{{Short description|Cruise ship built in 2003}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox ship | infobox_caption = ''Celestyal Discovery'' | display_title = ital |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Celestyal Discovery moored at Quay in Port of Rhodes 6 August 2025.jpg | image_caption = Celestyal Discovery at Quay in Port of Rhodes (August 2025) }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | name = *2003-2023: ''AIDAaura'' *2023: ''Lara'' (cancelled) *2023: ''Celestyal Discovery'' | owner = *2003: P&O Cruises *2003–2004: Carnival Corporation & plc *2004–2023: Costa Crociere *2023: Miray Cruises (cancelled, never registrered to Miray Cruises due to lack of funding) *2023: Celestyal Cruises | operator = *2003-2023: AIDA Cruises *2023: Life At Sea Cruises (cancelled) *2024: Celestyal Cruises | registry = *2003–2004: London {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} *2004–2023: Genoa {{flag|Italy|civil}} *2023 onwards: Valletta {{flag|Malta|civil}} | route = | ordered = | builder = Aker MTW (Germany) | original_cost = $350 million | yard_number = 004 | way_number = | laid_down = 11 January 2002 | launched = 7 September 2002 | completed = 3 April 2003 | christened = 12 April 2003 | acquired = | maiden_voyage = April 2003 | in_service = 2003–present | out_of_service = | identification = *Call sign: 9HA5930 * {{IMO Number|9221566}} * {{MMSI|256667000}} * {{ship register|DNV|G94691}} | fate = | status = In service | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | type = Cruise ship | tonnage = * {{GT|42,289}} * {{DWT|4157}} | length = * {{convert|202.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}} oa * {{convert|179.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pp | beam = {{convert|28.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = | draft = {{convert|8.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | depth = | decks = | deck_clearance = | ramps = | ice_class = | sail_plan = | power = {{convert|27,150|kW|abbr=on}} | propulsion = * Diesel-electric * 2 screws | speed = {{convert|19.5|kn|lk=in}} | capacity = 1,266 passengers | crew = 389 | notes = }} }}
'''''Celestyal Discovery''''' is a cruise ship, built in 2003 by the German shipyard Aker MTW in Wismar, and was operated by AIDA Cruises for twenty years as AidaAura, as was her sister ship {{ship||AIDAvita}}. In November 2023 the ship was sold to the Greek cruise line Celestyal Cruises and entered service in March 2024.
==Description== ''Celestyal Discovery'' is considered a mid-sized cruise ship{{sfn|Ward|2019|p=309}} measuring {{convert|202.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long overall and {{convert|179.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}} between perpendiculars with a beam of {{convert|28.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and a draft of {{convert|8.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The cruise ship has a {{GT|42,289|disp=long}} and measures {{DWT|4157|disp=long}}.{{sfn|DNV GL}} The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric system turning two screws rated at {{convert|27,150|kW|lk=on}}.{{sfn|Ward|2019|p=309}}{{sfn|Miramar Ship Index}} The ship has a maximum speed of {{convert|19.5|kn|lk=in}}.{{sfn|Miramar Ship Index}}
The cruise ship has capacity for 1,266 passengers. ''Celestyal Discovery'' has 633 cabins, ranging from {{convert|13.5|-|32.0|m2|sp=us}} in size of which 60 are equipped with a balcony. The vessel is equipped with several amenities for the passengers including bars, lounges, a library and a two-storey theater. ''Celestyal Discovery'' has a crew of 389. The vessel has a swept-back funnel and a wedge-shaped stern.{{sfn|Ward|2019|p=309}}
==Construction and career== The cruise ship was laid down on 11 January 2002 at the Aker MTW shipyard in Wismar, Germany with the yard number 004. The vessel was launched on 14 September 2002 and completed on 3 April 2003.{{sfn|Miramar Ship Index}} The vessel cost $350 million.{{sfn|Ward|2005}} The vessel was christened ''AIDAaura'' by International model Heidi Klum on 12 April 2003 at Warnemünde.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aida.de/en/aida-cruises/company/fact-and-figures/history.19235.html |title=History |publisher=AIDA Cruises |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref> The vessel made its maiden voyage in April 2003.{{sfn|Ward|2019|p=309}} In 2003, the vessel was built for P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, which took over ownership of the vessel and registered the cruise ship in London, United Kingdom.