AIDA Cruises orders two new Club Ships

The German cruise operator AIDA Cruises (Rostock/Neu-Isenburg) has placed contracts with Meyer Werft in Papenburg for the construction of two 68,500 gt cruise ships. Delivery of the two newbuildings is scheduled for April 2007 and April 2009 respectively. These contracts will considerably improve the workload situation of the shipyard for the coming years.

“We are very pleased with these contracts which are extremely important for us. We have been struggling for almost two years to win these contracts, and had to face fierce competition on the way. Now we are glad that we are the ones who will build these new, sophisticated ships for the German cruise market,” as Bernard Meyer, Meyer Werft?s CEO, puts it.

The two cruise ships will have an overall length of 249 metres and a width of 32.2 metres. These new vessels will carry 2,030 passengers in 1,015 cabins and are the third generation of ships built and operated according to the AIDA concept. Moreover, the ships will feature plenty of technical innovations and interior design novelties. The well-known brand design regarding the outer appearance of the AIDA ships will be maintained.

Four large diesel engines will generate 36,000 kW which will provide the power to drive the ships at a speed of more than 21 knots. The cruise operator hitherto trading under the name Seetours, which is a member of the Carnival group, will operate under its brand name “AIDA” starting from 1 November. AIDA Cruises will increase their fleet and also intend to offer bigger ships.