AIDA'S new flagship is currently undergoing final outfitting works at the Mitsubishi shipyard in Japan
By
Rebecca Gibson |
AIDA Cruises’ new flagship AIDAprima now features the line’s signature kissing lips, eyes and waves motif on her bow.
The 124,500gt ship, which is the first of AIDA’s two new Japanese-built vessels, is currently undergoing final outfitting works at the Mitsubishi shipyard in Nagasaki, Japan.
Although AIDA’s signature kissing lips, eyes and waves – designed by Rostock artist Feliks Büttner – have been painted on the bows of all its ships since 1996, each design is slightly different. This is the first time Büttner has adapted the design template for a newly constructed ship with a 300m hull, which meant he had to accommodate the position of lights and the anchor hatch in the bow section to ensure the motif had a 3D effect. In total, the motif is around 261m in length, longer than on any other AIDA ship, while 342 litres of paint in 11 different colours were used.
AIDAprima’s highlights include the Beach Club, which is housed beneath an expandable, transparent membrane roof and features the ‘Four Elements’ activity area with the longest water slide at sea; the new AIDA Mini Club, which provides childcare for children above six months; the Kids and Teens Club; and a 45 m high glass skywalk at the ship’s stern. In addition, the ship will feature an Organic Spa, 14 different stateroom categories, 13 restaurants, the first AIDA cooking school with interactive classes, glass elevators and the Theatrium, which has a circular stage, LED technology and an interactive floating globe.
As the first of AIDA’s ships to be outfitted with dual fuel engines, the vessels will operate using liquefied natural gas and feature a comprehensive filter system to reduce nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide and soot particles by around 90 to 99%. Fuel use will also be reduced by a new hull design, pod drive technology and the use of the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication Systems.
Accommodating around 3,286 passengers, AIDAprima will embark on her 50-day maiden cruise from Yokohama in Japan on 1 October 2015. The 50-day journey ends on November 20, 2015, in Dubai. The voyage, which can also be booked as five different partial cruises, will end in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 20 November.
This winter, AIDAprima will sail seven-day Orient cruises from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, before embarking on the second part of her 38-day maiden voyage on 18 March 2016, where she will take guests from Dubai to its homeport of Hamburg in Germany.
On 30 April 2016, AIDAprima will sail her first seven-day trip from Hamburg to European destinations such as London and Southampton in the UK; Paris in France; Brussels and Zeebrugge in Belgium; and Rotterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands. She will continue to sail this schedule year-round.