Photo: Master0Garfield — Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Splendour of the Seas was the second ship of Royal Caribbean's Vision class, entering service in 1996 as a near-twin of lead ship Legend of the Seas at about 69,472 GT. She was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique at Saint-Nazaire, France, and embodied the class's defining philosophy of light and views, with vast expanses of glass, a glass-canopied solarium, and sweeping ocean vistas from nearly every public space.
Like her sister, Splendour was built for speed and versatility, allowing her to cover long-distance itineraries efficiently, and she carried Royal Caribbean hallmarks such as the Viking Crown Lounge along with an outdoor miniature golf course. She was christened by Lise Wilhelmsen, connecting her naming to the Wilhelmsen family whose interests had been central to Royal Caribbean since its founding.
Over two decades with Royal Caribbean, Splendour of the Seas built a reputation as a well-traveled member of the fleet, deployed across Caribbean, Mediterranean, and European seasons and prized for the bright, view-oriented interiors that distinguished the Vision ships from the more enclosed vessels that had preceded them.
In 2016 Splendour of the Seas left Royal Caribbean for TUI's Marella Cruises and was renamed Marella Discovery, becoming the flagship of that British brand's growing fleet. Registered in Valletta, Malta, she continues to sail Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Aegean itineraries for UK holidaymakers, carrying on the legacy of Royal Caribbean's Vision class in second-career service.
Specifications
| Status | Transferred |
|---|---|
| Entered service | 1996 |
| Retired | 2016 |
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean International |
| Class | Vision class |
| Gross tonnage | 69,130 GT |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 1,804 |
| Guests (maximum) | 2,074 |
| Crew | 760 |
| Length | 264 m (866 ft) |
| Beam | 32 m (105 ft) moulded |
| Draught | 7.7 m (25 ft) |
| Decks | 11 |
| Staterooms | 918 |
| Shipyard | Chantiers de l'Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire, France) |
| Build cost | ≈ US$280 million |
| Christened by | Lise Wilhelmsen |
| Flag | Malta |
| Port of registry | Valletta, Malta |
| IMO number | 9070632 |
| Region | Mediterranean, Caribbean & Aegean (seasonal) |
About the Vision class class
Mid-1990s ships emphasizing glass, light, and sweeping ocean views.
Ownership & loyalty
Part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL).
Sister brands: Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Loyalty status match - members keep an equivalent tier across the group's brands:
- Crown & Anchor Society (Royal Caribbean International) ↔ Captain's Club (Celebrity Cruises)
One-for-one tier status match across Royal Caribbean Group brands: Gold <-> Classic, Platinum/Emerald <-> Select, Diamond <-> Elite, Diamond Plus <-> Elite Plus, Pinnacle Club <-> Zenith. - Crown & Anchor Society (Royal Caribbean International) ↔ Venetian Society (Silversea Cruises)
One-for-one status match with Silversea Venetian Society: Gold <-> 1 day, Platinum/Emerald <-> 100 days, Diamond <-> 250 days, Diamond Plus <-> 350 days, Pinnacle Club <-> 500 days.
References
Descriptions on Cruise Ship Wiki are original write-ups paraphrased from public sources; facts are compiled from the references below and cross-checked. How we source our information.
- Photograph by Master0Garfield (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons - Primary ship photograph