tui caribbean cruise reviews

• Middle East
• TRAVEL GEAR

Our TUI Discovery Caribbean Cruise Review for 14 nights

Having been on only one cruise in the past we decided we wanted to do one with multiple islands and as little as possible sea days as we like to get off and explore. We decided on Thomson Discovery as they offered 12 islands and 1 sea day, perfect for us.

We booked on to the seven shores followed by paradise islands cruise and got a free all inclusive drinks package. The cruise was a back to back cruise consisting of 12 eastern Caribbean islands starting from Bridgetown Barbados.

Flying with TUI to the Caribbean

We were told we would be flying on the Thomson Dreamliner only to find out when we boarded it was the Boeing 767 which was disappointing as we were looking forward to flying on the Dreamliner.

Paul and I are terrible flyers we are just petrified! My fear of flying started when I was a child and I’ve never really got over it. I don’t let it stop me flying and actually prefer long haul flights which makes no sense at all I know!!

Paul was a great flyer until he met me and I’ve put the fear in him sadly. We don’t want Brody to be like us and I supposed that’s why we were determined to travel as much as we could with him when he was young so it is a normal thing for him. It seems to be working he loves flying, which is great as the The flight took approx 9 hours from Manchester.

When we landed Brody shouted ” yeah we made it let’s go back up again” clapping so enthusiastically, the whole plane burst out laughing. We are so very lucky he loves flying and keeps us both distracted from our fear of flying.

The route over the Atlantic is know for turbulence and to be honest we have never not had a bumpy ride so I did expect it. We had an amazing day time flight over but the flight home was another story!! 8 hours of severe turbulence! My nerves were shot to pieces, It was awful! I was so thankful that Brody slept the whole way home, not a peep!

The staff were amazing and asked someone if they wouldn’t mind moving so we could have an extra seat for him to lie down which is just such a huge help when you have a little one on a flight, I’m sure most parents will agree! Paul wasn’t well at all and the staff couldn’t do enough for him on the flight, they even got authorization from the captain to open a doctor’s kit to get ambasol out for him. We couldn’t the praise the staff enough.

TUI Discovery Ship

We disembarked the plane in Bridgetown Barbados, went straight to a bus and off we went to the ship, all so organised which was amazing after a 9 hour flight. Embarkation was quick and efficient then we went straight to our cabin.

We booked an outside cabin as I really don’t like the idea of not having a window in a room and didn’t like the idea of a balcony with a 3 year old, I know I’m a worrier but I doubt I’d have slept a wink knowing their was a balcony!!! The cabin was spacious and the window was huge much to Brody’s amusement.

We had only every been on one cruise before and that was a 4 day Bahamas cruise on the outstanding Disney Magic. I had it in my head when we booked the Thomson cruise that there was no way it could live up to Disney, just no way at all! Well I was quite presently surprised!!!

We took a walk around the ship and it was absolutely beautiful. The Thomson Discovery had previously been the Royal Carribbean’s Splendor of the seas and has undergone a huge renovation before becoming Thomson discovery.

Food on board

We were on an all inclusive basis and did not make use of the extra cost restaurants ( Kora la, surf and turf steak house and sushi bar) we instead ate mainly at the buffet restaurant “Islands” mostly because its so convenient with kids.

After a long day out sight seeing its so much easier and quicker to eat at the buffet. Brody is not a child to make a fuss but for some reason on this trip he got quite fed up at dinner time so “ Islands’ was a great option for great food quickly!! Perfect for families.

We also ate at 47degrees, which Is the main service eatery. The food here was delicious to say the least. Brody’s favourite place to eat was definitely the “shake shack” a fast food outlet styled colorfully with British style beach huts.

I myself cannot eat wheat so I find eating on holiday can be quite difficult. Unlike the vast majority of people I end up loosing weight on holiday!! However I didn’t find it difficult on this trip as Thomas cater well for allergies and intolerances, which made my life so much easier.

TUI Discovery for kids

I can’t comment on the kids club as I’m not one for leaving my son in kids clubs, I’m a worrier and much prefers him to be with us. We did however go to see the kids clubs that cater for 3-11 year olds and they looked great. The staff were all very attentive with Brody and he loved getting his chocolates on his pillow every night along with a towel animal.

Excursions and best things to do on TUI Discovery

Click the button below to read the full list of tours, prices and things to do in all of the destinations!

Tinkers Tips

If you prefer seeing lots of places and spending most of your days on land Thomson is the ship for you. They tend to visit a lot of places and have fewer sea days then other cruise companies. If you prefer sea days this is not the cruise for you.

Eat earlier with children to avoid the glares from fellow passengers, especially when the restaurants are crowded. This happened a few times with us so we switched to eating earlier when other kids were around. With Thomson there is no set dining, you can eat when you like which we loved.

Be prepared, the ports that Thomson use aren’t all in the main cruise ports. We docked at many freight ship container docks, which thought was a little strange but we had already booked our excursions so it wasn’t a big deal for us.

Make sure you book all excursions BEFORE you cruise. We have another post with all our excursion operators.

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• Marella Cruises

Marella Discovery

Former names: tui discovery, splendour of the seas.

Cruise line Marella Cruises

• Bridgetown (Barbados)
• Marmaris (Turkey)
• Palma de Mallorca (Majorca Island Balearic Spain)

Marella Discovery current position

Marella Discovery current location is at Aegean Sea (coordinates 35.34643 N / 25.14879 E) cruising en route to GRHER. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Marella Discovery

Marella Discovery current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Ancient Icons . Prices start from USD 1270 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 24 Jun, 2024 and ends on 01 Jul, 2024 .

Specifications of Marella Discovery

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Marella Discovery Itineraries

Marella discovery review, review of marella discovery.

