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Aida was the first new cruise ship to enter service for the German based Seatours cruise line. This line also owns large riverboats that are operated throughout Europe. P&O bought 51 percent of Seatours shares in 1999, and by the year 2000, had acquired all of their shares. Plans were made at that time to extend the cruise fleet with new ships under the name P&O/Aida Cruises. With the new company ordering new cruise ships, Aida was renamed Aida Cara.

This cruise ship has 9 passenger decks, 1 pool, fitness center, 540-seat theatre, 391 outside cabins of which 4 have balconies, 202 inside cabins, can carry 1,186 passengers and a crew of 370.

Aida Cruises cater mainly for German speaking passengers. They operate Aida Cara on cruises from Palma/Majorca - Olbia/Sardinia, Rome, Cannes & Barcelona. Another route from Palma is to Cadiz, Lisbon, Tanger/Morocco & Ibiza. In winter months, Aida Cara crosses the Atlantic to be operated on cruises from the Dominican Republic - various ports throughout the Caribbean.

Website www.aida.de.