This week we have a new cruise ship
profile. AIDAbella is a 69,000 gross ton ship, which entered service
for AIDA Cruises in 2008. As with all AIDA ships, she is instantly
recognizable by the Egyptian-inspired mural on her bow and sides.
AIDAbella is an intriguing ship. When
you hear that she is only 69,000 gross tons, you may well think that
she is a relatively small ship. However, she has her own version of
all of the features and amenities that you would expect in a
contemporary cruise ship. Still, she does not feel crowded or over
packed. This is perhaps due to the very non-traditional open
architecture inside.
The ship is also intriguing because of
AIDA's non-traditional approach to cruising. Many cruise lines have
either done away with or give the guests the option of dispensing
with set dining times and assigned tables. However, at AIDA, they
have even dispensed with the main dining rooms. Instead, the ship
has three buffet restaurants and, of course, they are not your
standard buffet venue.
Along the same lines, many ships now
have some form of entertainment in the ship's atrium. On AIDAbella,
the atrium has become the theater with a stage and very sophisticated
theatrical equipment. This is where the production cast and visiting
performers put on their shows.
AIDAbella is geared for the German
market. However, even for non-German speakers it is interesting to
look at what is happening on the Bella. Its club-like approach is
clearly non-traditional. However, will the concepts that AIDA has
already put into practice be incorporated by the more traditional
cruise lines tomorrow?
Our profile of AIDAbella is at
http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAbella-Profile.html
The multi-page photo tour of the ship begins at
http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAbella-Tour-1.html
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