The line revealed the decision to make upcoming vessel Marella Explorer 2 cater exclusively for adults was as a result of the popularity for its adult-only Dubrovnik and Asia itineraries featured in its winter 2018 programme.
Launching in May 2019, the ship – currently sailing as SkySea Golden Era for Chinese line SkySea Cruise Line - will homeport in Naples with ports of call including Venice, Rome and Dubrovnik.
As part of its summer 2019 programme, on sale from April 5, Marella will also offer all-inclusive cruises, including transfers and tips, across its fleet, with vessels Marella Dream and Marella Celebration set to offer the fare type from next May.
The decision comes as a result of “a steady increase” of passengers opting for all-inclusive upgrades across its fleet over the past three years, Marella said.
The line added that it expected the all-inclusive offering “to appeal to those new to cruise and younger audiences”.
Marella Explorer 2 will feature a number of aspects due to be seen onboard Marella Explorer when the ship launches this summer such as a Champneys Spa.
However sunbathing area, The Veranda, found on Marella Explorer 2 will be double the size of that found on its sister ship.
For its summer 2019 programme of sailings, Marella will offer 11 new itineraries and seven new ports of call.
In addition to four new sailings in its Naples programme, the line will introduce itineraries such as Cities and Ice, Idyllic Italia and Secrets of the Mediterranean.
New ports of call include Skagen, Denmark, Castellon, Spain, Alta, Norway and Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy, close to Portofino.
Chris Hackney, managing director of Marella Cruises, said: “We are really pleased to announce Marella Explorer 2 as an adults-only ship from next summer, sailing from our brand new home port of Naples, offering customers yet more choice and flexibility.
"Our summer 2019 programme offers guests an array of exciting destinations and itineraries and all-inclusive as standard on all of our ships.
"We continue to look at ways to offer something different to our current customers who have come to enjoy our ships and friendly service onboard and those who may be thinking about booking a cruise for the first time.”
He added: “We have a fantastic diverse range of destinations on offer, with a real focus on the best hidden secrets of the Mediterranean and Scandinavia. We expect our Cruise & Stay offering to continue to prove popular especially for the new-to-cruise market.
“We’re delighted that our customers have enjoyed sailing on our Discovery ships and look forward to hearing about their experiences on the latest addition to our fleet Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2.”
