AIDAmira Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

The 1999-built AIDAmira cruise ship was named “Costa neoRiviera” until December 2019. The liner was built under the name “MS Mistral” for Festival Cruises (1999-2002, now defunct). After the company’s collapse in 2004, Mistral was sold to Ibero Cruises (Spain) and renamed “Grand Mistral”. In November 2013, the newly named Costa neoRiviera joined Costa Cruises fleet after EUR 10 million drydock refurbishment. In 2019, Costa neoRiviera joins AIDA’s fleet under the name “AIDAmira” (company’s 14th liner), departing on its inaugural cruise for AIDA on December 4, 2019 (leaving from Palma, Mallorca Island).

AIDAmira is AIDA fleet’s 14th vessel and joined the “AIDA Selection” ships AIDAcara, AIDAvita and AIDAaura. These fleetmates are AIDA’s smallest and operating on longer itineraries with more unusual cruise routes. Prior to its AIDA service, Costa neoRiviera was drydock refurbished and remodeled. Swimming pools were reduced from 3 to 2 (larger) with 2 large whirlpools on the sundeck. From the 624 staterooms, 96 are suites (80 with balconies). The refitted ship now has 6 restaurants and 6 bars. AIDAmira’s inaugural cruise (maiden voyage) is scheduled for December 4, 2019, leaving from Palma de Mallorca to South Africa.

History – construction and ownership

AIDA Cruises is a Rostock-headquartered subsidiary company owned by Carnival Corporation. AIDA is Europe’s largest German cruise line (followed by TUI) targeting younger and more active travellers. AIDA was founded in 1960 (as “Deutsche Seereederei”) and in 2000 was acquired by P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation (shipowner) in 2003. AIDA’s first World Cruise (AIDAcara) was in 2017-2018 (October-February) with 116-day roundtrip itinerary from Hamburg Germany.

The 1600-passenger ship AIDAmira had its maiden voyage (as MS Mistral) on July 17, 1999 (roundtrip from Venice to the Greek islands). During the winter, the ship offered Caribbean cruises. In 2004, the Greek company Festival Cruises experienced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy. The vessel was sold to Ibero Cruises (Iberojet) and renamed Grand Mistral. In 2013, the liner was transferred to Costa’s fleet (as Costa neoRiviera) joining company’s “neoCollection” ship Costa neoRomantica.

Besides the ship’s staff and crew, AIDA cruise passengers are also served by Peper robots – the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation. They also assist them throughout the cruise by providing information and tips on onboard dining, entertainment, enrichment program (workshops, pre-scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, shore excursions and tours. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian). They can also interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

Most AIDAmira staterooms (624 total) are 13 m2 (140 ft2) Oceanview cabins (287). The largest accommodations are Sundeck Deluxe Suites (450-510 ft / 42-47 m2, with terraces sized 115-150 ft2 / 11-14 m2). There are 96x Suites (all with balconies), 12x Balcony staterooms, 287x Oceanviews, and 231x Inside cabins, including 2x wheelchair-accessible (handicap).

The boat has 13 decks, of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

Note: The following review is related to Costa neoRiviera. Information will be updated as soon as AIDA Cruises officially releases details on ship’s new venues, facilities and amenities.

Most of the onboard dining is included in cruises’ fares. With the exception of the pizza on the ship’s Lido Deck, you better choose the main dining room for most of the meals. As a new ship, it promotes eat-when-you-wish casual dining. There is no assigned seating and reservations are not needed. Located on Deck 11, neoRiviera’s buffet features seven stations and is smaller than the buffets on most cruise ships. Its decor is a casual cafeteria. The buffet is more popular in the summer when there is a younger crowd with more kids.

Follows the complete list of Costa neoRiviera restaurants and food bars.

• Ristorante Cetara (forward Dining Room; complimentary, with round-shaped windows and extensive wine list for dinner, with 2 fixed seatings at 6:30 or 9 pm, open seating breakfast and lunch)
• Ristorante Saint Tropez (complimentary aft Dining Room with 2 fixed Dinner seatings)
• Ristorante Buffet Vernazza (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary; offers breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea at 4-5 pm, and dinner; in the evening is transformed into Pizzeria, complimentary, with waiter service)
• Grill Manarola (fast food station, complimentary)
• Pizzeria Monterosso (lunch & dinner only pizza restaurant, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

Note: The following review is related to Costa neoRiviera. Information will be updated as soon as AIDA Cruises officially releases details on ship’s new venues, facilities and amenities.