The 1996-built (as "Splendour of the Seas") Marella Discovery 1 cruise ship (fka "TUI Discovery") is one of the Vision-class Royal Caribbean liners - with sisterships Vision OTS , Grandeur OTS , Enchantment OTS , Legend OTS (now Marella Discovery 2) and Rhapsody OTS . The vessel is fully-owned by TUI and chartered via the parent company TUI Cruises . Its operations for Marella Cruises (fka "Thomson Cruises", TUI's subsidiary company) started in June 2016, replacing Island Escape (now Ocean Gala) in the Mediterranean.

The vessel (IMO number 9070632) is currently Malta- flagged (MMSI 249639000) and registered in Valletta . With Royal Caribbean, Splendour of the Seas was Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311804000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises UK) is a British passenger shipping company and trademarked travel brand owned by TUI Group. The company entered the cruise market in 1973 via Thomson Holidays (now TUI UK), but due to rising fuel costs, this service was terminated in 1976. Thomson Cruises restarted passenger shipping operations in 1995. The Thomson brand was renamed to "Marella Cruises" in 2018. Marella's parent company (TUI Group) owns hotels, the sister-companies TUI Cruises, Marella Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the travel brands International Expeditions and Zegrahm Expeditions, also aircraft and the airlines Corsair International (France), TUI Airways (UK), TUI fly Nordic (Sweden), TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Deutschland, TUI fly the Netherlands.

The 2000-passenger ship Marella Discovery as "Splendour of the Seas" was one of RCI-Royal Caribbean's older boats. The first RCI vessels to offer balconies in a number of categories, the Vision-class ships feature acres of glass skylights allowing sunlight to flood in. A comprehensive refit in April 2016 will see Discovery transformed with a new design. Her exterior will feature a dynamic wave design to accentuate her sleek hull.

On April 13, 2016, Thomson Cruises announced that its newest fleet member will be named "TUI Discovery" (initially announced was the name "Thomson Discovery"). The "TUI Discovery" name was part of the company's re-branding and transfer from Thomson to TUI over the next 18 months and part of the strategy to introduce the TUI brand to UK clients. Marella Discovery is the first of Marella Cruises fleet to boast an all-inclusive drinks package as standard, and giving cruisers a wider choice of entertainment and dining included in the price of their vacation.

MS Marella Discovery also saw the introduction of new technology to personalize and modernize the onboard vacation experience. Passengers are now able to summon favorite tipples at the touch of a button from the sun loungers on adults-only deck "The Veranda", as well as to make entertainment-dinner-spa reservations at self-service kiosks, browse and buy photos made by professionals during the voyage. A hi-tech shore excursion shop showcases what to see in the destinations the ship visits.

Decks and Cabins

Marella Discovery staterooms (915 total) include nearly 40% of cabins with private step-out balconies. cabins are sized 150-190 ft2 (14-18 m2). There are a total of 15 cabin categories. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 17. The largest is the Royal Suite (990 ft2 / 92 m2 plus 140 ft2 / 13 m2 terrace).

The boat has 11 decks , of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Inside Marella Discovery there are a total of 8 dining venues including two brand new signature restaurants - "Gallery 47 degree" and "Snack Shack". Themed around British beach huts, the pool deck located Snack Shack is a festival-style eatery. It serves nachos and quesadillas during the day, popcorn and cocoa on film nights. Gallery 47-degree is located in the upstairs of MDR (main dining room) and serves contemporary Italian food.

Follows the complete list of Marella Discovery restaurants and food bars.

• Main Restaurant (Main Dining Room, complimentary, open-seating; offers buffet-style Breakfast 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. and Lunch 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. and waiter-served, multi-course Dinner 6:15 - 10:00 p.m.; once per week hosts the formal dress-code events Captain's Gala Dinner and Captain's Gala Reception, both with fixed dining times)
• Chef's Table (specialty, reservations-only, part of the MDR; opens at 7:00 p.m., with a 5-course gourmet dinner; guests can watch the chef preparing food in front of them)
• Gallery 47 (the signature restaurant inside the Main Restaurant; serves contemporary Italian specialties)
• Lido Restaurant (550-seat Lido buffet, open for Breakfast 7:00 -10:00 a.m., Lunch 12:00 - 3:00 p.m., Afternoon Tea 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Dinner 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. and Late Night Snacks 9:30 - 12:00 p.m.; complimentary, with various food stations)
• Snack Bar (Snack Shack; complimentary deli restaurant; serves the outdoor pool deck area)
• A La Carte Restaurant (alternative dining venue; features International cuisine; part of the Sky Lounge; cover charges apply).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Marella Discovery is currently the largest in Marella's fleet. The ship features multiple dining options (7 restaurants, 8 bars), a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course, casino, and indoor pool. The Broadway Show Lounge has an 800-plus capacity and plush seating. The Outdoor Movie Screen is a debut for Marella Cruises. It's an open-air cinema for movies under the stars.

