AIDA Cruises, the German unit in Carnival Corp & plc group, said it carried 763,700 passengers last year, an increase of 20% on 2012. "This means that the cruise company has grown twice as fast as the market as a whole. A new study by the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) and the DRV (German Travel Association) shows that the German market for ocean cruises grew by 9.2 percent in 2013 to 1.69 million passengers," the company said in a statement.
"Interest in ocean cruises remains high. Since we offer exceptional value for money, the best service, and innovative product ideas, we are consistently able to persuade new target groups to take a cruise with AIDA, without losing sight of our regular guests," said Michael Ungerer, President of AIDA Cruises, on the occasion of the world's leading tourism fair, ITB, in Berlin. "This success would not be possible without our many partners in the travel agency business. I thank all of them for our excellent working relationship."
The cruise company is also set for further growth in the coming years. The AIDA fleet – one of the most modern and energy efficient in the world – will increase in size from its current ten vessels to twelve by 2016. The first ship of the new AIDA Generation, AIDAprima, will be inaugurated and put into service in 2015.
AIDAprima's maiden voyage will take place from March 22 June 16, 2015, taking it on a unique 86-night journey from Yokohama, Japan to Hamburg. AIDA guests will have a chance to visit 39 ports in 22 countries on three continents. From June 20, 2015, the port of Hamburg will be the start and end point for AIDAprima's 7-night round trips to the metropolises of Western Europe.
