AIDAsol in Helsinki, 3 August 2011

AIDAsol

IMO 9490040
Built 2011, Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany
Tonnage 71 100 GT
Length 253,33 m
Width 32,20 m
Draugth 7,30 m
2 194 passengers (double occupancy)
2 500 berths
4 MaK diesels, combined 36 000 kW
2 azipods
2 bow thrusters
2 stern thrusters
Speed 20,5 knots

AIDAsol is the fifth ship in AIDA Cruises seven-ship Sphinx class, delivered in 2011. I don't really have anything else to say about her. The photos below show the AIDAsol departing from Helsinki West Harbour on 3 August 2011, photographed from the small Sisä-Hattu island. Click on the individual images to see in larger size.

3 August was a busy day, with four different cruise ships in port. This strategically selected image of the AIDAsol departing hides the Norwegian Sun and Superstar strategically behind the AIDAsol (though you can see the exhausts from the Norwegian Sun if you look carefully).

I'm puzzled by the vast windowless expanse on the superstructure below the blue stripe. What could be worth sacrificing so much well-placed superstructure space? (Galleys, presumably).

Passing Pihlajasaari. Notice the reflection of the sun reflecting on water on the midship "bowl" window.

The shape of the Sphinx-class' aft superstructure is interesting - when you look at the ship from bow-on, it looks like a similar wedge-shape as on the previous-generation AIDA ships. But seen from this direction, it doesn't look like that at all.