MV Blue Dream Melody
Ex Avitak, AIDAvita
© Cees Bustraan
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 2002 by Aker MTW, Wismar, Germany (Yard No 003) as a Passenger (Cruise) Ship for P&O Princess Cruises Ltd
Technical Data
- Original Cost: $350 million
- Length: 202.85m (666 ft), 182.02m (Registered)
- Breadth of hull: 28.10m (92.2 ft)
- Depth: 8.75m (moulded)
- Draught: 6.30m (20.7 ft)
- Tonnage: 42,289 gross/20,877 gross/3750t
- Engines: Four 12-cylinder Wartsila 12V38B diesels
- Power/Propellers: 27,550 kW/2
- Speed: 21.00 knots
- Capacity: 1266 passengers (1687 max)
- Crew: 426/389
- Navigation Officers: German
- Passenger Decks: 10
- Call Sign: IBNP, 5LKV2
- MMSI Number: 636022869
- IMO Number: 9221554
- DNV GL id: G94690
- Registry: London/UK 🇬🇧, Genoa/Italy 🇮🇹, Monrovia/Liberia ,
- Sister Ship: AIDAaura (004)
Current AIS Location
Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.
History
November 20th 2000: Keel laid.
November 15th 2001: Launched.
April 30th 2002: Delivered to P&O Princess Cruises Intl, Ltd, London, England. (Management Aida Cruises).
May 17th 2002: Maiden cruise from Hamburg – Mediterranean.
© Erwin Willemse
May 31st 2002: Cruising in the Eastern Mediterranean with winter cruises in the Caribbean.
February 2004: Sold to Carnival Plc, London, England. (Management Aida Cruises).
November 2004: Sold to Costa Crociere Spa, Genoa, Italy. (Management Aida Cruises).
© Aleksi Lindström
March 25th 2017 – April 4th 2017: To dry-dock at Lloyd Werft for regular refit and to carry out a redesign and renovation of numerous areas of the ship. She then resumed cruising.
© Neil Hopper (Dover 13/05/2018)
February 2020: In Bangkok, ceased cruising owing to COVID -19 pandemic and sailed to Europe.
April 2020: Sailed to Hamburg.
June 2022: AIDA Cruises announced that it will not be returning the vessel from its COVID -19 pandemic lay-up.
September 15th 2022: Arrived Tallinn and laid-up.
© Marko Stampehl (Tallinn)
February 2023: Renamed AVITAK and remains in Tallinn.
March 16th 2023: Registered Owner/Manager: Beta Marine Ltd.
January 12th 2024: Owner: Tianjin Hongtu No 1 Leasing Co. Manager: Blue Dream Intl Cruise Tour and renamed BLUE DREAM MELODY.
January 24th 2024: Left Tallinn and sailed Skagen Anchorage.
© Göran Olsson (28/01/2024)
January 28th 2024: Left Skagen Anchorage via the Mediterranean.
February 4th 2024: Arrived Gibraltar for bunkers before travelling through the Mediterranean and made a technical stop in Egypt before entering the Suez Canal.
🆕© Tony Davis (Gibraltar, 04/02/2024)
March 9th 2024: Drydocked in COSCO Zhoushan Shipyard, Liuheng Island, China.
May 29th 2024: Completed her drydocking.
June 3rd 2024: Arrived Shanghai
June 6th 2024: Held the maiden voyage ceremony at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal and commenced cruising for Blue Dream Cruises cruising to Japan, South Korea and other surrounding countries
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Cees Bustraan, Tony Davis. Neil Hopper, Aleksi Lindström, Göran Olsson, Marko Stampehl and Erwin Willemse for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
