Tag Archives: Indian Ocean

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Currently offering a farewell season, the ship is scheduled to be withdrawn from the AIDA Cruises fleet at the end of the third quarter of 2023.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

New Look Sapphire Princess Sails for Europe

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Sapphire Princess

The Sapphire Princess has embarked on her maiden Singapore to Southampton 38-night voyage following a two-week dry dock in Singapore.

This “Indian Ocean Grand Europe Adventure” voyage will visit 17 ports including Colombo, Cochin, Dubai, Petra, scenic cruising along the Suez Canal, Santorini, Monte Carlo, Florence, Malta, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Paris before arriving in Southampton.

Homeporting in Southampton for the first time, the Sapphire Princess also makes her maiden calls to the British Isles, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean and will sail three- to 14-night voyages to a total of 42 destinations in this region. The Sapphire Princess will also make Princess Cruises’ first port call to Skagen (Denmark).

Sapphire Princess will return to Singapore in November 2018 to continue her fifth Singapore homeporting season together with Diamond Princess.

The 2,560-guest Sapphire Princess now has a new livery on her bow that features the iconic Princess Cruises logo and has been outfitted with the Princess Luxury beds in all cabins, the company said.

Other upgrades during the drydock include the fitness centre, spa, and retail shops, among other areas.

Fire Extinguished After Outbreak Onboard Costa Cruise Ship

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Apparently a fire broke out onboard the Costa neoClassica which is operated by the European based Costa Cruises.

According to reports the fire broke out in the ships funnel while the 56,800 gross ton ship was sailing in the Red Sea yesterday evening (December 23rd). The good news is that the fire was extinguished by crew personnel quickly and it didn’t affect any onboard operations.

Cruise hive got in touch with Costa Cruises and gave us the following statement:

Yesterday at about 9.25pm Italy time a fire has been detected coming out of the funnel on board Costa neoClassica while sailing the Red Sea, destination Aqaba on her planned route to Indian Ocean.

The shipboard personnel promptly intervened and the fire was quickly extinguished. The safety of guests and crew was never put at risk and no injury was reported. As a precaution and as per procedures General Emergency signals have been given and the released shortly thereafter.

All ship services have always been working and have never been stopped. The ship reached her destination port in Aqaba and is now berthed. Proper investigations on root causes are in progress and situation is normal.

According to the assessments now being performed, operations of the ship will be modified if needed. The Costa neoClassica has been refurbished in Dec 2014 she can host a total of 1,680 Guests, she is 53,000 gT. The ship is currently performing a 25 days cruise to Indian Ocean.

The Costa neoclassica departed Savona, Italy on December 18th on a 28-day voyage to multi destinations that will end up at Mauritius on January 11th 2015. An investigation is now underway by Costa on the cause of the fire and there is not expected to be any further delay.

The Costa neoClassica was previously known as Costa Classica and has recently undergone a multi million Euro upgrade. The vessel had been in dry dock since 18th December.