AIDAprima Winter Schedule 2026: Background on the Current Route Change

Von Mussklprozz - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
AIDAprima is sailing through Northern European waters on its winter schedule from Kiel in February 2026. Originally planned for the Orient, the security situation in the Red Sea led to Kiel becoming the base port. Currently, however, the weather is causing an adjustment to the schedule: The sequence of port calls in Oslo and Kristiansand was changed at short notice, which initially raised questions among some guests.

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The reason for this nautical measure is a challenging weather situation over the Skagerrak. A stable high-pressure area over Russia is meeting low-pressure troughs, leading to strong easterly winds of 7 to 8 Beaufort. Since AIDAprima has an enormous windage area, strong wind pushing hard against starboard or port can make safe docking in exposed ports like Kristiansand or passing through narrow fjord entrances considerably more difficult.

The ship's command is acting according to the "Safety First" principle. After AIDAprima had already faced a severe storm in January, risks are now being proactively minimized. Adjusting the sequence of calls serves to pass through critical sea areas at times when wind and wave conditions are manageable. This not only protects the technical equipment but also increases comfort for passengers, as the ship's vertical bow could otherwise cause unpleasant movements in head seas.

Even if communication on board was subjectively perceived as unclear, these decisions are based on precise meteorological data. Instead of sticking rigidly to the plan, the crew demonstrates flexibility to navigate the ship and guests safely through the winter storm. It is, therefore, purely a precautionary measure to ensure a safe holiday at sea.