Karl WP Beyer The AIDAstella was the last of seven cruise ships of the modified "Sphinx class" to be built by the MEYER shipyard in Papenburg. In 2013 the kiss mouth ship was put into service.
Sphinx-class ships are easy to spot. They are defined by the amidships, arranged in a circle Theatrium. This is the central theater and event area. He gave the Sphinx class the nickname “Melitta class” based on a well-known coffee filter. The theatrium and the AIDA kissable mouth give the ship its special appearance.
AIDAstella with the theatrium
Staterooms
The AIDAstella has 1.097 cabins: the choice of cabins is considerable. The offer ranges from the inside cabin to the suite. 722 of the outside cabins and suites have a balcony. Guests who book the AIDA PREMIUM tariff can choose a cabin of their choice.
Inside cabins
Inside cabins are 13,50 square meters. Cabins in categories IB and IA are offered as 2-, 3- and 4-bed cabins.
Outside cabins
Outside cabins, euphemistically called “cabins with a sea view” in the cruise industry, are barely larger than the inside cabins with an area of 14 to 16,50 square meters. Depending on requirements, they are equipped with two, three or four beds.
Outside cabin
Balcony cabins
The balcony cabins are between 17,50 and 23 square meters. Depending on individual needs, they are offered with two to four beds. The balconies take up three to six square meters of the area mentioned.
Suites
Individually designed junior suites, suites and premium suites are on offer. The palette ranges from a modest 34 square meters to a lush 87 square meters.
In addition to increased living comfort, guests who book the AIDA VARIO or AIDA Premium tariff in the suite area are offered some additional goodies. It should be noted that most of the other suite services (bathrobes, shoehorns, umbrellas, etc.) are standard on premium ships.
Barrier-free cabins
Crusaders with handicaps have a total of eleven barrier-free cabins of various sizes (18 to 27,50 square meters). Seven of the cabins are located inside the ship, four offer a sea view.
Features of all cabins
All cabins are modern and comfortable. Satellite TV, telephone and air conditioning meet the standards of modern cruise ships. In contrast to the competitor TUI Cruises, the cabin service is only performed once a day. An additional turn-down service is only offered in the evening in the suite area.
Cozy outside cabin
Eating & drinking on board the AIDAstella
The AIDA Cruises catalog promises "Holidays for discerning connoisseurs". This statement includes the on-board restaurants. A distinction is made between buffet restaurants and à la carte restaurants included in the tour price.
Restaurants included in the tour price
Market restaurant
It is the on-board restaurant with the richest offer (deck 9): it is very busy at all times of the table. For organizational reasons, the guests take the dinner in two sessions (“enjoyment times”). Between the two sequences, the restaurant is closed for half an hour and prepared for the next meeting.
The dishes from the buffet are varied, tasty and varied. Eat at tables with four to eight people. Drinks such as house wine, beer and soft drinks are served with main meals at no extra charge.
The highlight of the restaurant is the presentation of the dishes in the form of market stalls. The guest should feel like they are in a market hall. At the entrance to the restaurant there are lavishly filled fruit baskets. The dinners revolve around specific topics. These are, for example, “World Tour”, “Portugal” or “Spain”.
Market stalls of the market restaurant
Bella Donna Restaurant
A pleasant, large restaurant dedicated to Italian cuisine in the evening. A different Italian region is presented on deck 10 at Bella Donna every day. The guests apparently like the restaurant because it is also regularly busy. Outside there is a partially covered area.
East Restaurant
The Asian-style restaurant on deck 11 combines Asian and European cuisine. While the two aforementioned restaurants have a certain opulence, the "East" presents itself with a clear, well-arranged, almost austere ambience. The East also offers its guests an outdoor area.
Side tables in the East Restaurant
California grill
In front of the East Restaurant is the small California Grill. Its style and menu are reminiscent of an American diner. The restaurant does not open until noon and is open continuously until midnight.
In general, the offer and the quality of the food are right. However, we wished for some dishes to be a little warmer. A light food is available for allergy sufferers. Free drinks served at the table are: various juices, water, tea, beer as well as white and red wine.
