Table of contents
More Than a Ship: What Makes AIDA Feel Like Home
You step aboard and everything changes. Not just your surroundings. You, too. The gangplank separates everyday life from vacation, stress from ease. Suddenly, everything slows down. You breathe more deeply. Your view broadens. And even though you've just stepped foot on the ship, it doesn't feel strange. It feels right.
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What makes AIDA special can hardly be pinned down to one detail. It's a feeling. A mixture of relaxedness, attentiveness, and a touch of home. The crew not only greets you warmly, they also remember your name. The waiter, on the second day, offers your favorite drink. At the bar, a conversation starts with people you didn't know an hour ago. And somehow, that's completely normal.
The atmosphere is open. Warm. Not artificial, not forced. You’re not just a guest - you’re part of something bigger. No one asks who you are or what you do, but everyone has a smile. This mixture of closeness and freedom is rare. And it does something to you.
AIDA is a vacation, yes. But it's also an experience. And sometimes even a place where you regroup. The music as you set sail. The vastness of the sea. The moment when you stand barefoot on deck and look up at the sky - that stays with you. Perhaps because it doesn't feel like a vacation. More like a break from everything else.
Cabins With Character: Your Space at Sea
You open the door and suddenly a piece of the ship belongs to you. Not a hotel room, not an anonymous number. But your own space. Your retreat with a sea view, if you want. Or with curtains closed if you prefer peace and quiet.
Take a balcony cabin on the AIDAperla, for example. You wake up, pull aside the curtains - and there it is: the sea. Smooth, wide, bright. You step outside barefoot, lean against the railing, your coffee still warm in your hand. No noise, no hustle and bustle. Just you and the blue.
In an inside cabin on the AIDAnova, things are different - but no less well-thought-out. No window, but a clever lighting concept, plenty of storage space, and a feeling of security. Perfect for those who spend the day outside anyway and just want to sleep peacefully at night. Or you can opt for a suite on the AIDAcosma. Separate living and sleeping areas, lounge access, and service on a different level. Your favorite spot? Usually the sofa right by the window. Because you can sit there, read, dream - or simply watch the sea pass by.
What all cabins have in common: They aren't cluttered. No frills, but thoughtful details. Soft colors. Practical storage. Comfortable mattresses. And always the feeling: This is the right place for you. Because no matter how small or large - it's not just a place to sleep. It's your retreat. For thoughts. For breaks. For you.
AIDA in Numbers: Impressive Facts
- The AIDA fleet consists of 13 ships - from the small classic AIDAcara (now retired) to the giant AIDAcosma with over 6,600 guests.
- LNG propulsion? AIDAnova and AIDAcosma are pioneers - both run on liquefied natural gas, a significantly cleaner fuel.
- The AIDAcosma is over 337 meters long - that's the equivalent of more than three football fields.
- There are 17 restaurants and 23 bars on board - from fine dining to brewery.
- The Kids Club caters to children from 6 months old - with trained staff and age-appropriate programs.
- The Theatrium extends over three decks - with LED walls, a circular stage, and daily entertainment.
- The Beach Club has a glass dome roof - a holiday feeling regardless of the weather, even in wind and rain.
- The suites offer up to 53 square meters of living space, some with a whirlpool and private veranda.
- The spa area on large ships covers over 3,500 square meters - with saunas, relaxation areas, and ocean views.
- Up to 10,000 meals are served daily on board - fresh, varied, and around the clock.
- AIDA recycles over 90% of the waste generated on board.
- The jogging track on the large ships measures up to 400 meters - with unobstructed views of the open sea.
- Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere - with several internet packages, including streaming.
- The crew comes from over 40 nations - speaks German and is trained to AIDA standards.
- Each itinerary is carefully curated - from Norway to the Orient, from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean.
Dining With Soul: When Food Becomes an Experience
You set off hungry - but without a plan. No problem. Because on AIDA, a new taste experience awaits around almost every corner. Sometimes hearty, sometimes sophisticated, sometimes surprising. But never random. On the AIDAprima, for example, the smell of freshly tapped beer lures you into the brewery. Rustic wooden benches, live music, a knuckle of pork on your plate, and suddenly you don't feel like you're at sea, but like you're at a summer festival at home. Except that the sea is passing by outside.
