This was my first-ever cruise, and I had the pleasure of sharing the experience with my Dad.
We flew from Glasgow to meet the ship in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, ready to visit the other islands on the itinerary – Lanzarote, La Palma, Madeira, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria.
Once we embarked, we decided to familiarise ourselves with the ship’s layout, checking out ALL 11 decks and locating the muster station.
We were lucky enough to have interconnecting midship outside cabins, which made our stay even more enjoyable as the flexibility to go between cabins was great.
There was a variety of dining options including buffet, snack bars, grab and go, à la carte, and specialty restaurants. We decided not to do any specialty dining as there were plenty of other places to eat. Some have dress codes, while others are more casual, so it is best to check for each. My favorite restaurant was the à la carte “Gallery 47” – the menu was Italian-based, and we dined here twice.
Each night there was a show on in the Broadway Show Lounge, so we made sure to catch each of them. There are two show times each evening to suit different dining schedules. The bars also offered entertainment such as quizzes and live music.
Each crew member that we met was incredibly welcoming, and the variety of dining options, entertainment, activities, and, of course, the port destinations kept us both entertained throughout the entire journey.
Before we left, we pre-booked an excursion in Madeira called “Traditions of Madeira & Cable Car”. After breakfast, we met the tour guide and took the cable car up the hillside. At the top, we hopped onto the famous toboggan sledges (an optional add-on, but absolutely worth every second!). From there, we explored the beautiful botanical gardens, followed by a relaxed wine tasting in Funchal. It was a great day and I would definitely recommend.
When our time on the Marella Discovery 2 came to an end, we were excited to continue our travels with a week-long hotel stay at Catalonia Las Vegas (Adult-only hotel) in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.
During our stay, we participated in several hotel entertainment games and even won cocktails and certificates for our efforts! One of the highlights was a day trip to Loro Parque, where we explored the animal sanctuary and learned about the incredible research they’re doing to protect wildlife.
We also enjoyed exploring the charming old town of Puerto de la Cruz, where colourful streets, local shops, and sea views created the perfect setting to relax and watch the waves roll in with an ice cream in hand. While we were there, the Tenerife Blue Trail was taking place, so on Saturday, we cheered on the runners as they crossed the finish line, completing various race distances from 24km all the way up to a whopping 110km!
While the destinations were stunning, what made this trip special was the time spent with my Dad. Whether it was watching a show in the theatre or sipping cocktails on the deck, we made the most of every moment together – genuinely making memories that I will treasure for a lifetime.
