Astoria Grande

The 1996-built (as "MS Clubschiff") cruise ship Astoria Grande was operated between 1996-2021 as "AIDAcara" - the first boat of the German travel brand AIDA Cruises. The "AIDA Selection" fleet also included AIDAvita, AIDAaura and AIDAmira/now Ambassador Ambition.

For AIDA Cruises, the vessel (IMO number 9112789) was Italy-flagged (MMSI 247117300) and registered in Genova. Astoria Grande was first reflagged to Panama (MMSI 352978227/port of registry Colon) and currently is Palau-flagged (MMSI 511100759) and registered in Koror.

Following the sale of AIDAcara, as registered shipowners were listed MESTER COMMERCIAL LTD (August 2021, manager Tschudi Ship Management AS/Estonia), AQUILON SHIPPING COMPANY LLC (September 2021), GOODWIN SHIPPING LTD (since July 2022, under the management of Camelot Maritime Ship Management Ltd/Turkey).

IMPORTANT: In October 2024, the shipowner opened Astoria Grande for immediate sale (asking a price between US$40-50 million) via the online brokerage company QPS Marine Ships.

History - construction and ownership

On June 23, 2021, Carnival Corporation (shipowner) announced that AIDAcara has been sold (to an undisclosed buyer). The boat left the fleet after 25 years of service with AIDA.

• A total of 14x itineraries (departures between October 8, 2021, and March 3, 2022) were canceled.
• The ship had scheduled voyages in Southeast Asia, with homeporting in Singapore.
• For the canceled AIDAcara cruises see in the ship's Wiki section.

On June 23, the vessel was docked at Port Tallinn Estonia (since May 18th).

In August 2021 was announced that the vessel (renamed "Astoria Grande") has as ship manager listed the Cyprus-based company Mester Commercial Ltd. However, IHS Markit Ltd (London UK-based ship register with listed shipowners by IMO) shows Akvilon Shipping (Moscow-based company/Akvilon Ltd OOO) as the bareboat owner. With Astoria Grande was launched the new cruise line brand "Akvilon". Akvilon's partner Miray Cruises (travel company based in İstanbul Turkey) provides booking and management services at the Turkish ports that the ship visits.

Following the acquisition, the vessel remained docked in Port Yalova (Turkey). Astoria Grande's Maiden Voyage was initially scheduled for March 5, 2022 (out of Sochi Russia) but later postponed for July 16th (7-day Sochi roundtrip).

The 1200-passenger ship AIDAcara is ready for fun and relax. She is a family-friendly resort-class ship and is among the smaller ones in the company (still large enough for amenities like a salon, SPA and mini-golf). AIDAcara is the first of its kind in AIDA's fleet of "club schiffs"/ships.

Besides the staff and crew, AIDAcara passengers are also served by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation. They also assist them throughout the cruise by providing information and tips on onboard dining, entertainment, enrichment program (workshops, pre-scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, shore excursions and tours. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian). They can also interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

AIDAcara staterooms (590 total, in 16 categories) include 6x Suites, 48x Balcony, 342x Oceanview and 200x Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 14-17 m2 (150-185 ft2). The largest accommodations are the Sundeck Premium Suites (sized 380 ft2 / 35 m2, plus terrace sized 215 ft2 / 20 m2).

The boat has 11 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The ship's restaurants are three, including two MDRs/main dining rooms - Calypso (named after a nymph who occupied Ogygia island and detained Odysseus for several years) and Markt (with an open-seating buffet). The extra-tariff/specialty restaurant Rossini is a-la-carte-priced and waiter-served. There are no strict dress codes or fixed dining times. Basic beverages, including house wines and beer, are free of charge during meals at the buffet restaurants.

There are also several beverage packages that may be bought at reduced rates.

Follows the complete list of AIDAcara restaurants and food bars.

• Rossini (dinner-only restaurant at surcharge, reservations required; offers waiter service and 6-course a-la-carte menu)
• Markt Restaurant (complimentary main dining room; self-service buffet restaurant with a variety of food stations and a small terrace)
• Calypso Restaurant (the second main dining room; complimentary buffet restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

No Casino is available onboard, but the boat has a swimming pool, wellness complex (SPA, Fitness), a golf area (with an indoor putting green and a golf simulator).

The Theatre Lounge is the largest venue, featuring a full-width Bar & Disco.

A lot of open-deck space is available for strolling, walking, and playing sports (football, volleyball, basketball, tennis).

