AIDAprima – Cruise Ship
Watch the AIDAprima, one of the world’s most advanced cruise ships, come to life in this time-lapse. Built in Nagasaki by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, this 300-meter floating city took 18 months to construct and cost €550 million ($650 million) – though today’s newest ships like Icon of the Seas can cost up to $2 billion.
What makes AIDAprima special is its groundbreaking technology. It’s the first cruise ship to use the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS), creating a carpet of air bubbles under the hull to reduce friction and fuel consumption by 7%. In 2023, it became even more innovative with the installation of the largest battery storage system in passenger shipping – a 10-megawatt-hour powerhouse that enables zero-emission operations in port.
From laying the keel to final delivery, modern cruise ships typically take 12-18 months to build, requiring up to 2.5 million man-hours. The AIDAprima houses 3,300 passengers and 900 crew across 18 decks.
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AIDAprima, one of the world's most advanced cruise ships