![AIDA Cruises welcomes 1999-built vessel to fleet](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F191209-1-Aida-Cruises.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
A vessel originally completed in 1999 was formally welcomed into the AIDA Cruises fleet in a ceremony held late last month.
Shortly after being christened and welcomed into service, AIDAmira began undergoing preparations for its maiden voyage, a 14-day cruise of southern Africa beginning and ending in Cape Town, South Africa.
The vessel was originally delivered as Mistral to Greece-based Festival Cruises in 1999. by Chantiers de l'Atlantque. It operated as Grand Mistral with Madrid-based Ibero Cruises from 2003 to 2013 when it was sold to Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises' sister company under Carnival Corporation, and renamed Costa neoRiviera.