Marella Explorer 2
Marella Explorer 2 is a Century-class cruise ship operated by Marella Cruises, formerly known as Celebrity Century and SkySea Golden Era.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Marella Explorer 2 is a cruise ship in Marella Cruises' fleet and the former lead ship of Celebrity Cruises' Century class. The vessel was launched in 1995 under the name Celebrity Century, becoming one of the early ships associated with Celebrity Cruises' modern fleet development. Its design and later refurbishment linked it to the broader evolution of contemporary premium cruising, particularly the introduction of amenities and design elements influenced by Celebrity's Millennium class. The ship underwent a major five-week drydock refurbishment in April 2006 at Fincantieri's Palermo shipyard in Italy. The work was described as Celebrity Cruises' most extensive refurbishment of the period and one of the largest ship modification projects completed by that yard. The renovation was intended to update Century's interiors and incorporate selected features associated with newer Millennium-class ships. Celebrity Cruises announced in 2014 that Celebrity Century would leave its fleet in April 2015. During its final Celebrity season, the ship visited an unusually broad range of destinations: from March 2014 through April 2015 it called at 77 ports in 32 countries. The final season included special sailings and events, including a 14-night President's Cruise to Asia. In September 2014, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Chinese travel company Ctrip announced that a joint venture would acquire the vessel for the new SkySea Cruises operation. After leaving Celebrity Cruises, the ship was renamed SkySea Golden Era and served the Chinese market. SkySea Cruises was subsequently closed. In March 2018, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Ctrip announced the closure of the SkySea Cruise Line brand, and the vessel was designated for transfer to Marella Cruises. Its final SkySea voyage departed Shanghai on 29 August 2018 on a four-night itinerary calling at Fukuoka, Japan. The ship then underwent a substantial refurbishment in Cádiz, Spain, before entering service as Marella Explorer 2. Its first sailing for Marella Cruises took place in April 2019. The transfer expanded Marella's fleet and gave the company a second ship using the Explorer naming pattern. Marella Explorer 2 has since operated as a cruise product rather than as an independent corporate brand, with its identity tied to the Marella Cruises holiday and cruise offering. The vessel was also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March and April 2020, several crew members and passengers were reported to have contracted the disease while the ship was operating or seeking permission to dock. A British passenger died after becoming ill, and additional positive cases were reported among Jamaican crew members. These events formed part of the wider operational and public-health disruption experienced by cruise ships worldwide during the pandemic. Marella Explorer 2 remains associated with Marella Cruises as an active cruise ship. Its significance lies in its long operational history and multiple market identities: it began as Celebrity Century, later became SkySea Golden Era for the Chinese market, and was subsequently refurbished and relaunched for Marella Cruises.
History
Marella Explorer 2 was launched in 1995 as Celebrity Century, the lead ship of Celebrity Cruises' Century class. The class also included ships that later became Marella Explorer and Mein Schiff 2. In its original Celebrity Cruises identity, the vessel occupied an important place in the company's fleet and was described alongside larger or newer classes, including the Millennium and Solstice classes. In April 2006, Celebrity Century entered a five-week drydock at Fincantieri's Palermo, Italy, shipyard. The project was a major modernization intended to bring selected Millennium-class design and service features to the older ship. It was characterized as Celebrity Cruises' most extensive refurbishment at that time and as the largest ship modification completed by the Palermo yard. The ship's future became uncertain in late 2013, when reports suggested that it could transfer to Croisières de France. Celebrity Cruises initially rejected those reports, but formally announced in February 2014 that Celebrity Century would leave the fleet in April 2015. During the final Celebrity period, the ship operated a wide-ranging program. Between March 2014 and April 2015 it visited 77 ports in 32 countries, a greater number of destinations than any other ship in the Celebrity fleet at that time. Celebrity marked the end of the vessel's tenure with special events, including a 14-night President's Cruise to Asia. In September 2014, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Ctrip announced that a joint venture would acquire the ship. After its Celebrity career ended, it was renamed SkySea Golden Era and became the sole ship of SkySea Cruises. This phase placed the vessel in a cruise operation aimed at the Chinese market. SkySea Cruises was later discontinued. In March 2018, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Ctrip announced that the SkySea Cruise Line brand would close. The ship was selected to join Marella Cruises, while another planned fleet transfer involving Mein Schiff 2 did not proceed because that ship remained with TUI Cruises. SkySea Golden Era made its final voyage for the former operator on 29 August 2018, a four-night sailing from Shanghai with a stop in Fukuoka, Japan. The vessel was subsequently refurbished in Cádiz, Spain, and renamed Marella Explorer 2. It began operating for Marella Cruises in April 2019. This relaunch gave the ship a third major commercial identity and extended its service life within the wider TUI cruise and holiday portfolio. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the ship's operations in 2020. Four crew members tested positive on 25 March. The ship was later sailing near the Yucatán coast and planned to dock at Progreso, Mexico. On 3 April, a British passenger died from COVID-19 while his wife was also infected. Later in April, two Jamaican crew members among a group of 19 were reported to have tested positive. In November 2025, a British passenger was reported missing while the ship was sailing toward La Gomera. Accounts from other passengers indicated that the man may have fallen overboard. The incident received subsequent discussion in cruise-focused online video coverage. These reports concern an operational incident and do not, on the available material, establish a corporate scandal or legal finding. The ship's history therefore spans three cruise brands and several markets: Celebrity Cruises' premium fleet, SkySea Cruises' China-focused operation, and Marella Cruises' contemporary holiday-cruise network.
