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Ship comparison

EXPLORA II vs Marella Discovery 2

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Marella Discovery 2 wins 4 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
EXPLORA II
Marella Discovery 2
Size
64,000 GT
71,545 GT
Passengers
922
1,814
Year built
2024
1995
Crew ratio
1.4 guests per crew
2.5 guests per crew
Space ratio
69.4 GT per guest
39.4 GT per guest
Decks
No data
No data
Length
248 m
264 m
From price
$1,650 pp
No data

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

Marella Discovery 2 is the larger vessel at 71,545 GT, 12% more than EXPLORA II's 64,000 GT. EXPLORA II offers more personal space with a space ratio of 69.4 GT per passenger versus 39.4. Built in 2024, EXPLORA II is 29 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design.

CategoryWinner
SizeMarella Discovery 2
CapacityMarella Discovery 2
ModernityEXPLORA II
ServiceEXPLORA II
SpaciousnessEXPLORA II
DecksNo data
LengthMarella Discovery 2
Fleet PowerMarella Discovery 2

Bottom line: Marella Discovery 2 leads 4–3 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Marella Discovery 2 for overall superiority; pick EXPLORA II if Modernity matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose EXPLORA II if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2024, 29 years newer)
  • More crew per guest (1.4 guests per crew)
  • More space per guest (69.4 GT per guest)
Book EXPLORA II

Choose Marella Discovery 2 if

  • Size matters to you (71,545 GT)
  • More onboard variety (1,814 guests)
Book Marella Discovery 2

Prices

See Current Prices

You have compared the ships. Now see what they cost.

EXPLORA II

from $1,650 per person

Book EXPLORA II

Marella Discovery 2

Check prices on Cruisebound

Book Marella Discovery 2
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Fares

Sailing Prices

DetailEXPLORA IIMarella Discovery 2
Cheapest$1,650 ppNo sailings
Per nightNo dataNo data
DepartingNov 15No data
Durationnull nightsNo data
View sailing

Prices from Cruisebound, per person, for the sailing shown.

Go deeper

Deep Dive

Sailings

Upcoming Sailings

Upcoming Sailings on EXPLORA II

EXPLORA II sailing from Fusina (Venice), Italy

A Journey Through Seaside Legends & Living History

Explora Journeys • EXPLORA II

Oct 29, 2026

Iberian Peninsula

$5,820/person
View Deal
EXPLORA II sailing from Piraeus (Athens), Greece

A Journey From Cycladic Light To Apulian Shores

Explora Journeys • EXPLORA II

Nov 9, 2026

Mediterranean

$2,960/person
View Deal
EXPLORA II sailing from Bari, Italy

A Journey Through Ionian Beauty And Santorini Skies

Explora Journeys • EXPLORA II

Nov 15, 2026

Mediterranean

$1,650/person
View Deal
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the comparison score calculated?

We score 8 categories from spec data: size, capacity, modernity, service, spaciousness, decks, length and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship. A category where either ship has no data is marked No data and left out of the score.

What is the space ratio and why does it matter?

Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40, and mass-market ships often fall between 30 and 40.

What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?

It is the number of guests for each crew member, shown as "3.0 guests per crew". Lower is better: more staff per guest usually means more attentive service. Luxury lines aim for fewer than 2 guests per crew, and large mainstream ships often carry 3 to 4.

Are the prices shown accurate?

Prices come from Cruisebound and are per person for the sailing shown. They change with cabin type, date and demand, so open the sailing to see the current fare.

Can I compare more than two ships?

Yes, up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.

How current is the ship data?

Specifications come from our database of 380+ ships, and this page refreshes daily. An "Updated" date appears at the top when either ship's record changed in the last 30 days.