Blue Dream Melody

Last updated

AIDAvitaArgostoli.jpg
AIDAvita leaving Argostoli, Kefalonia on April 20th 2019
History
Name
  • 2002–2023: AIDAvita
  • 2023–2024: Avitak
  • 2024 onwards: Blue Dream Melody
Owner
  • 2002–2022: Costa Crociere
  • 2023–2024: Beta Marine Ltd.
  • 2024 onwards: Blue Dream International Cruise Tourism Holding Co Ltd.
Operator
Port of registry
Builder Aker MTW, Wismar, Flag of Germany.svg  Germany [2]
Cost$350 million [2]
Yard number3 [1]
Laid down21 November 2000 [1]
Launched15 November 2001 [1]
Completed30 April 2002 [1]
In service2002–2020 [2]
Out of service2020
Identification
StatusLaid up
General characteristics
Type Cruise ship
Tonnage
Length202.85 m (665 ft 6 in) [1]
Beam35.5 m (116 ft 6 in) [1]
Draught6.3 m (20 ft 8 in) [1]
Decks10 [2]
Installed power18,800 kW (25,200 hp) [1]
Propulsion2 × diesel-electric motors [2]
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) [1]
Capacity1,266 passengers
Crew426

Blue Dream Melody [3] is a cruise ship, built by Aker MTS at Wismar, Germany in 2002 and was operated by AIDA Cruises until the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 she was sold to Turkish buyers and renamed Avitak, remaining laid up, and resold in 2024 for operation by Chinese line, Blue Dream International Cruise.

Contents

History

Former AIDAvita was the second ship in AIDA Cruises' fleet, and identical to AIDAaura. She was built in 2002 by the German shipyard Aker MTW in Wismar. [1]

Out of service during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was laid up at Tallinn, Estonia in November 2021. [4] In June 2022, AIDA Cruises announced that the ship would not return to service for AIDA Cruises and had been sold to an undisclosed buyer. [5] Later, she was renamed Avitak but remained laid up in Tallinn, Estonia. [4] and listed as owned by Beta Marine Ltd. of Majuro, Marshall Islands, and managed by Istanbul-based Sealife Denizcilik Ltd. Sti. [6]

In January 2024, the ship was sold to China Development Bank, Hong Kong for lease to Chinese operator Blue Dream International Cruise of Shanghai. It was renamed Blue Dream Melody while still at Tallinn and currently is expected to enter service after refurbishment in China. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "AIDAvita (G94690)". DNV Vessel Register. DNV . Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ward, Douglas (2005). Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships . Singapore: Berlitz. ISBN   978-9812467393.
  3. "Blue Dream Cruises Expanding to Two Ships in China". Cruise Industry News. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  4. 1 2 "One Year Later, Former AIDAvita Remains Docked in Estonia". Cruise Industry News. New York. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  5. "Another Carnival Corp. Ship Sold; AIDAvita to Leave Fleet". Cruise Industry News. New York. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  6. "Avitak". Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  7. Boonzaler, Jonathan (16 January 2024). "CDB Financial Leasing buys former Carnival Corp ship on behalf of Chinese cruise operator". Tradewinds. London. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

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