1 5 or snacks. In the evening, however, it is livelier, and takes on a new atmosphere.” Just as much thought is paid to the outfitting process. “Safety is always the key priority when we’re designing and outfitting our ships, so we only use high-quality, marine-grade materials that have been certified by the International Maritime Organization and comply with all other industry requirements,” Schönrock says. “Lightweight, compact materials are particularly important on a cruise ship and we have established relationships with a number of preferred suppliers.” Schönrock believes that these relationships are just as crucial as those he has with the architects. “You do not start to design a ship and come to a point when you need a nice foyer; everything needs to be established in parallel. Our tight schedules mean that, once we sign the contract with the shipyard, there is no room for change. We need to have established designs in place as early on in the process as possible.” Sustainability is another key consideration for Schönrock. “We have to think about not only the impact of the ship, but the whole industry. From a starting point, the steel we use is quite sustainable and can also be reused when the ship is scrapped. But we’re also very aware of how much energy is being used to produce and transport the materials we use. We have to be careful that everything we use is sourced as locally as possible. It doesn’t make sense to buy an environmentally-friendly carpet from Australia, for example, and ship it to Europe for a ship’s dry dock.” When all of these considerations come together, Schönrock says the feeling is like no other. “I am especially proud of AIDAnova, the last ship we delivered,” he explains. “All of the different elements worked in harmony with one another. Customers really liked the ship too – they really struggled to pick a highlight! We had lots of feedback to say guests instantly felt at home on the ship, so it delivered everything we set out to achieve and more.” CFI KEYNOTE “We need to have established designs in place as early on in the process as possible” One of AIDAnova’s popular venues is the Time Machine restaurant, which takes guests on a journey through time with a three-course meal and entertainment Photo: AIDA Cruises
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