By
Rebecca Gibson |
German cruise operator AIDA Cruises recorded a 20% increase in cruise passengers in 2013, with 763,700 guests sailing on its ten ships.
According to a new study by the Cruise Lines International Association and German travel association DRV, the cruise line grew twice as fast as Germany’s total ocean cruise market, which rose by 9.2% to 1.69 million passengers in 2013.
“Interest in ocean cruises remains high,” said Michael Ungerer, president of AIDA Cruises, at ITB in Berlin. “Since we offer exceptional value for money, the best service and innovative product ideas, we are consistently able to persuade new target groups to take a cruise with AIDA, without losing sight of our regular guests.”
AIDA’s fleet is set to increase from ten to twelve vessels by 2016. The first of the line’s next-generation newbuilds, named AIDAprima, is due to launch in 2015. AIDAprima’s maiden voyage will take place from 22 March to 16 June, taking passengers on an 86-day journey from Yokohama, Japan to Hamburg, Germany. Guests sailing on this voyage will visit 39 ports in 22 countries on three continents. The ship will then homeport in Hamburg from June to offer seven-day roundtrips to western Europe.