German Cruise Market Heats Up

We mentioned here a couple days ago the growing popularity of the German cruise market. Carnival today confirms that, with orders of 2 newbuilds from Meyer Werft shipyard for their Aida brand. This brings their total newbuilds to 6 in just the past three years.

The two ships will each be 71,000 tons, with a passenger capacity of 2,174, and will be scheduled to enter service in April 2011 and May 2012.

Additionally, the company announced that it has contracted with Meyer Werft to increase the size of the fourth vessel in the series, set to debut in April 2010, to 71,000 tons with a passenger capacity of 2,174, making it a sister to the two ships ordered today. The all-in cost for that vessel has been increased from ?335 million to ?350 million.

All of these vessels will operate under AIDA Cruises’ informal “club resort” cruise concept which is marketed exclusively to German-speaking clientele and offers a product aimed at younger, more active guests who enjoy a host of on-board amenities and facilities.

“With the interest in cruise vacations among Europeans continuing to grow significantly, we are committed to investing in our European brands. The addition of these 71,000-ton ‘club resort’ newbuilds and the increase in capacity for the fourth in the series will help to ensure that we have adequate capacity to meet growing demand, while further reinforcing AIDA’s position as the leader in the German cruise industry,” said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman and CEO.

AIDA Cruises’ President Michael Thamm added, “Our business has been performing very strongly and our parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc, shares our confidence in the potential of the German cruise business as demonstrated by the more than ?2 billion investment in six exciting new shiips.”

These vessels will join the 68,500-ton AIDAbella, set to debut in April 2008, and an as-yet-unnamed sister ship in April 2009. The first vessel in the series, AIDAdiva, was introduced earlier this year.

AIDA Cruises revolutionized the German cruise market with the introduction of its first “club ships” in 1996. By 2012, a total of nine “club ships” will be in service, operating voyages to the Mediterranean, the Canaries, the North Sea, the Baltic, the Caribbean, the Arabian Gulf, Asia and Central America.

So, sailing around the world, when you see these ships, you know you might need to say "guten tag" in port, in addition to "good morning".