{{sfn|Miramar Ship Index}}{{sfn|Equasis}} In 2004, ''AIDAaura'' was acquired by Costa Crociere and the registry moved to Genoa, Italy and the operator changed to AIDA Cruises, a subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation.{{sfn|Equasis}}{{sfn|DNV GL}} thumb|MV AIDAaura departing Tallinn 17 May 2016 On 8 October 2018, ''AIDAaura'' departed from Hamburg on a 117-day round-the-world cruise. The ship visited 41 ports in 20 countries on four continents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/17532-aidaaura-set-for-2018-world-cruise.html|title=AIDAaura Set for 2018 World Cruise |work=cruiseindustrynews.com |date=21 July 2017|access-date=13 February 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> ''AIDAaura'', with about 1,200 people on board, was held on 3 March 2020 in the harbor of Haugesund, Norway, while two asymptomatic German passengers were tested who had been in contact with a person who subsequently developed COVID-19; their test results were negative.<ref name=berliner>{{cite web |url=https://www.morgenpost.de/vermischtes/article228600469/Coronavirus-Corona-Kreuzfahrtschiffe-Ministerium-warnt-Deutsche-vor-Kreuzfahrten.html |title=Coronavirus: Außenministerium warnt Deutsche vor Kreuzfahrten|language=German|trans-title=Coronavirus: crisis team advises against cruises|newspaper=Berliner Morgenpost |author= |date= 5 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.de/20200303/coronavirus-german-cruise-ship-held-in-norwegian-harbour-as-passengers-tested|title=Coronavirus: German cruise ship held in Norwegian harbour as passengers tested |author=|date=3 March 2020|access-date=3 March 2020|newspaper=The Local De}}</ref>
In January 2023 AIDA Cruises said that the ship would be decommissioned in autumn 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aida.de/aida-cruises/presse/pressearchiv/newsdetails/aida-cruises-eroeffnet-am-9-januar-2023-die-farewell-saison-von-aidaaura.24494.html|title=AIDA Cruises eröffnet am 9. Januar 2023 die Farewell-Saison von AIDAaura|date=2023-01-05|accessdate=2023-01-05|language=german}}</ref> Istanbul-based Miray Cruises announced in June that they had acquired a ship, for delivery in September, reported to be ''AIDAaura'', for their ''Life at Sea Cruises'' intended 3-year world voyage, beginning in November 2023. Replacing the intended ''Gemini'', the ship would be renamed ''Lara'' and undergo renovations in Istanbul.<ref>{{cite news |title=Miray Upgrades Ship for Three Year World Cruise |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/06/miray-upgrades-ship-for-three-year-world-cruise/ |access-date=1 July 2023 |work=Cruise Industry News |date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824061300/https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/06/miray-upgrades-ship-for-three-year-world-cruise/ |archive-date=24 August 2023 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kalosh |first1=Anne |title=Miray Cruises is the reported buyer of AIDAaura |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/refurb-interiors/miray-cruises-reported-buyer-aidaaura |access-date=1 July 2023 |work=Seatrade Cruise News |date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630072344/https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/refurb-interiors/miray-cruises-reported-buyer-aidaaura |archive-date=30 June 2023 |location=Colchester}}</ref> The last voyage of the ''AIDAaura'' ended in Bremerhaven, Germany on 21 September 2023.<ref name=NZ10112023>{{cite news |last1=Eckardt |first1=Christian |title=Verkauf der „AIDAaura“ in Sichtweite - und das soll der neue Käufer sein ("Sale of the "AIDAaura" in sight - and it is supposed to be a new buyer") |url=https://www.nordsee-zeitung.de/Bremerhaven/Hafenkreise-berichten-Verkauf-der-AIDAaura-ist-in-Sichtweite-173078.html |access-date=13 November 2023 |work=Nordsee Zeitung |date=10 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110155828/https://www.nordsee-zeitung.de/Bremerhaven/Hafenkreise-berichten-Verkauf-der-AIDAaura-ist-in-Sichtweite-173078.html |archive-date=10 November 2023 |location=Bremerhaven |language=de}}</ref> In November it was reported that Miray were no longer the buyer, with speculation that it would now be Celestyal Cruises.