- 2019
First Marella Cruises sailing
[1]After refurbishment in Cádiz, the ship began sailing for Marella Cruises as Marella Explorer 2.
- 2018
SkySea Cruise Line closes
[1]The SkySea brand was closed, leading to the vessel's planned transfer to Marella Cruises.
- 2015
Departure from Celebrity Cruises
[1]The vessel left Celebrity Cruises and subsequently entered service as SkySea Golden Era.
- 2014
Transfer to SkySea Cruises announced
[1]Royal Caribbean Cruises and Ctrip announced that their joint venture would acquire the ship after its Celebrity Cruises service.
- 2006
Major Celebrity Cruises refurbishment
[1]Celebrity Century underwent a five-week drydock refurbishment at Fincantieri's Palermo shipyard, incorporating selected attributes associated with the Millennium class.
- 1995
Launch as Celebrity Century
[1]The vessel was launched as Celebrity Century and became the lead ship of Celebrity Cruises' Century class.
Products and positioning
A refurbished, internationally operating cruise ship positioned within Marella Cruises' holiday fleet.
Cruise ship · 1995
Marella Explorer 2
A Century-class passenger cruise ship that has operated under the names Celebrity Century, SkySea Golden Era, and Marella Explorer 2. In its Marella Cruises role, the vessel provides the physical platform for multi-day cruise holidays and international itineraries. Its commercial identity has changed as it moved between operators and markets, while its basic function as a large passenger vessel has remained consistent.
Brand decisions
2018
Transfer from SkySea Cruises to Marella CruisesStrategyBackground
Royal Caribbean Cruises and Ctrip announced the closure of SkySea Cruise Line, creating the need to redeploy its only ship.
Action taken
The vessel was assigned to Marella Cruises and scheduled for refurbishment and renaming.
Aftermath
After a refurbishment in Cádiz, the ship entered Marella Cruises service as Marella Explorer 2 in April 2019.
2014
Acquisition for SkySea CruisesM&ABackground
Royal Caribbean Cruises and Ctrip were developing a joint-venture cruise operation for the Chinese market, and the vessel was selected for that operation after its Celebrity Cruises career.
Action taken
The companies announced that they would acquire the ship and operate it as SkySea Golden Era.
Aftermath
The ship left Celebrity Cruises in 2015 and became the sole vessel associated with SkySea Cruises.
Recent events
- 2025
Passenger reported missing during voyage to La Gomera[1]
Other
A British passenger was reported missing while the vessel was sailing toward La Gomera. Passenger accounts indicated that he may have gone overboard.
- 2020
COVID-19 cases reported aboard Marella Explorer 2[1]
Regulation · Other
Four crew members tested positive in March 2020. In April, a British passenger died after becoming ill, his wife was infected, and two of 19 Jamaican crew members were later reported to have tested positive.
- 2019
Marella Explorer 2 enters service after refurbishment[1]
Product launch
Following a major refurbishment in Cádiz, Spain, the former SkySea Golden Era began its first sailing for Marella Cruises in April 2019 under the name Marella Explorer 2.
- 2018
SkySea Cruises announces the closure of its cruise brand[1]
M&A
Royal Caribbean Cruises and Ctrip announced that SkySea Cruise Line would close. The company's sole ship, then named SkySea Golden Era, was scheduled to move to Marella Cruises.
- 2018
SkySea Golden Era completes its final Shanghai voyage[1]
Other
The ship's final SkySea sailing took place on 29 August 2018, departing Shanghai on a four-night voyage with a call at Fukuoka, Japan.
Sources2 sources
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