Specialty restaurants subject to surcharge
The AIDA Cruises service concept is geared towards self-service. - Guests who value service are dependent on the restaurants, which are subject to a surcharge. The fact that these are regularly frequented is not only due to the quality of the food.
Rossini gourmet restaurant
We can see from our own experience: The ambience, the food and the service at the Rossini are exemplary. The extensive wine list is also satisfactory. Additional payments are made for food and drink in the Rossini. The 3-course “Chefs Menu” is currently paid for at 28,50 euros. Then there are the drinks. Table reservations are required. The Rossini is on the 11th deck.
Rossini gourmet restaurant
Buffalo Steakhouse
Located on deck 10: the top address for meat lovers. American beef and bison are prepared in a show kitchen according to the wishes of the guests. Ten steak creations with names such as Tomahawk Steak or Wagyu Skirt Steak are on offer. So much skill requires an extra charge! The drinks menu is interesting. It offers beer lovers delightful "brewing creations", for example the "Clan - Scotch Ale". 0,75 liters of the brew cost an impressive 15,50 euros.
Buffalo Steak House show kitchen
Sushi Bar
Fans of Japanese cuisine should visit the Sushi Bar on deck 11. It is part of the East Restaurant. Sushi chefs prove their culinary skills there. Appetizing rolls and bites are prepared with fresh vegetables, exotic marinades and spicy sauces. The mixed platter for two with cold and warm sushi is currently available for 24,50 euros.
Brauhaus
The brewery is probably indispensable for many AIDA guests. A brewing seminar can be booked for a fee. Less ambitious guests will enjoy the strikingly presented brewing technology and one of the tasty beers from the Dortmund Hövels brewery. The beer is brewed on board from desalinated sea water with added minerals. The daily average is around 500 liters of beer. The brewery has a tavern, a beer garden, rustic food and drink and alpine entertainment. Additional payments have to be made for the beer and some of the dishes offered in the brewery
Restaurant Brauhaus presents brewing technology
Cafes, bars and lounges
We like the location and presentation of most of the bars. Drinks served in cafes, bars and lounges on AIDA cruise ships are chargeable.
A selection of notable bars
Pier 3 bar
A funny facility: on port days, a hatch is opened near the gangway. The bar guests follow the action on the quay and on the gangway from a low height. The bar isn't exactly cozy; it is also not intended for arctic regions. In the Canarian ports, the berths in the Mediterranean and in Caribbean ports, the Pier 3 Bar is certainly a pleasant facility.
wine shop
The wine bar on deck 9 behind the theatrium presents good wines from all over the world. Wine seminars are also held in the vinotheque.
Bar tables in the vinotheque
AIDA bar
This bar can be found on deck 10 in the forward part of the ship. The bar counter is shaped by a mighty star made up of six rays. If you don't want to sit at the bar, you can loll in one of the many armchairs. Music is made on a stage; there is dancing in front of the stage.
AIDA bar counter
AIDA lounge
The AIDA Bar is followed by the quiet and dignified AIDA Lounge. A small on-board library was integrated into the area.
Cafe Mare
The Starbucks Café provides good coffee, tea or cocoa in between. You can find it in front of the Buffalo Steak House on deck 10.
Cafe Mare
Anytime bar
The discotheque located aft on deck 12 is a real eye-catcher. The guest enters the bar through a barrel-shaped corridor. Illuminated, colored tables give the bar a special atmosphere. From time to time the bar and its outdoor area are used for events.
Anytime bar
With so many bars, it's hard to choose. We especially liked the star-shaped AIDA Bar. And we didn't despise the AIDA Lounge either. The price level in the bars is reasonable. The service is dedicated and always good.
Sport, relaxation & wellness
The sports offer
The Body & Soul Sport on deck 11 is well equipped with modern machines, weight benches and other training facilities. Exercises take place individually or in a group. The performance of the trainers is generally highly valued by the participants.
Indoor bikes
At the Landtag, bike tours with "normal" bikes or e-bikes, Segway excursions, dives and more are organized for a fee.
You can optimize your golf tee or play basketball on the outside sports deck (deck 14). There is also a short jogging course. - When did the Germans give up swimming? We don't expect Olympic pool sizes on any cruise ship. However, we know some cruise ships with sufficiently large, open and closed pool facilities. As far as that is concerned, the offerings on board the AIDAstella are only minimalist.
