Thinking about booking a Marella Discovery cruise and not sure which cabin to go for? This review takes a look inside one of the ship’s inside cabins to help you decide what’s right for you.
I haven’t yet had the chance to cruise with Marella myself (though it’s definitely on my list!), so when my friend Susan – The Warrington Wanderer – spent a week on Marella Discovery, I was keen to hear what she thought. She’s kindly shared her honest review of her inside cabin, along with what life on board was actually like.
A little bit about Marella Discovery
Marella Discovery joined the Marella fleet in 2016, but she’s got quite a bit of history behind her. Before becoming part of Marella Cruises, she sailed as Splendour of the Seas for Royal Caribbean, so if you’ve cruised with them before, you might notice some familiar features on board.
With space for around 1,830 passengers, Marella Discovery is a mid-sized ship, big enough to have plenty going on but small enough to feel friendly and easy to get around. She has 11 decks and a great mix of facilities, including:
- Nine restaurants and seven bars
- Two swimming pools
- A nine-hole mini golf course
- Rock climbing wall
- An onboard spa
Marella Discovery sails a range of European and Caribbean itineraries, offering everything from sunny island-hopping to cultural city breaks, all with Marella’s famously relaxed, all-inclusive style.
Marella Discovery inside cabin review
I joined Marella Discovery in Palma and our itinerary took us to Palmos, Corsica, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Cagliari and Naples.
As I like to be out and about enjoying everything the ship has to offer, and with so many port days on the itinerary, I decided an inside cabin would be ideal for this trip.
There are 328 inside cabins on Marella Discovery, including single and adapted cabins. They are located on decks 2,3,6,7 and 8. All come with
- Air conditioning (very welcome in the Mediterranean heat)
- Flatscreen TV
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Safe
- Wardrobe storage
Cabin location and layout
My cabin was on Deck 2/3, midship, just beneath one of the entertainment decks. It was a great location for getting around the ship, although it could be a little noisy in the evenings if you fancied an early night.
The cabin was set up in a twin configuration, and felt a good size for an inside room. The free floor space made it feel quite open, though the décor was a little dated, especially compared to newer ships I’ve sailed on recently.
The beds were very comfortable (even if I did share with a towel animal every night!), with a small set of drawers between them and reading lights above. There was just enough space for a drink, phone, or book, and the little chocolate left each night as part of the turndown service was a nice touch.
The cabin steward couldn’t do enough for us all week. The service overall was some of the best I’ve had on a cruise ship.
Cabin features
At the end of the beds, there was a small sofa on one side and a TV on the other, with a cupboard above that housed the safe. It was large enough for valuables like passports and wallets, but not big enough for a laptop.
The TV could be angled so you could comfortably watch from either the bed or the sofa, which was a nice detail.
The dressing table was compact but functional, with a large mirror and plenty of drawers for storage, three large and three smaller ones.
On top sat the tea and coffee-making facilities, including a kettle, two cups, Yorkshire Tea bags, Nescafé coffee sachets, and small cartons of milk. There were also two glasses and a water jug, although it’s worth noting that there was no fridge in the cabin.
There were four plug sockets by the dressing table: two European-style and two American-style (110 and 220v), reflecting the ship’s varied itineraries. A phone was mounted on the wall next to the dressing table, handy for calling reception or other cabins.
Bathroom
The bathroom was small but did the job. The shower had good water pressure, though it came with a curtain rather than a glass screen. There was a retractable washing line, which was perfect for drying swimwear.
Above the sink was a large mirror, with some limited storage underneath. Toiletries were provided on the wall of the shower and beside the sink.
Storage
Storage space was surprisingly good. Just inside the door was a large wardrobe with plenty of hangers. If you prefer drawer space, there was also lots of that in the dressing table and between the beds.
Smaller suitcases fit easily under the bed, while larger ones could be stored upright in the wardrobe. It made it easy to keep the cabin tidy and maximise floor space.
Read more: What to wear (and what to pack) for your Marella cruise.
Overall thoughts
I really enjoyed my cruise on Marella Discovery and was pleased with the cabin I chose. It was clean, comfortable, and close to all the main facilities.
While the décor could do with a little refresh and the cabin was a bit noisy at times, those were minor issues overall. I’d happily book an inside cabin on this deck again if I cruise with Marella Discovery in the future.
The last word
It sounds like Marella Discovery’s inside cabins are a great option if you’re planning to spend most of your time enjoying the ship and ports rather than in your room. They seem to offer a mix of comfort, practicality, and value, which is exactly what you want from an inside cabin.
Have you cruised with Marella or stayed in one of Marella Discovery’s inside cabins? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.