AIDAluna

AIDAluna is a Sphinx class cruise ship, owned by US based Carnival Corp and operated by AIDA Cruises.[8] Built by Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, Germany, she is the third ship of the class, preceded by AIDAdiva and AIDAbella, and is followed by AIDAblu, AIDAsol, and AIDAmar. The ship has a capacity of 2,100 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 69,203. AIDAluna was initially deployed in the Baltic Sea for the 2009 Summer season. In Winter 2009, she was redeployed in Canary Islands.[8] AIDAluna has an 8 × 4.5-m poolside theater, which is a first for AIDA Cruises.[9]

AIDAluna on the Elbe, June 2010
History
Italy
NameAIDAluna
OwnerAIDA Cruises[1]
OperatorAIDA Cruises
Port of registryGenoa, Italy[2]
BuilderMeyer Werft[3]
Cost€315 million
Launched13 February 2009
Christened4 April 2009 by Franziska Knuppe
Maiden voyage22 March 2009[3][4]
In service2009–present
Identification
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeSphinx class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length252 m (826.77 ft)[3]
Beam32.2 m (105.64 ft)
Draught7.3 m (23.95 ft)[3]
Decks13 decks[3]
Installed power4 × Caterpillar MaK 9M43C at 36,000 kW(48,960 hp)[3]
Propulsiondiesel-electric producing 25,000 kW(36,000 hp)[7]
Speed22-knot (41 km/h)[3]
Capacity2,100 passengers
Crew607 crew

Concept and construction
AIDAluna during construction at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg

AIDAluna is the third ship, out of a series of six ships, ordered by AIDA Cruises at Meyer Werft, with expected delivery of one ship each year from 2007 to 2012. She is a sister ship of AIDAdiva, AIDAbella, AIDAblu, AIDAsol, and AIDAmar. The first order was only for two ships, but the option extended to six ships.[10][11] She floated out of drydock on 10 February 2009.[12] AIDAluna started her sea trials with her passage on the River Ems on 21 February 2009, departing Papenburg. The voyage culminated in Emdem the next day. On 23 February, departing Emden to continue sea trials, she ventured to Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg for final inspection at dock Elbe 17. During the inspection, an object was seen, being tangled on AIDAluna's propellers, which was supposedly caused by the ship's short trip. After a few days, AIDAluna was cleared and continued her sea trials in the North Sea.[13] AIDAluna was delivered to its owners on 16 March 2009.[3] She was christened on April 4, 2009 at Palma de Mallorca by the German supermodel, Franziska Knuppe.

Amenities

The ship has 1,025 passenger cabins.[3][8] AIDAluna has a 2,300-m2 (25,000-ft2) spa facility.[8] The ship has 7 restaurants and 11 bars.[8]

The focal point in the ship is the Theatrium, a three-level[3] complex, which could be transformed into a Theater.[3] An onboard 4-D Cinema[3] is fitted with moving chairs.[3]

AIDAluna Theatrium

Operational history
At Hamburg Cruise Center HafenCity
At Tenerife in May 2021

AIDAluna started her maiden voyage on 22 March 2009, departing Hamburg. This 14-day voyage culminated in Palma de Mallorca, with stops at Le Havre, Santander, A Coruña, Lisbon, Cadiz, Tangier, Valencia, and Barcelona.[3] In Summer 2009, she was deployed in Baltic Sea and in Winter, she was redeployed in Canary Islands.[8] AIDAluna made her first call in Kiel on 22 April and in Rostock-Warnemünde on 8 May, departing from Palma de Mallorca. She made 10 roundtrip cruises in the Baltic during the 2009 Summer season.[14] In 2011, AIDAluna was redeployed in the Caribbean and offered 14-day cruises, with additional 6 to 8-day sailings. On her way to the Caribbean, AIDAluna sailed the East Coast, calling in New York City.[15]

Incidents

At around 5 a.m. on 9 September 2018, the German pop singer Daniel Küblböck jumped overboard when the vessel was in open waters about 185 km north of St. John's in the Labrador Sea. The Canadian Coast Guard launched a search operation,[16][17][18] assisted by AIDAluna and the Holland America cruise ship Zuiderdam.[19] The search was abandoned the following day, as the water temperature was 10 °C (50 °F) and the maximum survival time in cold water had been exceeded,[20][21] and Küblböck was later officially declared dead.[22]

References
  1. "AIDAluna". ShipParade. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  2. "AIDAluna (IMO: 9334868)". vesseltracker.com. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  3. "Third Club ship for AIDA Cruises". Meyerwerft website. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
  4. "AIDAluna leaves for Hamburg". Meyerwerft website. 23 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  5. "Vessel details & current position". marinetraffic.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  6. "AIDAluna (G111722)". DNV Vessel Register. DNV. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. "Smooth Operator: MaK DICARE Safeguards AIDAluna Engines". ship-technology.com. 21 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  8. "AIDAluna - ein himmlisches Schiff". AIDA Cruises (in German). Archived from the original on 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  9. Countdown to AIDAluna: still 12 weeks to the maiden voyage. Press Release. AIDA Cruises. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2010
  10. AIDA Cruises orders two new club ships Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine Meyerwerft website. 19 October 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2010
  11. AIDAluna Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine Meyerwerft website. Retrieved 8 May 2010
  12. Undocking of third AIDA club ship Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Meyerwerft website. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010
  13. AIDAluna leaves for Hamburg Archived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Meyerwerft website. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010
  14. Cruise Industry News accessed 27 May 2009
  15. AIDA's eight ships calling at 160 ports in 2011/2012 Archived 2010-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Cruise Industry News. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010
  16. "Daniel Küblböck auf Kreuzfahrtschiff vermisst". Spiegel.de (in German). 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  17. AIDAluna: Daniel Küblböck wird auf Kreuzfahrtschiff vermisst. In: abendblatt.de, 9 September 2018.
  18. Pressestatement. AIDA Cruises Press Release, 9 September 2018
  19. "Daniel Küblböck bei Kreuzfahrt vermisst: Sprung über Bord?". Augsburger-allgemeine.de (in German). 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  20. Küstenwache stellt Suche nach Küblböck ein. In: faz.net, 10 September 2018.
  21. "News – Daniel bleibt vermisst..." Daniel-kueblboeck.de (in German). Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  22. "Gericht erklärt Daniel Küblböck für tot". Der Spiegel (in German). 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
At Hamburg Cruise Center HafenCity
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