MEYER WERFT builds Cruise Ships for German Market

Papenburg, 19.10.2004 - The German cruise operator AIDA Cruises (Rostock/Neu-Isenburg) has placed contracts with MEYER WERFT in Papenburg for the construction of two 68,500-gt cruise ships. Delivery of the two new club ships is scheduled for April 2007, or April 2009, respectively. These contracts will considerably improve the basic workload situation of the shipyard for the coming years.

"We are very pleased with these contracts which are extremely important for us. We have been struggling for almost two years to win these contracts, and had to face fierce competition on the way. Now we are glad that we are the ones who will build these new, sophisticated ships for the German cruise market," as Bernard Meyer, MEYER WERFT's CEO, puts it.

The two cruise ships will have a length over all of 249 metres and a width of 32.2 metres. These new club ships for AIDA Cruises will present the third generation of ships built and operated according to the AIDA concept. 2,030 passengers will be accommodated in 1,015 cabins. Moreover, the ships will feature plenty of technical innovations and interior design novelties. The well-known brand design regarding the outer appearance of the AIDA ships will be maintained.

Four large diesel engines will generate 36,000 kW (50,000 hp) thanks to which the new cruise ships will be able to operate at a speed of more than 21 knots. The cruise operator hitherto trading under the name Seetours, which is a member of the Carnival group, will operate under its brand name AIDA starting from November 1st. AIDA Cruises will increase their fleet and also intend to offer bigger ships. In 2003 the cruise operator was the market leader in Germany with almost 180,000 passengers.