For the first time in its history, Marella Cruises is considering newbuild cruise ships, signaling a significant shift for the TUI-owned brand known for operating secondhand vessels.

Cruise Industry News reported that during a Capital Markets Day presentation, TUI Group disclosed that it is exploring options to modernize Marella’s fleet, stating:

“Given an aging Marella Cruises fleet, we are currently exploring future options on positioning our highly profitable UK market-leading business, including re-fleeting. We are in discussions for two vessels with new build slots tentatively available from FY31 onwards.”

Marella’s fleet currently consists of five refurbished, secondhand ships, including Discovery 2 and Explorer 2 (both built in 1995), Explorer and Discovery (built in 1996), and its newest addition, Voyager (built in 1997). While these ships have been modernized over the years, they are now among the oldest in the industry, prompting the cruise line to look toward the future.

If finalized, this move will be a major shift for Marella, allowing the brand to introduce purpose-built ships for its UK-focused cruise market. New vessels could bring enhanced amenities, improved sustainability features, and a competitive edge against newer fleets in the industry.

While no firm orders have been placed yet, the tentative timeline suggests a launch post-2031, giving Marella time to develop a vision for its first-ever newbuilds.