The former cruise ship AIDAcara renamed Astoria Grande, will set sail this month under a new owner, the Russian company Akvilon which bought the cruise liner in 2021, to launch cruise operations to Turkey.
Starting July 16, the ship will offer a variety of 7-night voyages out of the Black Sea port of Sochi each Saturday catering to the Russian tourist market. These cruises will not require travel visas for Russian residents.
Astoria Grande is scheduled to operate four different itineraries to the Turkish ports of Sinop and Trabzon on the Black Sea coast with overnights in Istanbul, along with voyages to Bozcaada and the Miterannean port of Cesme. Astoria Grande will provide 16 sailings until October 2022.
This is the first cruise ship to sail international voyages out of Sochi since the beginning of the pandemic, the press service of the city administration reported. The Turkish company Miray Cruises will take over the organization of the tours, expecting to attract more than 20,000 Russian tourists per season. The nine-deck vessel can accommodate up to 1382 passengers.
“Passenger safety is our absolute priority. The liner is equipped with all modern navigation and fire safety systems. The Astoria Grande crew conducts weekly training sessions. The liner is also equipped with a modern stabilization system, which provides maximum comfort for passengers even in case of stormy weather,” said the Astoria Grande Captain Igor Kichkerkin.
The ship routes run through the southern and eastern parts of the Black Sea. These routes are absolutely safe for navigation; more than 100 ships of various types pass through them every day, the company said in a statement.
“Now all the port services of the city of Sochi and the liner’s personnel are undergoing final training before leaving for the first cruise,” comments Astoria Grande cruise manager Orkan Kayarkh, “Following the high standards of MIRAY CRUISES, our main task is to provide our guests with round-the-clock care and service, because it is this is the basis of a quality and memorable holiday.”