The ship has 3 restaurants, including buffet Grill & Pizzeria, six bars, show lounge and disco, two shopping arcades, beauty and wellness centre, fitness centre, three swimming pools (plus a splash pool for children), hydrotherapy, hot tubs, and massages.

Follows the complete list of Costa neoRiviera lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Teatro Ravello (2-level main show lounge for grand musical and show productions, ballets, classical concerts, circus shows)
• Bar Anacapri (foyer bar)
• Atrio Riviera (2-deck high Atrium and central ship area with live entertainment, served by Positano bar)
• Amalfi Lounge (Cigar Lounge & Bar, also selling cigars and fine liquor)
• Cafe Positano (wine bar)
• Sala Carte (cards room)
• Casino Saint Maxime (served by Porquerolles bar)
• Biblioteca & Internet Point (combined library Biblioteca Conca dei Marini and Internet computers room)
• Galleria Shops Sorrento; Gallery Shops Grasse (duty & tax-free shops for brand watches, jewellery, perfumes, fashion clothes, Costa-logo merchandise, sportswear, gifts, tobacco and liquor)
• Cafe Eze (patisserie & speciality coffee bar)
• Saint Paul de Vence Lounge & Bar (stage for live shows, band music in the evenings)
• Bar Corniglia (smoothies, ice-cream)
• Photo Gallery Cannes
• Video Games Arcade
• Discoteca Portofino (Disco & Nightclub)
• Squok Club (kids lounge with Mini Club (3-6 yo) and Maxi Club (7-11 yo) playing rooms; with complimentary kids program and supervised activities; complimentary babysitting)
• Teen Zone (teenagers’ lounge with Teen Junior (12-14 yo) and Teen Club (15-17 yo) rooms; complimentary supervised activities, themed parties, sports contests)
• Centro Benessere Portovenere (Spa & Wellness complex, with Fitness and separate Spinning/Aerobics Room; Salone di Bellezza Framura Beauty Salon, Massages and Treatments Rooms, Japanese TeaRoom, Relaxation Room, Thermal Suites, Solarium, Laconium, Aroma Steam Baths, Thalassotherapy pool, Solarium, Sauna)
• Lido Via dell’Amore pool area (with 2 small pools, 2 Whirlpools, foosball table, ping pong table; served by Bar Riomaggiore)
• Outdoor playing zone for kids (with a paddling pool)
• Multi-sports court (volleyball, basketball, mini football, golf putting area)
• Solarium (open-air relaxation area).

Itineraries

AIDAmira itinerary program is based on winter cruises in South Africa (leaving roundtrip from homeport Cape Town) and summer Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from Palma de Mallorca (Spain).

• The 14-day South African itineraries visit Namibia (ports Luderitz and Walvis Bay / overnight) and South Africa’s ports Cape Town (overnight), East London, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
• The Mediterranean cruise itinerary as ports of call is yet to be announced.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, AIDA homeported AIDAmira in Heraklion Crete. Next table shows the 14-day B2B that includes two 7-day itineraries and shows the ship’s call ports during this unique for AIDA Aegean Sea program.

Costa neoRiviera itinerary program featured exotic routes around the world with unusual ports of call and more overnight port stays. neoRiviera was Costa fleet’s second “neoCollection” boat – together with Costa neoRomantica.

• In December 2018 through March 2019, Costa neoRiviera had scheduled cruises in India – leaving roundtrip from homeport Mumbai and visiting ports in India (Mangalore, Cochin, Mormugao-Goa), Sri Lanka (Colombo) and Maldives (Male, Kaafu Atoll).
• For the rest of 2019, the ship had scheduled Western Mediterranean itineraries departing roundtrip from homeports Savona (Italy) and Toulon (France).
• However, both programs were canceled after the decision was made for the ship to be transferred to AIDA.

source https://movsa.org/aidamira-itinerary-current-position-ship-review/