Astoria Grande

The 1996-built (as "MS Clubschiff") cruise ship Astoria Grande was operated between 1996-2021 as "AIDAcara" – the first vessel of the German travel brand AIDA Cruises. The "AIDA Selection" fleet also included AIDAvita, AIDAaura, and AIDAmira (now Ambassador Ambition).

For AIDA Cruises, the vessel (IMO number 9112789) was Italy-flagged (MMSI 247117300) and registered in Genova. Astoria Grande was later reflagged to Panama (MMSI 352978227, port of registry Colon) and is currently Palau-flagged (MMSI 511100759), registered in Koror.

Following the sale of AIDAcara, the registered shipowners included MESTER COMMERCIAL LTD (as of August 2021, managed by Tschudi Ship Management AS/Estonia), AQUILON SHIPPING COMPANY LLC (September 2021), and GOODWIN SHIPPING LTD (since July 2022, under the management of Camelot Maritime Ship Management Ltd/Turkey).

IMPORTANT: In October 2024, the shipowner listed Astoria Grande for immediate sale, with an asking price between US$40-50 million, through the online brokerage company QPS Marine Ships.

History – Construction and Ownership

On June 23, 2021, Carnival Corporation (then the shipowner) announced the sale of AIDAcara to an undisclosed buyer. The vessel left the fleet after 25 years of service with AIDA.

• A total of 14 itineraries (scheduled departures between October 8, 2021, and March 3, 2022) were canceled.
• The ship had planned voyages in Southeast Asia, with homeporting in Singapore.
• For the canceled AIDAcara cruises, see the ship's Wiki section.

As of June 23, the vessel was docked at Port Tallinn, Estonia (since May 18).

In August 2021, it was announced that the vessel, renamed "Astoria Grande", was managed by the Cyprus-based Mester Commercial Ltd. However, IHS Markit Ltd (a London UK-based ship register) listed Akvilon Shipping (Moscow-based company/Akvilon Ltd OOO) as the bareboat owner. With Astoria Grande, the new cruise line brand "Akvilon" was launched. Akvilon's partner, Miray Cruises (a travel company based in İstanbul, Turkey), handles booking and port management services for the ship’s Turkish itineraries.

Following the acquisition, the vessel remained docked at Port Yalova (Turkey). Astoria Grande's maiden voyage was initially scheduled for March 5, 2022 (out of Sochi, Russia) but was later postponed to July 16 (7-day roundtrip from Sochi).

The 1200-passenger ship AIDAcara offers a relaxing and family-friendly experience. She is a resort-class vessel and one of the smaller ships in the fleet, yet large enough to include amenities like a salon, spa, and mini-golf. AIDAcara was the first of AIDA's "club ships."

In addition to the crew, AIDAcara passengers are served by Pepper robots – humanoid robots introduced fleetwide in 2016. These cyborg assistants greet and guide passengers during embarkation and help throughout the voyage by offering information and tips on dining, entertainment, enrichment programs (workshops, scheduled events), shopping, and shore excursions. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in English, German, and Italian. They can also recognize human emotions through voice tone and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

AIDAcara staterooms (590 total in 16 categories) include 6 Suites, 48 Balcony, 342 Oceanview, and 200 Inside cabins. Most staterooms range from 14-17 m² (150-185 ft²). The largest accommodations are the Sundeck Premium Suites, measuring 35 m² (380 ft²) plus a terrace of 20 m² (215 ft²).

The ship has 11 decks, of which 9 are accessible to passengers, and 4 include cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options – Food and Drinks

The ship offers three restaurants, including two main dining rooms (MDRs): Calypso (named after the nymph who detained Odysseus on Ogygia island) and Markt (a buffet restaurant with open seating). The specialty restaurant, Rossini, is à la carte and waiter-served. There are no formal dress codes or fixed dining times. Basic beverages, including house wine and beer, are complimentary during meals at the buffet venues.

Several beverage packages are also available at discounted rates.

Below is the complete list of AIDAcara restaurants and food venues:

• Rossini – Dinner-only specialty restaurant (extra charge; reservation required), offering waiter service and a six-course à la carte menu
• Markt Restaurant – Complimentary main dining room; self-service buffet with multiple food stations and a small outdoor terrace
• Calypso Restaurant – Second main dining room; complimentary buffet with indoor/outdoor seating

Shipboard Entertainment Options – Fun and Sport

There is no casino onboard, but the ship features a swimming pool, a wellness complex (spa and fitness center), and a golf area (with an indoor putting green and golf simulator).

The Theater Lounge is the ship's largest venue, featuring a full-width bar and disco.

Ample open-deck space is available for walking, jogging, and sports activities including football, volleyball, basketball, and tennis.

