AIDAprima: Storm Delays Hamburg Departure – Full Speed Ahead to Norway

The weather situation was critical: severe gales and official storm surge warnings made navigation on the Lower Elbe unsafe. Port authorities restricted nautical assistance services like pilots and tugs—a routine safety measure that made departure impossible for large vessels like the AIDAprima. This procedure prevents maneuvering accidents in the narrow fairway.

To avoid the ship having to wait even longer due to a potential Elbe closure, the cruise line wisely arranged for the AIDAprima to enter the Port of Hamburg prematurely on October 25. This proactive decision was a crucial step in preventing a far greater logistical catastrophe. However, it merely shifted the problem to the time of departure, where the external weather-related restriction ultimately took effect anyway.

The AIDAprima is on a 14-day round trip, the "Metropolises Norway from Hamburg," which began on October 19. It was originally scheduled to depart again for Norway at 5:00 PM after the passenger changeover in Hamburg.

Due to the delay, the ship only left the port later in the night of October 27. Since then, the AIDAprima has been underway in the North Sea, heading directly toward Bergen, Norway. The ship’s command is now pursuing an aggressive time recovery strategy. This means the ship must sail faster than under normal conditions. Although this increases operating costs due to higher fuel consumption, the operational priority is clear: All lost time must be recovered before the scheduled arrival in Bergen on October 28 at 9:00 AM.

The pressure to hurry carries risks. Sailing under increased load can put greater strain on the entire ship technology. This is especially relevant considering the Norwegian fjord ports, which are subject to strict environmental regulations. The AIDAprima had already been forced to cancel a call in the Geirangerfjord in July 2025 due to technical challenges related to its sensitive environmental systems. A renewed malfunction would be considered a secondary consequence of the initial weather problem and could once again jeopardize the visit to the logistically sensitive ports like Geiranger.

For passengers, the delay is unlikely to have direct legal consequences, as the storm is legally classified as an Act of God (höhere Gewalt). The cruise line has demonstrated its commitment to minimizing disruption through its documented proactivity (the earlier arrival).

Despite the short-term disruption, the cruise line and crew are once again showcasing their capability in risk management and are navigating the ship safely and swiftly toward the next port—currently full speed ahead to reach the starboard-side goal on time.