Posted on Friday, August 13, 2010 by Peter Knego
The first in a platform of four "club" ships that will include the new order placed by parent company Carnival, AIDACruises' AIDABLU. Courtesy AIDACruises.
Carnival Corporation has ordered the seventh new ship for its German-based AIDA Cruises subsidy in the past six years. The 71,300 gt cruise ship will carry 2.192 passengers and will be constructed by the Meyer-Werft yard in Papenburg, Germany. The line’s goal is to have 10 “club” ships by 2013. The new vessel, due in 2013, will follow the 2010 built AIDABLU, the AIDASOL (which enters service next April) and another as-yet-unnamed sister in 2012.
Jan Kramer
August 13, 2010 at 2:57 am
Unfortunately, from the “Blu” onwards, the more recent Sphinx-class ships sport another deck above the original spa area, which adds to their “Epic-esque” visual top heaviness. Originally I thought the AIDA ships (even the bigger ones) coped rather well with the demanded increase in revenue space and balconies, and looked comparatively well-balanced, but this seems to be a step in the wrong direction. I prefer the coziness of the earlier ships like the “Aura” anyway…
David
August 13, 2010 at 12:44 pm
I agree with Jan ! Not as bad as the “Epic” but she is getting there. Another one to have to worry about rolling over in a heavy sea or Rogue wave. I was on the Norwegian Dawn when the Rogue wave hit her and it was a HORRIBLE FEELING IF SHE WOULD ROLL BACK. Give me 10 decks with a 25 foot draft and 2 pools in the stern like the old Fairsea and Fairwind. NOT SHIPS WITH A WATER PARK ON TOP WHICH ADDS MORE WEIGHT.
John Fostik
August 13, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I agree that the exterior is less than optimal. Enough with the hull art too!
Erik
August 14, 2010 at 1:59 am
Sphinx class can not be compared to the Epic .. Epic looks absolutely horrible with brick She has on top of the superstructure .. Epic’s rear also looks horrible out. Completely flat ..
I like Aidas new ships .. They do not build something that is very square and boring.
Best regards Erik Ask
Corey palm desert
August 14, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Hey who thinks lipstick and eyes look good on a ship. I feel it’s wrong.I thought ncl was wrong but they look good in comparison.
Jan Kramer
August 16, 2010 at 5:38 am
You don’t need to be a big fan of this kind of hull “art”, but for the AIDA brand this is an absolutely vital trademark feature. The company’s predecessor started this colour scheme back in 1996 in order to emphasize their new approach to cruising with their first “club ship”, and to set it apart from the first “AIDA(cara)”s running mate “Arkona” (Ex “Astor”), which was (and still is) a rather traditional cruise ship (now in the guise of “Saga Pearl II”). The German mainstream clientele grew to like AIDA over the years, and one has to admit that lips and eyes do really work well as distinctive features. Maybe this does not appeal to the traditional, well-travelled premium passenger, but those would not consider an AIDA voyage anyway. I believe that, partly, NCL just followed the successful path of the AIDA ships for their “Freestyle Cruising” concept, including hull art – and it seems to work for them, too.
Joseph Sturges
August 16, 2010 at 6:28 am
Hull art of this type reminds one of the horribly despoiled INDEPENDENCE and CONSTITUTION ‘s Jean Harlow eyes and sunburst abomination in years past. It wasn’t a good idea then, and it surely isn’t a good idea now. It cheapens the currency.
Captain Gort
August 16, 2010 at 11:55 am
Another dangerously-top heavy looking ship. God-awful lines…
Designed to pack’m in and vacuum their wallets.
Tom in Long Beach
August 17, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Captain Gort:
Designed to pack’m in and vacuum their wallets.
You say that like it is a bad thing.
Glenn Paull
August 18, 2010 at 6:31 am
A “baby” Epic – Be honest now, isn’t she cute? I think she is adorable by any standards.
Hank
August 20, 2010 at 9:23 pm
How is the Kungsholm deal going Peter? Oh and, for those of you who don’t know. The reason the hull art is there is in the name. Aida Cruises is named for Verdi’s Opera Aida. Which he wrote for the opening of the Suez canal. The lips and eyes are the eyes of the main character Aida. Although I do admit you’re right. It is kind of unstylish. As for the hull, it’s not that bad. I like it. Also I like the Vista class cruise ships. There’s something inviting about them. Ocean liners age is over, but cruising has just begun.
Kenneth Eden
August 22, 2010 at 7:54 am
For those not familiar with US politics, much was made in light of the phrase “lips on a pig”, re: John McCain and Sarah Palin, for which the phrase rings true. When I see the lips on the hulls of Aida ships, in person or on line, that catch phrase is what I think of, lips on a pig, or in a Germanic sense, lips on a schwine.