AIDAprima to Be the New Flagship of German Cruise Industry

The new flag ship of AIDA Cruises will be christened in 2015 with the name AIDAprima. In 2011 after a worldwide call for proposals, the Rostock cruise line entrusted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. with the construction of its two innovative ships of the next AIDA generation.

The structurally identical new constructions have 124,500 GRT, are 300 meters in length and 37.60 meters wide with space for around 3,300 passengers, and will be delivered in March of 2015 and March of 2016 respectively.

The new generation of AIDA ships is setting new standards in terms of environmental protection. A comprehensive filter system to reduce exhaust is being installed in the new ships currently under construction. “With this yet unrivaled exhaust treatment technology, we are able to filter and thus reduce by between 90 and 99 percent of all three significant emissions, namely soot particles, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide, for the very first time,” said Michael Ungerer, President AIDA Cruises.

A completely new kind of hull design increases energy efficiency considerably. Another first for the cruise industry is the use of the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS). This modern technology allows the ships to glide on a carpet of air, thereby further reducing fuel usage. The latest in pod drive technology also contributes significantly to the decrease in fuel usage. Ships of the new AIDA generation will be the first passenger ships to be outfitted with dual fuel engines and can also be powered almost emissions-free with liquefied gas regardless of availability in the port.

AIDA Cruises is the first cruise line to have a ship setting sail from a German port all year round. Starting on June 20, 2015, Hamburg will be the departure and arrival point for AIDAprima on its seven-day round-trip voyages visiting the metropolises of Western Europe.

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Press Release, October 21, 2013