AIDA Cruises, the German unit of Carnival Corp & plc group, says it will introduce winter cruises to Norway and add e.g. the Azores to the range of its destinations in a new brochure launched 20 march.
"Dreaming of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world," as the new brochure is headlined, features about 130 routes including all-new destinations and route combinations. "Each cruise is presented on one page with a clear overview of dates, departure and arrival times, prices, and special highlights on the route," the company said in a statement.
"As a new and exclusive highlight, the new catalog includes three dates for cruises to wintry Norway. These 14-day cruises from/to Hamburg take guests to the land of the northern lights and a unique winter landscape in the fjords. On the route "Norway with Lofoten & North Cape" with AIDAvita guests can explore new territory at three destinations: in Bodø north of the polar circle, in Haugesund in Norway, and in Århus in Denmark," AIDA said.
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In August, Fishguard in Wales and the English city of Newcastle will enhance the route "Great Britain & Ireland." The route "Nordic islands with Iceland" will include three stops at the volcanic glacier island and also the Shetland Islands, Orkney, Scotland, and Denmark.
For the first time, cruises to the Canary Islands with their year-round mild temperatures can be booked in summer as well. New routes at this destination combine the Canary Islands and the Azores. Hot volcanoes, historical towns, crater lakes as smooth as glass, and miles of hydrangea hedges - the Azores are an unusual destination far away from mass tourism. AIDA stops in Faial, Terceira, and São Miguel.
More cruise highlights include new destinations in the Mediterranean, such as classy Nice on the Côte dAzur, the Balearic beauties Ibiza and Minorca, La Spezia, the picturesque Propriano in Corsica, and Souda Bay in Crete.
Up north, surprising new destinations await guests, such as the British Channel Island Guernsey, the Yell Sound strait and Norwegian destinations such as Tromsø, Kristiansand, and Versterålen.
On the Canary Islands, El Hierro will be a destination for AIDA cruises for the first time; St. Thomas will be a stop in the Caribbean, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, and Costa Maya in Mexico. Bornholm will be added to the Baltic Sea, and North America will now include Portland as an attractive new port.
The AIDA routes in the new catalog will take cruise guests to more than 200 ports in 63 countries on five continents. "Cruises ranging from 3 to 51 days in duration allow totally individual vacations.
From fascinating nature up north to cultural treasures in the Baltic countries, Indian summer trips in Canada, cruises in the mysterious Orient, and exotic islands in the Caribbean and in Southeast Asia - the new AIDA program offers astounding variety. European cities and cosmopolitan hubs such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York, and Montreal deliver a program full of contrasts for urban explorers," AIDA said.
For the first time, cruises with additional programmes, such as theme cruises, workshops, and presentations by guest artists and lecturers are specially marked in the catalog. This makes it easier to find personal highlights. On the popular theme cruise "AIDA dances", guests train with celebrity dancer and jury member of the RTL show "Let's Dance", Motsi Mabuse. With the Yogaida & Ayurveda Special, renowned experts introduce guests to a world of ancient healing arts and wellness traditions. And the AIDA holiday cruises, whether for Easter, Christmas, or New Years Eve, promise wonderful buffets, festive celebrations, and fantastic surprise.
The new flag ship AIDAprima will leave Yokohama in Japan on 1 October 2015, for its 50-day maiden voyage. AIDAprima will spend the winter in the Orient for 7-day cruises before it heads north in the second part of its maiden voyage to its future home port in Hamburg. With the port on the Elbe as the point of departure, AIDAprima will set off year-round on Metropolitan Cruises in Northern Europe starting in April 2016.
