AIDAaura Profile and Photo Tour; Talking with her Club Manager

I find the AIDA approach to cruising intriguing. Essentially, it tosses away the traditional rules of cruising in order to foster a more open, club-like atmosphere. In some ways, it is like Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle approach but more so. For example, not only are there no assigned dining times but there is no traditional dining room. Instead, there is a choice of buffet restaurants and specialty restaurants.




Of course, this approach to cruising is not for everyone. I like traditional cruising with its formal nights and rituals of the sea. However, variety is good too.



AIDA manages to execute its approach to cruising quite well. The ships are well-maintained and spotlessly clean. In addition, the staff is open and friendly.



The line is Carnival Corporation’s German cruise line and the cruise experience is designed for the German market. It has been quite successful there, generating a loyal and growing following. Indeed, the line has been adding ships at a rapid rate in order to keep up with the demand. I find it interesting that both AIDA and Cunard do very well in the German market even though the cruise experiences that they offer are at the polar extremes of formality.



This week, our focus is on one of AIDA’s smaller ships, the 42,000 gross ton AIDAaura. This ship provides a more intimate version of the AIDA experience than her larger fleetmates. Also, the smaller ships such as the Aura are used as pathfinders to explore new destinations before one of AIDA’s larger ships is committed to that itinerary.



Beyondships’ profile of AIDAaura is at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-Profile.html and the multi-page photo tour of the ship begins at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-Tour-1.html



I also spoke with Harald Bernberger, the Club Manager (Hotel Director) on AIDAaura about his ship and how it differs from Mr. Bernberger’s last ship the larger AIDAluna. He also provided some insights on why AIDA ordered its next two ships from Mitubishi Heavy Industries in Japan rather than from the German yard that built AIDA’s most recent class of ships. That interview is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-art-HD.html