Celestyal Discovery deck plans

Celestyal Discovery (built in 2003 as AIDAaura, last refurbished between January and March 2025; previously refurbished by AIDA in 2019) was the newest among the oldest and smallest AIDA Cruises ships, alongside her sistership AIDAvita (built in 2002). Before her acquisition by Celestyal Cruises in November 2023, the ship was owned by Costa Cruises (a Carnival Corporation subsidiary) and operated by Carnival’s German brand AIDA Kreuzfahrten.

The AIDAaura/Celestyal Discovery deck plan includes a total of 680 cabins accommodating 1,360 passengers (max capacity: 1,454), served by 470 crew members. The vessel has 12 decks (10 accessible to passengers, 5 with cabins), 3 restaurants, 5 bars and lounges (no casino), 1 swimming pool, 3 Jacuzzis (outdoor whirlpools), 6 elevators, dining areas covering 26,260 ft² (2,440 m²), sundecks spanning 37,135 ft² (3,450 m²), and Spa & Fitness areas totaling 12,920 ft² (1,200 m²).

Note: CruiseMapper's Celestyal Discovery deck plan page also features AIDAaura’s original layouts.

Complimentary dining options (included in AIDAaura’s cruise fare) include the buffet restaurants Markt and Calypso, as well as the Pool Grill. At an additional charge, guests can dine at the reservation-only Rossini restaurant, which offers waiter service. Wine and beer are complimentary during lunch and dinner at the buffet venues.

In addition to the onboard staff and crew, AIDA passengers are assisted by Pepper robots—humanoid cyborgs introduced fleetwide in 2016. These mobile robots welcome guests at embarkation and provide assistance throughout the voyage by offering information and tips on dining, entertainment, enrichment programs (workshops, scheduled events), shopping and casino promotions, as well as shore excursions. They communicate in English, German, and Italian, and can interpret human emotions through voice tone and facial expression analysis.

Celestyal Discovery deck plan changes – 2025 refurbishment review

The ship’s drydock in early 2025 added 47 new passenger staterooms, increasing total capacity by 7.4%. This expansion included 32 suites and 15 interior cabins. Among the new accommodations were 30 Junior Dream Suites and 2 Grand Horizon Suites, resulting in a 52% increase in premium cabin offerings.

Additional upgrades included the introduction of The Smoked Olive—a suite guest-exclusive restaurant offering complimentary meals and select à la carte options—and Grill Seekers, a specialty dining venue/private restaurant featuring regional cuisine inspired by the current itinerary.

AIDAaura deck plan changes – 2013 refurbishment review

During the April 18–28, 2013 drydock in Trieste, Italy, several updates were made to AIDAaura:

• Waikiki Lounge (Deck 10) was added as a teen-exclusive beach-style bar featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, bean bag seating, DJ workshops with mixing desks, parties, and Nintendo Wii competitions.
• The ship’s gym (part of the AIDA Body & Soul complex) received new cardio and strength equipment, including MyRide indoor cycles with virtual trainers.
• An Art Gallery was added on Deck 8, showcasing works by artists such as James Rizzi, Romero Britto, and Udo Lindenberg. Art auctions, including “Blind Date” sales, are regularly held onboard.

Additionally, approximately 1,800 m² of carpeting was replaced in public areas. The new carpets are made from eco-friendly, recyclable materials, while the old carpets were recycled and used as fuel in cement production.