AIDAcara opens the Kiel cruise season
The AIDA fleet will visit 52 times with four ships for the first time
Today's visit to Kiel by AIDAcara in bright spring weather not only heralded the start of this year's cruise season, it also signaled the ceremonial inauguration of the new Walk of Cruise Ships. The first foundation stone in front of the Ostseekai terminal was unveiled jointly by Captain Manuel Pannzek and the Deputy Mayor of Kiel Robert Vollborn on 9 April. With this act, the City of Kiel wants to honor the ships that are of particular importance for Kiel as a cruise center. The first bronze plaque honors AIDAcara, the cruise ship with the most visits to Kiel so far. On May 7, AIDAcara will call at the Seaport of Kiel for the 150th time – an impressive anniversary and reason enough to record this with a token of solidarity and loyalty. The first visit by the 193.3 meter long and 27.6 meter wide vessel took place on June 8, 1996. AIDAcara was still called simply AIDA at that time and was the company's only ship back then.
"We have always felt very welcome in Kiel since the very first day AIDA's success story started. In addition, its location makes Kiel the perfect base port for a large number of very varied cruises. Arriving at and departing from the fjord is especially convenient for our guests. The logistics for passenger turnarounds are also particularly good in the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein", comments Michael Pannzek, Captain of AIDAcara.
This season, there will be four ships from the AIDA fleet calling at the Port of Kiel for the first time. AIDAcara (12 visits) will be followed in the coming months by AIDAluna (10 visits), AIDAvita (21 visits) and AIDAbella (9 visits). In total, the puckered lip beauties will make 52 visits, offering our guests an incomparable variety of packages and programs from Kiel.
AIDAcara and AIDAvita will depart from Kiel for their premiere Selection season – AIDA's new vacation program. AIDA Selection stands for exceptional cruises to new regions and exclusive ports on ships of the first AIDA generation.
AIDAcara will take guests on four 7-day cruises in the direction of Norway, Sweden and Denmark in April 2017. These will be followed in May and June 2017 by 14-day "Great Baltic Sea Cruises". The overnight stay and the White Nights in St. Petersburg are absolutely spectacular. Guests can experience pure nature and fabulous Hanseatic cities.
From the end of May to mid-October 2017, Kiel will be the base port for AIDAvita. From Kiel, guests can embark on 14-day cruises to discover "Great Britain & Ireland", among other places. Equally incomparable are the 14-day cruises on AIDAvita from Kiel to the Land of the Northern Lights up to the North Cape and to the Lofoten Islands or the cruises to the Nordic Islands and Iceland in June and July 2017. The varied program in Northern Europe is rounded off by various short cruises to Norway or Sweden in May and October.
From June 22, AIDAbella will offer exciting cruises to the most popular destinations in Northern Europe. Ideal for all those who want to spend a short vacation on board or try out the sea cruise air for the first time are the 4-day cruises to Copenhagen and Oslo, also offered by AIDAluna. In addition, AIDAluna will depart on four selected dates for a 17-day "Arctic Circle Highlights" cruise to Spitzbergen in the far north.
The cruises to the Kieler Woche regatta represent a further highlight for boat and ship enthusiasts. AIDA guests can enjoy the spectacular backdrop from the pool deck when entering and leaving the port. AIDAvita (06.17), AIDAcara (06.18), AIDAbella (06.22) and AIDAluna (06.25) will all pay a visit during the Kiel Regatta from June 17 - 25.
Anyone wanting to visit the AIDA ships before they go on a cruise will have the opportunity to do this on multiple dates between April and October. The visit to the ship will include a three-hour guided tour as well as lunch on board. The price of €49 per person will be refunded to guests who book an AIDA cruise within three months of visiting one of our ships in the form of a €50 onboard credit. Children up to 15 years of age can go on board free of charge. Registration is possible online at www.aida.de/schiffsbesuche.
In addition to heralding the Kiel season, AIDA will also signal its conclusion with the visit of AIDAvita on October 21.
Information about cruises on AIDAcara and the ships of the ‘Puckered Lips Fleet' can be obtained from your local travel agent, by visiting www.aida.de or by calling the AIDA Customer Center at 0381-202 7070 07.
Rostock, April 9, 2017
