The Marella Dream was delivered in May 1986 by the German shipyard Jos L. Meyer as the Homeric. It was the last ship built for Home Lines, but also the first delivered by this shipyard, which is now one of the leading specialists in this type of vessel.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 51 – December 2019
It is a typical example of a second-generation cruise ship, although it retains some influences typical of passenger liner ships, such as the main dining room on a lower deck, or having all the cabins in the hull.
Origenes
is approaching its thirty-fourth anniversary and TUI has already announced that it will retire it in the coming years.
It originally had 18 public lounges, located on decks 8, 9 and 11.
The Homeric was the worthy successor to the Oceanic (which sailed for many years for Pullmantur) and the Atlantic (better known in our ports as the MSC Melody), inheriting from them the central lido area with its retractable glass roof, as well as the aft swimming pool. Together, these comprised over 3,000 square meters of exterior deck space. It also boasted cabins renowned for their spaciousness, although none at the time had balconies.
The Homeric was built with horizontal segregation, with cabins on the lower decks and public spaces on the upper ones, like most of the ships built in those years: the Celebration, the Costa Classica, etc.
The Marella Dream is a classic, traditional ship, and for many of its passengers, even elegant.
The Belvedere deck was dedicated exclusively to public spaces, including the casino, showroom, and nightclub. For many years, Home Line was the leader in cruises from New York to Bermuda in the summer and to the Caribbean in the winter. However, upon its delivery, the Homeric was based in Fort Lauderdale in the winter, offering longer cruises of ten days or more to the Caribbean. In the summer, it offered week-long voyages from New York to Bermuda. But in the following two years with Home Line, the Homeric's cruises were shorter, lasting a maximum of one week.
Home Lines' marketing
emphasized several concepts in its product marketing:
• Their ships, which recreated the old ocean liners: full promenade deck, cinema, teak on exterior decks, the dining room on a lower deck, etc.
• Outdoor activities, with a huge indoor lido, with several swimming pools, a disco, etc.
• The food. A different menu every night: “French night”, “Italian night”, etc. Home Lines brochures emphasized the existence of five meals a day.
• The spacious cabins.
• The itineraries. In summer, week-long cruises between New York and Bermuda; in winter, longer cruises to the Caribbean.
Home Lines relied on a large number of repeat passengers and couldn't withstand the competition from new operators whose strategy focused on attracting thousands of new cruisers. Even with the Wall Street yuppies of the late 1980s, it couldn't fill its ships, and its owners decided to sell the company.
Sale to Holland America Line:
In April 1988, Home Lines and its two ships, Atlantic and Homeric, were purchased by Holland America Line for $195 million. The Atlantic was immediately resold to Premier Cruise Line and renamed Starship Atlantic. However, HAL retained the Homeric. After its final cruise for Home Lines, which ended on October 26, 1988, in New York, it was delivered to its new owners on November 2 and renamed Westerdam. The first cruise for its new owners began on November 16 in Port Everglades.
Holland America had very ambitious plans for the ship: it had decided to lengthen it. On June 15, 1988, Holland America announced that a 40-meter section would be inserted into the Westerdam in the winter of 1989-90, increasing its tonnage to 54,000 GT.
In January 1989, Carnival Cruise Lines bought Holland America Line for $625 million, and decided to proceed with the lengthening of the Westerdam.
Lengthening in 1990:
On October 30, 1989, the Westerdam returned to Papenburg to be lengthened by 39.6 meters by Jos L. Meyer. The new section allowed for the expansion of the mess hall on the lower deck, which reappeared divided into two sections, as a new fire door was installed. Access via two staircases, one of them located in the center of the mess hall, was another new feature. In addition, the new section included 195 new cabins.
Originally, it was a European-designed ship, full of intimate spaces, without the large interior volumes that began to proliferate at the end of the 20th century.
A two-level theater, the Admiral Lounge, with 792 seats, was built forward of the Promenade and Upper Promenade decks, requiring the dismantling of four former venues from the Homeric. The new section also included some of the venues found on all Holland America ships, such as the Explorer Lounge, Ocean Bar, Library, Queen's Lounge, etc.
On the exterior deck, the swimming pool was lengthened, as was the transparent telescopic roof covering it. A 262-seat buffet restaurant (Verandah Restaurant) was also built aft of the pool. The interior decoration was the work of VFD Interior BV and included antique Dutch works of art from the 16th and 17th centuries valued at two million euros.
