Marella Discovery 2 Review – Cruising with Kids 2025

Marella Discovery 2 – A Family Friendly Cruise?

If you’ve ever thought cruising might be better for the older generation, maybe a bit too structured, or just not the right fit for a family holiday – I totally understand. I used to think the same. I imagined formal dinners, complicated itineraries, and a general vibe that didn’t really scream ‘family fun.’ But now that we’re actually doing it, I can honestly say that cruising with kids has turned out to be one of the easiest and most enjoyable holidays we’ve ever had.

We’ve just enjoyed a week on Marella Discovery 2 doing the Aegean Delights cruise, sailing through some of the most beautiful parts of Greece and Turkey. The cruise includes a day at sea, a stop in Izmir, moving on to Santorini, Rhodes, Marmaris and finally Alanya – before heading back to limassol in Cyprus.

This post is a round-up of our experience – from what the ship is like, to how the kids have handled it, and whether we think it’s good value for a family trip. If you’re on the fence about cruising with kids, I hope this gives you a clearer picture.

Marella Discovery 2 Kids Club

Baby Centre (Under 3)

A safe space with a small ball pool and lots of baby friendly toys. Every day at 10am – 11am they held various sessions such as music mayhem, play dough fun and finger painting. You have to stay and play with your baby here, so no dropping and running off! There is a corner for them to take naps, a changing space, and a small toilet. Our son Luca has just started walking, so having a space for him to play and run wild, while we had a breather, was priceless!

M Club (3-11)

The M Club offers 3 x 2 hour sessions throughout the day. These are at 09:00 – 11:00, 15:00 – 17:00 and 19:00 – 21:00. On some days there was an additional 13:00 – 14:00 session where parents could stay and play with their kids, as a way to introduce them to the space. Sessions included craft sessions, sporty challenges, cinema nights and scavenger hunts. One day they went to meet the captain on the bridge and learn about the ship! Leo would have attended every session if he could. The 19:00 – 21:00 session is really useful as we could get dinner at 18:00, then drop Leo off at M club while we had some drinks and then watched the 8pm show at the Broadway Show Lounge.

Hideout (12 – 17)

For older kids and teens, there’s the Hideout – a teen-only hangout space that looks like a cool city café. There are games consoles, air hockey, comfy beanbags, and places to just chill out and feel independent (without being too far away). It’s not overly structured, which we think works well for that age group. They had sessions like an air hockey competition, teen meet ups and ice breaker bingo to get the kids chatting.

Is Marella Discovery 2 a family friendly cruise..?

What really stands out to us is how family-aware the staff are across the whole ship – not just in the kids’ areas. From the restaurant teams helping with picky eaters to the crew offering high-fives or remembering our kids’ names, it all adds up to an environment where children and families are made to feel welcome.

If you’re worried your little ones won’t settle in or that they’ll be bored onboard – we were too. But once we saw the variety of things on offer for every age, it really put our minds at ease.

The Coffee Port

Coffee from the coffee port was included with our premium all inclusive package. It was a great place to come as a family and relax. There are different games and jigsaws for the kids to play, perfect if you need a bit of downtime. Around 16:30 every day they had an arty activity, aimed at all ages, but fun for the kids. Leo did beading, water colour painting and charcoal drawing here. (Again, all included)

Kid friendly menus

All of the a la carte restaurants had kids menus and activity sheets. It was easy to get high chairs and the staff were excellent with the kids. A big shout out to Jery in the 47° restaurant, he would do magic tricks and make origami to entertain our son through the meal. Leo (our 6 year old) is a really picky eater, but we didn’t struggle at all when it came to finding something he would eat. Beige eaters will find something they will like at pretty much every restaurant.

Marella Discovery 2 Pool

The pool was a highlight for both our boys who absolutely love water. The pool had a shallow area for smaller children to play, which was fenced away from the deep pool.

The Play Wall

An interactive wall with lots of games for all ages. You have to schedule a half an hour slot to play here, you can then choose from different games that require you to work together, or in teams, to throw/kick balls at the interactive screen. You get the whole room to yourself for your session, and its lots of fun. Leo got to visit with the M club too.

Gallery 47°

• Meals Offered: Dinner

• Cuisine: Classic Italian dishes – antipasti, pasta, calzone, fish, meat, and vegetarian options. Leo LOVED the pasta here.

