AIDAprima

The 2016-built AIDAprima cruise ship is the first of two AIDA Cruises vessels in the Hyperion-Class series, alongside her sister ship, AIDAperla (launched in 2017). AIDAprima is the fleet’s 11th vessel and the first of two AIDA ships built in Japan. AIDA's Hyperion-Class was later succeeded by the Helios-Class, which includes AIDAnova and AIDAcosma.

The vessel (IMO number 9636955) is currently Italy-flagged (MMSI 247353800) and registered in Genova.

History - construction and ownership

AIDA Cruises is headquartered in Rostock and is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. AIDA is Europe’s largest German cruise line (followed by TUI) and caters to younger, more active travelers. Founded in 1960 as "Deutsche Seereederei," AIDA was acquired in 2000 by P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. AIDA's first World Cruise (AIDAcara) took place from October 2017 to February 2018, with a 116-day roundtrip itinerary from Hamburg, Germany.

The 3,400-passenger AIDAprima is the largest ship in the AIDA fleet and is operated under the Costa Crociere division of Carnival Corporation. She is also the first AIDA ship built in Japan.

AIDAprima's delivery from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard was delayed. Initially scheduled to enter service in October 2015, she began operations in April 2016 from her homeport in Hamburg.

AIDAprima is among the most technologically advanced passenger ships. Her hull design reduces friction, minimizing fuel consumption. Emissions of NOx, SOx, and soot particles are reduced by up to 90%.

Decks and Cabins

AIDAprima staterooms (1,643 total, in 21 categories) include 32 Suites (in 6 categories), 1,101 Balcony cabins (69% of all accommodations, in 10 categories), 198 Oceanviews (in 4 categories), and 312 Interior cabins (in 3 categories). The largest accommodations are the Forward-Facing Premium Suites, which measure 1,345 ft² (125 m²) and feature a private sundeck terrace sized 885 ft² (82 m²).

The ship has 18 decks, of which 15 are accessible to passengers, with cabins available on 9 decks.

All staterooms include the following standard complimentary amenities: electronic safe and lifejackets (stored in the closet), spacious wardrobe (some with walk-in closet), low table with lounge chairs, double bed (most convertible to twins), Pullman beds (in most quads), bedside tables, wall-mounted reading lamps, direct dial phone (with baby monitoring option), smart HDTV (infotainment system with satellite reception, Internet, movies-on-demand, ship information channel, and real-time camera views), LED lighting, mirrored dressing table (writing desk) with chair, en-suite bathroom (with toilet, shower cabin, single-sink vanity, hairdryer), and individually controlled air-conditioning.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The new AIDAprima offers a wide range of dining options, with 13 restaurants and 18 bars. Traditional venues include Bella Donna, Markt Restaurant, and the family-friendly Fuego buffet. Service restaurants such as Casa Nova and French Kiss feature Mediterranean and French cuisine, respectively. Guests can also participate in interactive cooking classes at the onboard AIDA cooking school. A unique highlight is the exclusive Spray Bar, spanning two decks and operated in partnership with Moet & Chandon. On Deck 8, the Lanai Bar offers views from the stern, while guests at the Patio Bar on Deck 16 enjoy the same view as the ship’s Captain. Additional bars include the Nightfly nightclub, M Bar, Tapas & Bar, and Club D6.

AIDAprima was the first in the fleet to offer premium Starbucks beverages onboard. Since mid-January 2017, passengers have been able to purchase branded Starbucks products, including specialty coffees and teas, with 26 menu items available in three sizes—Espresso, Tall, and Grande. This offering is the result of AIDA’s partnership with the "We Proudly Serve Starbucks" program and was gradually introduced across the fleet throughout 2017.

Below is the complete list of AIDAprima's restaurants and food bars.

