VESSEL REVIEW | AIDAcosma – LNG-fueled newbuild for AIDA Cruises’ Western Europe and Mediterranean itineraries

Germany's AIDA Cruises recently took delivery of its newest cruise ship following completion of construction at local shipyard Meyer Werft.

In addition to being the ninth ship Meyer Werft has built for AIDA Cruises, AIDAcosma is the second Meyer-built ship in the AIDA fleet to be powered by LNG after near-identical sister AIDAnova. Both AIDAcosma and AIDAnova belong to the Helios sub-series of ships under the nine-strong, 180,000GT Excellence-class, which were ordered by Carnival Corporation for its various subsidiary brands including AIDA Cruises.

The RINA-classed, Italian-flagged AIDAcosma has a gross tonnage of 183,900, a length of 337 metres, a moulded beam of 42 metres, 20 decks, and a crew complement of 1,551. The vessel's 5,228 guests are housed in 2,626 staterooms consisting of suites, balcony staterooms, and interior cabins. There are 21 cabin categories with the larger staterooms each capable of accommodating up to five guests. A two-storey penthouse suite is also available on board.

The ship's quartet of Caterpillar-MaK dual-fuel engines are designed to run on either LNG or traditional fuel oil. These engines have a total installed power of 61.8 MW and can deliver speeds of up to 17 knots.

The vessel also has a what AIDA Cruises has termed as an Ocean Deck, a large area that extends over four decks and offers guests all-around panoramic views of the sea. There is also an extensive sunbathing area, a spa, five saunas, and various swimming pools including an infinity pool at the stern. A selection of indoor and outdoor activity areas is accessible to younger guests while adult passengers can avail of fitness options that include a running track, a gym, and a rock wall for climbing.

Dining options include 17 indoor and outdoor specialty restaurants, 23 bars, and cafes. For live entertainment, guests have access to a combination theatre/atrium with a 360-degree stage and a rock music lounge.

All interior spaces are kept comfortable thanks to a complete HVAC installation plus related equipment supplied by Halton. These include galley hoods, canopies, fire dampers, and airflow management dampers. Halton's energy-efficient galley ventilation equipment is designed to optimise the air volumes inside the galleys, creating comfortable working conditions while minimising the grease accumulation inside the hoods and ductwork, and improving fire safety and hygienic conditions.

The galley hoods meanwhile feature patented technology to automatically wash down the grease filters without the need to remove the filters from the hood. The washing cycle, operated by a dedicated control cabinet, is fully automatic and programmable for use in different operating conditions.

AIDAcosma was delivered to AIDA Cruises in December 2021 and sailed on its maiden voyage out of Hamburg in February 2022. Its initial destinations included Southampton, Cherbourg, Zeebrugge, and Rotterdam. It will sail on one-week Mediterranean itineraries out of Palma and Barcelona between April and October before repositioning to Dubai for the winter.

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