A New Era of Cruising: The Marella Voyager Overview
Setting sail for the first time under the Marella Cruises banner in June 2023, the Marella Voyager (formerly Mein Schiff Herz) underwent a multi-million-pound refit to bring fresh, modern amenities to the seas. As one of the most exciting additions to the TUI fleet, this ship blends contemporary design with family-friendly entertainment, offering an all-inclusive experience that appeals to both first-time sailors and seasoned cruisers.
With 10 passenger decks, 18 distinct dining experiences, and an array of brand-new bars, the Marella Voyager was built for variety, relaxation, and memorable nights out.
Technical Specifications
Whether your readers are cruise enthusiasts or simply looking to understand the scale of the ship, here are the core technical specifications:
77,713 GT
Gross Tonnage
2,669 Maximum
Passenger Capacity
900
Crew Size
1997
Year Built
Bridgetown (Barbados)
Home Port
Dining Experiences: 18 Places to Eat
Marella has stepped away from the traditional cruise ship buffet on the Voyager, instead embracing a modern "food hall" concept alongside incredible specialty dining.
Included Dining (No Extra Charge)
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The Kitchens: A contemporary food hall featuring eight distinct eateries. Highlights include Gravy Boat for traditional British roasts, Athena’s for Greek-style pittas and gyros, and Banyan Leaf for Asian curries.
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Latitude 53: The ship’s stunning main dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering classic dishes with a modern twist and full waiter service.
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Vista: Located just above Latitude 53, this Italian restaurant serves authentic regional dishes like creamy pastas and caprese salads.
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Abuela’s: The fleet's only dedicated Mexican restaurant. Stop by for loaded nachos at lunch or hearty burritos and tacos for dinner.
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Nonna’s: A casual spot perfect for made-to-order pizzas and fresh pasta.
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Snack Shack: Located right by the pool, this grab-and-go station is perfect for burgers, hot dogs, and salads without ever having to leave your sun lounger.
Speciality Restaurants (Surcharge Applies)
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Surf & Turf Steakhouse: A sophisticated venue serving premium steaks, scallops, and seafood.
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Umi Sushi: Watch chefs prepare fresh sushi, ramen, and soft bao buns right in front of you.
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Silver Fork: A fine-dining experience offering an elevated, multi-course tasting menu.
Bars & Nightlife
With 10 bars on board, the Marella Voyager offers a venue for every mood—from quiet piano lounges to late-night dance floors.
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The Exchange: A brand-new addition to the fleet. This secret, Art Deco-style speakeasy serves unique cocktails accompanied by immersive live entertainment (pre-booking required).
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Flutes: A luxurious champagne and prosecco bar split over two floors, complete with quirky "push for bubbles" buttons.
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Squid & Anchor: Styled like a traditional British pub, hosting live bands, interactive game shows, and nightly quizzes.
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The Arts House: An art-themed lounge where guests can play shuffleboard by day and listen to live acoustic singers by night.
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Electric Rooms: The go-to spot for late-night fun, featuring an LED dancefloor, a casino, and a well-stocked bar.
Entertainment & Onboard Activities
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Broadway Show Lounge: A massive, West End-style theatre showing two spectacular performances every single night.
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The Cinema: An indoor movie theatre screening a mix of Hollywood classics and the latest releases throughout the day and evening.
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Pool Deck & The Veranda: A spacious main pool with whirlpools, plus a secluded, adults-only style area featuring luxurious Balinese beds pointing out toward the ocean.
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Mini Golf: A quirky, fun-for-all-ages crazy golf course located at the very top of the ship, offering incredible ocean views.
Marella Voyager Cabins: Find Your Perfect Stateroom
Choosing the right accommodation is one of the most important decisions when planning a cruise. Marella Voyager offers 956 cabins ranging from budget-conscious interior rooms to expansive, multi-room luxury suites.
Every cabin on board is newly refurbished with contemporary decor, flat-screen TVs, tea and coffee-making facilities, air conditioning, and plenty of clever storage solutions. To help you choose, here is a complete breakdown of the cabin types, sizes, and layout options.
Inside Cabins (Budget-Friendly Comfort)
Perfect for cruisers who plan to spend their days exploring the ship or out in port, Inside Cabins offer the best value on the ship. Because they lack natural light, they are incredibly dark and quiet—ideal for a great night’s sleep.
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Standard Inside Cabin: Averaging around 16 square meters ($172\text{ sq ft}$), these rooms feature two single beds that easily convert into a queen-size bed. Some layouts include pull-down Pullman beds to accommodate up to four guests.
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Family Inside Cabin: At 19 square meters ($205\text{ sq ft}$), these sleep up to five people. They feature a unique sliding door partition that separates a fixed double bed from a living space equipped with a double sofa bed and a single pull-down bed.
