The first in the series, AIDAnova, is arriving in late 2018, and once it sets sail, it will have the largest passenger capacity in the world. The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and promises to “combine innovative design with state-of-the-art technology to provide even greater on-board comfort,” according to its developers.
A keel-laying ceremony took place in September last year to celebrate the start of AIDAnova’s construction. Carnival Corporation hopes the ship will become a symbol for its “aggressive sustainability goals”.
"The ships will use Shell's infrastructure in cruise ports to refuel with LNG."
Fuel for the first two vessels, which will routinely visit popular European ports, will be supplied by Shell, under a framework agreement signed between the two companies. As part of the agreement, the ships will use Shell's infrastructure in cruise ports to refuel with LNG throughout their itineraries.
However, its makers aren’t content with just the green credentials; passengers will be welcomed on a state-of-the-art vessel, which aims to provide a luxurious and at times extravagant experience in terms of amenities, entertainment and dining.
According to a company press release, the passengers will have a choice of 2,600 staterooms, including 31 suites, 312 interior cabins, 198 ocean-view cabins and 1,655 balcony cabins. The ship’s staterooms will be available in 21 different categories, including double or family cabins, single cabins, verandas and junior suites with a light-flooded winter garden, as well as premium or penthouse suites with an area of up to 53m².
Once out of their rooms, passengers will be able to visit the on-board brewery featuring a beer garden, the beach club complete with three water slides, a climbing garden and a mini golf course, among others. In a first for the brand, the ship will also have two private outdoor sun islands aimed at couples.
Indoor entertainment will include an escape room for puzzle lovers, a 360-degree theatre, as well as a TV studio at sea. Fitness fans will be able to take advantage of a modern gym, which will feature both indoor and outdoor areas.
These facilities will be topped by a whopping 17 restaurants and 23 bars that promise to offer a “variety of culinary trends from around the world”.
For its debut journey, AIDAnova plans to make a first stop in Hamburg, after which it will begin its usual seven-day trips around the Canary Islands, stopping in top destinations such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.