• Scharfe Ecke (Sharp Corner, complimentary fast-food dining venue)
• Rossini (specialty dinner-only restaurant with a surcharge; reservations required; features waiter service and a 6-course à la carte menu)
• Markt Restaurant (complimentary main dining room; self-service buffet with a variety of food stations and a small terrace)
• Bella Donna (Italian buffet-style restaurant, complimentary, open 24 hours)
• Ristorante Casa Nova (Mediterranean restaurant with a surcharge)
• Brasserie French Kiss (French cuisine, reservations required, with a surcharge)
• Weite Welt Restaurant (Wide World, complimentary buffet-style restaurant)
• Buffalo Steakhouse (American à la carte restaurant; reservations required; surcharge applies)
• Sushi Bar (Japanese cuisine, surcharge applies; reservations required)
• Fuego Restaurant (family-friendly buffet-style venue, complimentary, includes a kids' buffet)
• East Restaurant (Asian buffet-style, complimentary dining)

On June 24, 2023, AIDAprima, AIDAperla, and AIDAnova introduced a new specialty restaurant—Soulkitchen. This à la carte venue offers a 3-course menu featuring plant-based vegan dishes, including meat and seafood alternatives, and organic beverages (coffee, tea, fresh juices), as well as non-alcoholic wines and spirits.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Passengers can relax by the pool at AIDAprima’s Beach Club, which transforms into a vibrant party venue at night. The Beach Club is located beneath a retractable membrane roof and includes the “Four Elements” activity area, themed around water, air, fire, and earth. Guests can enjoy two water slides, rock climbing, and various sports deck activities. The deck also features a giant LED wall for movies and outdoor entertainment. In addition to the Teens and Kids Clubs, the ship offers a "Mini Club" for infants as young as six months.

Other highlights include panoramic glass elevators that connect outdoor areas and a 45-meter-high glass skywalk above sea level. Guests can indulge in organic treatments at the Body & Soul Organic Spa. The AIDA Plaza features numerous bars and shops and serves as a central meeting place and stage for street performers. The enhanced Theatrium, AIDA’s signature round-stage venue, is the centerpiece of onboard entertainment.

On September 25, 2021, AIDAprima officially opened her LEGO Store. The inauguration was attended by Annette Rosendahl, LEGO Group’s Sales Director. The 75 m² (810 ft²) shop features popular LEGO collections such as LEGO Duplo, LEGO City, LEGO Harry Potter, and LEGO Cars.

Below is the complete list of AIDAprima’s lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for children, teens, and adults.

