AIDAdiva

The 2007-built AIDAdiva cruise ship is the first Sphinx-class AIDA liner, with sisterships AIDAluna and AIDAbella.

The vessel (IMO number 9334856) is currently Italy-flagged (MMSI 247187700) and registered in Genova.

History - construction and ownership

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

The 2050-passenger ship AIDAdiva debuted in Hamburg on April 20, 2007, with a fiery display and an opera-like naming ceremony. The renowned lighting designer Gert Hof created an impressive lighting show for the occasion. Specially composed music accompanied the cruise ship on its way. For godmother was chosen Maria Galleski - through special casting held in Hamburg.

Besides the ship's staff and crew, AIDA cruise passengers are also served by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation. They also assist them throughout the cruise by providing information and tips on onboard dining, entertainment, enrichment program (workshops, pre-scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, shore excursions and tours. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian). They can also interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

AIDAdiva staterooms (1025 total, in 18 grades) include 16 Suites, 480 Balconies, 186 Oceanviews, and 359 Inside cabins. The largest accommodations are the Aft-Facing Deluxe Suites (sized 400-470 ft2 / 37-44 m2, with private sundecks/wraparound terraces sized 270-540 ft2 / 25-50 m2).

The boat has 13 decks, of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 6 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

AIDAdiva offers rich restaurants’ choice for her guests, such as Buffalo Steak Restaurant, the Rossini, the Markt-Restaurant, a sushi bar, Bella Vista (serving pizza & pasta 24-hours per day). The international buffet style “Weite Welt” serves Chinese to Scandinavian cuisine. AIDAdiva restaurants are open seating. The buffets give passengers the chance to try food from several countries. Good wines are available to try. The Markt buffet Restaurant is located on deck 9. It is self-service and has a diverse and rich buffet. There are no strict dress codes or fixed dining times. Basic beverages, including house wines and beer, are free of charge at the buffet restaurants. In addition, several beverage packages are available to buy at reduced rates.

Follows the complete list of AIDAdiva restaurants and food bars.

• Rossini (a speciality, dinner-only restaurant at surcharge, reservations required; offers waiter service and 6-course a-la-carte menu)
• Markt Restaurant (complimentary main dining room; self-service buffet restaurant with a variety of food stations and a small terrace)
• Bella Vista (Italian cuisine restaurant, complimentary, buffet-style dining, open 24 hours)
• Buffalo Steakhouse (American fare restaurant with a la carte menu; reservations required; at a surcharge)
• Weite Welt (Wide World complimentary buffet-style restaurant; has indoor/outdoor seating)
• Sushi Bar (Japanese restaurant at surcharge, reservations are required)
• Pizzeria Mare (Italian pizza restaurant; complimentary, self-service/buffet dining).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

AIDAdiva boasts a total of eleven bars and a casino. The ship is famous with her internet connectivity and her theatrium with a total floor area of 3,000m² (its stage can be reconfigured for different shows). SPA & Sports facilities include AIDAdiva SPA and fitness areas which are in a favourable location above the bridge. The ocean blue sky can be seen through the glass roof. This area provides palm trees, hammocks, cabana-style beds, and an enormous Jacuzzi. Volleyball, golf, squash, and many other sports are offered to AIDAdiva passengers as the finest amenities for recreation.