• Setting: Overlooks the main dining room; vibrant and elegant.

• Timing: 18:00 – 21:00

The Glass House

• Meals Offered: Breakfast, lunch, dinner (and late‑night bites)

• Style: Daytime deli-style light bites and fresh juices (rotisserie chicken, paninis, salads); by evening, tapas-style plates, sharing boards, and hot‑stone steaks for an extra charge.

• Dress Code: Casual.

• Timing: Breakfast 07:00 – 10:00, Lunch 11:00 – 17:30, Dinner 18:30 – 21:00, Late night snacks 22:00 – 01:00

Islands (Buffet Restaurant)

• Meals Offered: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, plus snacks throughout the day

• Style: Self‑serve buffet with international cuisine, show‑cooking stations (e.g. omelettes, carvery), and themed evenings.

• Dress Code: Casual

• Timing: Breakfast 07:00 – 11:00, Lunch 11:30 – 15:00, Afternoon Tea 15:00 – 17:00, Dinner 18:00 – 21:30

Snack Shack

• Meals Offered: Snacks and light meals during the day.

• Style: Grab‑and‑go venue inspired by festival food stalls – burgers, wraps, focaccia, bacon butties, chicken wings, mezze salads. 

• Location: Right by the pool – perfect when children are playing and you don’t want to get everyone dry and dressed. 

• Dress Code: Very relaxed – swimwear is fine.

• Timing: 11:30 – 18:00

Speciality Restaurants (Reservation recommended via app or guest services)

These venues are great for a memorable family meal (though check if kids are welcome – they often are, especially early evening. As we had grandparents with us, we visited these without the kids – the kids much preferred the buffet!) The is an extra charge for these restaurants.

Surf & Turf Steakhouse

Cuisine: Premium steaks, seafood, and gourmet sides (e.g., truffle mash, lobster mac ’n’ cheese)

Style: Upscale à la carte

Kora La

Cuisine: Pan‑Asian specialties – Indian‑spiced prawns, Indonesian curry, Sushi Bar nestled inside

Style: Chill, flavourful

Sushi Bar (inside Kora La)

Cuisine: Rolls, sashimi, nigiri paired with Asian beers like Tiger and Singha.

Marella Discovery 2 Costs

Let’s be honest, cruises don’t always look like the cheapest option for a family trip when you first check the prices. But when you break down everything that’s included – return flights, your cabin, all meals and snacks, drinks (including cocktails and coffees), airport transfers, nightly entertainment, kids’ clubs, and the chance to visit multiple destinations – they can actually offer really great value, especially for families. When you think about how quickly costs can add up on a typical holiday just from eating out or booking daily activities, it starts to make a lot more sense.

What did we spend?

To give you an idea, the cruise we have just done (the Aegean Delights itinerary on Marella Discovery 2, sailing through Greece and Turkey) starts from around £1,100 per person for 7 nights. We went all fancy for our cruise and booked a Grand Suite, which I will talk about below. It was £5752 for our family of 4, this included return flights, luggage, transfers, and premium all inclusive on the cruise. We travelled in August making this great value for such a fancy experience. My parents joined us in an internal room which was only £2000 for them both, for the whole all inclusive package! They got this bargain booking last minute.

Extra spends

We really didn’t spend an awful lot once we got there. Wifi is an extra, and we spent £99 on the top package given we use the internet a lot for working whilst away. My dad got a package for £40 which lasted the trip. Guests staying in suites get access to the Suite Concierge – a room with great views, refreshments and free wifi. (We paid as we wanted to be able to work in our lovely room!)

My husband took part in a poker tournament which was £40. They have ‘fun’ casino sessions where they show you how to play popular casino games, making it far less intimidating than it often is for noobs like us!

There are three restaurants that require an additional cost, we did all three to check them out. I will mention them in more detail further down the post.

Our flight home wasn’t until the evening, so we paid £45 to have late check out and be given another room to use during the day. We shared this with my parents and it gave us a space for Luca to have a nap, and for us all to get showered and clean for the journey home.

Other Itinerary Examples

If you’re looking for something a little more exotic, the Canarian Flavours cruise on Marella Explorer, which covers Spain and Madeira, also runs for 7 nights and prices start from around £1,199 per person.