Initial Marketing of the Westerdam:
On March 21, 1990, the Westerdam arrived in New York, where it received positive reviews from the press and travel agents. In its early years as the Westerdam, Holland America employed marketing aimed at its long-standing clientele of mature Americans, primarily repeat travelers (Alumni Society), with slogans such as “A tradition of excellence.” For this reason, there was little emphasis on onboard activities in Holland America's advertising. Ports of call were very important in its marketing. In Alaska, for example, brochures described the natural beauty and the history of the Yukon Gold Rush. Onboard service was also emphasized, particularly the cuisine, with chefs from the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs serving on board.
And the ship itself, with its works of art and its spacious halls, was also emphasized.
The Westerdam between 1990 and 2002.
From 1990 to 2002, the Westerdam maintained almost the same annual schedule: winters in the Caribbean and summers in Alaska. Between October and May, the Westerdam offered week-long cruises to the Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale.
Between May and October, the Westerdam sailed Alaska, offering week-long cruises from Vancouver. Only in the summer of 1997 was it based in New York, with itineraries to Canada and New England.
The repositioning cruises between the Caribbean and Alaska were sold as long two-week itineraries, sometimes marketed in two segments with an intermediate homeport such as Puerto Limón or Acapulco.
Within Holland America's clientele, it was a very popular ship, suitable for long cruises due to the size of its cabins, but the arrival of the new HAL ships full of balconies, with various culinary options, etc., sealed its transfer to Costa Crociere in 2002. On March 2, 2002, it began its last cruise as the Westerdam, after 643 voyages with that operator.
New life as Costa Europa
On March 29, 2001, Carnival announced the transfer of the Westerdam to Costa in April 2002. In June of that year, it confirmed its new name during the christening of the Costa Tropicale: Costa Europa.
The Marella Dream has eleven decks, nine of which are dedicated to passengers.
It was delivered in March 2002 and refurbished in Genoa to meet Costa's standards. The refurbishment of the Costa Europa maintained the layout of the Westerdam. It was the third Costa ship with a themed décor, in this case, Greek mythology. Its decks were named Orion, Sirens, Hercules, Perseus, and so on—a theme that TUI has continued to this day. Costa built new facilities on board, such as the Medusa Ballroom, with a capacity of 450 people, the intimate Delo Bar, and the Squok Club for children, as well as making some changes to the suites and the casino. Crew quarters were also improved.
On April 24, 2002, it was christened in Genoa. That first season with Costa Cruises in 2002, after some Mediterranean voyages, it covered destinations in Northern Europe from Amsterdam between May and September. In the winter of 2002-2003, the Costa Europa returned to the Mediterranean to offer extended cruises from Genoa to the Canary Islands. In the summer of 2003, the ship returned to the fjords and the Baltic Sea from Amsterdam. Until the summer of 2005, this was its itinerary, while in the summers of 2006 through 2009 it offered extended cruises in the Mediterranean and to the Canary Islands.
The Marella Dream has passed through the hands of four prestigious owners in its more than thirty years of sailing.
In its first five winter seasons with Costa, up to and including 2006-2007, it always offered 10-11 night cruises in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. In December 2007, it was one of the first Costa Cruises ships to sail in the Persian Gulf. The following winter season, 2008-2009, it sailed in the Indian Ocean, offering six 14-day cruises from Port Louis between December and March. And in its final season with Costa, 2009-2010, it offered round-trip cruises between Savona and Dubai, an itinerary that has not been repeated since.
Sale to Thomson. Voyages as the Thomson Dream.
On July 6, 2009, it was announced that it had been bareboat chartered for ten years to Thomson Cruises, with delivery in April 2010. It was delivered to Thomson after a cruise between Dubai and Venice. It was renamed Thomson Dream, registered in Malta, and became the largest ship in its fleet. Its first voyage consisted of repatriating British tourists from Thomson and First Choice from Palma to Barcelona. On April 22, it made its first cruise as the Thomson Dream, a five-night voyage from Palma. And on April 27, it offered its first regular seven-night cruise. That first summer season lasted until October.
After a dry-dock in Hamburg, the Thomson Dream began its positioning cruise on December 8 between Southampton and Bridgetown, which was its home port for the winter season in the Caribbean, which lasted until March 2011.
Despite a 2017 rebranding from Thomson to Marella, Thomson remains the trusted brand for package holidays for many Britons. While Marella has attempted to shed the cheap, stereotypical image of package holidays with its newer ships, that perception still holds true for the line's classic vessels: the Dream and the Celebration. Dream passengers, almost all of whom are repeat customers, love the experience, which is why they continue to sail on this perhaps somewhat outdated ship, both with its newer Marella fleetmates and with competitors in the British market.
Orion Deck
The lowest deck, Orion (Thomson retained Costa's naming convention), houses the restaurant, which seats 868 passengers. Dinner is served in two seatings, with tables primarily seating eight, although more intimate tables, even for two, are also available. There is reasonable spacing between tables. In 2014, the central area on the port side of the main restaurant was converted into Kora La, an Asian restaurant.
