Port of Kiel welcoming „AIDAluna“
Coming from Copenhagen, the „AIDAluna” today arrived in Kiel, its base port for this year’s summer season.
Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director PORT OF KIEL (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG): “For the very first time, Kiel serves as turnaround port for two vessels of AIDA Cruises for the whole summer season. This day is marking another important step in the long-time relationship of shipping company and port.” In the early morning already, many onlookers watched the ship entering the port and berthing at the cruise terminal Ostseekai. At the board reception that followed, Port Chief Dirk Claus welcomed Captain Thomas Mey in Kiel - representative for the ship and its crew. However, the “AIDAluna” is not totally unknown in Kiel. Shortly after its commission in April 2009, it had already been showcased at Ostseekai. Now, six years later, Kiel is both port of departure and destination for the summer season 2015.
Until the end of August, the “AIDAluna” is going to leave from Kiel to a total of 18 cruises. The options range from short trips of four days (Kiel – Oslo resp. Gothenburg – Copenhagen – Kiel) to round trips of seventeen days to Iceland, Spitsbergen and the North Cape. In addition, “AIDAluna” goes on seven trips to the Norwegian fjords via Stavanger, Oslo, Gothenburg and Copenhagen. Dirk Claus: “The fact that “AIDAluna” is based in Kiel is a good example for the dynamic development of Germany’s cruise market. Due to the ships being larger, we expect 400,000 cruise passengers this year for the first time. The “AIDAluna” measures 69,200 RT, is 252 m long and the seventh largest cruise ship berthing in Kiel this year. A highlight and concurrent finish of AIDAluna’s summer program takes place on August 26, when the ship is going to set out from Kiel’s Ostseekai for crossing the Atlantic with destination New York.
In 2015, Kiel expects a total of 23 different cruise liners with 127 calls. Frequent guests are the vessels of AIDA Cruises offering 36 journeys from Kiel. Next to “AIDAluna” another regular guest on the Kiel Fjord is going to be the “AIDAcara”. On five dates (May 2, 16 and 30 as well as August 8 and 22) both ships meet in Kiel, however, “AIDAluna” and “AIDAcara” will only berth together at Ostseekai on May 2. On the occasion of the Kiel Week, “AIDAluna” can be seen on the Fjord and in the port on the final Sunday (June 28).
The terminal Ostseekai offers two berths for large cruise ships directly in the city centre. Furthermore, the new Berth No. 1 in Ostuferhafen is used 19 times by large cruise ships for passenger turnaround, among them the “AIDAluna” with four calls. Smaller cruise ships visiting Kiel can also berth at the terminals Norwegenkai, Sartorikai or Schwedenkai.