<ref name=NZ10112023/> thumb|Celestyal Discovery in Quay in Port of Rhodes, August 2024 On 16 November 2023, Celestyal Cruises confirmed their purchase of ''AIDAaura'' and stated that she would enter service in March 2024 as ''Celestyal Discovery'' after a winter refit, replacing ''Celestyal Olympia''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Celestyal Acquires AIDAaura; To Sail as Celestyal Discovery |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/11/celestyal-acquires-aidaaura-to-sail-as-celestyal-discovery/ |access-date=16 November 2023 |work=Cruise Industry News |date=16 November 2023 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zelinski |first1=Andrea |title=Celestyal acquires Aida ship and will rename it Discovery |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Celestyal-acquires-Aida-ship |access-date=16 November 2023 |work=Travel Weekly |date=16 November 2023 |location=Rutherford, NJ}}</ref> The ship entered service on 22 March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celestyal Discovery Sets Sail on Maiden Cruise - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/03/celestyal-discovery-sets-sail-on-maiden-cruise/ |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=cruiseindustrynews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kreuzfahrturlaub mit Celestyal Cruises {{!}} 2025 & 2026 |url=https://www.celestyalcruises.de/de-DE |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=www.celestyalcruises.de}}</ref> Celestyal plans to add 47 cabins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celestyal To Add 47 Cabins to Discovery - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/11/celestyal-to-add-47-cabins-to-discovery/ |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=cruiseindustrynews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>thumb|Celestyal Discovery already with its expansion to new 47 cabins
=== 2026 Iran war === ''Celestyal Discovery'' along with its sister ship ''Celestyal Journey'' were among the many cruise ships that canceled trips in the Middle East following the joint American—Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February 2026. ''Celestyal Discovery'' was docked in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, when hostilities broke out and trips that were scheduled in March were canceled thereby prematurely ending the ship's Arabian winter cruise season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shoffman |first1=Marc |title=Celestyal Arabian Gulf cruise season ends early amid Iran conflict |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/cruise/celestyal-arabian-gulf-cruise-season-ends-b2931672.html |access-date=4 March 2026 |work=The Independent |date=4 March 2026}}</ref> The ship was able to leave the Persian Gulf via the newly reopened Strait of Hormuz on 17 April 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cruise Ship Reports “Splash” in Strait as Five Ships Escape Persian Gulf |url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/four-cruise-ships-escape-persian-gulf-after-being-trapped-for-47-days |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=The Maritime Executive |language=en}}</ref>
==Citations== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== * {{cite ship register|register=DNV|id=G94691|shipname=Aidaaura|accessdate=14 March 2020 |ref={{sfnref|DNV GL}}}} * {{csr|register=E|id=9221566|shipname=AIDAaura|accessdate=31 August 2010 |ref={{sfnref|Equasis}}}} * {{csr|register=MSI|id=9221566|shipname=Aidaaura|accessdate=14 March 2020|ref={{sfnref|Miramar Ship Index}}}} * {{cite book |last=Ward |first=Douglas |year=2005 |title=Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2006 |url=https://archive.org/details/berlitz2006compl00doug |url-access=registration |edition=21st |publisher=Berlitz |location=Singapore |isbn=978-9812-4673-9-3 }} * {{cite book |last=Ward |first=Douglas |year=2019 |title=Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2020 |edition=28th |publisher=Berlitz |location=Singapore |isbn=978-1-78573-250-8 }}
==External links== {{Commons category|IMO 9221566}} * {{cite web |title=Celestyal Discovery (official site) |url=https://celestyal.com/our-ships/celestyal-discovery/ |publisher=Celestyal Cruises |access-date=7 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324052333/https://celestyal.com/our-ships/celestyal-discovery/ |archive-date=24 March 2024 |url-status=live}} * {{cite web |title=AIDAaura (official site) |url=http://www.aida.de/schiffe.aidaaura.137.0.html |publisher=AIDA Cruises |access-date=7 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114111241/http://www.aida.de/schiffe.aidaaura.137.0.html |archive-date=14 November 2008|language=de |url-status=dead}} * {{cite web |url=http://www.shipparade.com/az/AIDAaura/AIDAaura.htm |title= AIDAaura |access-date=5 July 2009 |work=ShipParade |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007145357/https://www.shipparade.com/az/AIDAaura/AIDAaura.htm |archive-date=7 October 2018}}
{{AIDA Ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Celestyal Discovery}} Category:Ships built in Wismar Category:Ships of AIDA Cruises Category:Ships of Celestyal Cruises Category:2003 ships