Tuesday, March 1, 2016 - 16:07 by leixoes
AIDAMAR WAS THE FIRST OF FOUR INAUGURAL CALLS SCHEDULED FOR 2016
On February 22 the Port of Leixões welcomed for the first time AIDAmar cruise ship. As usual, the Port Authority of Leixões prepared a welcome programme to celebrate the inaugural call of this amazing ship. An exchange of commemorative plaques with AIDAmar's captain and Port Authorities was held on board. Passengers and crew members were welcomed at the new Porto Cruise Terminal with Traditional Portuguese Music from ‘Casa da Guitarra', a Port Wine Tasting and souvenirs. AIDAmar brought to the Porto Cruise Terminal more than 2 000 passengers who during this day have enjoyed Porto, Douro and Minho Destination, its museums, monuments, fantastic cuisine and unique landscapes. AIDAmar was on its 18 night's voyage from the Caribbean port of La Romana (Dominican Republic) to Hamburg in Germany visiting Basseterre (St. Kitts), Forte de France (Martinique), Bridgetown (Barbados), Azores and Leixões (Portugal), Coruña (Spain) and Le Havre (France).
AIDAmar is a Sphinx class cruise ship, built at Meyer Werft in Papenburg for AIDA Cruises and launched on May 2012 measuring 252 meters long and 32 meters wide with 71 304 of gross tonnage. As her sister ships, AIDAmar is known by a smiling kissing lipson the bow, which reproduces the trade mark of Aida Cruises and arouse local curiosity.
Cruises at Leixões has been growing in recent years and for 2016 are already schedule 90 cruise ship calls and almost 90 000 passengers. Four new ships will visit Leixões for the first time and a new company will start operations in Leixões during this year.
