In the beginning, there was the idea of a holiday at sea beyond the classic cruise, with absolutely no traditions or conventions. Travelling with the first club cruiser of its kind was to be both active and casual at the same time. This was something completely new on the sea travel market, and was observed with curiosity by all our competitors. The success story of this form of holiday took its course with the ship that is today AIDAcara in 1996. As a combined tour operator and shipping company, Aida Cruises operates and markets fascinating holidays on water to destinations like the Mediterranean, Canaries, North and Baltic Sea, the Caribbean and Middle America.
Aida Cruises is Germany's number one in terms of sales and passengers. The company consistently sets new and unusual trends for holidaying at sea. The fleet today consists of ten cruise ships: AIDAcara, AIDAvita, AIDAaura, AIDAdiva, AIDAbella, AIDAluna, AIDAblu, AIDAsol, AIDAmar and AIDAstella. The ships of the Aida Cruises are operated according to high ISPS and ISM quality, environmental and safety standards. Personal and environmental safety is the foremost priority of the company. To ensure satisfied guests and the highest quality, Aida Cruises uses professional quality assurance systems.
At an early stage, Aida Cruises realised that it reaches its guests mainly through consultation in travel agencies. A team of nationally operating field staff supports more than 10, 000 tourism partners and candidates in dealing with holidays onboard a ship of the Aida line. The consultation in travel agencies is supplemented by innovative and new communication channels and booking options via the internet. As one of eleven brands operated by the Carnival Group, AIDA Cruises is under the executive control of Costa Crociere Group which is responsible for the Carnival Group's European brands. Nevertheless AIDA Cruises has its own executive team, led by company President Michael Thamm. The company is catering mainly to the somewhat younger and more active age group within the German speaking market.
AIDAcara: Italy registered, built 1996 (refitted 2005), 38, 531 gross tons, 1, 186 passengers, 370 crew members.Itineraries: Middle East/India out of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt; Southeast Asia out of Kochi, India and Laem Chabang, Thailand; Mediterranean out of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt and Heraklion (Crete), Greece; Western Europe, Canary Islands out of Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Baltic Sea out of Kiel, Germany; South America out of Santos (Sao Paulo), Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina; Trans-Atlantic out of Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) and Santos (Sao Paulo) Brazil. AIDAvita: Italy registered, built 2002, 42, 289 gross tons, 1, 289 passengers, 420 crew members.
Itineraries: Caribbean out of La Romana, Dominican Republic; Western Mediterranean out of Palma de Mallorca, Spain;, Trans-Atlantic out of Palma de Mallorca, Spain and La Romana, Dominican Republic; Transatlantic/South America/Amazon out of Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Manaus, Brazil. AIDAaura: Italy registered, built 2003, 42, 289 gross tons, 1, 290 passengers, 418 crew members.
Itineraries: Canada/New England out of New York, NY and Montreal, QC; Caribbean out of La Romana, Dominican Republic; Trans-Atlantic out of La Romana, Dominican Republic; Western Europe out of Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Hamburg, Germany; Norwegian Fjords, British Isles out of Hamburg, Germany;
Middle East/India out of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt; India/Southeast Asia out of Kochi, India; Southeast Asia out of Laem Chabang, Thailand. AIDAdiva: Italy registered, built 2007, 68, 500 gross tons, 2, 050 passengers, 646 crew members.
Itineraries: Eastern Mediterranean out of Heraklion (Creta), Greece and Antalya, Turkey; Dubai and Emirates out of Dubai, UAE. AIDAbella: Italy registered, built 2008, 68, 500 gross tons, 2, 050 passengers, 646 crew members.
Itineraries: Western Mediterranean, Northern Africa, Canary Islands from Palma de Mallorca, Spain;...