In this publication4 photos · 6 videos
Choosing a holiday, we decided to find out what cruising was like on one of those fourteen-deck liners. After comparing websites, itineraries and prices, we chose AIDA: seven days, four cities, full board and a balcony cabin for two, for €1,400. No need to spend another penny.
At two on 1 October 2023, we arrived at Kiel’s passenger port with a backpack and were directed to the queue. People with suitcases went for extra screening and baggage drop-off. At check-in, they took our passports and German IDs and gave us electronic passes. These also served as credit cards: extra purchases went onto the pass, to be charged to our bank card after the cruise. On boarding, bags went through an X-ray machine and passengers through a metal detector. This happened EVERY time we boarded. Checked suitcases appeared outside cabin doors.
Sixteen lifts inside. Cabins on decks five to ten; activities on nine, ten and eleven. We were lucky to be on nine: straight out of our room into the large atrium theatre. The cabin was much like a hotel room: desk, bed, armchair, air conditioning and heating, wardrobe, towels, toilet, shower and basin.
After looking around, we completed the safety briefing: watched a ten-minute video on our phones, put on lifejackets, and walked down to deck five by the lifeboats, where a crew member ticked off that little quest.
Then lunch. Seven restaurants: four cost extra, three are included. Buffet counters offered dozens of dishes: fruit, vegetables, salads, cured pink salmon, cold cuts, pâtés, cheeses, beef steaks, lamb, chicken, prawns, fried pollock, rice, chips, jacket potatoes, soups, soufflés, ice cream, juice, milk, tea, coffee, soft drinks and beer. Unlimited.
Fed, we watched AIDAluna depart as thick fog wrapped itself round the Baltic.
#cruise
At two on 1 October 2023, we arrived at Kiel’s passenger port with a backpack and were directed to the queue. People with suitcases went for extra screening and baggage drop-off. At check-in, they took our passports and German IDs and gave us electronic passes. These also served as credit cards: extra purchases went onto the pass, to be charged to our bank card after the cruise. On boarding, bags went through an X-ray machine and passengers through a metal detector. This happened EVERY time we boarded. Checked suitcases appeared outside cabin doors.
Sixteen lifts inside. Cabins on decks five to ten; activities on nine, ten and eleven. We were lucky to be on nine: straight out of our room into the large atrium theatre. The cabin was much like a hotel room: desk, bed, armchair, air conditioning and heating, wardrobe, towels, toilet, shower and basin.
After looking around, we completed the safety briefing: watched a ten-minute video on our phones, put on lifejackets, and walked down to deck five by the lifeboats, where a crew member ticked off that little quest.
Then lunch. Seven restaurants: four cost extra, three are included. Buffet counters offered dozens of dishes: fruit, vegetables, salads, cured pink salmon, cold cuts, pâtés, cheeses, beef steaks, lamb, chicken, prawns, fried pollock, rice, chips, jacket potatoes, soups, soufflés, ice cream, juice, milk, tea, coffee, soft drinks and beer. Unlimited.
Fed, we watched AIDAluna depart as thick fog wrapped itself round the Baltic.
#cruise
Original and discussionOpen post in Telegram ↗
