AIDAstella

The 2013-built AIDAstella cruise ship is the seventh and final Sphinx-class AIDA liner, with sister ships AIDAblu, AIDAsol, and AIDAmar.

The vessel (IMO number 9601132) is currently Italy-flagged (MMSI 247322800) and registered in Genova.

History - construction and ownership

AIDA Cruises is a Rostock-headquartered subsidiary of 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 was acquired in 2000 by P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation (the current owner) in 2003. AIDA's first World Cruise (with AIDAcara) took place in 2017-2018 (October to February), featuring a 116-day roundtrip itinerary from Hamburg, Germany.

The 2,200-passenger AIDAstella was not operational until March 17, 2013. She was christened at the port of Warnemunde by 10 godmothers. AIDAstella embarked on her maiden cruise from Hamburg to Las Palmas, with ports of call including Dover, Le Havre, Santander, La Coruna, Cadiz, Casablanca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Las Palmas. The christening ceremony took place in the ship's Theatrium. The selection of 10 godmothers was a gesture of appreciation for those involved in the shipbuilding process. Eight were female crew members representing different nationalities and departments within AIDA. One represented Jos L Meyer (the shipbuilder), and one represented Partner Ship Design (the ship’s designers).

In addition to the ship's staff and crew, AIDA cruise passengers are assisted by Pepper robots—cutting-edge humanoid robots introduced fleetwide in 2016. These robots greet and guide passengers during embarkation and provide ongoing assistance throughout the voyage, offering information and tips on dining, entertainment, enrichment programs (such as workshops and scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, and shore excursions. Pepper robots are mobile, communicate in three languages (English, German, Italian), and can interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

Most AIDAstella staterooms (1,097 total, across 24 categories) include 15 Suites, 505 Balcony, 391 Oceanview, and 374 Inside cabins. Balcony cabins range from 17-23 m² (185-250 ft²) with 3-6 m² (30-65 ft²) step-out balconies. Oceanview cabins measure 14-17 m² (150-185 ft²), and Interior cabins are 14 m² (150 ft²). There are 11 wheelchair-accessible cabins. The largest accommodations are the Sundeck Deluxe Suites (56-87 m² / 605-935 ft²), each with a private sundeck (12-50 m² / 130-540 ft²).

The vessel has 14 decks, of which 12 are accessible to passengers, and 7 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are seven restaurants and twelve bars onboard AIDAstella. Guests can enjoy a variety of offerings including beer (draft and specialty brands), meatloaf, white sausages, premium American beef and bison, jerk chicken, clam chowder, and Surf & Turf (beef fillet with lobster tail). A selection of fine wines is also available.

Below is the complete list of AIDAstella restaurants and food bars:

• Rossini – a specialty dinner-only restaurant (surcharge applies, reservations required); features waiter service and a six-course à la carte menu
• Markt Restaurant – complimentary main dining room; buffet-style with multiple food stations and a small terrace
• Bella Donna – Italian cuisine, complimentary, buffet-style, open 24 hours
• Buffalo Steakhouse – American cuisine, à la carte menu (surcharge applies, reservations required)
• Sushi Bar – Japanese cuisine (surcharge applies, reservations required)
• California Grill – complimentary American-style restaurant
• East Restaurant – complimentary buffet-style Asian restaurant

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

AIDAstella features both indoor and outdoor swimming pools for active guests. The Body & Soul Spa provides a tranquil space for relaxation. Entertainment options include board safaris and pirate parties, helping guests unwind and enjoy their cruise experience. Families with children can take advantage of the Kids Club. Additional amenities include a library, board games, and a 4D cinema.

