"The ongoing growth of AIDA has made Germany the second biggest cruise market in the world. With our Costa Asia brand, we have pioneered the way in China since 2006 and were the first international shipping company to develop the cruise market there. The expansion of our product portfolio to include an AIDA Cruises ship on the fastest-growing market in the world is a strategic step for the further successful development of Costa and AIDA", said Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group.

AIDAbella will be prepared for service in Asia during a dockyard refit in spring 2017. Without changing the essence of the successful AIDA brand, the ship and services will be oriented to the wishes and demands of Chinese guests. Under the motto "cruise vacation Made in Germany" i.a. the "Brauhaus" featuring a blend of Bavarian conviviality meets with modern far eastern cuisine in the in the spacious buffet restaurant "World of Asia" where the hot pot restaurant "Hot & Spicy" will be integrated. New on board are as well successful German brands as Rimowa or Hugo Boss.

Delivered in 2008, AIDAbella was the fifth ship in the AIDA fleet.