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Single Inside Cabin: Tailored specifically for solo travelers, measuring 12 square meters ($130\text{ sq ft}$), allowing solo cruisers to enjoy the ship without paying a hefty single supplement fee.
Outside Cabins (Ocean Views & Natural Light)
If you want to watch the sunrise or check the weather before heading out, an Outside (Oceanview) Cabin strikes the perfect balance between affordability and view.
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Standard Outside Cabin: Measuring roughly 17 square meters ($183\text{ sq ft}$), these cabins offer a porthole window on lower decks (Decks 4 and 5) or a larger picture window on higher decks (Decks 8 and 9).
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Large Outside Cabin: Spanning 20 square meters ($215\text{ sq ft}$), these sleep up to three guests and include an extra sofa bed and a slightly more spacious layout.
Balcony Cabins (Private Outdoor Space)
Balcony cabins are among the most popular choices on the Marella Voyager, offering a private sanctuary to enjoy the fresh sea air, sail-ins, and dramatic ocean sunsets.
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Standard Balcony Cabin: Offering 17 square meters ($183\text{ sq ft}$) of indoor space plus a 5 square meter ($54\text{ sq ft}$) furnished balcony complete with a table and chairs.
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Large Balcony Cabin: These maintain a 16 square meter interior but feature an upgraded 9 square meter ($97\text{ sq ft}$) balcony. The massive outdoor area includes a hammock and a sunlounger alongside standard seating.
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Family Balcony Cabin: Sized at 20 square meters ($215\text{ sq ft}$) plus a 6 square meter balcony, these aft-facing rooms sleep up to five guests using a double bed, double sofa bed, and a pull-down berth. Bonus: Booking this category unlocks Marella's Premier Service perks.
Insider Secrets for Sailing the Marella Voyager
Booking the right cabin category is only half the battle; picking the exact deck and room location can make or break your holiday. While there are no truly "bad" rooms on the Marella Voyager, a quick look at the deck plans reveals that some locations are much better suited to certain types of travelers than others.
Whether you are a late-night partygoer or someone who values peace and quiet, here is the insider knowledge you need before selecting your room.
🚫 Cabins to Avoid on Marella Voyager (Depending on Your Sleep Style)
If you are a light sleeper or like to be in bed early, you will want to consult the deck plans carefully to avoid "noise bleed" from the ship's public areas.
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Deck 10 (Below the Pool Deck): Deck 10 houses some of the ship's most spacious suites, but it is located directly below the main pool deck, The Kitchens (food hall), and the Summer House. Early in the morning, you may hear the scraping of sun loungers being laid out by the crew, and during the day, heavy foot traffic above can cause some noise.
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Deck 5 and Deck 8 (Forward - Theatre Noise): The Broadway Show Lounge spans Decks 6 and 7. If you book a forward cabin on Deck 5 (directly below the stage) or Deck 8 (directly above it), you might hear the bass and musical numbers during the twice-nightly performances. Luckily, the shows usually wrap up by 11:00 PM.
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Deck 8 (Aft - Above the Pub): Aft cabins on Deck 8 are situated directly above the Squid & Anchor, the ship's lively British pub. If you aren't down there enjoying the live bands, quizzes, and karaoke, you might hear them from your room.
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Deck 8 and 9 (Aft - Near the Kids' Clubs): The aft sections of these decks are located close to the children's clubs and the kids' pool areas. During school holidays, these corridors experience high footfall and can be quite noisy during the day.
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💎 Hidden Gems: The Best Cabins on Marella Voyager
If you want the ultimate cruise experience, these are the cabins you should instruct your travel agent to grab immediately.
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Deck 9 (The "Sandwich" Deck): Experienced cruisers know the golden rule of cabin selection: always book a room sandwiched between two other passenger decks. Deck 9 is the perfect example. Because there are no public venues directly above or below the midship and forward cabins, it is one of the quietest decks on the entire ship. Forward cabins here also experience very little movement, making them ideal for anyone prone to seasickness.
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The Aft-Facing Cabins (Decks 8 and 10): If you are a dedicated cruise ship spotter, you need an aft-facing room. These cabins (including the highly sought-after Family Balcony Suites) look directly over the back of the ship. They offer completely unobstructed views of the ship's wake, dramatic sunsets, and the best vantage point for watching the ship maneuver in and out of bustling Mediterranean ports.
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Deck 12 (Solo Cruisers): If you are traveling alone, the Single Inside and Single Outside cabins are tucked away and offer fantastic value without the dreaded single supplement fee.
Marella Voyager
Marella Voyager Nonna's
Marella Voyager Flutes
Marella Voyager Broadway Show Lounge
Marella Voyager Inside Cabins
Marella Voyager Ocean Views
Marella Voyager Suites
