AIDA To Offer Short Cruise Before the Nova’s Maiden Voyage

Posted on 4 February, 2018 by Spacejunkie2

AIDA Cruises has announced a series of what it calls pre-premiere cruises on the AIDAnova before the ship sails here maiden voyage on Dec. 2, 2018. AIDA will take ownership of the first new build of the new generation of LNG-fueled ships from Meyer Werft on Nov. 15, 2018.

These short cruises can be booked as of 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2018. The first four-day trip will start directly after the formal handover of the ship in Bremerhaven on Nov. 15 and will sail to Oslo and then to Hamburg. Further short cruises will be sailing to either Rotterdam or Oslo.

Among the design features aboard the new ship, AIDA highlighted the Four Elements, “surrounded by lush vegetation, guests can climb through the treetops or daydream in cosy, cushioned loungers.”

She will also be the first AIDA ship to feature water slides.

The Time Machine restaurant is said to offer adventure and culinary arts, where “guests will enter a world full of wonders, craziness and surprises. Everything revolves and moves – waiters become magicians, conjuring up a delicious three-course meal.”

The Body & Soul Organic Spa will cover 3,500 square meters and promises to offer more than 80 treatments. For the first time, there are two private outdoor sun islands for couples. Another completely new feature is the outdoor sports area with endurance training equipment and training space for morning yoga, Pilates and more.

The Beach Club will offer a summer experience no matter where the ship is. According to AIDA this light-flooded venue is full of Caribbean warmth, protected by a dome that lets the sun and vacation tan in, but keeps the wind and rain out.

Accommodations include 20 different types of stateroom. The new 73- square-meter Penthouse Suite extends over two decks. Guests will be able to enjoy views through the panorama windows and on their 20-square-meter private sun deck.

For families, Veranda Staterooms Deluxe will be available for the first time on Decks 15, 16 and 17.

AIDAnova also sets another record for the brand, offering more culinary diversity with a total of 17 restaurants. In addition, AIDA’s entertainment has evolved with new formats that involve the guest more than before, the line said.

Carnival Corporation expects revenue to rise by 2.5% in 2018

Posted on 22 December, 2017 by Spacejunkie2

Related image
Carnival Horizon being constructed and due next year.

Carnival Corporation has announced a $2.6billion net income for the full year of 2017.

Revenues for 2017 were $17.5billion – $1.1billion higher than the $16.4billion in 2016.

Carnival said in its annual report that it expects 2018 revenue yield to be up 2.5% compared to this year.

Bookings across the world’s largest travel company for 2018 have been running well ahead of the prior year at higher prices, Carnival said.

Carnival’s president and chief executive officer Arnold Donald said that despite booking disruptions from this year’s hurricanes, the company was heading into 2018 with a stronger base of business and higher prices than last year.

Donald said: “We have numerous efforts underway to keep the momentum going in 2018 and beyond, from our innovative approaches to increased consideration for cruising, to the further roll-out of our state-of-the-art revenue management system.

“In 2018 we also look forward to the delivery of four new cutting-edge ships, Carnival Horizon, Seabourn Ovation, AIDAnova, and Nieuw Statendam to further our strategic fleet enhancement program.”

Disruptions to voyages caused by hurricanes reduced fourth quarter earnings by approximately $0.11 per share.

AIDAnova Keel Laid

Posted on 7 September, 2017 by Spacejunkie2

AIDANova has had her Keel Laid at Meyer Werft Germany.

Carnival Corporation marked the official start of construction for a total of seven cruise ships that will be fully powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) with today’s keel laying of the AIDAnova at Meyer Werft in Germany.

The ship will be delivered to AIDA in late 2018.

n the presence of AIDA President Felix Eichhorn, Bernard Meyer, CEO of Meyer Werft, and Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Werft, two trainees named Louisa Tröbner (AIDA Cruises) and Martin de Boer (Meyer Werft) placed the traditional lucky coin under the first of a total of 90 blocks.

AIDA President Felix Eichhorn said: “One of the main tasks AIDA Cruises sets itself is to make cruises sustainable. With AIDAnova and its sister ship, we are sticking to this course with our pioneering work. Thanks to our trailblazing green cruising design, the use of only LNG in the cruise industry will become a reality in 2018.”

“We thank Carnival Corporation and AIDA Cruises very much for their trust and their pioneering decision to implement LNG technology on board. The corresponding infrastructure is now being developed at numerous ports. Carnival has made a decision benefiting the environment that is highly important for the cruise industry,” added Bernard Meyer, CEO of Meyer Werft.

Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation, together with Bernard Meyer, CEO Meyer Werft, Michael Thamm, CEO Costa Group and Carnival Asia, David Dingle, Chairman Carnival UK (P&O Cruises UK), Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises, and Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, – gave the official “full steam ahead” signal, ringing in a new era of the commercial use of low-emission LNG in cruise travel. The seven LNG ships for cruise brands Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Carnival UK, and AIDA Cruises will be built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg (Germany) and Turku (Finland) and commissioned between 2018 and 2022.

In AIDAnova’s launch season, the ship will offer trips around the Canary islands.

starting in December 2018. Its twin ship with over 180,000 GT and 2,600 staterooms is set to be commissioned in the spring of 2021. Using LNG prevents almost completely