Follows the complete list of AIDAcara lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Kids Club (AIDA Cruises’ complimentary kids program with supervised, age-appropriate activities. Groups include Seahorses for ages 3-6, Dolphins for 7-9, and Sharks for 10-11. The Kids Club features an outdoor area with a paddling pool.)
• Internet Stations with Printers (located in the Reception/Lobby area; shipwide Wi-Fi coverage, including in all staterooms)
• The Theater (700-seat, two-level main show lounge for large-scale productions; also hosts lectures, trivia games, and Bingo)
• Art Gallery (Kunstgalerie; features original artwork from renowned German artists and art schools; art auctions are held regularly)
• AIDA Bar (large-capacity lounge with panoramic sea views)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (offers professional photo/video services and duty-free accessories; includes touch-screen photo kiosks with facial recognition)
• AIDA Shop (duty-free shopping arcade with a general store for liquor and tobacco, and boutiques for jewelry, luxury watches, perfumes, fashion, and AIDA-branded merchandise)
• Lambada Bar (adults-only cocktail bar and nightclub with panoramic windows and live music)
• Beauty Salon/Friseur (provides hairdressing, barbering, and professional manicure/pedicure services)
• Body & Soul Sports Fitness Center (modern gym and a separate area for fitness classes)
• Mini Golf (indoor putting green)
• Golf Simulator (features virtual golf courses)
• Sunbathing Area (Freibereich, served by the Pool Bar and Pool Grill offering American fast food)
• Library (Bibliotek; includes card and board games)
• Anytime Bar Diskothek (disco nightclub with DJ-led events and themed dance parties; daytime dance classes are also hosted here)
• Cara Lounge (teen club with supervised activities; two age groups - Orcas (12-13) and Teens (14-17); includes video games arcade and PlayStation consoles; complimentary access)
• Sports Deck (Sportaussendeck; multi-purpose sports court for basketball and volleyball)
• Pool Deck (features one swimming pool, three whirlpools, a pool shop for towels, deck games such as shuffleboard, giant chess, table tennis, backgammon, and a stage for live shows, bingo, pool parties, and laser shows)
• Body & Soul SPA Complex (includes beauty salon and spa reception, massage/treatment rooms, indoor whirlpool, aroma sauna, Finnish sauna, steam room, and relaxation lounge)
• Sundeck/Freibereich (sun deck above the main pool, with loungers and two Jacuzzis/whirlpools; the Top Deck has a Freikörperkultur/FKK Bereich nudist area with sun loungers)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track

Itineraries

The Astoria Grande ship was originally homeported in Sochi, Russia, operating voyages in the Black Sea.

Listed below are the inaugural 2022 itineraries, scheduled by the Russian shipping company Akvilon Cruise Line, all as roundtrips from Sochi.

• (March 5/Maiden Voyage, March 19, April 2) 14-night Eastern Mediterranean itinerary visiting ports in Turkey (Istanbul, Canakkale-Troy, Cesme), Egypt (Alexandria/overnight), and Turkey (Bodrum, Kusadasi-Ephesus, Istanbul)
• (April 16) 15-night itinerary to Turkey (Istanbul, Bodrum), Cyprus (Limassol), Israel (Haifa/overnight), Egypt (Alexandria), and Turkey (Kusadasi, Istanbul)
• (May 1–September 2022, 8 departures) 11-night itinerary visiting Georgia (Batumi), Turkey (Istanbul), Greek Islands (Mykonos, Santorini), and Turkey (Kusadasi, Istanbul)
• (July 17–September 2022) 11-night Greek Islands cruise to Georgia (Batumi), Turkey (Istanbul), and Greek Islands (Syros, Milos, Santorini, Leros, Patmos, Kos), and Turkey (Kusadasi)

Akvilon's Astoria Grande cruises visit only countries that do not require Russian residents to obtain travel visas. The official onboard language is Russian (including services and entertainment).

In 2022, Astoria Grande operated 16 roundtrip departures from Sochi, offering four different itineraries. These included ports in Turkey’s Black Sea region (Amasra-Bartin, Sinop, Trabzon, and Istanbul/overnight), Turkey’s Aegean/Mediterranean region (Cesme), and Bozcaada Island. Miray Cruises (Turkey) manages port services for these destinations.

• DAY 1 – Depart Sochi
• DAY 2 – At sea
• DAYS 3-4 – İstanbul (overnight)
• DAY 5 – Amasra
• DAY 6 – Sinop
• DAY 7 – Trabzon
• DAY 8 – Arrive back in Sochi

This itinerary was operated on September 14, 28, and October 5, 12, and 19, 2022.

In 2023, Astoria Grande introduced a new Mediterranean/Aegean itinerary featuring Alexandria (Egypt), which increased Sochi's cruise passenger volume by approximately 20%. This route attracted both international tourists from Turkey and Egypt (with embarkation in Kusadasi and Alexandria) and domestic travelers, as both countries remain popular summer destinations for Russian tourists.

AIDAcara Itineraries

AIDAcara's cruise program featured Canary Islands voyages roundtrip from Gran Canaria, and Northern Europe itineraries to the Baltics and Norwegian Fjords departing from Kiel, Germany.

In 2017-2018, AIDAcara became the first AIDA ship to operate an Around The World Cruise. The world voyage (October 17, 2017 – February 10, 2018) was a 116-day roundtrip from Hamburg, Germany, with approximately 1100 passengers onboard. The itinerary included 41 ports in 23 countries across 5 continents. For full details, see the ship's Wiki section.