Marella Cruises – Marella Discovery 2 – The Deluxe Group
Cruise Line – Marella Cruises | Marella Discovery 2
Completion Date – 21/02/2022
I am nominating Marella Discovery 2 for the Refurbishment of the Year award. The Deluxe Group worked as the main contractor onboard during this refurbishment which took place during Winter 21/22 in Cadiz.
Recognising the need to create an inclusive experience for guests of different abilities onboard and improve accessibility, a major aspect of this refurbishment involved a complete re-design of the restrooms located on the public area decks. Guests with reduced mobility are able to book fully accessible and adapted staterooms but often public spaces were not originally designed with these particular requirements in mind.
The Deluxe Group, working with the Marella Cruises Product Design Team, efficiently and effectively replanned these spaces and sensitively incorporated the latest DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) regulations into the design to ensure that not only were the public restrooms optimised for guests with accessibility needs but also a high quality visually pleasing aesthetic was created. This involved the inclusion of automatic doors, installation of self-cleaning lighting and upgrading all sanitaryware along with skilful tiling.
Elsewhere onboard, luxury wallcoverings and decorative finishes were added to various areas such as the Atrium, Photo Gallery and Stair Towers to enhance the guest experience. Plush carpets to give that added comfort underfoot and acoustic properties were installed in the main à la carte restaurants, 47 Degrees and Gallery 47, as well as new tiling to certain areas such as the Live Room to increase the anti-slip rating and improve safety.
Following the well-received refurbishment of The Glasshouse on Marella Discovery, this concept was added to Discovery 2. This involved a complete refurbishment of an indoor swimming pool and dining venue to transform the Greco-Roman themed space into a more flexible, casual, relaxed space with a modern beach club vibe. Lightweight composite materials such as honeycomb aluminium were used to replace heavier materials which had been installed during the original build. The use of lightweight materials improves durability and facilitates a more sustainable refit as it helps reduce the overall weight of the ship, allowing less fuel to be used and thus helping to reduce carbon emissions.
During the refurbishment of Discovery 2, the crew onboard were not forgotten either with updated vanity units added to the crew cabins and to ensure the entertainment team are able to continue to delight guests with West End-Style shows, a sprung floor was replaced in the show lounge and Harlequin flooring added to the stage.
The success of this refurbishment has been illustrated by the increase in guest satisfaction and positive guest feedback on the overall ambience of the ship, keeping Marella Cruises a firm favourite amongst loyal guests as well as enticing those new to cruising.
