HafenLiebe Kreuzfahrt NEWS

On Monday, January 20, 2025, AIDAmar makes its first call of the year at the Port of Hamburg. This iconic ship, known for its "kissing lips" design, is being used for extended winter cruises departing from Hamburg. As part of today’s guest turnover, a 43-day Christmas and New Year’s cruise to the Caribbean concludes, while another Caribbean winter voyage begins.

Renowned RTL hosts David Modjarad and Kena Amoa have boarded Mein Schiff 2 by TUI Cruises for a two-week cruise along the route “Caribbean Islands from/to La Romana.” During this dream journey, the hosts will be accompanied by a camera crew documenting their experiences. TUI Cruises has already released an initial video from the trip.

Due to a weather-related route adjustment, AIDAcosma is preparing for its first-ever visit to the port of Santa Cruz on the Canary Island of La Palma. The scheduled stop in Funchal, Madeira, had to be canceled as an approaching storm makes safe harbor maneuvers on the Portuguese island impossible. Instead, the ship will dock in La Palma on Monday.

Work on the Mosel lock in Müden, Rhineland-Palatinate, which was severely damaged in a ship accident in December 2024, is advancing more quickly than anticipated. By early February 2025, river traffic on the Mosel is expected to resume without restrictions.

Saturday morning marked a significant event: the Asuka III, the latest project of the Meyer Werft, was successfully maneuvered out of the small building dock in Papenburg. The impressive vessel, a newbuild for the Japanese cruise line NYK Cruises, was moved into the shipyard harbor. During this process, the iconic funnel was also installed, representing another visible sign of progress.

Princess Cruises has announced an unscheduled dry dock for the Regal Princess next spring. From April 24 to May 9, 2025, the ship will be taken out of service to perform essential repairs. As a result, the cruise originally scheduled to depart on April 18, 2025, has been shortened from ten to six days, while the voyage set to begin on April 28, 2025, has been completely canceled.

On this Friday, January 17, 2025, the AIDAdiva was unable to dock as planned in the port of Valencia due to strong winds. As an alternative, the cruise ship is heading straight to Barcelona, offering an unexpected highlight for travelers: an overnight stay. The ship will remain in the Catalan metropolis from 11:00 a.m. on Friday until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Rotterdam is considered one of the most beautiful stops on the Metropolitan Route with AIDAnova. A highlight of this port visit is that the ship usually stays overnight and departs for Hamburg on Friday. However, an exception applies to the voyage scheduled from January 18 to January 25, 2025. During this week, AIDAnova will leave the port of Rotterdam earlier than usual, departing on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 8:00 PM to continue its journey toward Hamburg. As a result, Friday, January 24, 2025, will be a sea day, with the ship arriving in Hamburg on Saturday, January 25, 2025. AIDA Cruises informed passengers affected by this change earlier today.

Disney Cruise Line has released a new video showcasing the construction progress of their upcoming cruise ship, Disney Destiny. The video reveals how the ship’s hull is almost completely assembled as work on individual sections advances. A striking feature is that the ship already has its two iconic funnels in place—one serving as a design element and the other as a functional necessity.

During the 2025 annual press conference, the Port of Kiel unveiled its cruise schedule for the year. A total of 175 cruise ship calls are planned. The season will kick off on April 16, 2025, with AIDAnova, while the final call of the year will be made by MS Amadea from Phoenix Reisen on December 14, 2025.

Today, Wednesday, January 15, 2025, AIDAsol departs from Port Louis, Mauritius, to start the final stage of its 2024/25 world cruise. During this phase, a partial passenger exchange will occur: some travelers will disembark while new guests join the ship. This marks the third and final such exchange on the current voyage, following stops in San Antonio (Chile) and Sydney (Australia).

On Monday, January 13, 2025, a medical emergency occurred aboard the AIDAblu during its current Canary Islands cruise, requiring a helicopter evacuation. At the time of the incident, the ship was on a sea day, traveling from Las Palmas on Gran Canaria to Funchal on Madeira.

The ASUKA III, the latest construction from MEYER WERFT, is scheduled to leave Covered Dock I (Hall 5) for the first time this Saturday, January 18. The docking-out maneuver is expected to begin around 10 a.m. Following the departure, the vessel will berth at the outfitting pier in the shipyard harbor.

AIDA Cruises, the market leader in the German cruise segment, invites you to discover the unique AIDA experience at the most prominent travel fairs in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in 2025. Featuring authentic show cabins and a wide range of vacation ideas, the company offers visitors a firsthand look into the fascinating world of cruises.

The Asuka III, a new luxury liner from Japanese cruise operator NYK Cruises, is expected to be transferred from Meyer Werft in Papenburg to the North Sea in early March. To facilitate this process, the Ems Barrier in Gandersum will remain closed until March 3, 2025, as the river needs to be dammed. Since Ems transfers are highly dependent on weather conditions, an exact date for the Asuka III's passage has not yet been determined.

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, a passenger aboard the AIDAmar had to be urgently evacuated during the ongoing cruise. At the time, the ship was located approximately 150 nautical miles (around 280 kilometers) west of the Canary Island El Hierro. A rescue helicopter was deployed in the morning to assist.