After sailing for Costa for eight years, the Marella Dream became the flagship of Thomson Cruises in 2010.
Its ceiling is inspired by the restaurants of old France, with a central vault that adds height and volume, but without the visual impact of a double-height space or one with panoramic windows. The vault is decorated with brass triangular motifs, creating a nautical atmosphere, complemented by abundant woodwork on the bulkheads and blue carpeting and upholstery. Natural light enters through two rows of portholes on each side, which can be illuminated at night.
At the bow of the restaurant there are cabins, some of them single.
Pegasus, Perseus, and Auriga Decks:
The next three decks, Pegasus, Perseus, and Auriga, are filled with cabins and have no public areas. These decks have a traditional layout, arranged around two fore-and-aft corridors. All standard cabins, both outside and inside, are located on these decks. There are five suites located to port, amidships, on the Auriga deck. Boarding is via two doors located on the sides of the Perseus deck.
Hercules Deck
The next deck is the Hercules, which houses almost all of the lounges and public spaces. Forward is the lower theater deck, decorated in red, which can accommodate 792 people. The semicircular stage is forward, and the seating is arranged around it on two levels. Visibility is perfect, the acoustics excellent, and the decor, in shades of red, is very classic. On the lower deck, in front of the stage, there are sofas; further aft, there is a row of rounded sofas around a circular table, and finally, conventional seats. It's a veritable cabaret afloat. The second level is a U-shaped amphitheater with good sightlines and windows along the sides. The theater's ceiling is also red.
Aft is the Medusa Room, formerly the Queen's Lounge from the Holland America era. This lounge, the largest on board, spans the full beam of the ship, boasts large side windows, and exudes elegance. Originally a ballroom with a ring-shaped layout around the central dance floor, the dance floor is now filled with chairs and tables, and the center of gravity is aft, where the stage is located. Decorated in shades of pink and burgundy, it features two fore-and-aft side walkways, with raised sections along the sides for enhanced visibility. Illuminated by circular crystal chandeliers, shades, and indirect lighting, the room maintains its classic ambiance even at night. The decor is in shades of gray and pink, retaining the polished wood handrails and brass and bronze details. There is also a bar aft to starboard, with a glass roof.
Continuing aft, passengers will find a number of quiet and relaxed venues: the Internet Café (now another relic of the past), the games room (on the Marella Dream you can play Parcheesi, Monopoly, etc.), the Tides Lounge, and a lounge inherited from Holland America, the Ocean Bar. This entire area was added during the lengthening of 1989-90.
The Ocean Bar is located on the port side. It's decorated in shades of blue. The Tides offers a small stage for a duo or soloist and a small dance floor, giving it a very intimate feel. It's located in the center of the ship and is the best place to meet up with friends. During the day, the musicians provide subtle music. But after dinner, the grand piano and the soloists create a lively atmosphere, filling the dance floor. In this area, traffic is only on the port side, and an old cannon from a former Dutch warship appears in the passageway, always surprising the passengers.
Brass, bronze, teak, etc. Traditional cruise ship materials are omnipresent on the Marella Dream.
Further aft, near the engine room's heat exchanger, is Broad Street, the onboard shopping area. While modest in size and brands, it's well laid out. The 24-hour information desk and the desk for optional excursions are located here, making it a central hub. The beauty salon and photo gallery are also situated here.
And at the stern end, there's a mix of uses. To port are ten cabins, the result of downsizing the casino, which is surprisingly far from the busiest passenger areas; and a tiny children's play area, a remnant of its Costa days. To starboard is The Water Edge's nightclub, with a stainless steel dance floor and tables arranged radially, while the bar is across the passageway. This venue also has an outdoor area.
Andromeda Deck
The next deck, Andromeda (deck 9), is the boat deck, and forward of it is the theater's amphitheater. The suites are located amidships, and aft of the heat exchanger is the U-shaped buffet, seating 250. It is perhaps a bit too narrow and long, except aft where it is more spacious. It has large windows and balconies on both sides and aft, offering good sea views. The buffet ends at the aft pool, which has a bar and grill to starboard and is fully decked in teak. It also features a jacuzzi and plenty of space for sunbathing. Its layout is very classic, without slides or extravagance, a legacy of a classic cruise line like Holland America—a place for simple things: talking, reading a book, sunbathing, or simply contemplating the sea.
