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Reduced fleet size and radical itinerary overhaul for Marella Cruises

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Only three of Marella's five ships may sail this year
After announcing that its ships would not resume sailing until July 2020 at the earliest, Marella Cruises has revealed a shakeup of its next three seasons’ itineraries, which sees only three of its five ships potentially sailing this year, cruises in Asia and the Middle East scrapped and the retirement of Celebration.

Impact of coronavirus

The UK-based cruise has scheduled to resume cruising this July using three ships but continues to monitor the situation.

Reduced fleet

Discovery 2 will not operate from Naples this summer but will recommence sailings in winter next year, while Dream – which usually sails from Palma – will not resume sailing until summer 2021.

Explorer will set sail from Corfu, Explorer 2 from the UK and Discovery from Palma as originally intended.

Retirement and adjustments 

After 15 years, Celebration will be retiring the fleet early. Discovery 2 will no longer offer its Asia and seasonal Middle East sailings, but will homeport in Cyprus after setting sail on March 24, 2021. It replaces the itineraries that Celebration was due to sail – customers booked for March and April next year will automatically be switched from Celebration to Discovery 2. 

Discovery will no longer offer December and January sailings from Jamaica; the ship will make a repositioning cruise from Malaga to Jamaica on February 3, 2021, setting off from the Caribbean island on February 16. 

In summer 2021, Marella Cruises will no longer operate from Naples. Customers due to sail on Celebration from Dubrovnik will be automatically upgraded to the cruise line’s first adult only ship, Explorer 2. 

Explorer, Dream, Discovery and Discovery 2 will sail their itineraries as planned, including Discovery’s new USA schedule.