Celestyal Cruises has officially received the former AIDA's ship AIDAaura, now rebranded as Celestyal Discovery.
The vessel will be reflagged from Italy to Malta (registered in Valletta) and is scheduled to sail in the Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean Sea from March 2024.
Substantial investments, amounting to several million euros, will precede the ship's drydock refurbishment, featuring a shift from AIDA's design to the distinctive Celestyal blue.
Celestyal's acquisition is part of the Greek company's ongoing fleet rejuvenation strategy, replacing aging vessels like the 41-year-old Celestyal Olympia.
With bookings for Celestyal Discovery voyages set to open on December 11, 2023, booked customers on Celestyal Olympia will be seamlessly rebooked.
The transition of AIDAaura to Celestyal has implications for Miray's Life at Sea Cruises, whose 3-year World Voyage faces uncertainties following the unsuccessful takeover of AIDAaura.
AIDA's parent company Carnival Corporation ensures a smooth handover to Celestyal Cruises.