Follows the complete list of Marella Discovery lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Broadway Show Lounge (802-seat, features grand production shows with dance, acrobatics, comedy, and games)
• Cocktail & Piano Bar (104-seat)
• Lounge (338-seat live show entertainment venue; during the day hosts bingo sessions, karaoke events, dance parties, art auctions, game shows)
• Broad Street Shops (duty-free shopping arcade with boutiques selling watches, fine jewelry, Marella Cruises logo merchandise, luxury perfumes, fashion clothes, liquor, tobaccos, convenience goods); Boutique (luxury Spa cosmetics, beauty products)
• Photo Gallery & Shop
• Library with Internet access
• Atrium (5-deck high social hub; served by the Atrium Bar)
• The Coffee Port (12-seat bar for specialty coffees and teas served with complimentary desserts)
• Casino (240-seat; served by its own Bar)
• Main Pool area (kids pool, 4 whirlpools, sunbathing area; served by an alfresco Pool Bar)
• Outdoor Movie Screen (outdoor cinema with a large LED screen for live shows, sporting events, movie projections)
• Observatory Deck (indoor observation lounge with 270-degree panoramic views)
• Sky Lounge & Bar (top-deck observation lounge area served by the Sky Bar)
• Marella Kids' Club (play area, complimentary; offers supervised age-appropriate activities for kids 3-11 yo); Video Games Arcade
• Solarium (adults-only relaxation area with a swimming pool, two Whirlpools, tennis tables; covered with a glass roof)
• Oceans Spa & Gym (Wellness Centre: Treatment Rooms, Sauna, Steam Room, Beauty Salon, Relaxation Area; The Gym is Marella Cruises fleet's largest and has a separate Aerobic Studio)
• Cafe (serves the Spa complex; offers fresh juices and healthy food menu)
• Sports Deck (outdoor area with tennis tables); Jogging Track; Greens (9-hole Mini-Golf Course); Rock Climbing Wall.

Following drydock 2021 refurbishment, the cruise ship now has "The Glass House" - a redesigned (beach club-style) pool deck (aft on Deck 9 ) with an indoor swimming pool and an a-la-carte-priced restaurant. By this refurbishment project, the entire Sundeck was revamped and redesigned by adding new cabana-style day beds, premium garden furniture (sun loungers, 4-seat dining tables, sofas, deckchairs). The swimming pool's tiles were changed, as well as the wall coverings, all the outdoor deck flooring, new lighting was installed (with different mood lights in the evenings). The Glass House also offers a-la-carte dining with two menus - deli-style food (during the day) and tapas-style menu when in the evenings transforms into a casual restaurant.

The Glass House Restaurant features a glass ceiling ensuring plenty of natural light at the all-day eatery, open for breakfast (7-10.30 am) serving a Continental buffet and juices. Sandwiches and salads are on offer for most of the day (11 am - 6 pm). The free option for dinner (6:30-9:30 pm) includes a choice of sharing platter, a selection of Spanish-style tapas, as well as a pizza with a variety of toppings.

Since November 2022, Marella UK (via partnership with OneSpaWorld Holdings/health and wellness company) provides ocean-inspired wellness products and services on all its ships. The range of OneSpaWorld's services includes Ocean Body Treatments (massages and polishes), Ocean Facial, Ocean Salon Services. On Marella ships, OneSpaWorld uses premium beauty brands like Elemis, L'Oreal, Kerastase. The brands owned by OneSpaWorld include Mandara Spa, Bliss Spa, Chavana Spa, Glow Spa.

Itineraries

Marella Discovery itinerary program started in June 2016 with the Inaugural Cruise from Palma de Mallorca . In 2017, the liner had scheduled Mediterranean 7-day itineraries from Palma, followed by a winter season in the Caribbean with roundtrips from homeport Bridgetown Barbados .

In May 2018, Marella Discovery started roundtrips from a UK homeport - Newcastle (Port of Tyne) . The itinerary program included Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia and Russia, Iceland and visits to some of the largest Baltic port cities - Stockholm , Tallinn , Sankt Petersburg , Oslo , Helsinki , Rostock . In September 2018, Marella Discovery was homeported in Southampton England for 4x roundtrip itineraries (themed "Baltic Treasures", "European Experience", "Fantastic Fjords", "Seeking the Northern Lights").

Following the Coronavirus crisis, Marella Discovery restarted voyages in September 2021 with roundtrips from Corfu Island (Port Kerkyra, Greece) . Program 2021 included 3x 7-day itineraries:

• "Iconic Islands" (Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Chania Crete, Katakolon-Olympia)
• "Aegean Discovery" (Chania Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Piraeus-Athens, Katakolon-Olympia)
• "Aegean Shores" (Heraklion, Santorini, Rhodes, Piraeus-Athens, Zakinthos)

Followed the Caribbean 2021-2022 season with homeporting in Bridgetown Barbados .

In 2021, the liner had to be homeported in Florida USA ( Port Canaveral/Orlando City ) offering 4 new Caribbean itineraries with 11 different call ports and 26 departures (May 2nd through October 24th/2021). The ex-Florida roundtrips were 7-day and 14-day/B2Bs. However, this program was canceled and rescheduled for 2023 (May 7th through Oct 22nd).

Marella Discovery 1's Caribbean program with homeporting in Port Canaveral (Terminal 5) was based on 4 itineraries and 11x different call ports.

• "American Dream" and "Big Apple Adventure" itineraries are with an overnight in NYC.
• The "Sunshine States and Sands" itinerary visits Miami, Grand Turk Island, Amber Cove Dominicana, Key West FL.
• The "Floridian Favorites" itinerary (7- and 14-night roundtrips) features an overnight in Tampa and visits Nassau.

These Caribbean itineraries were also offered with extensions/cruise-and-hotel packages in Orlando City.

In 2023, Marella Discovery completed 28 Caribbean sailings and served a total of 85,533 passengers (embarking or disembarking). Most itineraries were 7 nights.

Marella Discovery - user reviews and comments

Photos of marella discovery.

Marella Discovery ship related cruise news

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Other Marella Cruises cruise ships

• Marella Discovery 2
• Marella Explorer
• Marella Explorer 2
• Marella Voyager

Marella Discovery Wiki

The ship's powerplant is based on Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 12V46) with combined power output 57,5 MW (77110 hp).

The vessel has Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard/hull number 103348, volume 69472 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 5200 tons, max draught 8,1 m.

