After two postponements due to the high complexity in the realization of such an innovative prototype, AIDAnova, the new flagship of the AIDA Cruises fleet, was finally delivered to the shipowner yesterday at the Meyer Werft plant in Papenburg (Germany). The ceremony was attended, among others, by the CEO of the Costa and Carnival Asia group Michael Thamm, the president of AIDA Cruises Felix Eichhorn, the managing directors of Meyer Werft Bernard and Tim Meyer and the captain of the ship Boris Becker. AIDAnova marks a real watershed in the history of cruise ships, placing itself as the first unit in the world entirely powered by LNG, both in port and at sea.
Eichhorn kept on reiterating the uniqueness of the ship. With great enthusiasm and creativity we have put together an extraordinary variety of products on board AIDAnova. We are particularly proud to have the most eco-friendly cruise ship in the world in our fleet, and we will continue this continuous development. “We would like to thank the Meyer Werft shipyard and our many partners for their efforts to implement new ideas and concepts, and we are confident that we have introduced the future of cruises together with this prototype
The interiors of the new flagship AIDA impress with their innovative design. Modern architecture gives the accommodation a sense of lightness and airiness. Moreover, the chosen color shades contribute to amplify the overall sense of elegance, and the sophisticated structures guarantee surprising effects.
In terms of environmental impact and eco-sustainability, the Teutonic brand began investing in LNG ten years ago. With this propulsion technology, emissions of particulates and sulfur oxides are almost completely eliminated, while those of nitrogen oxides and CO2 are considerably reduced. Two twins of the new AIDA unit will debut respectively in 2021 and 2023: in less than 5 years, therefore, more than a third of the guests of the German company will sail on board all or part of the LNG powered units.
AIDAnova will spend its inaugural season in the Canaries and Madeira, where it will propose 7-day itineraries touching Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and the Portuguese archipelago. Starting from the summer of 2019, however, the flagship AIDA will direct the bow to the Mediterranean, where it will stop in Mallorca, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, La Spezia and Marseille.