Below is the complete list of AIDAstella's lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Pier 3 Bar (coffee bar)
• Kids Club (AIDA Cruises' complimentary kids program with supervised, age-appropriate activities; age groups include Seahorses for ages 3-6, Dolphins for 7-9, and Sharks for 10-11; the 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 guest rooms)
• Studio AIDA (TV studio producing films related to the ship's itinerary and activities, along with a radio program)
• AIDA Stella Bar (cocktail bar with live music)
• Theatrium (948-seat, three-deck-high venue; combines an atrium and theater with glass walls, dynamic stage platforms, and a glass dome; hosts large-scale productions)
• Art Gallery (Kunstgalerie; sells original works by renowned art schools and German artists; also hosts art auctions)
• AIDA Lounge (offering 270-degree panoramic views and comfortable seating)
• The Library (Bibliotek; provides card and board games)
• AIDAstella Casino
• Cafe Mare (patisserie and specialty coffee bar)
• Vinothek (fine wine shop with sommelier service and wine tasting events)
• Brauhaus (beerhouse with onboard brewery using purified seawater; serves its own draft beers)
• Destille (distillery-themed bar serving fruit spirits)
• AIDA Bar (large-capacity lounge with panoramic windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (professional photo and video services, duty-free accessories and equipment; features photo kiosks with touchscreen and facial recognition)
• AIDA Shop (duty-free shopping arcade with general store offering liquor and tobacco, and boutiques selling jewelry, luxury watches, perfumes, fashion apparel, and AIDA-branded merchandise)
• Beauty Salon (Friseur; provides hairdresser and barber services, as well as professional manicure/pedicure)
• Body & Soul Sports Fitness Center (modern gym with a separate area for group classes)
• Zen Lounge (relaxation room hosting indoor classes)
• 4D Kino Cinemare (4D cinema room)
• Time Out Bar (sports bar) and Ocean Bar (outdoor cocktail bar)
• Blütenmeer (Blooming Sea flower shop)
• Sundeck area (served by the Beach Bar)
• Anytime Bar (Disco and nightclub featuring DJ sets and themed dance parties; also hosts daytime dance classes)
• HYPE (teen club with supervised activities for two age groups – Orcas for ages 12-13 and Teens for 14-17; complimentary)
• Body & Soul SPA complex (Africa-themed, includes Beauty Salon and Spa Reception, massage/treatment rooms, Wellness Suite, Wellness Oase, aroma sauna, Finnish sauna, steam room, and relaxation area)
• Wellness Oase (Oasis area with a large whirlpool, hammocks, relaxation beds, palm trees, and live plants)
• Wellness Suite (private suite for up to 4 guests, rented for 4 hours; features veranda, sauna, whirlpool, and luxury bath amenities)
• SPA Bar (offers complimentary fresh fruit, tea, and wellness drinks)
• Sundeck / sunbathing area (Freibereich, located above the swimming pool, with loungers and Pool Bar service); the ship’s top deck includes a Freikörperkultur / FKK Bereich nudist area with sun loungers
• Sun Deck games area (Sonnendeck – Freibereich; features shuffleboard, giant chess, boccia, backgammon, darts, and table tennis)
• Videowand (outdoor theater with a large LED screen)
• Sports Deck area (Sportaussendeck with a multi-sport court for volleyball and basketball, golf cage, putting green, and golf simulator)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track

AIDAstella 2018 refurbishment review

The ship's 5-day drydock refurbishment in 2018 (March 3-8, in Dubai, UAE) included the following upgrades:

• Eisbar by Langnese Happiness Station (ice cream bar) was added on Deck 11, offering guests the opportunity to create personalized desserts using various ingredients, including swirls, soft-serve, and Carte d'Or premium ice creams.
• A new gaming room was added to the Teen Club on Deck 12.
• The Body & Soul SPA complex on Deck 12 received new flooring.
• All public areas were fitted with new energy-efficient LED lighting and approximately 3,500 m² (37,700 ft²) of new carpeting.
• The drydock contract with Drydocks World shipyard also included routine maintenance and classification work.

Itineraries

The AIDAstella itinerary program includes roundtrip Canary Islands cruises from Gran Canaria, Holy Land voyages from Antalya, and Mediterranean cruises departing from Palma de Mallorca. During winter, AIDAstella operates 7-day Dubai cruises, featuring Suez Canal repositioning voyages between the Red Sea and Europe. In late 2015, she became the first Carnival Corporation ship to call at the new Mina Zayed Cruise Terminal in Abu Dhabi.

The vessel (Meyer Werft Papenburg yard/hull) has a volume of 71,304 GT, a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 7,833 tons, and a maximum draught of 7.3 m. The powerplant is based on MAK Caterpillar marine diesel engines (model 9M43C) with a combined output of 36 MW. The propulsion system utilizes VEM ELEKTROMOTORENWERK electric motors (model DTMSZ 3352-16YS) with a total output of 25 MW. The registered shipowner is COSTA CROCIERE S.p.A., and the registered and ISM Manager is CARNIVAL MARITIME GmbH.

AIDAstella is the seventh liner in the Sphinx-class series of AIDA Kreuzfahrten and the fleet's tenth vessel. She was christened on March 16, 2013, in Warnemunde, Germany. AIDAstella features innovative ballast tanks designed to retain all micro-organisms when emptied in ports worldwide—making her the first ship ever equipped with such a system. For interior illumination, the ship uses 1,200 meters of flexible LED modules and 9,000 halogen Eco lamps supplied by Osram.

On November 23, 2015, AIDAstella became the first Carnival Corporation vessel to dock at the newly constructed Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal (Mina Zayed). This UAE port serves as a key homeport/turnaround port in the Red Sea region, with a total of 60 calls scheduled in 2016, including 40 by AIDA ships (23 of which were by AIDAstella). These visits were part of her 2015-2016 schedule of 7-day roundtrip cruises from Dubai to Muscat (Oman) and Mina Salman (Bahrain).

AIDAstella refurbishments review

The 2023 drydock refurbishment (March 6 to March 21) was conducted in Marseille, France. The project primarily included routine general maintenance and classification works, technical overhauls, minor repairs, and hull cleaning and painting.

The ship's 5-day drydock in 2018 (March 3-8, in Dubai, UAE) resulted in the following deck plan updates:

• Eisbar by Langnese Happiness Station (ice cream bar) was added on Deck 11, allowing passengers to create custom treats from various ingredients. Options include swirls, soft-serve, and Carte d'Or premium ice creams.
• A new gaming room was added to the Teen Club on Deck 12.
• The Body & Soul SPA complex on Deck 12 received new flooring.
• All public areas were upgraded with new energy-efficient LED lighting and approximately 3,500 m² (37,700 ft²) of new carpeting.

The 5-day contract with Drydocks World shipyard also included general maintenance and routine classification work.