Marella Discovery cruise ship (fka "Splendour of the Seas" and "TUI Discovery") was acquired by Marella in March 2015. The next month, the company revealed the name of its latest fleet addition - "Thomson Discovery". However, in mid-April 2016, the parent company TUI Cruises decided to change the vessel's name to "TUI Discovery". The reason for the change was introducing the TUI brand to the UK market.

Discovery 1 joined Marella's fleet on June 9, 2016. The ship is the line's biggest ever (with 915 staterooms, 40% of which with private balconies). Other best features are the multiple dining options, mini-golf course, casino, indoor swimming pool. The Broadway Show Lounge has 800+ capacity. The transformed Splendour OTS is also Marella's first liner with Outdoor Movie Screen and Rock-Climbing Wall, and the line's first ship to be operated with an all-inclusive drink package included as a standard amenity.

Following the GBP 10 million drydock refurbishment at Navantia shipyard ( Cadiz Spain ), Marella Discovery's christening ceremony was held on June 9, 2016, in Palma (Majorca Island, Spain) . The naming ceremony was attended by 600+ suppliers, travel agents, and news media representatives. Twin godmothers for the event were two crew members - bar waitress (Philippines) and head waiter (east India). There was an after-party held on the ship's top deck, with traditional music and dances from the countries part of the Marella UK's cruise itineraries - Caribbean, Greece, France, Italy, Middle East, Spain. The naming ceremony was headed by the UK singer Jess Glynne, who also performed with the ship's own music band in a 30 min open deck show.

The Apollo Group company was contracted for providing both Marella Discovery ships with the entire onboard hotel product and services. This includes administration, food staff (preparation and serving), housekeeping staff, also the vessel's provisioning and crewing. Apollo also assisted in the refit and refurbishment of the former Legend of the Seas (done in Singapore ). For Marella Cruises, Apollo Group is also managing the ships Marella Celebration and Marella Dream. Other luxury cruise lines served by Apollo are Oceania (6 ships fleet) and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas (4 ships fleet).

Ex-Florida USA itineraries 2023

In 2021, Marella UK planned to deploy the Discovery ship in the Caribbean with homeporting in Florida USA ( Port Canaveral/Orlando City ). The program was based on 4 new itineraries (11 different call ports) and a total of 26 departures (May 2 through October 24, 2021). The ex-Florida roundtrips were 7-day and 14-day/B2Bs. However, this program was canceled and rescheduled for 2023 (May 7 thru Oct 22).

Marella Discovery 1's Caribbean 2023 program from Port Canaveral (Terminal 5) included 4 different itineraries - "American Dream" and "Big Apple Adventure" (NYC/overnight), "Sunshine States and Sands" (visits Miami and Key West) and "Floridian Favorites" (7- and 14-night roundtrips visiting Fort Lauderdale and Tampa/overnight).

Next tables show the itineraries' call ports and times.

7-day "Sunshine State And Sands" itinerary

7-day "American Dream" itinerary

7-day "Floridian Favourites" " itinerary

14-day "East Coast Adventure" itinerary (Canada and New England USA)

Marella's ex-Florida voyages also can be extended with cruise-and-hotel packages in Orlando City.

Followed the 2023-2024 winter season based on 7-day Caribbean roundtrips from Bridgetown Barbados .

Marella Discovery refurbishments review

For drydock 2022 (November, at Navantia Shipyard) was contracted MJM Marine Ltd (part of MJM Group/Northern Ireland) for extensive outfitting of all passenger staterooms. The refurbishment project also included new cabin bathrooms and UV-free Antimicrobial Light technology (by Vyv Tech, NY USA) installed in all wet units by a team from LightPartner Lichtsysteme GmbH (Bremen, Germany)

Following drydock 2021 refurbishment, the ship now has "The Glass House" - a redesigned (beach club-style) pool deck (aft on Deck 9 ) with an indoor swimming pool and an a-la-carte-priced restaurant.

By refurb project 2021, the entire Sundeck was revamped and redesigned by adding new cabana-style day beds, premium garden furniture (sun loungers, 4-seat dining tables, sofas, deckchairs). The swimming pool's tiles were changed, as well as the wall coverings, all the outdoor deck flooring, new lighting was installed (with different mood lights in the evenings).

The Glass House also offers a-la-carte dining with two menus - deli-style food (during the day) and tapas-style menu when in the evenings transforms into a casual restaurant.

Itineraries 2016

In 2016, Marella Discovery offered 7-day Western Mediterranean roundtrips from Spain ( Palma De Mallorca ). Prices started from USD 740 per person.

Follows the list of itineraries (ports of call) out of Palma:

• Itinerary 1 (French Riviera cruises) 7-night to Corsica (Ajaccio), Rome (Civitavecchia port), Livorno (port to Florence/Pisa), France (St Raphael) and Barcelona.
• Itinerary 2 ("Cosmopolitan Classics") 7-night to Sicily (Messina), Naples, La Spezia, France (Villefranche port/ to Nice) and Spain (Palamos).
• Itinerary 2 ("Cosmopolitan Classics") 7-night to Sicily (Messina), Naples, La Spezia, France (Villefranche port/ to Nice) and Spain (Barcelona).
• Itinerary 3 ("Magic of Spain") 7-night to Spain (Cadiz /port to Seville), Portugal (Lisbon), UK (Gibraltar), Spain (Malaga, and Cartagena).
• Itinerary 3 ("Magic of Spain") 7-night to UK (Gibraltar), Portugal (Lisbon) and Spain (Cadiz/Seville, Malaga, and Cartagena).

Winter 2016-2017 Caribbean itineraries (7-night roundtrips from Barbados) visit ports in Martinique (Fort de France), Dominica (Roseau), Guadeloupe (Pointe a Pitre), St Lucia (Castries), St Vincent (Kingstown) and Grenada (St George). This itinerary is without any days at sea.

