Marella Discovery 2

Marella Discovery 2 is a cruise ship in Marella Cruises’ fleet and the lead vessel of Royal Caribbean’s Vision class. The ship entered service in 1995 under the name Legend of the Seas, originally operating for Royal Caribbean International. It was built as a large multi-purpose passenger vessel for international cruising, combining resort-style accommodation with dining, entertainment, recreational and fitness facilities. The ship has a gross tonnage of approximately 69,130 GT and capacity for about 2,074 passengers. The vessel’s maiden voyage took place on 16 May 1995. During its Royal Caribbean career, Legend of the Seas developed an unusually broad deployment history. It operated in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Alaska, Central America, the Caribbean, the Baltic, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. This international itinerary profile made it one of the most widely deployed ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. From the winter of 2009, the ship was based in Asia throughout the year, serving regional cruise markets on a sustained basis. The ship’s deployment was affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, after which most of its North Asian itineraries were cancelled. It later returned to European service in 2013, offering Mediterranean cruises. During the following winter season it was based at Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean operations, while its summer 2014 program included Northern European cruises to destinations in the Baltic and Norway. A major ownership and branding transition began in 2016. Royal Caribbean sold Legend of the Seas to the United Kingdom-based Thomson Cruises on 2 June 2016. Its final scheduled Royal Caribbean cruise ended on 26 March 2017, after which the ship was transferred to the new operator. Thomson introduced the vessel as TUI Discovery 2, and it first appeared under that name at Málaga, Spain, on 14 May 2017. The ship received its current name as part of the rebranding of Thomson Cruises. On 9 October 2017, TUI Group announced that Thomson Cruises would become Marella Cruises and that TUI Discovery 2 would be renamed Marella Discovery 2. The renaming ceremony took place at the port of Tenerife on 28 October 2017. Crew members selected by the company for outstanding performance participated in the ceremony alongside the captain. Marella Discovery 2 offers a traditional cruise-ship product rather than a standalone consumer-goods brand. Its facilities include a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course, two swimming pools, an atrium, theatre, fitness centre, restaurants, bars and other dining and social spaces. The ship is also associated with Marella Discovery, its sister ship in the operator’s fleet. Its identity is therefore tied to successive operator brands—Royal Caribbean International, Thomson Cruises, TUI Cruises’ UK-facing branding and Marella Cruises—while the vessel itself has retained a long-running role in international leisure cruising.

Marella Discovery 2 was launched in 1995 as Legend of the Seas, the lead ship of Royal Caribbean International’s Vision class. The ship made its maiden voyage on 16 May 1995. Designed for international leisure cruising, it combined passenger accommodation with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, swimming pools and recreational attractions. Its reported gross tonnage is 69,130 GT and its passenger capacity is approximately 2,074. During its 19-year career with Royal Caribbean, the ship operated across a notably wide range of cruise regions. It served itineraries in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Alaska, Central America, the Caribbean, the Baltic, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. From the winter of 2009, it was based in Asia year-round. That deployment was disrupted in 2011, when the Tōhoku earthquake led to the cancellation of almost all of its North Asian routes. The ship returned to Europe in 2013 for Mediterranean itineraries. In winter it operated from Fort Lauderdale on Caribbean cruises, while its summer 2014 program covered Northern Europe, including Baltic and Norwegian ports. These changes illustrate the vessel’s role as a redeployable international cruise asset rather than a ship tied permanently to one home market. On 2 June 2016, Royal Caribbean sold Legend of the Seas to Thomson Cruises, a UK-based operator. The vessel completed its final scheduled Royal Caribbean cruise on 26 March 2017 and was subsequently transferred to the new owner and operator. Thomson introduced it as TUI Discovery 2; the ship was first seen under that name in Málaga on 14 May 2017. In October 2017, TUI Group announced the rebranding of Thomson Cruises as Marella Cruises. As part of the same change, TUI Discovery 2 was renamed Marella Discovery 2. The official renaming ceremony was held at Tenerife on 28 October 2017, with the captain and selected crew members taking part. The name connected the ship with Marella Discovery, its sister ship. Under its Marella identity, the vessel remained a full-service cruise ship offering accommodation, dining, entertainment and leisure facilities. Its onboard features include a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course, two pools, an atrium, theatre, fitness centre, restaurants and bars. The ship’s history is consequently defined by three principal phases: its original Royal Caribbean operation as Legend of the Seas, its transfer and interim identity as TUI Discovery 2, and its later operation as Marella Discovery 2 within TUI Group’s Marella Cruises business.

• 2017

  Transfer from Royal Caribbean

  [1]Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org

  The ship completed its final scheduled Royal Caribbean cruise on 26 March and was transferred to Thomson Cruises.

• 2017

  Introduction as TUI Discovery 2

  [1]Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org

  The ship first appeared as TUI Discovery 2 in Málaga on 14 May.

• 2017

  Renaming as Marella Discovery 2

  [1]Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org

  Following the Thomson Cruises rebrand, the vessel adopted the Marella Discovery 2 name in a Tenerife ceremony on 28 October.

• 2016

  Sale to Thomson Cruises

  [1]Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org

  Royal Caribbean sold Legend of the Seas to Thomson Cruises on 2 June.

• 2013

  Return to Mediterranean service

  [1]Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org

  The ship returned to Europe and began offering Mediterranean cruises.

• 2011

  North Asian itinerary disruption

  [1]Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org

  Most North Asian routes were cancelled after the Tōhoku earthquake.

• 2009

  Year-round Asian deployment

  [1]Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org

  Beginning in the winter of 2009, Legend of the Seas was based in Asia throughout the year.

• 1995

  Maiden voyage

  [1]Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org

  The ship entered service as Legend of the Seas and made its maiden voyage on 16 May 1995.

A full-service, resort-style cruise ship positioned for international leisure itineraries, with a broad mix of accommodation, dining, entertainment, family recreation and fitness facilities.

• Cruise ship · 1995

  Marella Discovery 2

  A Vision-class cruise ship with approximately 69,130 GT of gross tonnage and capacity for about 2,074 passengers. Its facilities include a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course, two pools, an atrium, theatre, fitness centre, dining venues and bars. The ship supports multi-region leisure itineraries and has operated under several names and cruise operators since entering service in 1995.

• 2017

  Adoption of the Marella Discovery 2 identityStrategy

  Background

  TUI Group announced that Thomson Cruises would be renamed Marella Cruises and that TUI Discovery 2 would adopt the new fleet naming system.

  Action taken

  The ship was renamed Marella Discovery 2 at Tenerife on 28 October 2017.

  Aftermath

  The vessel became associated with Marella Cruises and was positioned alongside its sister ship, Marella Discovery.

  Source

• 2016

  Sale from Royal Caribbean to Thomson CruisesM&A

  Background

  Royal Caribbean sold Legend of the Seas to the UK-based Thomson Cruises on 2 June 2016.

  Action taken

  The ship was transferred out of Royal Caribbean’s fleet after completing its final scheduled cruise for the company in March 2017.

  Aftermath

  The vessel entered Thomson’s operation as TUI Discovery 2 before later becoming Marella Discovery 2.

  Source

1. 1Marella Discovery 2en.wikipedia.org