Deck area for ball games
The Body & Soul Spa
AIDAstella cruises the seas with a large wellness area. The Body & Soul Spa called wellness oasis, is distributed over decks 12, 14 and 15.
The wellness area includes saunas and a solarium. Paid massages and various treatments increase well-being. Many services are also offered for an attractive appearance of the guests. The range goes from B, like "Botox to go" administered under medical supervision until Z, like tooth bleaching. Entry to the wellness oasis costs 20,00 euros. Guests in the spa cabins and wellness suites can use the offer daily at no extra charge. Individual applications charge the on-board account.
Spa reception
The 2.602 square meter wellness oasis with the mummified birch forest was furnished in a Scandinavian style. Access to well-being is given to those who Body & Soul reception happened between the forward cabin areas on deck 12. On the 15th deck, the spa area shines with a glass, retractable roof.
Entertainment
A lot is offered to entertain the almost 2.200 passengers. The AIDA club team organizes, for example, bingo tournaments, dance courses, painting meetings, parties and sporting competitions (darts, shuffleboard, volleyball).
When it comes to entertainment, we think of the on-board theater first on cruise ships. The Theatrium, the focus of on-board entertainment, extends from decks 9 to 11. The 30-minute AIDA shows are varied and well staged.
Rows of seats in the theatrium
One can argue about the theatrium itself. In terms of concept, it is inferior to conventional theaters on board cruise ships. Reason: The auditorium does not offer enough space, the seats are often uncomfortable and some of the view is restricted. In addition, the theatrium is designed as a passage area. Disturbances emanate from the strollers.
Not only entertainment shows are presented on the round, versatile stage. The moderators of the on-board television report from the theatrium. The room is also used for information events or for the regular art auctions.
Musical entertainment is also provided in other areas of the ship. The stage on the pool deck is included in all conceivable events. The crowd pullers on the pool deck are the Welcome Laser Show, the Sail Away Show or the Farewell Laser Show.
AIDAstella pool deck
Movie lovers will enjoy the 4D cinema Cinemare a special treat.
The casino on deck 10, the library also on deck 10, the art gallery on deck 9 and the on-board shops offer further entertainment and diversion.
Board shop
AIDAstella is a family ship, especially during the holiday season. Children aged three to eleven and teenagers aged twelve to seventeen have their own clubs. Expert childcare according to German standards is provided to the family. The kids & teens programs offer a wide range of entertainment.
General information about the AIDAstella
|
Commissioning |
2013 |
|
Ship class |
modified sphinx class |
|
Dimensions |
253 meters long, 32 meters wide, 7,30 meters draft |
|
measurement |
71.304 GT |
|
Machine, power & speed |
Four diesel engines; Drive: diesel-electric; 36.0000 KW; approx. 22 knots |
|
Decks |
12 passenger decks |
|
Shipyard |
MEYER Werft GmbH, Papenburg |
|
building-costs |
approx. 330 million euros |
|
Staterooms |
1.097 |
|
passengers |
Number of passengers with double occupancy 2.194 |
|
Crew |
approx. 609 employees |
|
Flag & home port |
Italy, Genoa |
|
Board language |
German |
|
Currency on board |
Euro |
|
Godmother |
Ten godmothers |
Current position AIDAstella
Summary
The AIDAstella is number ten in the order of the AIDA ships. The ship meets the expectations of German vacationers for casual and unconventional cruise vacations. That means: No binding dress code, no annoying board receptions, but good food from the buffet, lots of entertainment. More than one million travelers enjoyed all of this on board AIDA ships in 2017.
Those who occasionally value service can enjoy excellent à la carte dishes or set menus in specialty restaurants for a fee.
We liked the café, bars & lounges. We feel comfortable in most of the localities.
ocean bar
The entertainment is varied, the daily shows are top class.
However, we do not see the AIDAstella on a par with the premium ships from Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line or TUI Cruises. These cruise brands offer higher quality services for comparable money. Those who prefer better service should change the cruise brand. However, fact is: AIDA Cruises offers guests on board their ships the special lifestyle german people need. After all, in 2018 almost 50 percent of all German cruise passerngers travelled with AIDA ships. This success is really amazing.