In 2018, Marella Cruises for the first time ever homeported ship in the UK. That was Marella Discovery in Newcastle UK (from May 2018). The ship operated on Iceland and Baltic Sea cruises (to Scandinavia, Russia, Norwegian Fjords) visiting major port cities, including Stockholm , Tallinn , Reykjavik , St Petersburg . In September 2018, the ship was repositioned to Southampton England for 4 itineraries themed "Baltic Treasures", "European Experience" (Germany, Belgium, France, Amsterdam overnight), "Fantastic Fjords" (Norway) and "Northern Lights".

Splendour Of The Seas ship

Follows the table with information regarding the previously named "Splendour Of The Seas" vessel.

• Passenger decks: 10
• Cabin grades number: 26
• Total number of cabins: 902 (of which 87 Suites, 144 Balcony rooms)
• Dining Rooms: King & I
• Restaurants and food bars: Windjammer (buffet), Park Cafe (deli), Chops Grille (steakhouse), Izumi (Asian), Dog House
• Lounges & Bars: Top Hat, Viking Crown (nightclub), Concierge, Diamond, Optix (teen), Adventure Ocean (kids), Schooner, R Bar, Cafe Latte-tudes, Ben & Jerry's, poolside bars
• Amenities: Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Adventure Ocean (Youth program), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.
• Vitality at Sea Spa, 6 jacuzzis, 3 pools, Rock-climbing Wall, Nursery
• Splendour was built in 1996 by the French shipbuilding company Chantiers de l'Atlantique (now part of STX France). The ship's godmother is Lise Wilhelmsen, the wife of Arne Wilhelmsen (yet another member of the Board of Royal Caribbean). Maiden Voyage began on the 31st of March, 1996.

RCI scheduled Splendour OTS drydock refurbishment for November 2013 (for the first time) to restructure this vessel effectively and quickly. Most of the public spaces were stripped down to steel and renovated, on many places new venues reappeared. One of the fun facts is that the renovation also resulted in 450 garbage containers full of the old Splendour's "not fun anymore" stuff. The Atrium was majorly changed, also every passenger room was completely renovated, including their bathrooms. New 124 balcony cabins were installed as well.

The 2013 refit was done in Cadiz, Spain. On Splendour OTS' latest transformation Royal Caribbean used 800 of the boat's own crew, plus 200 crew from other RCI ships. It was all done with the help of nearly 800 contractor firms, plus 200 of the Cadiz shipyard's workers.

One of the latest "gadget perks" found on Splendour OTS is the iPad in each cabin. Guests can order snacks from the room service menu to their rooms even at night, also to check their bills, make restaurant reservations, or just surf the Internet. Splendour features the RCI's signature rock-climbing and ice-skating activities, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a family pool deck, digital "Wayfinder" signage.

Splendour Of The Seas Itineraries 2016

Splendour OTS left the RCI fleet in April 2016. The last Royal Caribbean cruise was on April 4th - a 16-day Suez Canal transition from Dubai to Venice .

Follows the list of the vessel's last RCI itineraries (a roundtrip out of Dubai and the relocation to Europe) with indicative prices PP.

6-day roundtrip to Asia/Africa/M.E. from Dubai - Mon Mar 28 06:00pm (Dubai, departing), Tue Mar 29 08:00am to 05:00pm (Khasab), Wed Mar 30 09:00am to Thu Mar 31 06:00pm (Muscat), Fri Apr 01 (At Sea), Sat Apr 02 08:00am to 06:00pm (Abu Dhabi), Sun Apr 03 08:00am (Dubai, arrive) - prices started from Inside $780, Outside $940, Balcony $1570, Suite $2370.

16-day one-way to Asia/Africa/M.E. from Dubai - Mon Apr 04 06:00pm (Dubai, departing), Tue Apr 05 to Wed Apr 06 (At Sea), Thu Apr 07 08:00am to 08:00pm (Salalah), Fri Apr 08 to Mon Apr 11 (At Sea), Tue Apr 12 01:00am to 03:00pm (Transit the Suez Canal), Tue Apr 12 05:00pm to 09:00pm (Port Said), Wed Apr 13 08:00am to 08:00pm (Ashdod), Thu Apr 14 08:00am to 05:00pm (Haifa), Fri Apr 15 (At Sea), Sat Apr 16 08:00am to 06:00pm (Thira/Santorini), Sun Apr 17 06:00am to 08:00pm (Athens/Piraeus), Mon Apr 18 to Tue Apr 19 (At Sea), Wed Apr 20 06:15am (Venice, arrive) - prices started from Inside $960, Outside $1250, Balcony $2160.

These were the ship's last cruises in 2016 for the RCI-Royal Caribbean company.

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The Best Caribbean Cruises 2023—With Stops at Rugged Volcanic Islands, Tropical Forests, and Serene Beaches

By Scott Laird

Caribbean cruises have long been a favorite with travelers for their picture-postcard attributes. White sand beaches front turquoise waters. But these tropical itineraries have something for every type of traveler. Activities abound—perhaps it’s shopping on one island, hiking through nature reserves and snorkeling among coral reefs on another, or having a beach day on a cruise company’s private retreat. Many Caribbean itineraries skew toward tried-and-true standards, but a number of cruise lines will have a handful of unique sailings put together for particular tastes or the seasoned cruiser who has already tried them all.

Some of these sailings visit offbeat destinations like volcanic Montserrat, while others take a non-traditional southern track from Panama along the northern coast of South America. Others visit sleepier, less-frequented destinations like St. Croix, St. Barts, and Mayreau, in addition to stopping at banner spots like St. Lucia and Aruba for dramatic vistas and spectacular beaches.