The Aegean Shores route visits places like Corfu, Athens, Santorini, and Crete starts from approximately £1,349 per person for a week-long sailing.

And if you fancy combining the adventure of a cruise with a relaxing hotel stay, you could do a 7-night Greek Islands cruise followed by 7 nights in a Corfu hotel with package prices ranging from £1,499 to £2,100 per person, depending on your choice of hotel and time of year.

Prices are correct at time of publication.

What Affects the Price?

There are a few key factors that make prices vary:

• Time of year: School holidays and peak summer months (July/August) are more expensive, but you can find brilliant deals in May, early June, September, and even October half term.
• Cabin type: Inside cabins (no window) are the most affordable, but if you want a balcony (which we loved for those early morning coffees and sunset views), you’ll pay a bit more. Suites offer more space and extras like priority boarding or dedicated service.
• How early you book: Booking early often gets you the best prices and choice of cabins. TUI sometimes offer low deposits or early booking bonuses. That being said, my parents bagged an absolute bargain on our August cruise by booking a week before we departed!
• Extras: Most drinks, food, entertainment, and tips are included. But things like excursions, spa treatments, and premium dining venues (like Surf & Turf Steakhouse or Kora La) cost extra, so factor that in.

Marella Discovery 2 – Grand Suite

With a wild and very active 15 month old baby, we knew we would need somewhere with a lot of space if we wanted to maintain some sanity! He is at a very difficult age at the moment, and because of this, travel hasn’t been all too relaxing recently. The grand suite offered all the room we needed, a larger bathroom, and was ‘only’ £600 more than the balcony cabins. With the balcony cabins measuring 13m² and the grand suite being 32m² – it made sense for us.

There is an executive suite which offers even more space at 47m² and the luxurious Royal Suite offering 92m² (there is only one of these on the ship and it has a grand piano!)

Family of 5?

If you have a baby plus 2 older children, then most of the rooms that sleep 4 can cater to you. The grand suite that we were in would easily sleep 2 children on the sofa bed with the baby in the cot.

Families of 5 with older children can enjoy the family balcony cabin which sleeps up to 5

Family of 6?

Larger families would need to book two cabins. It is possible to get connecting cabins, offering enough space for you all.

Marella Cruise Ships

One of the things that surprised us most about cruising with kids was how much the ship itself becomes part of the adventure. You’re not just using it to get from A to B – you’re actually living on it, and it genuinely feels like a floating resort. We love to explore far and wide, but travelling between places isn’t always easy with kids. Cruising is perfect for kids, as the moving between places happens while you’re having dinner, playing at kids club and sleeping!

There are several ships in the Marella fleet, each with its own personality and layout. Some are perfect for family fun, others are more suited to adult-only escapes. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect:

Marella offers a wide range of itineraries depending on the season, the ship, and how far you want to travel. If you’re craving sunshine and history, there are loads of Greek island and Eastern Mediterranean cruises like ours. If you’re after winter sun, the Canary Islands are a popular option, and for something a bit more tropical, you can sail to the Caribbean on longer routes during the winter months.

They even offer shorter ‘taster’ cruises – perfect if you’re not quite sure if cruising is for you, or if you’re limited on time. These are usually 3-5 nights and visit a few highlights along the Med, ideal for a quick escape or a first-time experience with kids.

Wondering what your dates will cost?

Marella Discovery 2 – Overall

Cruising with kids has been such a wonderful experience. It’s genuinely one of the most relaxing and easy holidays we’ve had with the kids. Everything’s taken care of – your flights, your food, your room, the entertainment – and you get to wake up in a new place almost every day without any of the usual travel stress. No packing and unpacking. No airport drama. Just new experiences, gorgeous views, and loads for the little ones to do.

The kids really had the best time (Leo’s already asking when we’re going on another ship).

Would we do it again? Absolutely. In fact, we’re already eyeing up our next one!

If you’ve been unsure about cruising with kids, or just assumed it’s not ‘your kind of holiday,’ I hope this has shown you what’s really possible. It’s not just for retirees or couples – it can be a brilliant, family-friendly option that gives you both adventure and rest. And honestly, how often do you get both on the same trip?

Let me know if you’ve got any questions about Marella Discovery 2 – I’m always happy to share what worked (and what didn’t) for us. And if you’ve cruised with kids before, I’d love to hear about your experience too!

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