Amazingly (or perhaps not?) the AIDA ships get good reviews from ocean liner enthusiasts.
The British Ocean Liner Society has been on board for several cruises and produced very tempting reports, together with (to my mind) rather interesting photos of the interiors.
One of my recurrent questions to my knowledgeable friends has been : "Where are the really good ships being built at present? Who is producing the QE2 of our days?"
The answer is, of course, no one is doing so. But on further thought, the answer is "Meyer Werft Papenburg" -- which is where the AIDA ships are being built. Solid design, modern artwork, new ideas, high quality, no fear to pay the price. All in contrast to the shipyards which built the most recent Cunard ship, and are building the next one, which produces ships at a much lower price (with all that that means, of course).
AIDA (as well as Costa) is Carnival owned -- but unlike the other branches of Carnival, these two have been allowed the freedom to design and build their own high-quality ships and to provide high-quality service no longer provided by e.g. Cunard.
I have not tested the AIDA ships myself, but at this stage, would be more tempted to do so than to try qV.
Forum members who are also members of the Ocean Liner Society, or have access to its excellent publication "Sea Lines", can find a thorough review in the Autumn 2008 edition (pages 4 to 14).
Not sure about the "hot lips" exterior... but have a look at a few interior shots, and admire the teak decks :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bwop/46363215/in/set-1012381/https://www.flickr.com/photos/bwop/46455976/in/set-1012381/https://www.flickr.com/photos/bwop/46751136/in/set-1012381/https://www.flickr.com/photos/erikaheinzurlaub/2969869432/https://www.flickr.com/photos/27436873@N04/2628480990/https://www.flickr.com/photos/mannahh/3401644343/https://www.flickr.com/photos/21925490@N08/2110493319/https://www.flickr.com/photos/21925490@N08/2110493399/It took me quite a while to come round to taking a positive interest in the AIDA ships (frankly, the "hot lips" put me off!), but I trust the judgement of those who have recommended them (one of whom wrote one of the outstanding books on QE2...).