Here are some of the best Caribbean cruises to book for 2023.

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Seven Seas Splendor ventures to some of the Caribbean's most iconic isles.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Itinerary: Sunny Beaches & Emerald Forests

Departure: March 11, 2023

Experience: This 10-night sailing from Miami embarks on Regent Seven Seas' newest ship, Seven Seas Splendor , for a leisurely sail through the Caribbean’s windward isles. Hike to waterfalls in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, explore Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest, or relax on a sailboat excursion off minute St. Barts , which Splendor is right-sized to visit. Take an aerial tram through the rainforest canopy on St. Lucia or snorkel Champagne Reef on Dominica, watching bubbles and warmth rise from geothermal activity beneath the ocean floor. Excursions are included in the cruise fare with Regent—as are beverages, gratuities, transfers, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and laundry service.

Itinerary: Panama, Colombia, & Caribbean Islands

Departure: March 9 and 17, 2023

Experience: Voyage from the gates of the Panama Canal to the French West Indies, with a wealth of diversity in between. Experience Afro-Caribbean heritage in Portobelo, Panama, and Indigenous Kuna fishing communities in the San Blas Islands. Next, it’s on to Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, and then the coral reefs of Bonaire for diving. The spices of Grenada and St. Lucia’s volcanic pitons round out the itinerary before the intimately appointed ship Le Bellot (with fewer than 92 staterooms and suites) anchors in the turquoise waters of Fort-de-France for a fond farewell.

Celebrity Beyond 's Luminae Restaurant

Celebrity Cruises

Itinerary: Southern Caribbean

Departure: December 11, 2023

Experience: Offering a little of everything, this 11-night roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale includes calls at cobblestoned Cartagena, Colombia, the white-sand beaches of Aruba, and the famous colonial houses and swinging drawbridge of Curaçao. As an added bonus, Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica, also appear as ports to help break up the long journey south from Florida. The sailing takes place onboard the brand-new Celebrity Beyond , packed full of original art, Infinite Veranda staterooms—so-named for the floor-to-ceiling windows that open into a private balcony at the push of a button—and ocean-going gastronomy at Le Voyage, Chef Daniel Boulud’s first signature restaurant at sea.

Windstar Cruises

Itinerary: Windward Ways & Tobago Cays

Departure: January, February, November, and December 2023

Experience: Almost purpose-designed for cruisers who prefer their shore excursions to be on or in the water, this seven-day sailing onboard Windstar's Star Legend starts in the Dutch islands, offering up serene Aruba’s white-sand beaches and tranquil Bonaire’s 50 species of coral. “Isle of Spice” Grenada is next (nutmeg ice cream is a must-try), followed by spectacular vistas of the Grand Pitons on “seven times French; seven times British” St. Lucia. Mayreau is the smallest of the Grenadines—here cruisers can enter the water directly from Star Legend’s water-sports platform, then wind up the day with a private beach barbecue.

Valiant Lady will operate Caribbean cruises in spring and winter 2023.

Virgin Voyages

Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean Antilles

By Arati Menon

By Audrey Phoon

By Steph Koyfman

By Madison Flager

Departure: January, February, March, November, and December 2023

Experience: St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands is a less-trafficked port of call known as the “Garden of the Antilles” and Valiant Lady drops in during her Eastern Caribbean sailings, in addition to San Juan , Puerto Plata, and a day at Virgin’s lounge-y Beach Club at Bimini private island. Onboard, Wi-Fi and “essential” non-alcoholic drinks and gratuities are included on the adults-only ship, which touts over 20 eateries and a number of inventive ways to find a glass of champagne.

Holland America Line

Itinerary: 11 Day Panama Canal Sunfarer

Departure: March 14, 2023

Experience: Part Caribbean surf, part jungle excursion, this 11-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale onboard Eurodam calls first at Aruba and Curaçao for a taste of Holland America Line’s namesake Dutch culture before skirting the coast of South America for several days of scenic cruising the Panama Canal and Gatun Lake, taking in the maximum biodiversity (over 500 species of birds) of the Canal Zone, juxtaposed with the engineering wonders of the lock system.

A Signature Suite on board Evrima

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Itinerary: Bridgetown Roundtrip 7 Nights

Departure: March 19 and November 19, 2023

Experience: Ritz-Carlton has drawn on their vaunted properties to design everything from onboard dining to shore excursions on board the all-suite Evrima . Guests can visit Grenada’s Tower Estate to sample their famous blue tea, made from estate-grown butterfly peaflower, with cucumber sandwiches, cupcakes, and fresh fruit picked onsite. On Bequia, in the Grenadines, it might be a windjammer excursion to nearby Mustique for a seaside lunch, or a private car and driver arranged at one of the ports.

Silversea Cruises

Itinerary: 9 Day Bridgetown to San Juan

Departure: February 18, 2023

Experience: When not luxuriating onboard Silversea’s newest ship, the all-suite Silver Dawn , passengers might explore this itinerary’s most unique destination: Montserrat. Once a favored haunt of the jet-set, volcanic activity that earned it the nickname “The Pompeii of the Caribbean” has kept tourism development low-key, and visitors few, but cruisers on this itinerary will discover an Emerald Isle reminiscent of Ireland, and some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful, secluded beaches. Unspoiled Deshaies, on Guadeloupe, is another under-the-radar call for this spectacular ship boasting butler service in every suite and a guest-to-crew ratio of nearly one-to-one.

