AIDAmar

The 2012-built AIDAmar cruise ship is the 6th Sphinx-class AIDA liner, with sisterships AIDAblu, AIDAstella and AIDAsol.

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 travellers. 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 2200-passenger ship AIDAmar took a 5-year period to build. The brand new amenities onboard are the large luxurious SPA facility and onboard brewery. The ship impressed at the very start of her life with one of the most spectacular christening ceremonies. The event was held on May 12, 2012, in Hamburg, where AIDA Mar was accompanied by her sisters Blu, Sol and Luna.

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

Most AIDAmar staterooms (1096 total, in 24 grades) include 15 Suites, 505 Balconies, 391 Oceanview, 374 Inside cabins. Balcony cabins are sized 17-23 m2 (185-250 ft2) with 3-6 m2 (30-65 ft2) step-out balconies. The Oceanviews are sized 14-17 m2 (150-185 ft2), the Interior cabins are 14 m2 (150 ft2). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 11. The largest accommodations are the Sundeck Deluxe Suites (56-87 m2 / 605-935 ft2) with private sundeck (12-50 m2 / 130-540 ft2).

The boat has 14 decks, of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Seven restaurants and eleven bars are available to all passengers, serving fresh salads, grilled steaks, burgers. Buffalo Steak House, Rossini, and the Sushi Bar are really worth visiting. Remember to try California Grill and the variety of drinks available.

Follows the complete list of AIDAmar 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 Donna (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)
• Sushi Bar (Japanese restaurant at surcharge, reservations are required)
• California Grill (complimentary, American cuisine restaurant)
• East Restaurant (Asian cuisine, buffet-style complimentary restaurant).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

To entertain the passengers onboard there is a modern 4D cinema. The other entertainment facilities include an AIDA shop, internet facility and club for the kids. Relax in the AIDA lounge, or try your luck at the Casino. Two swimming pools, sauna, Wellness Suite, Sport & SPA Body & Soul will make you sleep like an angel.

Follows the complete list of AIDAmar 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 Mar 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)
• AIDAmar casino
• Cafe Mare (patisserie & speciality coffee bar)
• Vinotek (fine wines shop; offers sommelier service and wine tasting events)
• Brauhaus (beerhouse; onboard brewery, purified seawater is used for brewing beer; the Beer House sells its own draft beers)
• Destille (Distillery; fruit spirits bar)
• 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.

Itineraries

AIDAmar itinerary program is based on Mediterranean round-trip cruises from Palma de Mallorca, voyages to Western Europe with departures from Hamburg and Amsterdam, Baltic cruises out of Warnemunde and Caribbean cruises from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

AIDAmar is the 6th vessel of the Sphinx-class/series operated by AIDA Kreutzfahrten. It is also fleet's 9th liner, christened on May 12, 2012, at Port Hamburg, where was accompanied by the sisterships AIDAsol, AIDAluna and AIDAblu.

AIDA Mar features a real birch forest on board and even a brewery. Cinema movie theatre is located on deck 11 and shows the latest movies in 4D. The Sun Deck area is spreading on 6620 m? and offers various activities, including dart boards, shuffleboard, a giant chess set.

AIDAmar, just like the sisterships, was built around company's "club resort" concept. These vessels are designed to attract young and active passengers from Germany. The language spoken on board is German, as the majority of AIDA cruise ship passengers are Germans and German-speaking Europeans (Austrians, Swiss).