In a lavish presentation in Hamburg this morning (8 October 2013), AIDA Cruises revealed the name of the first of its two new vessels under construction in Japan - AIDAprima, Alan Lam reports from Hamburg. Cruise Business was the only non-German publication present at the event, he says.
Upon delivery in 2015, the ship will be the first ever cruise liner to homeport Hamburg. Starting 20 June of the same year, AIDAprima will depart on her first of the 52 seven-day round-trip voyages, calling at Southampton, Le Havre, Zeebrugge, and Rotterdam, with Hamburg as both the departure and arrival city.
The maiden voyage from Yokohama to Hamburg will take 86 days, calling at 39 ports in 22 countries on three continents. The company hailed the new ship as the beginning of "the new AIDA generation" and introduced a new motto to compliment this step: "2015: Rediscover Cruising!"
"AIDAprima will usher in a new age of cruising," said Michael Ungerer, the President of AIDA Cruises."We are constantly thinking beyond the horizon. Our new flagship will offer more rooms, more variety and more individuality than ever before."
The line has also confirmed that each of the two new ships under construction will be 124,500 gross tons, 300 metres long and 37.6 metres wide, with a passenger capacity of 3,300. They will be delivered in March 2015 and March 2016, respectively.
The new ship, according to the company, will set new standards in terms of environmental protection. It will be fitted with a comprehensive filter system to reduce exhaust. The line claims that, with this exhaust treatment technology, it is able to reduce emissions of soot particles, nitrogen oxide, and sulphur oxide by up to 99 percent.
AIDAprima will have a revolutionary new hull design to considerably increase energy efficiency. Its Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS) will be the industry first. This technology allows the ship to "glide on a carpet of air", thus further reducing fuel consumption. Other features like the latest pod drive technology will also help promoting fuel economy. The ship will be fitted with duel fuel engines that can "be powered almost emissions-free with liquefied gas regardless of availability in the port".
AIDA Cruises also presented a whole host of dining, bar and entertainment options on board, making the ship a destination itself. Being the first year-round ship based in Hamburg, perhaps the most eye-catching of all is its weather-independent concept of "vacation with guaranteed sunshine" that encompasses "Four Elements and AIDA Beach Club".
The elements of air, water, earth and fire inspired the design of the activity deck that includes two AIDA Racer water slides and climbing walls. The deck will have an expandable membrane roof to shut out the inclement weather.
AIDA Beach Club is a palm-lined poolside wonderland under a UV-permeable membrane dome. At night the dome serves as a projection surface for a virtual starry sky or for laser shows.
Among other fresh features, the company also, for the first time, introduces the so-called AIDA Mini Club that provides childcare in addition to the existing Kids and Teen Club.
AIDAprima will have 1,643 staterooms with 14 different variations and 32 suites with up to 53 sqm of living space.
The line has today also launched its 2015 catalogue for the new ship.