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

• Pier 3 Bar (coffee bar)
• Kids Club (AIDA Cruises kids program is complimentary, with supervised, age-appropriate activities: the 3 age groups include Seahorses for 3-6 yo, Dolphins for 7-9 yo and Sharks 10-11 yo; the Kids Club has an outdoor area with a paddling pool)
• Internet stations with printers (located in the Reception/Lobby area; Wi-Fi coverage is available shipwide, including in all guests rooms)
• Studio AIDA (TV studio, producing films related to ship's itinerary and activities, plus a radio program)
• AIDA Diva Bar (cocktail bar with live music)
• Theatrium (948-seat, 3-deck high; a combination of an Atrium and a theatre, with glass walls, a stage with dynamic platforms, and glass dome; hosts large-scale productions)
• Art Gallery (Kunstgalerie; sells original artworks of renowned art schools and German artists; hosts art auctions)
• AIDA Lounge (with 270-degree panoramic views and comfortable seating)
• The Library (Bibliotek; offers card and board games)
• AIDAdiva casino
• Cafe Mare (patisserie & speciality coffee bar)
• Vinotek (fine wines shop; offers sommelier service and wine tasting events)
• AIDA Bar (big-capacity lounge with panoramic windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (professional photo & video services, duty-free accessories and equipment; new feature are the photo kiosks with touch-screens /face-recognition system)
• AIDA Shop (duty-free merchandise at discount prices; the shopping arcade has a general store selling liquor and tobaccos, as well as small boutiques for jewellery, luxury watches, perfumes, brand fashion clothing, AIDA logo goods)
• Beauty Salon (Friseur; provides hairdresser, barber services, professional manicure/pedicure)
• Body & Soul Sports Fitness Centre (with a modern Gym and separate area for classes)
• Zen Lounge (relaxation room; hosts indoor classes)
• 4D Kino Cinemare (4D Cinema room)
• Time Out Bar (sports bar); Ocean Bar (outdoor cocktail bar)
• Blutenmeer (Blooming Sea flower shop)
• Sundeck area (served by the Beach Bar)
• Anytime Bar (Diskothek; ship’s disco & nightclub with DJ program and themed dance parties; during the day hosts organized dance classes)
• HYPE (teens club with supervised activities in two age groups – Orcas for 12 -13 yo and Teens 14 -17 yo; complimentary)
• Body & Soul SPA complex (Africa-themed, with Beauty Salon & Spa Reception, massages /treatments rooms, Wellness Suite, Wellness Oase, Aroma Sauna, Finish Sauna, Steam Room, relaxation room)
• Wellness Oase (Oasis, with a large whirlpool, hammocks, relaxation beds, decorated with palm trees and live plants)
• Wellness Suite (max 4 guests, rented for 4 hours; with its own veranda, Sauna, Whirlpool, luxury bath amenities)
• SPA Bar (complimentary fresh fruits, tea, wellness drinks)
• Sundeck / sunbathing area (Freibereich, located above the swimming pool; with loungers, served by the Pool Bar); the ship’s Top Deck is dedicated to Freikorperkultur / FKK Bereich nudist area with sun loungers)
• Sun Deck games area (Sonnendeck – Freibereich, with shuffleboard, giant chess, Boccia, backgammon, darts, table tennis)
• Videowand (outdoor theatre, with a big-size LED screen)
• Sports Deck area (Sportaussendeck with a combined sports court volleyball/basketball, Golf Cage, putting green area, golf simulator)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track

AIDAdiva 2015 refurbishment review

Ship's 2015 drydock refurbishment (April 21 - May 4, done at Blohm+Voss, Hamburg)  resulted in the following changes:

• New scrubber (filter) system - air pollution control units used to remove particulates and gases from the ship's exhaust stream.
• On the ship were carried out over 30 different upgrades and cosmetic repairs, including 12.000 m2 new carpeting.
• (deck 11) Beach Bar was renovated. Also here, the golf course area was redesigned.
• (deck 9) New shops were added.
• Body & Soul (spa and fitness) complex was upgraded with new training equipment.
• (deck 10) Photo Store now has 11 digital photo stations.
• Due to photo digitization, AIDA Cruises has reduced the company's total usage of chemicals and photo paper by 50%.

Itineraries

AIDAdiva itinerary program is based on Caribbean out of homeports Bridgetown (Barbados) and Montego Bay (Jamaica), Northern Europe/Baltic Sea roundtrips from Warnemunde-Rostock (Germany), and offers seasonal Transatlantic crossings on repositioning.

AIDAdiva is the 4th liner operated by AIDA Kreutzfahrten. The vessel's construction included 55 steel blocks (450 tons each). The hull itself weighs 25000 tons. The four diesel engines provide 50.000 hp of power. The ship was christened in Port Hamburg on April 20, 2007. A unique marine design feature is the combination of Atrium and Main Show facility into the glass-enclosed, three-deck-high Theatrium - which spreads over total area 3000 m2. The stage can be reconfigured and moved when necessary for different shows.

AIDA Diva features a significant amount of space devoted to sports. A biking station and supply of bicycles are at hand to be used by passengers during shore excursions in ports of call. The fitness-spa area is just above the bridge and boasts a glass roof, palm trees, hammocks and cabana-style beds.

The majority of AIDA passengers are Germans and German-speaking Europeans (Austrians, Swiss), so the largely used onboard language is German. AIDA customers are young and active since older Germans choose among more traditional small ship cruise lines in Germany.

AIDAdiva refurbishments review

Drydock refurbishment 2015 (April 21 - May 4, done at Blohm+Voss, Hamburg) resulted in the following changes:

• New scrubber (filter) system - air pollution control units used to remove particulates and gases from the ship's exhaust stream.
• On the ship were carried out over 30 different upgrades and cosmetic repairs, including 12.000 m2 new carpeting.
• (deck 11) Beach Bar was renovated. Also here, the golf course area was redesigned.
• (deck 9) New shops were added.
• Body & Soul (spa and fitness) complex was upgraded with new training equipment.
• (deck 10) Photo Store now has 11 digital photo stations.
• Due to photo digitization, AIDA Cruises has reduced the company's total usage of chemicals and photo paper by 50%.

The ship's last drydocking was in 2022 (April 25 through to May 12) done at Lloyd Werft's shipyard in Bremerhaven Germany. The project included mainly technical updates and regular maintenance works, as well as redesigning and renovation of several public areas and adding a new restaurant (Almhutte) that offers traditional German delicacies and popular beers. Part of the wellness complex, the Body & Soul Spa was expanded with a sundeck (outdoor relaxation area) while the Gym was updated with new fitness equipment and cyberobics workouts (led by professional trainers) were added.