Follows the complete list of AIDAcara lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Kids Club (AIDA Cruises kids program is complimentary, with supervised, age-appropriate activities: the 3 age groups include Seahorses for 3-6 yo, Dolphins for 7-9 yo and Sharks 10-11 yo; the Kids Club has an outdoor area with a paddling pool)
• Internet stations with printers (located in the Reception/Lobby area; Wi-Fi coverage is available shipwide, including in all staterooms)
• The Theater (700-seat, 2-level main show venue for large-scale show productions; also hosts daily lectures, trivia games, Bingo)
• Art Gallery (Kunstgalerie; sells original artworks of renowned art schools and German artists; hosts art auctions)
• AIDA Bar (big-capacity lounge with panoramic windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (professional photo & video services, duty-free accessories and equipment; new feature are the photo kiosks with touch-screens /face-recognition system)
• AIDA Shop (duty-free merchandise at discount prices; the shopping arcade has a general store selling liquor and tobaccos, as well as small boutiques for jewelry, luxury watches, perfumes, brand fashion clothing, AIDA logo goods)
• Lambada Bar (adults-only cocktail bar & nightclub with panoramic windows and live music entertainment)
• Beauty Salon/Friseur (provides hairdresser, barber services, professional manicure/pedicure)
• Body & Soul Sports Fitness Centre (with a modern Gym and separate area for classes)
• Mini Golf (indoor putting green area)
• Golf simulator (virtual golf courses)
• Sunbathing area (Freibereich, served by the Pool Bar and the Pool Grill /American fast-food fare)
• The Library (Bibliotek; offers card and board games)
• Anytime Bar Diskothek (disco nightclub with DJ programming and themed dance parties; during the day hosts organized dance classes)
• Cara Lounge (teens club with supervised activities in two age groups - Orcas for 12 -13 yo and Teens 14 -17 yo; complimentary; with Video Games Arcade and PlayStation consoles)
• Sports deck area (Sportaussendeck with a combined sports court for basketball/volleyball)
• Pool deck (with one swimming pool, 3 whirlpools, Pool Shop for towels, deck games - Shuffleboard, Giant Chess, Table Tennis, Backgammon, sunbathing areas; a stage for live performances, bingo evenings, nightly pool parties, laser shows is also available)
• Body & Soul SPA complex (with Beauty Salon & Spa Reception, massages /treatments rooms, indoor whirlpool, Aroma Sauna, Finish Sauna, Steam Room, relaxation room)
• Sundeck/Freibereich (sunbathing area above the swimming pool; with loungers and 2 Jacuzzies/whirlpools; the ship's Top Deck is dedicated to Freikorperkultur / FKK Bereich nudist area with sun loungers)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track

Itineraries

The Astoria Grande ship was originally homeported in Sochi Russia operating voyages in the Black Sea.

Next are listed the inaugural itineraries in 2022, scheduled by the Russian shipping company Akvilon Cruise Line, all of which are roundtrips from Sochi.

• (March 5/Maiden Voyage, March 19, April 2) A 14-night Eastern Mediterranean itinerary visits ports in Turkey (Istanbul, Canakkale-Troy, Cesme), Egypt (Alexandria/overnight), Turkey (Bodrum, Kusadası-Ephesus, Istanbul).
• (April 16) A 15-night Eastern Mediterranean itinerary visits ports in Turkey (Istanbul, Bodrum), Greece (Limassol Cyprus), Israel (Haifa/overnight), Egypt (Alexandria), Turkey (Kusadası, Istanbul).
• (May 1 thru September 2022/8 departures) An 11-night Eastern Mediterranean itinerary visits ports in Georgia (Batumi), Turkey (Istanbul), Greece's islands (Mykonos, Santorini), Turkey (Kusadası, Istanbul).
• (July 17 thru Sept 2022) An 11-night Greek Islands itinerary visits ports in Georgia (Batumi), Turkey (Istanbul), Greece's islands (Syros, Milos, Santorini, Leros, Patmos, Kos), Turkey (Kusadası).

Akvilon's Astoria Grande cruises visit only countries that don't require Russian residents to obtain foreign travel visas. The official onboard language is Russian (services and entertainment).

In 2022, Astoria Grande's schedule (16x departures total/all roundtrips from Sochi) included 4x different itineraries visiting Turkey's Black Sea ports (Amasra-Bartin, Sinop, Trabzon, Istanbul/overnight) as well as Turkey's Mediterranean/Aegean Sea port Cesme and Bozcaada Island. Miray Cruises (Turkey) provides services at the Turkish ports that the ship visits.

• (DAY 1) Departing from Sochi
• (DAY 2) at sea
• (DAYs 3-4) İstanbul / overnight stay
• (DAY 5) Amasra
• (DAY 6) Sinop
• (DAY 7) Trabzon
• (DAY 8) Arriving in Sochi

In 2022, the above itinerary was operated in September (14, 28) and October 5, 12, 19) / departure dates from Russia.

In 2023 Astoria Grande launched a new Mediterranean/Aegean itinerary visiting Alexandria (Egypt), which increased Sochi's passenger traffic by ~20%. The new route attracted international tourists from both Turkey and Egypt (embarkation was available in both Kusadasi and Alexandria) and domestic tourists as Turkey and Egypt are both very popular as summer travel destinations for the Russians.

AIDAcara itineraries

AIDAcara's itinerary program was based on Canary Islands voyages leaving roundtrip from Gran Canaria, as well as Baltic and Norwegian Fjords voyages leaving out of homeport Kiel Germany.

In 2017-2018, the ship became AIDA's first-ever liner to operate the Around The World Cruise. AIDAcara's World Voyage (October 17, 2017, through February 10, 2018) was a 116-day itinerary roundtrip from Hamburg Germany. The World Voyage was booked by ~1100 passengers and visited 41 ports in 23 countries on 5 continents. See more details in the ship's ship's Wiki section.