AIDAprima Dry Dock Stay: Ready for the 2026 Summer Season

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Following a stormy winter season in Northern Europe, the AIDAprima made a scheduled pit stop on the European mainland at the end of April 2026. Without passengers on board, the cruise ship set off from Hamburg to the Netherlands. Its destination was the massive dry dock at the Damen Shiprepair yard in Rotterdam's Botlek port area. The ocean liner will spend around two weeks there getting technically and visually into shape for the upcoming summer season.

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Unlike the extensive renovations of other ships in the fleet, the focus for the AIDAprima is primarily on classic maintenance. The agenda includes mandatory inspections by classification societies, cleaning and resealing the ship's hull for a more eco-friendly and fuel-efficient operation, and the maintenance of the propulsion systems. Hard work is also underway in the hotel and passenger areas: worn carpets and upholstery are being replaced after the heavy use of the past few months.

The choice of Rotterdam was no coincidence: the shipyard not only offers the largest dry dock in Europe, which is necessary for the 300-meter-long AIDAprima, but also scores points with its close proximity to key suppliers. Especially after the unexpectedly harsh winter deployment on the North Sea—which replaced the originally planned Orient cruises due to the geopolitical situation in the Red Sea—a thorough overhaul of the ship's technical systems is essential.

Right on time for the start of the Norwegian fjord season, the AIDAprima will return to regular service. As early as May 13, 2026, the freshly maintained ship will welcome passengers on board again at the Hamburg Cruise Center Steinwerder. From there, the next journey begins towards the impressive Norwegian fjord landscapes, for which the ship is now perfectly equipped once again.