Cassiopeia Deck:
This deck features the bridge and several officers' cabins forward. In the center is the gymnasium, in an unusual location, next to two saunas and two massage rooms. The Marella Dream is not a ship for athletes, and the size of the gymnasium is proof of that. Furthermore, it is only accessible from the bow. Further aft is another group of suites (in the section lengthened in 1990), extending to the storage area. And at the very stern, surrounding the lower deck's swimming pool, is a U-shaped sun deck, also decked in teak.
Sirens Deck:
This deck had one of the most interesting mixes of spaces found on a cruise ship. Above the bridge was the movie theater, which in Costa's time was converted into six suites with balconies. Just aft is the central pool, equipped with a retractable glass roof. This pool is for adults only. It was the first Holland America ship with this feature, which later became standard for that cruise line. The pool is perhaps small, and there are only two Jacuzzis. But the best feature is the sundeck, decked in real teak.
Aft of the central pool is the second buffet, Sirens Restaurant, added during the lengthening, which is very popular at afternoon tea. It has large side windows and wooden chairs. It can accommodate 238 people, and its relatively low ceiling makes it noisy. Part of the buffet, to starboard, has been converted into Mistral's Restaurant, an à la carte restaurant with an additional charge, accessible only by reservation.
The Marella Dream is sailing the Caribbean this winter, and will be based in Palma de Mallorca next summer.
There is an additional deck, the 12th, which offers The Sun Lounge, a private outdoor space for a fee, in an area that was originally a multi-sports court, well protected from the wind by glass screens.
Advantages of a Small Ship:
The Marella Dream is a ship where orientation is very simple, despite lacking the familiar landmark of an atrium. The cabins are located in the hull, and the public areas are on the upper decks. The only exception is the dining room. There are four elevator and stairwell blocks, but the two aft ones do not reach the upper decks. Passengers with a cabin aft have to walk dozens of meters forward to reach the theater or the pool.
Its main strength is the large amount of outdoor space, including the aft decks. It's not a family ship. In fact, it never has been for any of its owners, and it has no special facilities for children or teenagers. Nor is it a ship for groups and conventions, as it doesn't have a proper meeting room with multimedia equipment, although the games room and theater can be used for this purpose.
Its decor is very classic, which is especially true on Deck 8, home to most of the public spaces, and on the promenade deck, where teak doors and brass portholes lend a timeless look rarely found on newer ships. Adding to this impression are the onboard artworks, also selected with a traditional approach. Most of the pieces were inherited from Holland America Line.
During a dry-dock in November 2018, the ship received a minor renovation: new upholstery in some of the bars, water fountains on all cabin decks, new sun loungers on deck 11, USB ports installed in The Coffee Port, etc.
offers
a wide variety of cabins, although very few have balconies, arranged along two longitudinal corridors. The cabin selection is extensive, with three main types:
• Suites and Luxury Staterooms. Both categories are a legacy of Home Line design. There are five suites, each approximately 38 square meters. They feature two twin beds convertible to a double bed, a separate living room with two sofas, a dressing room, and a spacious bathroom. These are located amidships on the Auriga Deck, to port, between standard staterooms. In addition, the Marella Dream has eight Luxury Staterooms of 22 square meters, which have the disadvantage of being quite long, located on the Andromeda Deck, aft of the second level of the theater. These staterooms have two wardrobes, a small sitting area, and two twin beds convertible to a double bed. The bathroom, located opposite the wardrobes, has the same size and layout as in the suites.
In the cabins, the dark wood furniture combined with contemporary art hanging on the walls and the use of soft fabrics make them truly elegant.
• Outside cabins. These have an average area of 17.5 m2. Almost all have two large wardrobes and two single beds that can be converted into a double bed. The bathroom is the same size and layout as those in the suites. It has a shower and is generally spacious. Many cabins have a sofa bed, and 40 are specially designed for families, accommodating up to four people (sofa bed and bunk bed).
• Inside cabins. All inside cabins on the Marella Dream are approximately 14.2 m2 and have two twin beds. They are small by today's standards and feel more like singles than doubles.
A generous 66% of the cabins are outside cabins, and are equipped with a television, hairdryer, bathroom or shower, and safe. The Marella Dream offers four cabins for disabled guests. And only six suites with balconies, the most striking difference on this ship.
An expert and dedicated crew.
The crew is another of the ship's strengths. Marella maintains its classic ships because a segment of its clientele demands that the crew genuinely interact with them, even reminding them of past cruises, particularly in the ship's restaurants, where crew and passengers share stories and memories of past voyages.
The fact that gratuities are included in the cruise fare does not affect the level of service provided, which is very good according to satisfaction surveys. The ship offers excellent value for money and began offering an all-inclusive option in May 2019, with the exception of certain premium beverage brands.
In short, the Marella Dream is the right ship for passengers who demand a traditional, comfortable, affordable cruise style with all facilities readily available.
