The Marella Explorer 2 is a cruise ship with a notable history, originally launched in 1995 as the Celebrity Century, a flagship of the Century class for Celebrity Cruises. The vessel features a length typical of mid-sized cruise ships of its era and underwent significant refurbishments, notably in April 2006 at Fincantieri's Palermo shipyard in Italy. This extensive refit incorporated Millennium-class attributes, enhancing its amenities and operational capabilities, marking it as the most comprehensive refit for the line at that time. Constructed with a steel hull and superstructure, the ship's design prioritizes passenger comfort and versatility, capable of hosting a large number of travelers across its various decks. Its service history includes a comprehensive global itinerary, with a record of visiting 77 ports in 32 countries during the final seasons with Celebrity Cruises, highlighting its extensive reach and adaptability. In late 2013, rumors suggested a transfer to CDF Croisières de France, which were confirmed in early 2014, leading to the ship's departure from Celebrity's fleet in April 2015. Subsequently, the vessel was acquired by SkySea Cruises, a joint venture between Ctrip and Royal Caribbean, and renamed SkySea Golden Era. The ship's final voyage under SkySea Cruises concluded in August 2018, after which it underwent a major refurbishment in Cadiz, Spain, transforming into Marella Explorer 2. Its first sailing for Marella Cruises commenced in April 2019. The vessel has been involved in notable recent events, including a COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, where several crew members and a passenger tested positive, and a tragic incident in November 2025 when a passenger was reported missing while at sea. As a vessel with a rich history spanning over two decades, Marella Explorer 2 exemplifies the evolution of cruise ships from luxury flagship to a versatile vessel serving diverse markets globally.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.