A suite onboard Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Cruise Line

Itinerary: Caribbean: Harvest Caye, Cozumel, & Roatan from Galeveston

Departure: December 15, 22, and 29, 2023

Experience: In December 2023, the new Norwegian Prima begins sailing the Riviera Maya from Galveston, also including port calls at resort-like Harvest Caye in Belize , where guests can rent private cabanas, and Roatan, in Honduras’s Bay Islands, home to a large Gumbalimba eco-preserve and animal sanctuary. Onboard, Norwegian has enhanced The Haven, the VIP suite area on this ship, with some the largest suite accommodations in the fleet, and all public areas in the suite enclave now have ocean views.

Princess Cruises

Itinerary: 5 Day Caribbean Getaway with Grand Turk

Departure: October 31, 2023

Experience: Not all Caribbean cruises need to be a week or two in duration. Princess Cruises offers a Halloween weekend getaway onboard Caribbean Princess that’s just five nights in duration, with two unbeatable ports—Grand Turk, and Princess Cays, the line’s private island in the Bahamas. A highlight of this seasonal sailing can be sitting in the ship’s piazza, watching festive passengers promenade their inventive costumes for spooky onboard revelry—a Princess tradition dating back to the days of the original “Love Boat” series.

Booking tips for Caribbean cruises

What are the best months to take a caribbean cruise.

Although some cruise lines operate in the Caribbean year-round, the widest selection of sailing dates and itineraries can be found between November and March.

What part of the Caribbean is best for a cruise?

The best Caribbean cruise is a matter of personal taste. Many cruises focus on a region, like the Southern, Eastern, or Western Caribbean, and itineraries, regardless of destination, often feature stops at cruise line operated private islands in the Bahamas.

What are the cheapest months to cruise in the Caribbean?

Generally, the beginning and end of the November-to-March season can be affordable—any time when North American schools are widely in session are also good times to cruise for lower fares.

Do you need a passport to go to on a Caribbean cruise?

Check with the cruise line before booking. U.S. citizens traveling on cruises calling at most Caribbean countries can do so with both an enhanced state ID and an original birth certificate in lieu of a passport, but a passport is by far the easiest form of identification (and most strongly recommended by both the U.S. State Department and most cruise lines) for U.S. citizens outside the country. It’s also important to note that documentation requirements can change, and passengers are ultimately responsible for having the required documents at embarkation or they may be denied boarding.

• Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

Marella Discovery Excursions - are they value for money?

By Stuarthoy , March 20, 2019 in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

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Came back from the Asia cruise that took in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam. I have to say that the cruise ship was very good but some of the Shore Excursions at the various ports appear very poor and not value for money.

We booked several trips before we left because we weren't sure of how far the docking was from the ship, if there would be any alternatives on shore for us to explore etc.

we found from talking to other more experienced Travellers on board that they went to the same places that we had been to, stayed longer at others and had paid a lot less ( in some cases up to £30-£60). I know people will say that on the organised trip you have a guide and that the trip will be safe, having been selected by Tui.

i thought so myself but our visit to Sihanoukville by Tuk Tuk still sends shivers down my spine. Not only was the excursion was a shambles

( Guide went to one Temple, the 10 Tuk Tuks went to another, after being taken to the wrong Tuk Tuks)

our Tuk Tuk was when we started ok but we were cramped , we sat facing each other, with our feet on the spare tyre as the driver drove whilst watching a Kung Fu movie on his phone, which was propped up behind the steering wheel. We thought at first he had the radio on but he was watching a film! On the way back the exhaust blew, we got off the Tuk to find ourselves covered in paint from gripping the sides so hard, we had to tell to follow the other Tuks because had no mirrors to see. If we moved we banged into him because the screen separating us from him was plastic.

the point was the excursion was unsafe, the Tuks were not roadworthy and the Guide admitted that the company was not the usual one they used.

if we had gone on our own we could have found a sound Tuk, agreed a price and gone round all the places for half the price.

When we asked for our money back from Tui, they offered 30% as a goodwill gesture which we turned down. Having got back home we complained to Head Office at Tui who said " that's what aTuk Tuk is like in Cambodia! Not true, we saw some very safe and fancy looking Tuks.

from this we concluded that we would do our Excursions independently or with others to lessen the cost and went to many of the same destinations as the organised tour and stayed longer at the places we liked and didn't visit Temple after Temple.

all our forays were good, cheaper, and we felt safe. The drivers all had a sheet with pictures of the places that you wanted to visit and you just pointed to them and off you went.

what are other travellers experience of the Organised Excursions that Ships offer? Do you think they are worth the money?

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There are lots of options, you just have to work out which is the best for you. Marella excursions are probably not the best, but in some cases they are the only option and they, at least,  get you back to the ship on time. Private excursions, if possible, are great and tend to be smaller groups. Lots of ports are DIY possible. We have done both options and luckily we have been very lucky with our choices. 

Cristaltips

I agree about the Marella trips not being value for money. I feel that we were very much used as guinea pigs for their first Asia cruises. 

We also did a Tuk Tuk  trip in Cambodia. It was sold as 4.5 hours. We left ship at 9.00 to transport to Tuk Tuk then sat on it for at least 15 mins while they got everyone together. The traffic was awful and I did fear for my life over the state of the vehicle. However, we lived to tell the tale and were back on the ship by 12.30. Doesn’t need a mathematician to work out that wasn’t 4.5 hours! 

The Penang trip. We visited a temple (of course!) and a batik factory which was very good. The rest of the trip ( in a coach with no apparent rear suspension) went downhill. A visit to see a fruit and spice stall on the side of a busy road, and the finale was to see , in the distance, a bridge linking Penang to the mainland! 

Bangkok. We drove for 2 hours ( had a comfort stop at motorway services) into Bangkok. Drove round passing Chinatown and Flower Market and stopped for a temple visit for about 30 mins. Then drove back, another 2 hours,another comfort stop. 