Switch to the AIDAnova. You turn the corner and find yourself in the middle of the street food mile. Kebabs, burgers, currywurst, everything to go, all fast but good. No long menus, no obligation to use cutlery. Just you, your hunger, a stool, and life around you.
Later: the Rossini. White-covered tables. A quiet clinking sound. A waiter who doesn't serve, but accompanies you. You receive a menu that doesn't simply taste good, but has an impact. Courses like small works of art, served with care. You may not say much at that moment. But you'll remember it clearly later. And then there are those small, quiet moments. A cappuccino at the Pier 3 Market at 7:00 a.m. You're still half asleep, the first rays of sunshine outside. Or a late breakfast on the cabin balcony - croissant, fruit, a bit of silence.
Each ship has its own restaurants. Its own ideas. But everywhere, the same thing applies: You don't just eat. You experience. And that fills you up - in a completely different way.
Emotional Entertainment: When the Day Carry You
You sit in the Theatrium. No curtain. No gong. Just a change of light, a movement - and suddenly it begins. A voice rises, clear and close. No spectacle. No pressure. Simply a moment that hits you. AIDA entertains differently. You aren't encouraged, you are invited. In the morning, maybe to a workshop. Sometimes art, sometimes knowledge, sometimes nonsense. Then the live music draws you into the lounge. Not loud, not garish. More like a good soundtrack - you only realize it was there when it's gone.
In the evening, things get more colorful. But never loud. In the Theatrium, the light dances across the tiers, the audience is close. The stage rotates, artists come not from behind, but from everywhere. And you're right in the middle of it, even if you're just watching. Not a revue of numbers. Not soulless choreography. But faces, voices, stories.
And sometimes the most beautiful moment is the quietest. A piano somewhere at the back of the ship. A voice that suddenly fills the room. Or simply the view over the sea - without a program, without a plan. There's no mandatory program on AIDA. But plenty of offers that reach you exactly when you're open to them. Not because they persuade you. But because they touch something inside you.
Movement with a Sea View: When Your Body Travels with You
You're standing on the pier. The wind plays with your scarf. Behind you is the terminal, in front of you is the ship - vast, quiet, like from another world.
You don't remember every day. But you remember little scenes that suddenly appear:
- The woman at the bar you'd never seen before, but who still made you laugh.
- The feeling of floating in the infinity pool as the sea disappears beneath you.
- The soft clack of the fork on the plate as the sun set outside.
- The look on your child's face as they walked across the ship alone for the first time - confident, curious, proud.
- The moment after the massage, when you feel almost weightless.
And then that evening, somewhere between shows and silence. You stood alone at the railing. No camera. No conversation. Just you and the water. You don't remember which day it was. But you know: Right there, something remained. Maybe peace. Maybe vastness. Maybe just yourself.
AIDA doesn't disappear when you leave. It flows with you - in your thoughts, at your pace. And sometimes, much later, it reappears.
Quite suddenly.
Quite quietly.
Quite close.
Journeys That Tell a Story
You wake up and have no idea where you are. Not yet. The curtain is drawn, outside you can only hear the sound of the waves. Then you open the curtains - and see nothing but blue. No harbor. No destination. And yet this day feels just as special as all the others. AIDA understands days at sea. They are not a filler. They are part of the journey. The moment between the experiences. And often the moment that lasts.
Maybe yesterday you were in Rome. Tomorrow you'll be in Barcelona. But today? Today belongs to you. Breakfast with a sea view, reading in a deckchair, a glass of wine at sunset. No plan. No rush. Every route has its own unique sound.
The Canary Islands: black sand, volcanic cones, wind in your face. The air smells of salt, the light is soft. You sail through a winter that feels like spring.
The Mediterranean: lively, colorful, loud. Glowing cities, flavorful alleys, narrative harbors. And again and again: retreat to the sea. An addictive contrast.
