etwas MEERzeit - FamilyCruise & News

For fans of ocean cruising, checking the schedule of the Columbus Cruise Center Bremerhaven (CCCB) is an essential part of holiday planning. An analysis of current data shows that 2026 will be significantly quieter than usual at the mouth of the Weser river. While records were chased in previous years, a kind of breather is now on the horizon. We have checked the facts for you.

For cruise fans, there is hardly anything better than the moment the ship sets sail. But for around 15,000 travelers with Royal Caribbean, the first weekend of December 2025 became a lesson in humility towards nature. Dense fog paralyzed the Port of Tampa Bay – with consequences that went far beyond a few hours of delay.

Passengers and crew of the P&O Iona won't forget the first weekend of December 2025 anytime soon. A combination of the severe storm "Darragh," a technical mishap, and a lot of floating fruit brought operations around Southampton to a complete standstill.

A dream voyage is currently facing a medical challenge. During the ongoing "XXL World Cruise" of the AIDAdiva, a significant outbreak of Norovirus occurred in early December 2025. We have summarized the facts, the background, and the measures for you in a factual and clear manner.

Everything was actually set for the grand farewell at the Hamburg Landungsbrücken. On St. Nicholas Day 2025, the MS Hamburg was supposed to depart, festively illuminated, on her "Grand Voyage of Your Life." But instead of drizzle and the Elbphilharmonie, the approximately 400 passengers were greeted with espresso and Mediterranean sun. The ship, belonging to the Bremen-based shipping company Plantours Cruises (Ligabue Group), relocated its start over 1,000 kilometers south to Genoa at short notice. The reason for this unusual measure was not a whim of the shipping company, but pure meteorological necessity.

It is a date that will likely remain highlighted in red in the history books of the Rostock-based shipping company AIDA Cruises: On Saturday, December 6, 2025, the AIDAdiva successfully crossed the Panama Canal as the first ship of the fleet to do so. As part of her 133-day "XXL World Cruise," the ship switched from the Atlantic to the Pacific, offering guests spectacular views of one of the most important bottlenecks in global shipping.

Fiscal year 2025 will go down in maritime history as a true turning point. For years, PortMiami remained the undisputed "Cruise Capital of the World." But that era has come to an end. The challenger from the Space Coast, Port Canaveral, has taken the helm and claimed the top spot globally.

Introduction: Meteorological Influences Force Schedule Adjustment The operative planning of cruises in Northern European waters regularly faces challenges from dynamic weather conditions during the winter months. A current example is provided by AIDAprima on December 2, 2025. Instead of calling at the Swedish port of Gothenburg, the ship was diverted to Copenhagen at short notice. This decision is based on an analysis of real-time AIS data, port protocols, and current weather models.

Season Start and the Ice Problem With the start of the 2025/2026 winter season, AIDA Cruises is massively strengthening its presence in Northern Europe. The focus is on the AIDAprima, which is stationed in Kiel for the first time this winter to conduct voyages to the Baltic Sea and Scandinavia. A central highlight of this offering is the "Winter Magic" (Winterzauber), featuring a real ice skating rink on the sports deck

On the second Advent weekend of 2025, a 55-hour full closure of the Elbe Tunnel on the Federal Motorway A7 presents major challenges for the logistics of Hamburg's cruise centers. The closure, between Hamburg-Heimfeld and Hamburg-Stellingen, begins on Friday, December 5, at 10:00 PM and ends on Monday, December 8, at 5:00 AM.

St. Maarten/New York – The traditional Cunard Line is facing operational challenges in the late fourth quarter of 2025. The shipping company's flagship, the RMS Queen Mary 2, is compelled to significantly adjust its current Caribbean voyage (M537) due to persistent technical issues with the propulsion system. To ensure a punctual return to New York, the call at St. Kitts has been cancelled.

Kiel, November 30, 2025 – With the operational launch of the 2025/2026 winter season, Rostock-based shipping company AIDA Cruises is executing a significant strategic shift within the German cruise market. On Saturday, November 29, 2025, AIDAprima docked at the Kiel Ostseekai at 08:00. This call marks a novelty in the company's history: For the first time, a Hyperion-class vessel, designed for over 3,000 passengers, is being deployed specifically for the winter months from the capital of Schleswig-Holstein.

A cruise through the fjords of New Zealand is considered an absolute dream vacation. But for a 44-year-old Australian, the journey on the Anthem of the Seas ended abruptly and without glamour in police custody, while his ship—and his family—sailed on without him.

A sea voyage in the Caribbean ended in a nightmare for an American family. Following the discovery of an 18-year-old in her cabin, the FBI has launched an investigation. Suspicion is focused on a family member. We summarize the complex background and the maritime legal situation for you.

While cruise fans are eagerly awaiting the summer of 2026, work on the latest addition to the TUI Cruises fleet has long since begun behind the scenes. On November 19, 2025, the official starting signal was given for one of the most logistically demanding phases in shipbuilding: assembling the crew for the Mein Schiff Flow.