Back in Hamburg: AIDAdiva Completes Its 133-Day Record-Breaking World Cruise

Von A.Savin - Eigenes Werk, FAL, Link
Today, March 23, 2026, the AIDAdiva successfully completed its longest world cruise to date in the Port of Hamburg. After 133 days at sea and visits to four continents, the approximately 2,000 passengers disembarked in the morning. At the same time, preparations for the next voyage were in full swing at the Cruise Center Steinwerder. By this evening, the ship will depart for a six-day short trip to Scandinavia. This tight schedule proves the efficiency of the logistics in Germany's most important cruise port.

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Before the start of the world cruise, the ship underwent an extensive modernization as part of the "AIDA Evolution" program. For around 100 million euros, the 18-year-old AIDAdiva was brought up to the latest technical standards. In addition to a vastly improved internet connection, the focus was on environmentally friendly technologies. A new reverse osmosis system now ensures that drinking water is efficiently produced from seawater. The restaurants and bars were also redesigned, offering guests plenty of culinary variety on the long journey. Whether looking out to sea on the starboard or port side, the modernized areas offered maximum comfort throughout the ship.

The route of the world cruise was a true nautical highlight. In total, the AIDAdiva covered nearly 36,000 nautical miles and called at 55 ports. Special moments included overnight stays in New York and Honolulu, as well as the demanding passage through the narrow Panama Canal. This required absolute precision on the bridge so that the ship wouldn't touch the lock walls on either the starboard or port side. The Asian destinations, including Japan and Vietnam, as well as the journey through the Indian Ocean, also thrilled the passengers. For the excellent care provided by the crew under Captain Michael Schmid, the AIDAdiva was recently even voted "Ship of the Year 2026" by travel agencies.

As the interest in extremely long cruises continues to grow, the cruise line is massively expanding this offering in its 30th anniversary year. Starting in October 2026, the sister ship AIDAsol will take over the next world cruise. This 126-day voyage focuses heavily on the Southern Hemisphere and leads deep into the Amazon and the South Seas, among other places. To make the trip more flexible, guests can also book individual route segments. An even longer world cruise of 144 days is already planned for the winter of 2027/2028, while other ships in the fleet will be modernized at the same time.