AIDA Cruises
An upbeat, family-friendly, and cheerful ship, but there’s little finesse
The Ship. The ship has a modern profile, with a swept-back funnel and wedge-shaped stern. The bows display the red lips and blue eyes of Aïda (from Verdi’s opera, written in 1871). AIDA Cruises is part of Costa Cruises, itself part of the giant Carnival Corporation.
The open deck space is rather limited, but sunbathing space includes a quiet section above the navigation bridge. Dip pools and hot tubs, plus seating areas, are provided in a cascading, tiered setting on the pool deck, providing a reasonable amount of sunbathing space. It’s all designed to be a ‘beach-like’ environment, with splash and play areas. Sadly, there is no stroll-around promenade deck, although you can walk outdoors around the funnel area, and partially around Deck 5.
Several decks of public rooms and facilities are positioned above the accommodation decks, and AIDAluna shares public room names that are common aboard all the AIDA Cruises ships: AIDA Bar, for example, the main social gathering place, where the principal feature is a large, star-shaped bar, with many tables for standing drinkers.
There is a separate aft sports deck, an observation lounge, an art gallery, plus a small casino featuring blackjack, roulette, and poker gaming tables, and a number of slot machines. The embarkation entryway has a bar and a lookout ‘balcony,’ and is cheerfully painted to look like a waterside street scene. A welcoming environment, it helps to calm tempers after waiting to go through the security check for embarkation or in ports of call.
There are three pricing levels – AIDA Premium, AIDA Vario, and Just AIDA – depending on what you want to be included, plus differences in price according to accommodation size and grade, and itinerary.
The dress code is simple: casual (no ties) at all times, and all port taxes and gratuities are included.
This is a family-friendly ship, with a diverse selection of children’s and youth programs, and special Club Team members dedicated to making sure that everyone has a good time. Children are divided into five age groups, each with its own play area.
An AIDA Cruise is all about über-casual cruising for youthful German-speaking urbanites including families with children who enjoy a party-like environment, with self-serve buffet restaurants and tablecloth-free eating, and don’t mind little contact with relatively small number of staff.
Accommodation. There are eight or nine grades, from (more) spacious suites to interior (no-view) cabins, depending on the ship, which keeps your cabin choice simple.
Contrary to maritime traditions (even-numbered cabins on the port side, odd-numbered cabins on the starboard side), cabin numbers progress numerically (example: 8201–8276 on the port side; 8101–8176 on the starboard side). All suites and cabins have two beds (convertible to a queen-size bed). Some cabins also have two extra beds/berths for children, and some cabins have interconnecting doors – useful for families.
The decor is bright, minimalist, and slightly playful, accented with multi-patterned fabrics, wood-trimmed cabinetry (with nicely rounded edges), and rattan or wood-look furniture. Beds have duvets and a colorful Arabian-style headboard-to-ceiling fabric canopy. Windows have full pull-down blackout blinds (useful in destinations with long daylight hours).
The bathrooms are compact, practical units, with shower enclosure, small washbasin, and small toilet. Only a wall-mounted body wash/shampoo dispenser is provided, so take any personal toiletries you may need.
Thick cotton bathrobes are provided, as are a face cloth and a small ‘bath’ towel. The bathroom does not have a hairdryer, but there is one in the vanity unit in the cabin. Note that the usual night-time turndown service provided aboard most ships is not provided, and there is no cabin service after 3pm.
Cabins with balconies have an easy-open sliding door that doesn’t impinge on balcony space, a small drinks table, and two small chairs. Balconies on the lowest deck can be overlooked by anyone on a balcony on the decks above. Balcony cabins have a hammock as standard, although it only accommodates one (slim) person. Some cabins (forward on Deck 5 – Nos 5103, 5104, 5105, 5106, 5203, 5204, 5206) have cabins with an outside view (well, outside light), but they are obstructed by steel bulkheads that form the front section of the ship.
Dining. There are three self-serve main eateries: Markt (Market), Bella Vista (for Italian cuisine), and Weite Welt (Wide World) restaurants, with open seating at tables of four to eight. Cutlery hangs in a rack (not hygienic), and there are no soup spoons, only dessert spoons.
The many food islands and active stations cut down on the waiting time for food. There is always a selection of breads, cheeses, cold cuts, fruits, and make-your-own coffee and teas – with a choice of more than 30 types of loose-leaf regular and herbal teas. The fish section has its own fish-smoking unit, resembling a wine cabinet. It’s simply casual and easy-going mass catering, so think food court rather than fine dining.
Beer is available at the push of a button or a pull of the tap, and table wine – of the sort that would make a good drain cleaner – is usually provided in carafes on each table for lunch and dinner.
The beverage stations open only during restaurant opening hours, unless you go to the extra-cost coffee bar. Vending machines dispense out-of-hours snacks.
The à la carte Rossini Restaurant, for which reservations are required, has mostly high-back seats and an intimate atmosphere. It is open for dinner only. Tablecloths are provided, the food is good, and the service is sound.
Buffalo Steakhouse has an open ‘display’ kitchen, and offers various steak cuts and sizes, and roast lamb rack. It’s like going out to eat in a decent restaurant ashore, albeit without tablecloths. Wine or any other drinks cost extra.
There is a 12-stool counter for Japanese-style sushi and sashimi dishes (at extra cost).
A wine bar, Vinotheque, located in front of the Weide Welt (Wide World) Restaurant, has a list of premium wines, and Davidoff cigars (although you can’t smoke them at the bar – or anywhere inside the ship).
The Pizzeria Mare provides a small selection of ever-popular pizzas.
Entertainment. The Theatrium (theater) is in the ship’s center. It is open to the main foyer and other public areas, on three levels (decks 9, 10, and 11), and topped by a glass dome. Amphitheater-style seating is on three decks (bench seating on the two upper levels has back supports, but not on the lower level), and standing tables, although sight lines to the raised thrust stage are poor from many seats.
Spa/Fitness. The spa, fitness, and sports programming are extensive. The Body and Soul wellness/oasis area is located on two decks (connected by a stairway). There is also an open-air wellness deck for ‘FKK’ relaxation (nude sunbathing) in an area atop the ship forward of the ship’s mast. In keeping with the times, all the treatments are featured in an appealing contemporary setting.