AIDAmar Dry Dock Stay 2026: Cruising with Passengers in the Dry Dock

Von Sebaso - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
In July 2026, a highly unusual event is on the agenda for the AIDAmar. The cruise ship must enter a dry dock in Rotterdam for necessary certification inspections, often referred to as the ship's MOT. The remarkable part: the passengers will remain on board for the entire duration of the shipyard stay. Originally, a short stop for this inspection was planned for April in Hamburg. However, due to bad weather and strong currents on the Elbe River, this maneuver had to be aborted for safety reasons.

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Since large dry docks are extremely scarce in Europe, the cruise line had to find an alternative quickly. The choice fell on the Damen Verolme shipyard in the Netherlands, which offers a massive dock suitable for large vessels like the AIDAmar. The ship will be dry-docked there between July 5 and 6, 2026. During this time, external power and water connections must be attached directly to the ship's hull so that hotel operations can continue smoothly for the guests. Independent shore excursions on the industrial shipyard grounds are strictly prohibited for safety reasons.

Naturally, this logistical change of plans significantly disrupts the original Baltic Sea itinerary. Three voyages are affected and have now been renamed and marketed as "AIDA Fan Cruises." Since the originally planned shore excursions in Scandinavia are partially or completely cancelled, AIDA Cruises is offering generous compensation. For the five-day short cruise, there is a 50 percent discount on the pure cruise fare, as well as a voucher for future bookings. For the longer tours, the refunds are slightly lower, as the ship will still call at regular ports in the Baltic Sea afterwards.

To make the stay in the dry dock as attractive as possible, the cruise line is rolling out a massive entertainment program. Since the FIFA World Cup is taking place at the same time, the ship will become a large public viewing area, including live broadcasts of the well-known German sports talk show "Doppelpass." Comedians like Matze Knop and the band Marquess will provide additional entertainment on board. It is important to know: this brief pit stop in Rotterdam is exclusively for technology and safety. The major, seven-week modernization refit as part of the "AIDA Evolution" will not begin for the AIDAmar until November 2026.