AIDAdiva Route Change: Storm Prevents Call at Amami Oshima

Bild von Henning Westerkamp auf Pixabay
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, AIDAdiva had to adjust its planned route for the "Adventure XXL" world cruise at short notice. The scheduled port call in Naze on the Japanese island of Amami Oshima could not take place due to adverse weather conditions.

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Anyone checking ship trackers today will not see AIDAdiva at the pier as planned, but rather on the open East China Sea. Instead of bringing passengers to the island known as the "Galapagos of the East," the ship is on a direct course toward Naha, Okinawa.

The reason for the cancellation is purely meteorological; there are no technical issues with the vessel. The region around the Ryukyu Islands is currently dominated by a strong winter monsoon. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had already issued "Gale Warnings" and storm warnings for the affected sea area.

For a Sphinx-class ship like AIDAdiva, these conditions present a specific challenge. Due to the numerous balcony cabins on the upper decks, the ship has a large windage area. When the wind presses strongly against the starboard or port side—as is the case here—a safe docking maneuver becomes a risk without the assistance of extremely powerful ocean-going tugs. Furthermore, wave heights exceeding two meters made the pilot transfer (the pilot boarding the cruise ship from a small boat) too dangerous.

The bridge crew's decision is based on strict adherence to "Safety of Life at Sea" (SOLAS) guidelines. The safety of guests and crew is the top priority.

The logistical consequence is an unplanned sea day for the approximately 2,500 guests. Since the journey to the next destination, Naha, will now be covered without the stopover, AIDAdiva has a significant time buffer. This allows the captain to engage in "slow steaming." The speed is significantly reduced, which massively lowers fuel consumption and benefits the environment.

While the local economy on Amami Oshima has to cope with the loss of day tourists, guests on board can look forward to a relaxed onward journey in calmer waters. The port of Naha, which is better protected from the northeast monsoon due to its location, is scheduled to be reached on January 21.