AIDAaura

AIDAaura is the third cruise ship operated by the German cruise line AIDA Cruises. AIDAaura was built in 2003 by the German shipyard Aker MTW in Wismar. She is identical to AIDAvita. In June 2023, Istanbul-based Miray Cruises announced that they had acquired the ship for their Life at Sea Cruises operation, and would rename her MV Lara for a 3-year "world cruise", starting November 2023.

AIDAaura in Istanbul harbor, Turkey, 2012.
History
Name
  • 2003-present: AIDAaura
  • 2023 onwards: Lara (planned)
Owner
Operator
  • 2003-present: AIDA Cruises
  • 2023 onwards: Life At Sea Cruises (planned)
Port of registry
BuilderAker MTW (Germany)
Cost$350 million
Yard number004
Laid down11 January 2002
Launched7 September 2002
Christened12 April 2003
Completed3 April 2003
Maiden voyageApril 2003
In service2003–present
Identification
Statusin active service
General characteristics
TypeCruise ship
Tonnage
Length
  • 202.85 m (665 ft 6 in) oa
  • 179.74 m (589 ft 8 in) pp
Beam28.1 m (92 ft 2 in)
Draft8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
Installed power27,150 kW (36,410 hp)
Propulsion
Speed19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph)
Capacity1,266 passengers
Crew389

Description

AIDAaura is considered a mid-sized cruise ship[1] measuring 202.85 m (665 ft 6 in) long overall and 179.74 m (589 ft 8 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 28.1 m (92 ft 2 in) and a draft of 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in). The cruise ship has a 42,289 gross tonnage (GT) and measures 4,157 tons deadweight (DWT).[2] The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric system turning two screws rated at 27,150 kilowatts (36,410 hp).[1][3] The ship has a maximum speed of 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph).[3]

The cruise ship has capacity for 1,266 passengers. AIDAaura has 633 cabins, ranging from 13.5–32.0 square meters (145–344 sq ft) in size of which 60 are equipped with a balcony. The vessel is equipped with several amenities for the passengers including bars, lounges, a library and a two-storey theater. AIDAaura has a crew of 389. The markings of the vessel include red lips and blue eyes painted on the bow of Aida, the Ethiopian princess from the Giuseppe Verdi opera of 1871. The vessel has a swept-back funnel and a wedge-shaped stern.[1]

Construction and career

The cruise ship was laid down on 11 January 2002 at the Aker MTW shipyard in Wismar, Germany with the yard number 004. The vessel was launched on 14 September 2002 and completed on 3 April 2003.[3] The vessel cost $350 million.[4] The vessel was christened AIDAaura on 12 April 2003 at Warnemünde.[5] The vessel made its maiden voyage in April 2003.[1] In 2003, the vessel was built for P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, which took over ownership of the vessel and registered the cruise ship in London, United Kingdom.[3][6] In 2004, AIDAaura was acquired by Costa Crociere and the registry moved to Genoa, Italy and the operator changed to AIDA Cruises, a subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation.[6][2]

On 8 October 2018, AIDAaura departed from Hamburg on a 117-day round-the-world cruise. The ship visited 41 ports in 20 countries on four continents.[7] AIDAaura, with about 1,200 people on board, was held on 3 March 2020 in the harbor of Haugesund, Norway, while two asymptomatic German passengers were tested who had been in contact with a person who subsequently developed COVID-19; their test results were negative.[8][9]

In January 2023 AIDA Cruises said that the ship would be decommissioned in autumn 2023.[10] Istanbul-based Miray Cruises announced in June that they had acquired the ship for their Life at Sea Cruises operation, and would rename it Lara, replacing the intended Gemini. Their intent is to offer a 3-year world cruise, beginning in November 2023.[11] She will be handed over to the company in September, and undergo renovations in Istanbul.[12] The last voyage of the AIDAaura ended in Bremerhaven, Germany on 21 September 2023.[13][14][15]

Citations
  1. Ward 2019, p. 309.
  2. DNV GL.
  3. Miramar Ship Index.
  4. Ward 2005.
  5. "History". AIDA Cruises. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  6. Equasis.
  7. "AIDAaura Set for 2018 World Cruise". cruiseindustrynews.com. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  8. "Coronavirus: Außenministerium warnt Deutsche vor Kreuzfahrten" [Coronavirus: crisis team advises against cruises]. Berliner Morgenpost (in German). 5 March 2020.
  9. "Coronavirus: German cruise ship held in Norwegian harbour as passengers tested". The Local De. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. "AIDA Cruises eröffnet am 9. Januar 2023 die Farewell-Saison von AIDAaura" (in German). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  11. "Miray Upgrades Ship for Three Year World Cruise". Cruise Industry News. New York. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  12. Kalosh, Anne (29 June 2023). "Miray Cruises is the reported buyer of AIDAaura". Seatrade Cruise News. Colchester. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  13. "Dieses Schiff startet zur längsten Reise in der Geschichte der Kreuzfahrt" (in German). 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  14. "Das war's: In Bremerhaven endet die letzte Fahrt der „Aidaaura"" (in German). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  15. "Das Ende der „Aidaaura": Kreuzfahrtschiff kommt ein letztes Mal nach Bremerhaven" (in German). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.

Sources
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