Ships from the Costa Group are to make a total of 60 visits in 2016, more than any other cruise line
By
Rebecca Gibson |
AIDA Cruises’ AIDAstella made her inaugural visit to the newly constructed cruise terminal in Mina Zayed in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 30 November.
Arriving at 8pm local time, AIDAstella became the first cruise ship in the Costa Group to dock at the terminal before embarking on a seven-day voyage to Dubai, Muscat in Oman, and Bahrain.
AIDAstella is scheduled to make seven further calls in Abu Dhabi as part of this itinerary in 2015. She will make 23 visits in 2016.
“AIDA and Costa have developed the UAE into one of the most popular cruise destinations for German and European holidaymakers,” said Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA. “The new cruise terminal in Mina Zayed will further enhance the attraction of Abu Dhabi as important turnaround port in the region. With 60 visits in 2016, 40 of them by AIDA, the Costa Group is by far the most important cruise partner for Abu Dhabi.”
AIDAaura is also set to call at Abu Dhabi’s new cruise terminal for the first time on 30 November as part of her 14-day ‘Orient & India’ voyage. In 2016, AIDAaura will call at the port nine times during these itineraries.