AIDAluna 4

''AIDAluna'' is a Sphinx class cruise ship, owned by US based Carnival Corp and operated by AIDA Cruises. Built by Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, Germany, she is the third ship of the class, preceded by ''AIDAdiva'' and ''AIDAbella'', and is followed by ''AIDAblu'', ''AIDAsol'', and ''AIDAmar''. The ship has a capacity of 2,100 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 69,203. ''AIDAluna'' was initially deployed in the Baltic Sea for the 2009 Summer season. In Winter 2009, she was redeployed in Canary Islands. ''AIDAluna'' has an 8 × 4.5-m poolside theater, which is a first for AIDA Cruises.Countdown to AIDAluna: still 12 weeks to the maiden voyage
Press Release. ''AIDA Cruises''. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2010

Concept and Construction

''AIDAluna'' is the third ship, out of a series of six ships, ordered by AIDA Cruises at Meyer Werft, with expected delivery of one ship each year from 2007 to 2012. She is a sister ship of ''AIDAdiva'', ''AIDAbella'', ''AIDAblu'', ''AIDAsol'', and ''AIDAmar''. The first order was only for two ships, but the option extended to six ships.AIDA Cruises orders two new club ships
''Meyerwerft website. 19 October 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2010AIDAluna
''Meyerwerft website''. Retrieved 8 May 2010 She floated out of drydock on 10 February 2009.Undocking of third AIDA club ship
''Meyerwerft website''. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010 ''AIDAluna'' started her sea trials with her passage on the River Ems on 21 February 2009, departing Papenburg. The voyage culminated in Emdem the next day. On 23 February, departing Emden to continue sea trials, she ventured to Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg for final inspection at dock Elbe 17. During the inspection, an object was seen, being tangled on ''AIDAluna''s propellers, which was supposedly caused by the ship's short trip. After a few days, ''AIDAluna'' was cleared and continued her sea trials in the North Sea.AIDAluna leaves for Hamburg
''Meyerwerft website''. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010 ''AIDAluna'' was delivered to its owners on 16 March 2009. She was christened on April 4, 2009 at Palma de Mallorca by the German supermodel, Franziska Knuppe.

Amenities

The ship has 1,025 passenger cabins. ''AIDAluna'' has a 2,300-m² (25,000-ft²) spa facility. The ship has 7 restaurants and 11 bars.

The focal point in the ship is the Theatrium, a three-level complex, which could be transformed into a Theater. An onboard 4-D Cinema is fitted with moving chairs.

Operational history

''AIDAluna'' started her maiden voyage on 22 March 2009, departing Hamburg. This 14-day voyage culminated in Palma de Mallorca, with stops at Le Havre, Santander, A Coruña, Lisbon, Cadiz, Tangier, Valencia, and Barcelona. In Summer 2009, she was deployed in Baltic Sea and in Winter, she was redeployed in Canary Islands. ''AIDAluna'' made her first call in Kiel on 22 April and in Rostock-Warnemünde on 8 May, departing from Palma de Mallorca. She made 10 roundtrip cruises in the Baltic during the 2009 Summer season. In 2011, ''AIDAluna'' was redeployed in the Caribbean and offered 14-day cruises, with additional 6 to 8-day sailings. On her way to the Caribbean, ''AIDAluna'' sailed the East Coast, calling in New York City.AIDA's eight ships calling at 160 ports in 2011/2012
''Cruise Industry News''. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010

Incidents

At around 5 a.m. on 9 September 2018, the German pop singer Daniel Küblböck jumped overboard when the vessel was in open waters about 185 km north of St. John's in the Labrador Sea. The Canadian Coast Guard launched a search operation, assisted by ''AIDAluna'' and the Holland America cruise ship '' Zuiderdam''. The search was abandoned the following day, as the water temperature was and the maximum survival time in cold water had been exceeded, and Küblböck was later officially declared dead.

References

External links

Official website of AIDAluna


Photos

YouTube video clip during the launch of AIDAluna
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aidaluna
Ships built in Papenburg
Ships of AIDA Cruises
2009 ships