History
1970s to 1980s
My parents were addicted to cruising on Italian ships.
Since I started elementary school, my parents took me on at least one cruise a year during the school holidays.
That’s why I’ve done a lot of cruises (15-20 altogether, I would guess) with Linea C (now Costa Cruises), including among several others
At this time Enrico C (in service 1951 as Provence, in service as cruise ship 1966, later Enrico Costa, Symphony, Aegean Spirit, Ocean Glory, Classica, scrapped 2001)
At this time Eugenio C (in service 1966, in service as cruise ship 1977, later Eugenio Costa, Edinburgh Castle, The Big Red Boat II, Red Boat, scrapped 2005)
At this time Federico C (in service 1958, in service as cruise ship 1968, later Royale, StarShip Royale, SeaBreeze, sank 2000)
When I turned 16, my parents decided that I should run their business while they were on vacation.
At that moment, a very long time of absence from cruising began for me.
I did not resume cruising until 1999 due to military service, college, and some unfortunate personal circumstances.
After I eventually got my bachelor’s degree, I had finally earned another cruise.
1999
At this time AIDA (in service 1996, 2001-2021 AIDAcara, since 2021 Astoria Grande)
2001
At this time AIDA (in service 1996, 2001-2021 AIDAcara, since 2021 Astoria Grande )
2003
AIDAvita (in service 2002)
2005
AIDAaura (in service 2003)
2007
Costa Concordia (Concordia class; in service 2006, sank 2012, scrapped 2017)
2008
AIDAdiva (Sphinx class; in service 2007)
2009
AIDAbella (Sphinx class; in service 2008)
2010
AIDAluna (Sphinx class; in service 2009)
2011
AIDAblu (modified Sphinx class / Ikarus sub-class; in service 2010)
2012
At this time Mein Schiff 2 (Century class; in service 1997 as Mercury, later Celebrity Mercury, Mein Schiff 2 2011-2019, now Mein Schiff Herz)
2013
AIDAmar (modified Sphinx class / Ikarus sub-class; in service 2012)
2014
AIDAstella (modified Sphinx class / Ikarus sub-class; in service 2013)
2015
Mein Schiff 3 (in service 2014)
2016
Mein Schiff 4 (in service 2015)
2017
AIDAprima (Hyperion class; in service 2016)
Mein Schiff 5 (in service 2016)
2018
AIDAperla (Hyperion class; in service 2017)
Mein Schiff 6 (in service 2017)
2019
AIDAperla (Hyperion class; in service 2017) (three times)
Costa Pacifica (Concordia class; in service 2009) (my last cruise until now)
Bucket list
AIDAcosma (Excellence class / Helios sub-class; in service expected 2021)
Costa Smeralda (Excellence class; in service 2019)
Mein Schiff 2 (in service 2019)
Europa 2 (in service 2013)
Norwegian Prima (Prima class; in service expected 2022). This would be my first American ship to cruise on.
unfortunate circumstances prevented planned cruises on these ships
AIDAsol (modified Sphinx class / Ikarus sub-class; in service 2011)
Fun facts
I cruised on two ships that later sank, the Federico C and the Costa Concordia, both Costa Cruises ships.
I never cruised more than once on the same ship, with exception of the AIDA (now AIDAcara; twice), and the AIDAperla (four times until now).