AIDAmira has officially joined the AIDA Cruises fleet as the German line’s fourth Selection Class vessel and its 14th ship in the overall fleet (which will soon grow to 15 with the addition of AIDAcosma).
AIDAmira was christened in a glittering ceremony in Palma de Mallorca, hosted by the ship’s godmother, model and TV personality Franziska Knuppe and Captain Manuel Pannzek, complete with fireworks and a party on the pool deck.
AIDAmira is christened with a 20-minute fireworks display
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As part of the event, an auction was held on-board for AIDA Cruise & Help to raise funds for the foundation FLY & HELP, which builds schools in developing and emerging countries.
Auctions included an original Rizzi, exclusive experiences with the other star guests on board such as a market tour with star chef Stefan Marquard, who also created the christening menu, as well as a bottle of champagne signed by the evening’s star guests.
More than 75,000 euros was raised for the construction of a school in Namibia, where AIDAmira will be visiting frequently during her inaugural South African cruise season out of Cape Town.
AIDAmira’s first itinerary with AIDA Cruises will be a Welcome Cruise around the Mediterranean, visiting Sète in the south of France, the Catalan metropolis of Barcelona, and Palma de Mallorca.
On her return to Palma de Mallorca on December 4th, AIDAmira will conduct a quick turnaround and set off that evening for Cape Town. The 19-night voyage will take her to Gibraltar, Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Praia in Cape Verde, and Walvis Bay and Luderitz in Namibia before she arrives in the Mother City.
Rendering of AIDAmira off the Namibian coast
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From December 23rd, AIDAmira will cruise seven times roundtrip from Cape Town on a 14-night itinerary visiting Port Elizabeth, Durban, East London, Walvis Bay, and Luderitz, staying overnight in Walvis Bay and in Cape Town midway through the cruise (she will call in Cape Town after Port Elizabeth on each itinerary).
“The absolute highlight of the cruises will be the multi-night stops in Cape Town and at Walvis Bay in Namibia,” AIDA Cruises promises in its promotional material.
AIDAmira will be the first mainstream cruise ship ever to homeport in SA alongside MSC
At the end of the South African cruise season in April, AIDAmira will reposition to the Eastern Mediterranean, sailing roundtrip out of Corfu and visiting Athens, Santorini, Crete and Brindisi in Apulia, or Malta, Sicily, Crotone in Calabria, Olympia and Cephalonia.
The alternating itineraries can also be booked as a single back-to-back 14-night butterfly itinerary.
Categories: SA Cruise News