• Pier 3 Bar (coffee bar)
• Spray Bar (adults-only, two-level luxury Champagne lounge in partnership with Moet & Chandon)
• Diskothek (Disco D6, featuring DJ sets, light shows, and themed dance parties)
• Nachtclub Nightfly (adults-only nightclub with grand piano, live band, and its own bar)
• Tapas & Bar
• AIDA Plaza (two-deck open-floor Atrium lounge with bars, live entertainment, and luxury boutique shopping arcade)
• Jewelry Shop, Travel Shop, PhotoShop, Sports Shop, Parfumerie, Kids Shop, Treasure Chest Shop
• Kids Club (complimentary, age-specific programming: Seahorses 3–6, Dolphins 7–9, Sharks 10–11; includes an outdoor area with paddling pool)
• AIDA Bar (cocktail bar with live music)
• Art Gallery (Kunstgalerie; sells original artworks, hosts auctions)
• AIDA Lounge (270-degree panoramic lounge with comfortable seating)
• The Library (Bibliothek; offers books, card and board games)
• Casino (with Casino Bar)
• Theatrium (three-deck-high, multifunctional show lounge with dynamic stage platform; combines Atrium, Theater, and Lounge; features daily entertainment, large productions, cabaret, magician shows; served by Theatrium Bar)
• Eiscafe (ice cream parlor, Ice Cafe Erste Sahne)
• Cafe Mare (patisserie and specialty coffee bar)
• Vinotek (fine wine shop; sommelier service and tastings)
• Brauhaus (onboard brewery; produces beer using purified seawater; offers its own draft brews)
• Destille (fruit spirits bar)
• AIDA Bar (large lounge with panoramic windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (professional photo/video services, duty-free gear; photo kiosks with touch screens and face-recognition)
• AIDA Shop (duty-free goods, including liquor, tobacco, jewelry, luxury watches, perfumes, branded fashion, AIDA merchandise)
• Beauty Salon (Friseur; hairdresser, barber, manicure/pedicure services)
• Body & Soul Sports Fitness Center (modern gym, group classes)
• Zen Lounge (indoor relaxation area with classes)
• Blutenmeer (Blooming Sea flower shop)
• Kochstudio (Cooking Studio; culinary classes, workshops, master chef demos; reservations required)
• Lanai Bar (outdoor seating)
• Sundeck (with four infinity pools)
• Wave Club (teens club with water playground, supervised activities for Orcas 12–13 and Teens 14–17; complimentary)
• Body & Soul Organic SPA (3,100 m² with indoor/outdoor pools, whirlpools, retractable glass roof; offers Japanese Tea Ceremony, scrubs, wraps; includes five saunas, treatment rooms, Rasul bath, relaxation and shower rooms, conservatory, spa suites, SPA Bar)
• AIDA Lounge (with 270-degree panoramic views and cozy seating); Sunset Bar
• Mini Club (childcare for toddlers 6 months to 3 years old)
• Four Elements (Water Park with rock climbing, pools, splash area, fountains, live show stage, huge LED screen, two water slides; covered with a sliding glass roof)
• Bar 5 Elements (serves the Aqua Park area)
• AIDA Beach Club (two-deck tropical-style lounge under glass dome with real plants and palm trees; transforms into a night party zone)
• Sundeck/sunbathing area (above the pool, with loungers and Pool Bar service; Top Deck includes FKK Bereich nudist area)
• Sun Deck games area (shuffleboard, giant chess, boccia, backgammon, darts, table tennis)
• Patio Deck (exclusive, adults-only covered area for Panorama cabin guests)
• Sports Deck (multisport court for volleyball/basketball, Golf Cage, putting green, golf simulator)
• Rock Climbing Walls, High Ropes Course, Power Walking/Jogging Track

Itineraries

AIDAprima’s itinerary program includes roundtrip cruises in Asia from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as Western European sailings from Hamburg and Rotterdam. Since April 30, 2016, Hamburg has served as AIDAprima’s homeport for 7-day roundtrip cruises to top destinations in Western Europe.

The vessel (MHI Nagasaki yard/hull number 135476) has a volume of 125,572 GT, a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 9,200 tons, and a maximum draught of 8.3 m. The powerplant is based on MaK Caterpillar marine diesel engines (dual-fuel model 12MV46DF) with a combined output of 28.4 MW (total output 48 MW). The propulsion system utilizes ABB Azipod thrusters. The registered shipowner is COSTA CROCIERE SPA, the registered manager is AIDA CRUISES, and the ISM manager is CARNIVAL MARITIME GMBH.

AIDAprima is the company's 11th liner and the fleet's first ship built in Japan. Construction began on June 30, 2013. The vessel was launched in April 2016. The second "Japanese ship," AIDAperla, joined the fleet in 2017. In August 2011, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) was awarded the contract to build two next-generation AIDA ships—Prima and Perla. Prima’s construction began with the keel-laying ceremony at MHI's Tategami Plant at the Nagasaki Shipyard in June 2013.

The ship was launched (floated out from drydock) on May 4, 2015. The christening ceremony was originally scheduled for March 2015, and the inaugural cruise was first planned for October, then December 2015. The vessel was officially delivered on March 14, 2016. The 86-day inaugural World Cruise from Hamburg was ultimately rescheduled to begin on April 30, 2016.

The maiden voyage was initially scheduled for October 1, 2015, departing from Yokohama-Tokyo. However, due to construction delays, delivery was first pushed to December 2015, and later to April 2016. The ship is commanded by Captain Detlef Harms.

