Blue Dream Melody
Blue Dream Melody is a cruise ship launched as AIDAvita in 2002 and later transferred to Chinese cruise operator Blue Dream International Cruise.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Blue Dream Melody is a cruise ship whose operational history spans German shipbuilding, the AIDA Cruises fleet, a period of lay-up, and a later transfer to the Chinese cruise market. The vessel was built in 2002 by Aker MTW at Wismar, Germany, for AIDA Cruises. It was the second ship in AIDA Cruises' fleet and was constructed as a sister ship to AIDAaura. The ship originally operated under the name AIDAvita. Its career with AIDA Cruises continued until the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic period, the vessel was taken out of service and subsequently laid up at Tallinn, Estonia, where it remained from November 2021. In June 2022, AIDA Cruises announced that the ship would not return to its fleet and had been sold to an undisclosed buyer. Following the sale, the vessel was renamed Avitak. It remained laid up in Tallinn rather than immediately entering a new commercial service. Publicly identified ownership and management details associated with this period listed Beta Marine Ltd. of Majuro, Marshall Islands, as owner and Istanbul-based Sealife Denizcilik Ltd. Sti. as manager. In January 2024, the ship was sold to China Development Bank, Hong Kong, for lease to Blue Dream International Cruise, a Shanghai-based Chinese cruise operator. It was renamed Blue Dream Melody and underwent refurbishment in China. The vessel arrived in China in March 2024 and subsequently entered service under its new identity. The ship's history illustrates the movement of mature cruise tonnage between national markets after the pandemic. Rather than being scrapped after leaving the AIDA fleet, it was retained, refurbished, and repositioned for Chinese operations. The available reference material does not establish its current operating schedule or long-term ownership structure. It reports that the vessel was impounded in Beihai in December 2025 over unpaid fuel bills, leaving its current operational status uncertain.
History
Blue Dream Melody was built in 2002 at the Aker MTW shipyard in Wismar, Germany. The ship entered service as AIDAvita for AIDA Cruises and became the second vessel in that company's fleet. It was designed as a sister ship to AIDAaura, giving the two vessels a closely related platform and configuration. The ship operated for AIDA Cruises for nearly two decades. Its European cruise career was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which it was taken out of service. By November 2021, the vessel had been laid up at Tallinn, Estonia. In June 2022, AIDA Cruises stated that the ship would not resume operations for the company and had been sold to an undisclosed purchaser. After the transfer, the ship was renamed Avitak. The new identity did not immediately lead to a return to commercial service, and the vessel continued to remain laid up in Tallinn. During this period, records identified Beta Marine Ltd. of Majuro, Marshall Islands, as the owner and Sealife Denizcilik Ltd. Sti., based in Istanbul, as the manager. The vessel changed direction again in January 2024, when it was sold to China Development Bank, Hong Kong, for lease to Blue Dream International Cruise of Shanghai. It was subsequently renamed Blue Dream Melody and refurbished for the Chinese market. The ship arrived in China in March 2024 and entered service under the Blue Dream International Cruise operation. The available account ends with a report that Blue Dream Melody was impounded in Beihai in December 2025 over unpaid fuel bills. No further reliable information is provided about the length of the impoundment, the resolution of the claim, or whether the ship resumed service. Its present status should therefore be treated as uncertain.
- 2025
Reported impoundment in Beihai
[1]The ship was reported to have been impounded in Beihai over unpaid fuel bills.
- 2024
Transfer to Chinese operation
[1]The ship was sold to China Development Bank, Hong Kong, for lease to Blue Dream International Cruise of Shanghai.
- 2024
Renamed Blue Dream Melody and refurbished
[1]After refurbishment in China, the vessel was renamed Blue Dream Melody and entered service for the Chinese cruise market.
- 2022
Exit from the AIDA Cruises fleet
[1]AIDA Cruises announced that the vessel would not return to its service and had been sold.
- 2022
Renamed Avitak
[1]Following its sale, the vessel adopted the name Avitak while remaining laid up in Tallinn.
- 2021
Laid up in Tallinn
[1]The ship was taken out of service during the COVID-19 pandemic and laid up at Tallinn, Estonia, in November.
- 2002
Construction at Aker MTW
[1]The ship was built by Aker MTW in Wismar, Germany, for AIDA Cruises.
- 2002
Entry into service as AIDAvita
[1]The vessel entered AIDA Cruises' fleet as AIDAvita and became the fleet's second ship.
Products and positioning
A refurbished, mid-sized cruise ship repositioned from the European AIDA Cruises market to Chinese cruise operations.
Passenger cruise ship · 2002
Blue Dream Melody
A cruise ship built in 2002 for AIDA Cruises and later refurbished for Blue Dream International Cruise's Chinese operations. It previously sailed under the names AIDAvita and Avitak. Its offering consists of multi-day passenger cruises supported by cabins, dining, entertainment, and other onboard services typical of a commercial cruise vessel.
Brand decisions
2024
Transfer to Blue Dream International CruiseM&ABackground
The vessel had remained laid up after leaving AIDA Cruises and was available for a new operator.
Action taken
China Development Bank, Hong Kong acquired the ship for lease to Blue Dream International Cruise in Shanghai. The vessel was refurbished and renamed Blue Dream Melody.
Aftermath
The ship arrived in China in March 2024 and entered service in the Chinese cruise market.
2022
AIDA Cruises retires the ship from its fleetStrategyBackground
The vessel had been out of service during the COVID-19 pandemic and was laid up in Tallinn.
Action taken
AIDA Cruises announced that AIDAvita would not return to its service and confirmed its sale.
Aftermath
The ship was renamed Avitak and remained laid up before later being transferred for Chinese operations.
Sources1 sources
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