As it was our first trip to this part of the world, we were wary about doing things on our own and getting back on time. However, we feel we missed seeing a lot on the trips we did. Marella really need to review their trips in my opinion.

• 1 month later...

cruisevirgin66

Just back from Red Sea Odyssey and thought the excursions were overpriced and very rushed, also poorly described in terms of ability, accessibility, and duration.  Destination Services were terrible, giving out wrong information beforehand and very confrontational and rude when we complained afterwards.  Don't get me wrong, we we're thrilled to be able to visit these places, and having never been in that area before we're glad to have the "safety" of being on a ships excursion, but if you are more confident and can arrange an alternative I'd do it!

We did a ships tour in Civitavecchia As we had done several previous trips in to Rome. We thought it was very good value and definitely much cheaper than the American lines. 

Done a few excursions via Tui from cruise ships.  Found some great, some quite poor.  You will probably get cheaper and better value through other companies.    The reason I go through Tui is for the protection.  If something goes wrong whilst on their excursion eg. bus breaks down or something, the ship will wait till your back on board.  I wouldn't be too confident if you went through ACME Tours, bus broke down and there was no way you would reembark the ship before it was due to leave port.

ollienbertsmum

I am reading this because I am considering a Marella cruise and want to hear what people say about the whole experience.  However I am never keen on ship tours.  They are usually overpriced.  They have to be.  If a tour operates usually prices a tour.  The ship negotiates a price,  There has to be a commission.  

I understand nerves though when going on a first trip to Asia.  Once you have done your first trip you will know what it is like and be braver about independent tours ..  and Tuk Tuks!!

MAke sure that you leave the ship early and allow an hour or so extra to get back.  I think that one important consideration is how easily you will get to your next destination if you should miss the ship (and I am sure it rarely happens).  

If your next port is reached after 4 days at sea, you need to be very careful.  If your next port is 200 km up the coast, you can be braver.  

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How my family of 4 spent $10,000 on a Caribbean cruise — and what we'll cut next time even though we had a blast

• My family of four splurged on a seven-night Caribbean cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy .
• We stayed in an inexpensive class of stateroom, but paid $7,000+ to cruise during spring break.
• We didn't watch our onboard spending and money spent on excursions, which quickly added up. 

My family of four – my husband, two teens, and myself – sailed on the Disney Fantasy this spring. Our cruise was seven nights and left from Port Canaveral , Florida, near Orlando.

Our ship stopped in Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Jamaica, Cozumel, Mexico, and Disney's island, Castaway Cay . This was our first time sailing on the Fantasy and our ninth Disney cruise.

Our trip cost just over $10,000. Perhaps surprisingly, this is on par with the higher end of what a family can expect to spend on a seven-night Caribbean cruise: about $270 to $2,600 a person .

Here's a rough look at what we spent:

Cruise: $7,300 (includes interior room, meals, and entertainment)

Excursions: $1,160

Alcohol: $334

Bingo: $152

Here's the value we felt we got and what we might do differently next time.

We got the cheapest room type but would've saved by sailing at a different time of year

Even though we stayed in the cheapest stateroom category — interior cabins — our cruise was still pricey because we sailed during spring break.

We could've saved $3,000 on the cruise if we'd went in September, which is during hurricane season and while school is in session for our kids. In the end, we couldn't justify our sons missing that week of school.

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Sadly, there's not much getting around this cost in the next few years. It's hard for us to travel during cheaper times since cruises almost always cost more during spring break, summertime, and over the winter holidays when most kids are out of school.

I don't regret our WiFi or bingo budgets

We bought an intermediate WiFi package for $490 and spent $152 on bingo.

We don't usually spend money on WiFi while cruising, but decided to get a package since this was a longer sailing . This allowed my kids to play their online games at night and me to keep an eye on my inbox.

No one was glued to their device, and even though this was quite a chunk of change, I'd consider it again for a longer cruise like this one.

The bingo turned out to be an OK investment since we won $145 and almost broke even. We usually play at least one round of bingo and usually don't win much, but my kids enjoy it, and it's something we do as a family.

Still, excursions, spa treatments, and drinks added up

We booked excursions in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Cozumel, and my husband and I had a couple's massage on the beach at Castaway Cay.

We didn't book super elaborate excursions, but costs added up for four people. Even so, I don't regret any of the experiences or the time spent with my family.

We could've cut back on our excursions budget by not booking directly with Disney Cruise Line or finding a spot to snorkel on our own, but I liked the ease and security of booking directly with the cruise line.

We've heard a lot of horror stories lately about cruise-ship passengers getting left behind in ports , and we always figure our odds are better if we're on an excursion arranged by the ship.

Next time, we might cut back on drinks and spa treatments

Since we're limited by when we can travel, we're honing in on alcohol and spa treatments as areas we can spend less money on.

We're not huge drinkers, but my husband and I enjoy having a glass of wine with our dinner and a couple of cocktails on deck or while lounging on the beach at Castaway Cay.

On future trips, we may cut back. When we looked at our bill, we saw that some of the wine we ordered was as much as $18.50 per glass!

And, as much as we loved the massages on the beach, they cost $289 a person (including automatic gratuity). Getting a massage in a beachside cabana while on vacation was super relaxing, but we can get massages at home for a fraction of that price.

Overall, we loved our cruise and have no regrets

The longer cruise with four ports of call was pricier than we realized, and we got a bit of sticker shock when we saw the final bill with our onboard extras.

I don't have any regrets since my family has always been more focused on experiences than stuff : We don't drive fancy cars or wear expensive clothes, but we prioritize nice vacations.

Although we know we need to curb the spending in a few areas and be a little more aware of what things cost when charging things to our room, we came away with fond memories that were worth every penny.

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