Tag Archives: anniversary

AIDAaura Completes 20 Years in Service

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Scheduled to leave the AIDA Cruises fleet later this year, the AIDAaura will complete 20 years in service this month.

The 42,000-ton vessel was built at the Aker MTW shipyard in Germany and was christened on April 12, 2003, during a ceremony at the German port of Warnemünde.

The ship was named by top model Heidi Klum. A few days later, the AIDAaura welcomed it’s first paying guests as AIDA’s third purpose-built “club ship.”

As part of the company’s unique product concept, the 1,270-passenger ship features multiple open-seating restaurants, mostly offering buffet-style service, in addition to a more relaxed and informal atmosphere.

The AIDAaura is also equipped with several bars and lounges, a library, a two-story theatre, and more, serving the German-speaking market. During its inaugural season, the ship sailed a series of itineraries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Central America.

The AIDAaura also served as the house of the German Olympic Committee during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

During its 20-year career with AIDA, the ship offered over 800 cruises, sailing to varied destinations that also include Northern Europe, the Indian Ocean, the Amazon, Southeast Asia, Greenland, the Arctic, and more.

After joining the company’s AIDA Selection program in 2016, AIDAaura also offered AIDA’s first-ever world cruise. Sailing during the 2018-2019 winter season, the global tour included visits to 41 destinations in 117 days.

Currently offering a farewell season, the ship is scheduled to be withdrawn from the AIDA Cruises fleet at the end of the third quarter of 2023.

AIDAaura’s last voyage for the company sets sail on September 9 and visits well-known European rivers such as the Thames for Tilbury on the outskirts of the British capital London, the Seine in France for Rouen, and the Scheldt in Belgium for Antwerp.

MSC Cruises’ First Newbuilds Completes 20 Years in Service

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MSC Cruises’ first new build is completing 20 years in service in 2023 as the MSC Lirica was delivered to the company on March 24, 2003.

Built-in France by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, the 65,000-ton ship originally debuted in the Mediterranean.

Before kicking off its inaugural program in the region, the Lirica also became the first ship to be christened by Sophia Loren.

Later the godmother of all of the company’s newbuilds, the Italian actress named the vessel during a special ceremony in the Italian port of Naples.

In addition to the Mediterranean, the MSC Lirica also spent its first years in service sailing in the Caribbean – with U.S.-based cruises departing from Fort Lauderdale – and Northern Europe.

The vessel then debuted in South America in 2009 and in the Middle East, becoming the first MSC ship to sail a complete season in 2010.

In 2016, in another first for MSC Cruises, the MSC Lirica was repositioned to Asia for a series of year-round cruises out of China.

Upon returning to Europe in 2018, the 2,160-guest ship resumed its operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and sailed additional seasons in the Middle East.

As part of a €275-million refit plan called the Renaissance Program, the Lirica was enlarged and modernized in 2015.

After being cut in half at a drydock in Italy, the ship received a new 24-meter-long mid-section that allowed the addition of 194 extra cabins, a new lounge, a kid’s water park and more.

In addition to its new features, the MSC Lirica offers a two-deck theatre, a casino, a complete spa, four different restaurants, two swimming pools and more.

Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas Turns 20 Years Old

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The Navigator of the Seas completed its 20th year in service this month. Part of Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager Class, the 132,000-ton vessel departed on its maiden voyage on December 14, 2002.

At the time as the world’s largest cruise ship, the Navigator debuted in the Caribbean, offering week-long cruises departing from Miami.

Sailing to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, the itineraries featured visits to popular destinations, including St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

The program also included regular calls to Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in Haiti.

After losing the title of the world’s biggest ship to the Queen Mary 2 in 2004, the Navigator continued to sail year-round cruises in the Caribbean through 2007 – when it debuted in Europe.

For its first season in the Old World, the ship offered a series of Northern and Western Europe itineraries departing from Southampton, England. After sailing in additional destinations over the years, the Navigator of the Seas marked the return of Royal Caribbean International to regular operations on the West Coast in 2021.

For the first time in the region, the 3,100-guest ship started a year-round program of cruises to the Mexican Riviera and Baja California sailing from the World Cruise Center in Los Angeles.

The deployment features a variety of short three-, four- and five-night cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada, in addition to week-long itineraries to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and more.

Last drydocked in mid-2021, the Navigator underwent a large modernization in 2019. Part of the Royal Amplified program, the $115-million refit added new attractions to the ship, including a resort-style Caribbean pool deck, the three-level signature bar The Lime & Coconut and the first blow-dry bar at sea To Dry For.

One of the vessel’s most iconic features, the Royal Promenade was also reimagined with the creation of new restaurants, retail and nightlife.