48-Day Winter Break: With AIDAmar from Hamburg to Rio Carnival

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On January 18, 2026, the port of Hamburg will say "cast off" for a very special travel adventure. When AIDAmar departs from the Steinwerder Cruise Center, around 2,000 guests will begin not just an ordinary vacation week, but a top-class 48-day expedition. The "Great Winter Break" leads over 13,000 nautical miles directly into the Brazilian summer and back again – completely without the stress of a long-haul flight.

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The Ship: A Classic Before Modernization For this long journey, AIDA Cruises has deliberately chosen the AIDAmar of the Sphinx class. With a size of approx. 71,300 GT, she is significantly more manageable than the new mega-liners. This ensures a familiar atmosphere on board, which is essential for a travel time of almost seven weeks. Another advantage: With her shallower draft, AIDAmar can call at ports that remain closed to the very large ships.

Culinary-wise, guests don't have to miss out on anything: The popular "Brauhaus" (brewery) provides a feeling of home even in the middle of the Atlantic. Interesting for ship enthusiasts: This trip is one of the last opportunities to experience AIDAmar in her original design before she is expected to be comprehensively modernized at the end of 2026 as part of the "AIDA Evolution" program.

From the Elbe to the Tropics The start in Hamburg initially demands some weather resilience from the guests. The route leads through the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay, where things can get quite choppy in January. But by the time the ship arrives in Lisbon on January 22, the worst is over. Via Tenerife and Cape Verde (Mindelo), the ship heads for the great transatlantic passage.

Here, the cruise line's edutainment program takes effect: lecturers prepare guests for South America, while the traditional equator baptism is celebrated on the pool deck. Anyone standing at the railing looking out at the endless blue – whether on starboard or port side – feels the true fascination of seafaring here.

Brazil Up Close: Samba, Sun, and Safety On January 31, the ship reaches Fortaleza. The route along the Brazilian coast is a mix of dream beaches and cultural highlights. In Recife, safety instructions and guided excursions are the priority, while in the tender ports of Buzios and Ilhabela, relaxation on the beach is the order of the day.

A real highlight is the overnight stop in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Here, travelers have enough time to dive into the nightlife with a steak and a tango show before heading via Uruguay (Montevideo and Punta del Este) to the absolute highlight of the trip.

The Grand Finale: Carnival in Rio On February 16, 2026, AIDAmar moors in Rio de Janeiro. The schedule is a logistical masterpiece: the ship is in port exactly on Rose Monday. This means guests have the chance to experience the parades of the absolute top samba schools ("Grupo Especial") live in the Sambadrome – an experience that is at the very top of many travelers' bucket lists.

There is one drop of bitterness: Since AIDAmar has to depart again at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evening to start the return journey on time, guests miss the parades of the second night. However, the view from the port side of Sugarloaf Mountain while departing into the sunset makes up for it.

The Relaxed Return After the hustle and bustle in Rio, the return journey serves for recovery. Via Salvador de Bahia and Cape Verde, the ship slowly heads back towards Europe. When AIDAmar docks in Hamburg again on March 7, 2026, 48 days full of contrasts lie behind the passengers – from Hamburg drizzle to Sugarloaf Mountain and back, with the comfort of a floating hotel.