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AIDA Cruises: start of construction of the first LNG cruise ship in the world at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg

Pre-reservationsfor initial cruises around the Canaries from today

OnFebruary 21, 2017, a new age dawned for the cruise shipping sector at the MeyerWerft shipyard in Papenburg. AIDA President Felix Eichhorn and Meyer WerftDirector Bernard Meyer performed the symbolic first steel cutting for theworld's first cruise ship that can be run completely on liquid natural gas(LNG).
TheRostock-based cruise company had announced the continuation of the longstandingstrategic partnership with the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg in the summerof 2015 and issued the order for two new vessels of the next AIDA generation.The vessels, with a size in excess of 180,000 GT (gross tonnage) and around2,500 cabins each will strengthen the AIDA fleet in the fall of 2018 and spring2021 respectively.

With the"Green Cruising" concept, AIDA Cruises will be the first cruise shippingcompany in the world with the capability to operate its new generation of shipsusing 100% LNG.

"Withthe start of construction of the first LNG cruise ship in the world, we are notonly setting standards for the future in terms of eco-friendliness. Thanks tothe further development of the innovative ship design and a large number ofsuccessful product innovations of the existing AIDA fleet, we will be openingup totally new worlds of experience to our guests on board our ships in thefuture. An extraordinary variety of individual vacation possibilities,innovative entertainment and cuisine concepts, inspired by the modern lifestyleof international hotspots – these are just some of the themes with which we arecreating new impetus in Germany's vacation market", said Felix Eichhorn on theoccasion of the first steel cutting in Papenburg.

"We arevery proud to be driving forward this quantum leap in the area of environmentalprotection together with AIDA Cruises. The successful development of this newand sophisticated ship class for AIDA Cruises shows what a good team spirit,the consistent pursuit of a common goal and committed people can bring about",added Bernard Meyer.

The newgeneration of ships combines innovative design with state-of-the-art technologyfor even more comfort on board. The successfully launched features, such as theBrewerie, Theatrium, Beach Club and the Four Elements, have been developedfurther for the new vessel generation. A new cabin concept will provide AIDAguests with even more room for individuality and personal service in thefuture, from the Penthouse Suite to the extra-large cabin for families as wellas the single cabin. Culinary trends from all over the world served in 15restaurants and 23 bars will inspire guests to sample something new onboard.

Thefirst 7-day cruises on the 13^th member of the AIDA fleet will takeguests to the Canaries from December 2018. AIDA Cruises will announcefurther details of the new generation of ships over the coming months.

Thosewho wish to be among the first to make a pre-reservation or who would like toobtain the latest first-hand information about AIDA's next generation of shipsshould register at www.aida.de/genaumeinurlaub, startingfrom February 21, 2017.

Apreview of the next generation of AIDA ships can be found in the newly designedAIDA Cruises exhibition area at the Meyer Werft shipyard visitors' center inPapenburg, which attracts up to 300,000 guests each year. In the "AIDA Lounge",visitors can obtain an insight into the diversity of the world of AIDA as wellas obtain the very latest information about the progress of construction. Avisit to the "AIDA Lounge" is possible as part of a guided tour arranged inadvance. For registration and further information, please go to www.meyerwerft.de or www.papenburg-marketing.de.

Papenburg/Rostock,February 21, 2017

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