Blue Dream Melody

The 2002-built (as AIDAvita) cruise ship Blue Dream Melody was the second-oldest and smallest vessel in AIDA's fleet, following her sistership AIDAaura/now Celestyal Discovery. For the Chinese travel brand Blue Dream Cruises, her fleetmate is the Blue Dream Star (2001-built).

Before the ownership transfer in January 2024, AIDAvita (IMO number 9221554) was flagged in Portugal (Madeira) with MMSI 255919000 and registered in Funchal. During her AIDA service (until February 2023), she was Italy-flagged (MMSI 247114900), with port of registry Genoa.

The ship is currently Liberia-flagged (MMSI 636022869) and registered in Monrovia.

History - construction and ownership

On June 14, 2022, it was announced that the 20-year-old AIDAvita would not return to service, as the ship was sold and left the fleet. There were speculations that she had been acquired by Cordelia Cruises (India).

Her last scheduled AIDA program included 30 voyages (between July 24, 2022, and February 26, 2024), all of which were canceled.

During the COVID pandemic and until July 2023, AIDAvita remained laid up at Port Tallinn, Estonia, manned by a skeleton crew.

As of January 2024, Blue Dream Melody is owned by Suzhou Taihu International Travel Ltd (China) through its subsidiary, Fujian China Transport Investment Group Co Ltd (founded in 2016), which operates the Blue Dream Cruises brand in China.

Fujian China Transport Investment Group also owns the Chinese travel brands “Diamond Cruise Line” and “National Cruise.”

On January 12, 2023, the vessel (temporarily named AVITAK) was acquired from previous owner Beta Marine Ltd (1987-founded, based in Hardwicke, England). She departed Tallinn on January 26th at 16:23 UTC, en route to China.

The 1300-passenger ship AIDAvita was designed as a "club ship" in AIDA's ultra-casual style. Her five bars reflected this relaxed atmosphere. AIDA’s unique style and onboard services gained popularity among younger European travelers and earned the brand widespread recognition.

Before starting revenue service under her new Chinese ownership, the ship underwent a major drydock refit, including technical overhauls, maintenance, classification inspections, hull cleaning and repainting, and installation of a shore-power connection. All public spaces and staterooms were redesigned and renovated with new carpeting and flooring to appeal to the Chinese cruise market.

Decks and Cabins

AIDAvita staterooms (total 633, in 9 categories) include 2 Suites, 62 Balcony cabins, 357 Oceanviews, and 214 Inside cabins. The largest accommodations are the Forward-Facing Premium Suites (355 ft² / 33 m² plus private sundeck terrace of 270 ft² / 25 m²).

The vessel has 12 decks, of which 10 are accessible to passengers and 5 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The ship features two main restaurants—Calypso and Markt Restaurant—both offering buffet-style meals with open seating. There are no assigned dining times or dress codes. Basic beverages, including house wines and beer, are complimentary during meals at the buffet venues. Beverage packages are available for purchase at discounted rates. The à la carte Rossini Restaurant provides fine dining with waiter service and a six-course menu for an additional charge and requires reservations.

Full list of AIDAvita restaurants and food bars:

• Rossini – specialty, dinner-only restaurant (extra charge, reservations required; offers à la carte 6-course gourmet menu with waiter service)
• Markt Restaurant – complimentary buffet restaurant with various food stations and a small outdoor terrace
• Calypso Restaurant – complimentary buffet restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

AIDAvita’s entertainment options include Das Theater (the main show lounge) and the AIDA Bar & Anytime Disco. Guests can enjoy swimming, volleyball, basketball, golf, and fitness activities in the Fit & Fun center. The Body & Soul Spa offers a full range of treatments. The pool deck is beach-themed with palm trees, artificial rock formations, and courts for volleyball and basketball. Various shore excursions are available.

Complete list of AIDAvita lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Kids Club (free program with age groups: Seahorses 3-6, Dolphins 7-9, Sharks 10-11; includes outdoor paddling pool)
• Internet stations with printers (Reception/Lobby; shipwide Wi-Fi including cabins)
• Ocean Bar (cocktail bar with outdoor seating)
• The Theater (750-seat, two-level show lounge; hosts live productions, lectures, trivia, Bingo)
• Conference Room (45-seat seminar room with AIDA TV Studio producing daily radio and video content)
• Art Gallery (sells original artwork, hosts art auctions)
• AIDA Bar (large lounge with panoramic windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (photo services, touch-screen kiosks with face-recognition)
• AIDA Shop (duty-free items, fashion, perfumes, jewelry, AIDA merchandise)
• Nightfly Bar (adults-only cocktail bar and nightclub with live music)
• Beauty Salon (hairdresser, barber, manicure/pedicure)
• Body & Soul Sports (modern gym and class studio)
• Mini Golf (indoor putting green); Golf Simulator
• Sunbathing area (served by Pool Bar and Grill)
• The Hemingway Lounge (library, board and card games)
• Anytime Bar (disco nightclub with themed dance nights and daytime dance classes)
• Time Tunnel (Video Arcade with PlayStation consoles)
• Waikiki Lounge (teens club with two groups: Orcas 12–13, Teens 14–17; free admission)
• Sports Deck (basketball/volleyball court; wheelchair accessible)
• Pool Deck (1 pool, 3 whirlpools, towel shop, deck games, live shows, laser nights, bingo)
• Body & Soul SPA (spa reception, treatment rooms, whirlpool, Aroma and Finnish saunas, steam room, relaxation lounge)
• Sundeck (above pool, with loungers and 2 whirlpools; top deck includes FKK nudist area)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track

Blue Dream Melody itineraries

In May 2024, Blue Dream Cruises introduced longer voyages for Blue Dream Melody departing from China.

The 33-night/34-day “Epic Voyage to the West” (departure November 26, 2024, roundtrip from Shanghai) visits 17 ports across 10 countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, and Brunei. Shorter cruises (all roundtrip from Shanghai) visit destinations in Korea (Busan) and Japan (Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Osaka/Kobe, Tokyo, Shimizu, Kochi, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Amami, Kagoshima), with itinerary lengths of 7 nights/8 days and 11 nights/12 days.

AIDAvita itineraries

AIDAvita’s itinerary program focused on Northern Europe and the Canary Islands, with homeports in Germany (Hamburg and Warnemünde-Rostock). The ship visited destinations in Norway (Fjords), the UK, France (Honfleur), the Netherlands (Rotterdam), Portugal’s Madeira, Spain’s Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote), and Iberian ports.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship was paused from March 2020 through February 2023. A restart was scheduled for March 31, 2022, but was repeatedly postponed and eventually canceled. The Russia-Ukraine crisis also impacted cancellations.

Several canceled AIDAvita sailings were reassigned to AIDAbella.