Norway: Fjords, silence, plays of light. The ship moves through landscapes that seem otherworldly. You stand on deck, speechless.
Orient: Golden roofs, white mosques, desert, and skyline. The scent of spices fills the air. In the evening, you're back home - on your ship. With a view of the stars over Dubai.
Green Cruising: The Technology Behind the Experience
The latest AIDA generation runs on LNG - liquefied natural gas instead of heavy fuel oil. No haze over the chimney, no pungent smell in the harbor. You don't notice it right away. But you feel it over time: The air is clearer. The water is calmer. The ride is smoother. Energy flows intelligently. The light and climate adjust automatically. When you leave the room, the system quietly switches back on. Without any warnings, without pointing fingers. Just like that - because it makes sense.
Water? Is it recycled? Wastewater? Treated. Garbage? Separated and processed. What seems obvious to you is actually a huge network behind the scenes. You shower without wasting. You enjoy without burdening your body. On ships like the AIDAnova or AIDAcosma, this technology is integrated everywhere. Invisible, but effective. The older ships are catching up - with retrofits, optimized processes, and new ideas. Not everything is perfect. But much is better than you think.
Who AIDA is made for - and why no one limits that
Do you want a vacation that suits you? AIDA doesn't think in terms of target groups - but in terms of possibilities.
Families get action and relaxation. Kids' Club with supervision. Large cabins with connecting doors. Space to romp - regardless of quiet times.
Couples find a place to retreat. Exclusive suites with lounge access. Breakfast without the hustle and bustle. Wellness instead of a waterslide.
Solo travelers won't be alone - unless they want to be. Activities, workshops, conversation partners. No peer pressure, no awkward social program.
Seniors enjoy their own rhythm. Gentle service. Quiet comfort. Espresso in the morning, wine in the evening - no stress in between.
AIDA blends experiences - carefully, not chaotically. Quiet zones are truly peaceful. Family areas remain lively. You decide how close you get to others. And when you simply have time for yourself.
The ship follows your pace - not the other way around.
AIDA in Transition - The New Generation of Ships
AIDAcara was the beginning. Small, charming, almost familiar.
In 1996, she set sail - and launched something that was new at the time: cruising with ease. No tuxedos. No rigid seating arrangements. Instead, smiles, a buffet, and a captain who joked through the onboard announcement.
Almost three decades later, the AIDAcosma is here. 337 meters long. An LNG propulsion system that drastically reduces environmental impact. An onboard promenade, restaurants like the Time Machine, pool areas with glass roofs. Much of it seems futuristic - and yet the same idea lies behind it as with the Cara: You should feel free. Not conformed. Not overwhelmed. But at home.
Of course, the fleet is changing. The Rossini remains - but alongside it, new concepts are emerging, such as street food miles or the Beach House. Cabins are becoming smarter, technology more sustainable, and entertainment more diverse. But what remains the same: the tone on board. Personal. Warm. Not artificial.
And AIDA is thinking ahead. E-methanol as the fuel of the future has long been in the plans. Smaller ships could also return - for new routes, new target groups, new experiences. Change, yes - but never arbitrary. The DNA remains. It simply adapts to what you need today. And tomorrow.
Moments that last - What you take home from AIDA
Your suitcase is next to you. The shuttle is waiting. The next taxi is already rolling down at the quay. You turn around. The gangplank is behind you. Up above on the sun deck, someone is waving. Maybe a crew member. Maybe someone you met at the bar one of those nights. You're not sure. But you wave back.
The ship is huge - and yet it feels like a place you knew. Not foreign. Not just rented. But somehow yours.
In your head: the laughter at karaoke. The espresso on the balcony at 7 a.m. The conversation with the waiter who brought you the same wine for the third time - simply because you kept smiling.
AIDA doesn’t stay in your photos - it stays in your memory. In sounds. In silent glances. In that feeling of having been completely at one with yourself on the sea. And when the ship slowly moves away and you turn away, there's no end.
There's something you take with you. Even without naming it. You just know: It wasn’t just a trip. It changed something in you.
