Tampa to Homeport AIDA Ships

AIDA Cruises is to homeport two ships – AIDAvita and AIDAmar – in Tampa Bay, Florida, with the first departure from the port scheduled in 2014. The 1,266-passenger AIDAvita will sail the first of four Western Caribbean voyages from December 2014, as part of the cruise line’s new butterfly itinerary in the region.

Sphinx-class AIDAmar will carry up to 2,194 passengers on seven cruises from the Florida port from 2015 to 2016.

“AIDA Cruises’ coming to Tampa is a milestone for us, not only at the port, but for all of our tourism and economic development partners in the region,” Tampa Port Authority president and CEO Paul Anderson said. “We are thrilled to welcome AIDA to Tampa Bay and we know this will be the beginning of a long and rewarding relationship with this fine cruise line that has recognized our strong and distinct market, and has decided to be a part of the growth we are experiencing in the region.”

AIDAmar was launched in 2012, while AIDAvita is the second in the Rostock-based cruise company’s fleet and was completed in 2002. Once AIDA Cruises begins operating from Tampa, the city will be homeporting ships from five of the world’s most popular cruise lines.

Source: Cruise & Ferry