We have cruised more than 60 times on a variety of cruise lines and while we do have favourites I nevertheless feel able to provide unbiassed reviews on any ship I cruise on. In my view Marella Discovery 2 is somewhat of a gem in the Marella fleet. Previously Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas it transferred to then TUI, now Marella and first saw service under that brand in May 2017. We actually sailed in her in June that year on a thoroughly enjoyable week’s cruise around the Iberian peninsula. We enjoyed the cruise and the ship so much that we had no hesitation booking a two week Caribbean cruise ending on Christmas day 2018. Our decision to book was reinforced by the offer of direct flights from Glasgow to Jamaica along with the ‘bonded luggage’ arrangement meaning after our cases were checked in at the airport we didn’t see them again until they arrived in our cabin.

Our cabin was the same junior suite we had on the June 2017 cruise. Yes it was a bit more expensive than a balcony cabin, but it offered so much more room, along with an extended balcony with enough room for a sunbed, a full height table and 2 chairs. There was extensive storage space, so much so that we didn’t use all the shelves and drawers provided. For those who like a bath there was a shower and bath in the bathroom along with very nice Clarins toiletries. Nice fluffy bathrobes were provided along with slippers and along with the usual electric kettle and supply of tea, coffee, etc., the junior suite also had a Lavazza coffee pod machine producing excellent coffee. Well worth the extra expense in my view.

Meals on the Discovery 2 were very good, particularly in respect of food on offer in the self-service Islands restaurant. We had just returned a month earlier from a 28 night cruise on P&O Arcadia where the food on offer in the self-service restaurant was absolutely deplorable, comprising one relatively tasteless soup at lunchtime and five or so unappetising main courses. Most importantly the food on Arcadia was seldom hot. The food on offer in Islands was a complete contrast with two delicious soups on offer each day along with eight-ten main courses including a roast of the day. All the food was piping hot. Food in the main 47⁰ restaurant on deck four and in the Italian fare restaurant Gallery 47⁰ on deck five was also very good. The clear tomato bisque we had one evening in 47⁰ was one of the best soups I have ever tasted. We had no need to use any of the paid restaurants on the ship as the food in the free restaurants was so good. Even the food in the outdoor Snack Shack on deck nine is to be commended, where the freshly prepared battered fish fillets and chicken wings are simply out of this world. Read more