Marella UK's newest ship, Marella Voyager, will boast a range of new facilities and designs when she begins sailing in summer 2023.
New venues onboard include British-themed specialty restaurant Silver Fork, and art-themed bar The Arts House where passengers can play shuffleboard/do arts & crafts in the daytime, prior to watching live singers/musicians perform in the evening. Another brand new venue is The Kitchens, a theatrical food hall with 8 separate eateries that offer food ranging from salad and sandwiches to ice cream and a roast dinner.
Chris Hackney, managing director of cruise for TUI UK&I said they were delighted to present an exciting evolution of their fleet in Marella Voyager.
“She really takes things to a new level, building on our current ships’ best features, whilst adding new venues that we know our customers will be excited to try.”
During her maiden season, Marella Voyager will set sail from her homeport in Palma de Mallorca (Majorca Island, Balearic Spain) to European destinations like Barcelona (Spain) and Naples (Italy), among others. The ship will then redeploy to the Caribbean to offer a ‘Paradise Islands’ itinerary from Barbados (Bridgetown), visiting Tortola Island BVI (Road Town, UK Virgin Islands), Philipsburg St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles), Basseterre St Kitts (Port Zante), Dominica, and Antigua.
The 1997-built Mein Schiff Herz is the renamed old "Mein Schiff 2". The liner was built for Celebrity Cruises, renamed "Celebrity Mercury" in 2008, joined TUI (as "Mein Schiff 2") in 2009, and in 2019 was renamed "Schiff Herz", after the newbuild Mein Schiff 2 took the old name upon entering TUI's fleet.
In mid-October 2021, TUI announced that Schiff Herz will be transferred in 2023 to Marella Cruises UK. The last voyage for TUI was scheduled for April 6, 2023. Following a drydock, the boat will be renamed "Marella Voyager", starting operations for Marella on June 3, 2023.