Tag Archives: Warnemunde

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Currently offering a farewell season, the ship is scheduled to be withdrawn from the AIDA Cruises fleet at the end of the third quarter of 2023.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

Genting Hong Kong Orders Two 200,000 Ton Cruise Ships at New German Yards

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An illustration of Star Cruises' Global-class cruise ship. Credit: Genting Hong Kong

An illustration of Star Cruises’ Global-class cruise ship. Credit: Genting Hong Kong

Holding company Genting Hong Kong has announced plans to build two 201,000 gross ton cruise ships as part of a 10-ship order at its newly acquired shipyards in Germany.

The two mega cruise ships will be among some of the world’s largest and will be built for Genting’s Star Cruises brand and deployed in the Chinese market. The 201,000 ton vessels will be known as Global-class and will include 5,000 lower berths each.

The eight other vessels will be built for Crystal Cruises and comprise of 6 river cruise ships, an expedition yacht and an “Exclusive Class” vessel.

Delivery of the Global-class vessels is scheduled for 2019 and 2020.

The ten-ship order was placed at Lloyd Werft Group, which was formed last month with Genting’s acquisition of Nordic Yards’ three shipyards in Wismar, Warnemunde and Stralsund, Germany. Prior to the acquisition, Genting only had the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven. The formation makes it one of just four shipbuilding groups with the ability to build large cruise ships using the two large covered dry docks in Wismar and Warnemunde.

“We are pleased that Genting chose Lloyd Werft Group for the construction of their new vessels as the company has built all but one of its new cruise ships in Germany for the Star, Dream and NCL brands due to the company’s desire for quality-built cruise ships,” says Rüdiger Pallentin, the Managing Director of Lloyd Werft Group. “We have the ability to tap into the complex cruise ship subcontractor industry in Europe, many of whom are centered in Germany and we can build cruise ships without major uncertainties in delivery and pricing. The Lloyd Werft Group has two huge covered new building drydocks, a ship launching platform and half a million square meter of covered fabrication halls to build quality cruise ships in all weather conditions.”

The Global-class ships will be largest cruise ships ever built in Germany, even bigger than the Quantum-class ships built at Meyer Werft.

MSC Cruises Northern Europe ended successful season in 2014

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The North European season 2014 goes for MSC cruises to the end and the three MSC ships stationed in Germany goodbye. The MSC Magnifica leaves on 12 October 2014 after 22 attempts, the port of Hamburg. It is replaced by the MSC Splendida, which is in the summer season 2015, as the largest passenger ship in the Hanseatic city.

The port of Hamburg says “Goodbye” to the MSC Magnifica. This popular cruise ship brought two summers thousands passengers from Hamburg to the most beautiful coasts of northern Europe. On October 12, they will start from the Hanseatic city from last ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK. In November, the MSC Magnifica then takes her three-week Grand Voyage to South America, where it crosses in winter 2014/2015. The two stationed in Kiel and Warnemünde MSC ships, MSC Orchestra and MSC Poesia have left Germany in September and will be stationed in the coming winter in Dubai and South America. The MSC Poesia had a total stored in the last season 18 times of Warnemünde, the MSC Orchestra 19 times of Kiel.

Photo: MSC Cruises

“We look back on an extremely successful season in Germany. Our three ships were booked straight through “ , said Michael Zengerle, CEO of MSC Cruises. “Now we look forward to the summer of 2015, and particularly on the MSC Splendida, with which we will provide three premieres in Hamburg: MSC sends the first time one of its flagships from a German port of departure from the north, our guests can book for the first time the MSC Yacht Club from Germany and the MSC Splendida will also be the largest passenger ship serving of the Hanseatic city of cruises. “

Photo: MSC Cruises

The MSC Splendida is on May 1, 2015 will have their big in Hamburg: The ship of the Fantasia-class of MSC with 330 meters and a gross tonnage of 138,000 will be the largest positioned in the Hanseatic city cruise ship with a capacity of 1,637 cars. The baptized by Sophia Loren in 2009 luxury liner is a total of 12 times set sail and start on eight different routes ports in Great Britain, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands as well as in Norway and Iceland. These range from a mini-cruise with four nights to two-week trips. With the MSC Splendida MSC Cruises are in the upcoming summer season about 30 percent more capacity on high demand routes from Hamburg. This MSC responds to the continuing boom in Northern Europe cruises. The three MSC ports in northern and eastern Germany are especially popular with German visitors because of their convenient accessibility.

The MSC Splendida is on the North Europe routes from summer 2015 for the first time an exclusive luxury range available: the MSC Yacht Club, a “ship in the ship” concept for guests who want to be pampered on board in a luxurious ambience and a private atmosphere especially. The MSC Yacht Club includes accommodation in spacious suites in a prime location in the bow of the ship and an all-inclusive drinks deal. Guests may also make use of separate areas such as a restaurant and sun deck as well as use of specific services claim, including them is a personal Butler around the clock.

The MSC Splendida offers its guests a cruise experience at the highest level. The varied gastronomic offer, with 21 bars and five restaurants serving Mediterranean and international cuisine ensures guests every day a new taste experience. The five pools and hot tubs 12 aboard guarantee fun for everyone. A special highlight is the covered and heated pool. This bathing is a pleasure even on chilly days in the far north. The generous Aurea Spa features a sauna, fitness center and elegant massage cabins to relax. Also, tennis, basketball, squash and jogging are possible on board. There is every night in the theater seats 1,600 comprehensive high-class Broadway shows. In addition, on board among others include a 4D cinema, a Formula 1 simulator, bowling, casino, Internet cafe and a disco.

Also in Warnemünde will begin in summer 2015 with the newly refurbished and modernized MSC Sinfonia a new ship, the anfährt on 16 runs many attractive ports in the North and Baltic MSC Cruises. From Kiel MSC Orchestra will happen this coming summer from a total of 19 times and visited, among other things, the port cities of Stockholm, Helsinki and St. Petersburg.