Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

Search for accessible places to go

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Marella Explorer 2 Cruise Ship Information

Marella Explorer 2

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Getting To

  • The immigration and boarding process may also vary depending on the country the cruise is departing from.
  • Please speak to Marella Cruises about any access information or enquiries.

Ship Summary

  • Marella Explorer 2 has 13 Decks in total, with Decks 3 to 12 accessible via lift.
  • Deck 3 is only used by passengers for embarking and disembarking.
  • The Medical Centre is located on Deck 4.
  • Reception is located on Deck 5.
  • All cabins are located on Decks 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12.
  • Accessible cabins are located on Deck 5, there are 8 accessible cabins available.
  • For information about the type of cabins onboard the ship please click here (opens new tab)
  • The stairs and lifts are located at the front (forward), middle (midship) and rear (aft) of the ship.
  • The lifts in the Blue Staircase area, at the forward of the ship, go from Deck 3 to Deck 12.
  • The lifts in the Red Staircase area (midship) and Green Staircase area (aft) of the ship, go from Deck 4 to Deck 12.
  • The stairs in the Blue Staircase area run from Deck 3 to Deck 12.
  • The stairs in the Red and Green Staircase areas run from Deck 4 to Deck 12.
  • There are 2 outer staircases which run from Deck 11 to Deck 14 at the forward of the ship and one that covers Desks 11, 12, 14 and 15 at the aft of the ship.
  • The accessible toilets are located on Decks 6 and 11.
  • Standard toilets are located on Decks 6, 7, 11 and 12.
  • For information about the toilet facilities onboard the ship please click here (opens new tab).
  • Cruise News is delivered to all cabins. This information about the latest destination, including port information, weather, local currency and arrival and departure times.
  • Cruise News details opening times for all onboard services and gives times and locations for onboard activities.

Cruise Ship Terminology

  • Please see below the cruise ship terminology used within the Marella Access Guides.
  • Disembarking: This is when you leave the ship at the end of your trip.
  • Embarking: This is when you board the ship at the beginning of your trip.
  • Tender Boat: Also called a lifeboat, a tender is a small boat that takes you from the ship to shore when the cruise ship anchors in a harbour.
  • Aft: This is the rear part of a ship.
  • Forward: This is the front of a ship.
  • Midship: This is the middle of a ship.
  • Port: This is the left side of the ship as it’s facing forward.
  • Starboard: This is the right side of the ship as it’s facing forward.
  • Lido: Lido is an often-used term used to describe the deck where you’ll find the outdoor pools.

Start of Cruise

  • On Marella Explorer 2 passengers at the majority of ports board using a ramped gangway which leads onto Deck 3.
  • The gradient of the ramped gangway is usually steep with handrails on both sides.
  • The gradient of the gangway may vary depending on the port and the tide.
  • A member staff can provide assistance if required.
  • There are members of staff available at the bottom and top of the gangway.
  • At a few ports passenger board via a footbridge which connects to Deck 6.
  • On arrival passengers leave their main luggage at the port terminal building and the luggage will be taken to their room by a member of staff.
  • Please note some destinations have bonded luggage which means your luggage is taken straight from the plane to the ship, so there is no requirement to collect luggage from the luggage belt.
  • Passengers can find this information in their customer documentation.
  • There is a security gate located just beyond the gangway, the gate is 73cm wide.
  • Passengers are directed along the Deck 3 corridor to the Forward Stairway and Lift to access Reception on Deck 5.
  • Passengers check in at the terminal prior to boarding the ship.
  • Passengers will be told when their cabins are ready.
  • Before the ship leaves port on the first day of the cruise, passengers will undergo a safety briefing which will include all passengers going to their designated muster stations.
  • The information for the location of muster stations is available on the back of each cabin door.

Day Trips and Excursions

  • Information and booking day trips and excursions are done at Destination Experiences which is located on Deck 5.
  • The Destination Experiences team will have access information about the trips.
  • Please speak to the team about any access issues before booking an excursion or tour.
  • Disembarking and embarking is done at the majority of ports on Deck 3 via the ramped gangway.
  • At a few ports disembarking and embarking is done on Deck 6 via a footbridge.
  • The gradient of the ramped gangway is usually steep with handrails on both sides.
  • The gradient of the gangway may vary depending on the arrival port or the tide.
  • A member staff can provide assistance if required.
  • There is a security check as you disembark and embark at some ports.
  • The security gate is 71cm wide.
  • At a few ports the ship will not be able dock in the port.
  • In these situations access to the port is via a tender boat.
  • There is stepped access down to the pontoon.
  • There is one step from the pontoon onto the boat.
  • There is then stepped access to the seating areas.
  • The seating areas are located at the front and rear of the boat.
  • The seating is fixed and in rows.
  • Passengers must be able to leave their wheelchair and use the stairs to access the tender boat.
  • Marella Cruises can provide information on whether tender boats are used for any excursions on each cruise.
  • At some ports passengers require their passports, whereas at times you will just need to take your Marella Cruises Ship Card to the security gate and have it scanned before disembarking and have it scanned when returning to the ship.

End of Cruise

  • On the night before the last day of the cruise passengers will receive an information leaflet in their cabins advising them of the disembarking process on the day of departure.
  • On the day of departure information about disembarking times is displayed on the screens around the ship.
  • Passengers will depart in groups for cruises that disembark at Newcastle or Southampton.
  • For cruises disembarking with flights back to the UK, passengers will disembark according to flight times and transfers back to the airport.
  • Flight times will vary.
  • Please note some destinations have bonded luggage on the return journey which means your luggage is taken straight from the ship to the plane, so there is no requirement to take your luggage from the ship to the airport.
  • Passengers will be advised of this whilst on the ship.
  • Disembarking is via the ramped gangway on Deck 3.
  • At a few ports passengers disembark on Deck 6 via a footbridge.
  • Staff are available for assistance if required.
  • Depending on the disembarkation details, passengers with mobility impairments may be invited to disembark first.
  • On departure passengers collect their main luggage from the dock or the port terminal building.
  • Transport to the port terminal building can be provided for passengers with mobility impairments if required.

Deck Access Guide(s)