MS Arcadia & Marella Discovery 2 in Torbay, Torquay, Devon
MS Arcadia is a cruise ship in the P&O Cruises fleet. The ship was built by Fincantieri at their shipyard in Marghera, Italy. At over 84,000 gross tonnage (GT), Arcadia is the fifth largest of six ships currently in service with P&O Cruises. The ship officially entered service with the company in April 2005 and was named by Dame Kelly Holmes.
The cruise ship also sports a modified Queen Elizabeth 2-style funnel, with cowling removed instead of the traditional P&O style funnel found on the purpose-built Oriana and Aurora. Arcadia along with Aurora are adult only ships.
Arcadia uses the ABB Azipod system which is an azimuthing electric propulsion drive where the propulsion motor is installed inside a submerged azimuthing (unlimited 360 degrees) pod and coupled directly to an extremely short propeller shaft. The variable speed electric (AC/AC) drive produces smooth torque over the entire speed range including zero speed. The Azipod propulsion system gives the ship excellent manoeuvring capabilities. It allows full turns at high speed with a radius of less than a ship length. Almost equal speed can be achieved ahead and astern. Rudders as well as stern thrusters are obsolete if an Azipod propulsion is installed astern as it is capable of providing full thrust in all directions by setting the unit’s direction angle simply with the vessel’s steering control. The Azipod unit has no mechanical propulsion coupling as electric power is provided by a cable connection only, from the diesel-electric generators to the electric motor installed in the gondola directly behind the propeller. Arcadia has two ABB “AMZ 1250ZM12 LAEZ” Azipod units, with a motor power of 17.6MW.
Arcadia was ordered by Holland America Line in 2000 as their fifth Vista-class vessel. In 2003 she was allocated to Cunard Line to become their Queen Victoria. Shortly before her launch the decision was made to transfer the ship to the P&O Cruises fleet. As a result, Arcadia has a Cunard-style mast similar to those found on RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 and RMS Queen Mary 2.
Arcadia underwent a scheduled, 24-day refit at Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany in 2008. She underwent a major refit to the stern, with 34 cabins added.
Arcadia was again refitted at Lloyd Werft in 2017.
Marella Discovery 2 is the lead ship of the Vision Class of cruise ships originally operated by Royal Caribbean International. With a gross tonnage of 69,130, the ship can carry 2,074 passengers. Its maiden voyage was May 16, 1995. The ship’s facilities include a rock climbing wall, a mini-golf course, dining areas and bars, an atrium, 2 pools, a theatre and a fitness centre.
As Legend of the Seas, it was the most-traveled ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, having been based in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Alaska, Central America, Caribbean, the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Middle East during her 19-year career at sea. Starting in the winter of 2009 she was based in Asia on a year-round basis.
After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, almost all of her North Asia routes were canceled.
In 2013 she returned to Europe to offer cruises in the Mediterranean Sea. During the winter period the ship was based at Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean cruises. In the summer period in 2014, she offered cruises to Northern Europe where she visited port in the Baltic Sea and Norway.
On 2 June 2016, Royal Caribbean sold Legend of the Seas to the UK based Thomson Cruises. Legend of the Seas‘s last scheduled cruise with Royal Caribbean ended on 26 March 2017 before the ship was transferred to Thomson. She first appeared as the TUI Discovery 2 in Malaga, Spain on 14 May 2017.
Following the announcement on 9 October 2017, that Thomson Cruises would be renamed Marella Cruises, TUI Group also announced that TUI Discovery 2 would adopt the name Marella Discovery 2 at the end of October 2017. On 28 October 2017, TUI Discovery 2 was renamed Marella Discovery 2 in a ceremony held at the port of Tenerife by members of the ship’s crew chosen as ‘outstanding performers’ by the company, together with the Captain.
Marella Discovery 2 is the sister ship to Marella Discovery (formerly Splendour of the Seas).