AIDAstella: Daniel Richter Takes Command as New Captain

Port Louis, Mauritius – A change of command took place aboard AIDAstella, a cruise ship in the AIDA Cruises fleet, on May 21, 2025. In the port of Port Louis, Mauritius, Daniel Richter took over the bridge from his predecessor, Jan-Peter Lindner. Richter, who served as Staff Captain for the Rostock-based cruise line for eight years, has now been officially promoted to Captain.

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Daniel Richter's maritime career with AIDA Cruises began in 2012 when he was hired as a Third Officer. In the subsequent years, he successfully progressed through various positions within the bridge crew. In 2017, he was appointed Staff Captain, thereby becoming the captain's direct deputy. Most recently, Richter served in this capacity on AIDAcosma, among other vessels. His first voyage as Captain now takes him with AIDAstella on a route south around the African continent towards the Mediterranean Sea.

Since mid-April 2025, AIDAstella has been on a series of repositioning cruises from Tokyo, Japan, to Palma de Mallorca in the Western Mediterranean. The stop in Port Louis, Mauritius, also facilitated a passenger changeover between different legs of this transfer voyage to Europe.

The arrival of the ship, known for its distinctive bow livery, in the port of the Balearic capital, Mallorca, is anticipated for June 19, 2025. This will be its first call of the year to the port.

During the 2025 summer season, AIDAstella will offer various cruises in the Western Mediterranean, starting and ending in Palma de Mallorca, until mid-October. Towards the end of the season, occasional routes in the Eastern Mediterranean are also planned. Subsequently, in mid-October 2025, the ship will embark on a repositioning cruise from the Mediterranean via South Africa to be deployed in the Indian Ocean for the winter season of 2025/2026. Cruises around the Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa are scheduled there.

Detailed Itinerary of AIDAstella from May 21 to June 19, 2025: Port Louis (Mauritius) – Port Louis (Mauritius) – Le Port (La Réunion) – Sea Day – Sea Day – Sea Day – Sea Day – Gqeberha (South Africa) – Sea Day – Cape Town (South Africa) – Cape Town (South Africa) – Cape Town (South Africa) – Sea Day – Lüderitz (Namibia) – Walvis Bay (Namibia) – Sea Day – Sea Day – Sea Day – Sea Day – Sea Day – Sea Day – Sea Day – Praia (Santiago, Cape Verde) – Sea Day – Sea Day – Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Spain) – Sea Day – Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory) – Sea Day – Palma de Mallorca (Spain)