AIDAluna

The first order by Carnival for the AIDA Cruises brand after the takeover of the P&O Princess operation, was a four ship class especially designed for AIDA Cruises. This class would be just under 70.000 tons and they became the largest ships in the fleet of AIDA. The name that had been chosen for the class was again Egyptian orientated, like the AIDA name and the hullart earlier. The ships were ordered from the long established Jos L. Meyer Werft at Papenburg in the north of Germany and the first ship floated out at the 4th of march 2007 and she was named AIDAdiva. This ship was followed by AIDAbella, a name that was chosen out of a competition and reflects the beauty of these ships. I have to be honest to be a little sceptical about this, because the beauty of this new class was not very easy to spot at first sight. But I have to say I got used to the design by seeing more of these ships and it kind of works for me. Especially because it is a one-company design, something very new in past years for a Carnival-owned company. Next to that, it's very innovative and recognizable.

AIDAluna, the thirth ship of the Sphinx class is the last one of the original design. The picture was taken at Amsterdam at the 20th of march 2009, just four days after her delivery to her owners. Amsterdam was in fact her first port of call, after she left Hamburg, the true homeport for the ships of AIDA although they are registered at Genoa.

AIDAluna, as said was the thirth ship of the class and she and her two earlier sisters measure 69.203 tons and they have a lenght of 251,76 meters. Their width is 32,19 meters and they cater for 2050 passengers served by 646 crewmembers. They have a draft of 7,50 meters. The ships have a total of 14 decks and the design is a little excentric, with a large bulbous middlesection made of glass bursting out of her upper decks. Within this, the Theatrium is housed, a unique space where the combination is made between, you'd guess, a theatre and an atrium. This 3-deck high space has a floor area of 3000 square meters, and it houses several bars next to the theatre itself. For passengers who like swimming more than theater, the Sphinx class is equipped with the largest sea-going swimming pools ever fitted onto a cruiseship. This ship has, next to the Theatrium, another theater at the poolside, a first for AIDA Cruises.

The Theatrium as it looks from the outside at AIDAsol. The Theatrium is a unique space and it gives a very recognizable feature to the Sphinx-class ships.

AIDAluna again, showing her other side at her Amsterdam arrival at the 20th of march 2009.

AIDAluna floated out of her building dock at the 10th of february 2009. This ship has, next to the Theatrium, another theater at the poolside, a first for AIDA Cruises. At the 21st of february, she made her transit over the river Ems towards the Northsea for her trials but during those trials, at the 23rd of february after leaving the port of Emden, the ship went back to the wharf at Harland & Wolf for inspection during which an object was spotted tangled on her propellers. A few days later, the object had been removed and the ship was cleared for furthers trials. She was delivered at the 16th of march 2009 and was named by the German supermodel, Franziska Knuppe at Palma de Mallorca at the 4th of april 2009. I was able to take pictures of the ship during the voyage from Hamburg to Palma when she visited Amsterdam as her first port of call.