer in May 2018. That transfer involved the original Mein Schiff 1, rather than the newer ship now using the same name. IMO 9106297 preserves a clear hull identity through those changes.
The present operator publishes 962 cabins and Malta registry. Current Gibraltar port data corroborate gross tonnage of 76998. Cabin choices include rooms with larger balconies, but particular fittings vary by cabin number. Check the actual layout and booked category before assuming every balcony room has the same outdoor furniture or additional beds.
Completed interior work in 2024 is documented by the outfitter Trimline. Its portfolio identifies flooring work in Latitude 53 and updates to Squid and Anchor, along with spa work. This is more recent than the ship's 2018 brand conversion. A conversion year and a later refurbishment describe different events, neither of which changes the original construction date.
Explorer is presented as a family-friendly Marella option. Current facilities include a children's club, cinema, minigolf and sports deck, alongside a spa. Public entertainment and the combination of bar, club and casino space offer different ways to spend the evening. Compare these with how much time your chosen itinerary actually leaves aboard.
The operator lists eleven restaurants and ten bars. Review which venues are included in the fare and which involve additional purchases or reservations. A port-intensive route may leave less time for optional dining than the number of venues suggests. Coordinate accommodation, embarkation arrangements and confirmed port hours before organising independent transport. The ship's Century-series origin and later changes provide context; the specific Marella sailing and room choice determine the practical experience.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Year built | 1996 |
| Entered service | 1996 |
| Gross tonnage (GT) | 76,998 |
| Guests at double occupancy | — |
| Maximum guests | — |
| Crew | — |
| Cabins | 962 |
| Decks (total) | — |
| Length (m) | — |
| Beam (m) | 32.2 |
| Last verified refurbishment year | 2024 |
| Maximum speed (knots) | — |
| IMO | 9106297 |
| Shipyard | Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany |
| Flag | Malta |
| Propulsion / fuel description | — |
| Previous names | Galaxy, Celebrity Galaxy, Mein Schiff, Mein Schiff 1 |
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 Explorer 2 | Century | 1995 | — |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marella Voyager | Century | 1997 | 77,302 |
Last checked:
Sources
- Marella — individual current facts and accommodation — Accessed
76998GT32.2m962roomsMalta;length262.5vsbuilder264/currentdatabase263.9unresolved.13decksversusoriginalbuilder12differentbasis;1924unqualifiedpassengersnotassumedDOUBLE/MAX;crewTBC.
- Meyer Werft — individual Galaxy construction and class — Accessed
Commissioned1996CenturyclassGalaxy;Mercurydelivered1997. Original77700GT948rooms2200passengersnotcurrentMarella.264lengthvs262.5currentownerunresolved.
- Meyer Werft — Papenburg construction history — Accessed
HullS638Galaxy1996thenMeinSchiff1;PapenburgGermany.
- TUI — retrospective completed2018brand entry — Accessed
ActualMay2018MarellaExplorerformerlyoriginalMeinSchiff1;notthenew2018namesake.
- Gibraltar Port — current individual2026October record — Accessed
Oct5MarellaExplorer9106297Malta76998GT;1924unqualifiednotcertifiedmaximum.
- VesselFinder — observed former-name history — Accessed
Galaxy/CelebrityGalaxy,MeinSchiff2009,MeinSchiff1Nov2010,Explorer2018sameIMO. TechnicalLOA263.9notcurrentowner262.5.
- Trimline — completed individual2024interior portfolio — Accessed
November2024Latitude53floor,SquidAnchorfloorwall,OceansSparetilingthermalareas;parallelportfolioDec2024sameyear. Noassumption2018latest.
- Saint-Gobain Marine — actual completed outfitting reference — Accessed
CompletedWeber/TrimlinefloorrefitCadiz;noindependentdatedyearonthepage,yearfromTrimline.
- Marella — explicit family positioning — Accessed
Explorerfamilyfriendly;incorrectadultsonlydescriptiononOlbiaportcardnotadopted.
- Marella — practical dining conditions — Accessed