On March 14, 2016, the vessel was officially delivered to AIDA Cruises. The traditional Japanese handover ceremony was attended by Michael Thamm (Costa Group CEO), Felix Eichhorn (AIDA President), Shunichi Miyanaga (MHI CEO), and Yoichi Kujirai (MHI Senior Executive VP). The vessel then repositioned to Europe via the Suez Canal. On March 20, 2016, she made her first port call in Singapore, en route from Nagasaki to Hamburg. During her 2-day stay at Sembawang Shipyard, around 40 containers of equipment were loaded. She departed with over 900 crew members onboard.

On April 19, 2016, in Rotterdam, AIDA Cruises signed an agreement with Royal Dutch Shell as the exclusive LNG provider for port engine operations. On April 27, 2016, the ship made her maiden call to Southampton during a 4-day roundtrip cruise from Hamburg (April 25–29).

On May 7, 2016, the vessel’s christening ceremony took place in Port Hamburg, where she was joined by fleetmate AIDAaura. The naming coincided with Hamburg Port's 827th anniversary and featured a fireworks display. The ship’s godmother was 13-year-old German actress Emma Schweiger. The event was also attended by AIDA President Felix Eichhorn.

The Inaugural Cruise commenced on April 30, 2016 (April 30–May 7), featuring a 7-day roundtrip itinerary from Hamburg with stops in Southampton, Le Havre–Paris, Zeebrugge, and Rotterdam. Fares for the maiden voyage started at GBP 500 per person. This was followed by regular year-round roundtrip departures from Hamburg and Rotterdam.

On January 26, 2017, 80 leading politicians, scientists, and business leaders boarded the ship while she was docked in Rotterdam, Holland, for the international trade conference “Making LNG Happen: Combining Forces for Sustainable Shipping.” AIDAprima was chosen as the world’s first cruise ship equipped with dual-fuel marine engines capable of using LNG (liquefied natural gas) while docked in port. The LNG is supplied by truck. While in port, the diesel engines are shut down, resulting in an approximately 80% reduction in NOx emissions and around 20% reduction in CO2.

Ship technology

AIDAprima is one of the most technologically advanced cruise vessels on the market. The ship rides on a cushion of air to reduce friction and fuel consumption. This innovation, known as MALS (Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System), allows the vessel to glide on a layer of air bubbles.

Zeppelin Power Systems was contracted to provide engine maintenance and support, including the "Cat Asset Intelligence" system, which delivers real-time monitoring and data analysis of engine performance.

• The powerplant includes 3x Caterpillar MaK diesel engines (model 12V M43C, total output 28.35 MW) and 1x dual-fuel engine (MaK M46DF, output 8.6 MW) capable of using LNG or oil.
• The dual-fuel engine reduces fuel consumption and supports lower emissions. An advanced filtering system further minimizes stack emissions.
• The propulsion system features 2x stabilizers, 2x ABB Azipod drives (XO-Pod thrusters, each with 3 MW output), and 3x Brunvoll bow thrusters (model FU-115-3000).
• Total power output of the vessel is 48 MW.

Below is a YouTube time-lapse video showing AIDAprima’s construction at Nagasaki Shipyard.

AIDAprima is the world’s first cruise ship to use LNG fuel supply while berthed in port. She is also the first German-market-dedicated cruise ship with an onboard ice rink. The facility was inaugurated by skating duo Peter Turner and Salome Casabona Studer, famed for their "Believe" ice show. The rink is open only during the winter season (until mid-March) and marks AIDA’s partnership with "Holiday on Ice."

Other signature facilities include the adults-only Beach Club (covered by a dome), a climbing garden, the Four Elements water park with two slides, the Mini Club (nursery/babysitting), a patio deck for panorama cabins, a promenade deck with lanai and infinity pools, a large spa complex (3,100 m² / 33,400 ft²), glass-walled elevators, and a glass-bottomed skywalk platform.

The ship's namesakes include AmaWaterways' riverboat AmaPrima (built in 2013) and NCL's ocean liner Norwegian Prima (launched in 2022).