She was built in 1984 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France for Holland America Line (HAL) as MS Noordam.

Marella Celebration was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in 1984 for Holland America Line as Noordam at a cost of $160 million and became the third HAL vessel to bear the name.

[8] She was originally furnished with a $1 million art collection, some of which, including a 17th-century Oriental screen, can still be found on board.

[8] Her sister ship, Thomson Spirit, also originally operated for HAL as Nieuw Amsterdam.

[9] On 14 September 2022 the ship left Eleusis towards Aliaga, towed by the tug Vernicos Sifnos.