In 2023, the leading German cruise line will launch another next-generation ship. AIDAnova, the first of its kind, will join the AIDA Cruises fleet this fall. Two sister ships will follow in spring 2021 and 2023. This substantial expansion over the next five years will provide the tourism market with a new impetus for growth and help meet the growing demand for cruise vacations.
“On board our ships, which travel to the world’s most beautiful destinations, we offer the widest variety of vacations in the German market, with a complete package of culture, entertainment, sports, wellness, and culinary delights. Interest in the AIDAnova, the first of our new generation ships, is enormous, even before its arrival this fall. With the contract signed today, we will secure long-term growth in the cruise market and be able to offer exciting deals in this expanding vacation segment in the future. Thanks to greater diversity on board, we are opening up entirely new possibilities for attracting new audiences with different demographics,” said Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises.
Starting with AIDAnova, the next generation of ships will combine innovations with new developments of existing facilities in the current fleet. More than 40 different restaurants and bars on board invite guests to enjoy new dining experiences and culinary trends. Versatile entertainment options include an enhanced auditorium, a dedicated onboard television studio, and new restaurants. Passengers can choose from more than 20 cabin types, from the Penthouse Suite to generously sized family cabins, and even single cabins with balconies.
At the same time, the company reaffirms its commitment to the environment and its reliance on "Made in Germany" with the construction of another ship at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, which will run exclusively on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Tim Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft: “This is the tenth AIDA ship we have built in Papenburg, emphasizing a long-term partnership between AIDA and Meyer Werft. AIDAnova and the next two sister ships will feature the latest technology focused on sustainability and energy efficiency.”.
Over the next few years, AIDA Cruises will invest more than €3 billion in expanding its fleet. With each new ship, AIDA Cruises creates around 2,000 quality jobs onboard and ashore, and provides several thousand more highly skilled jobs in Germany and Europe in shipyards and the supplier industry.
The new ship will have more than 180,000 gross registered tons and about 2,700 cabins, and will be the ninth LNG ship built at the Meyer Werft shipyards.
AIDA Cruises will take delivery of Meyer Werft's AIDAnova on November 15, 2018, in Bremerhaven. Prior to the maiden voyage, departing from Hamburg on December 2 for the Canary Islands, passengers will be able to experience the new flagship with exclusive pre-inaugural cruises.
In its debut season, which begins in mid-December, AIDAnova will be offering 7-night cruises to the Canary Islands and Madeira, which, thanks to its pleasant weather, variety of landscapes and short flight times, is one of the most popular destinations for Germans.
