T
he inauguration of the sixth vessel in
the excellent prospects for the future of
for its AIDA Cruises brand which caters
AIDA’s Project Sphinx series attracted a
our growth sector,” Thamm said.
exclusively to the German-speaking market. The two newbuilds – AIDAsol and
huge crowd of 1.4 million people. Dietrich
von Albedyll, Chairman of the Board at
LONG TIME COMING
AIDAmar – made it six new ships that the
Hamburg Tourism, claimed that the Port
More than 10 000 passengers reserved
German cruise operator has ordered in just
of Hamburg’s anniversary celebrations set
cabins on board the four AIDA ships to
three years.
new standards with the world’s largest ship
experience the event live on the River Elbe
As the move linked with a significant
inauguration ceremony for AIDAmar. Von
– and the festivities did not disappoint. Al-
capacity increase for a previously ordered
Albedyll commented that in terms of visi-
so, the celebration was broadcast live on
vessel, the announcement meant that
tor numbers, the day also marked one of
the Internet and via two larger-than-life
AIDA would, in fact, triple AIDA’s total fleet
the busiest days ever in the history of the
LED screens in Hamburg.
capacity to 16 384 berths by May 2012.
Port of Hamburg anniversary celebrations.
At the same time, the AIDA execu-
This was a gutsy move to begin with, but
Michael Thamm, CEO-designate of
tives – and those of the parent company,
the years that followed, burdened with
the Costa Group, remarked that the hun-
Carnival Corporation, must have let out
economic woes all around, made sceptics
dreds of thousands of people watching the
a sigh of relief. After all, AIDAmar is the
asks if the schedule would hold.
inauguration of AIDAmar in Hamburg ex-
latter instalment in a deal that was put
perienced first-hand, how fascinating and
to motion almost five years earlier. In De-
FROM KIEL TO HAMBURG
attractive cruise holidays can be.
cember 2007, Carnival announced that it
But hold it did. On April 9, 2011, the en-
had ordered two 71 000 ton cruise ships
tire population of Kiel, Germany, was in-
“The huge public interest underlines
24
seatec 2/2012