2026 Cruise Season: AIDAluna Kicks Off Record Year at Port of Cork

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The 2026 European cruise season has officially begun. On April 13, the AIDAluna made her maiden call at the Irish port of Cork (Cobh). The Sphinx-class ship underwent extensive modernization at the end of 2025. With a length of 251 meters, she is perfectly suited for the sometimes challenging ports of Northwest Europe. Whether looking out at the Irish coast from the starboard or port side during arrival, it quickly becomes clear why this maritime route is so popular with vacationers.

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The AIDAluna is currently on a nine-day voyage from Hamburg around Great Britain and Ireland. The itinerary includes ports such as Portsmouth, Falmouth, Holyhead, and Portland. Each of these stops presents its very own nautical challenges. The Port of Cork, for example, has invested heavily in heavy-duty bollards to safely berth large vessels in all weather conditions. To meet the growing demand, a new £15 million cruise terminal is also being planned in Cobh.

Holidays at sea are a massive economic driver for the Irish region of Munster. A total of 103 ship calls are expected in Cork during the 2026 season. That is a solid 14 percent increase compared to the previous year. With passengers spending an average of 81 euros ashore, the industry pumps around 17 million euros into the local economy every year. The historical connections to the Titanic's route in Cobh are a particularly huge draw for guests.

To remain strong in global competition, ports are now joining forces. Cork and Belfast have signed a historic agreement to jointly market the island of Ireland to cruise lines in the future. Sustainability is also increasingly coming into focus. Equipping ports with shore power is becoming a mandatory task, as shipping companies like AIDA increasingly rely on eco-friendly technologies and completely emission-free port stays.