AIDAdiva Sustains Storm Damage on Atlantic Route – Itinerary Adjusted

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The cruise ship AIDAdiva recorded onboard damage during the night before April 20, 2025, as a result of heavy swells and stormy conditions in the Atlantic Ocean. These weather influences had already necessitated a change to the ship's route during its current positioning cruise from Civitavecchia, Italy, to Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany.

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he original plan was for AIDAdiva, which recently underwent modernization, to call at the port of Leixões near Porto, Portugal, on Easter Sunday. Due to the forecast weather conditions with high waves, which would have prevented safe docking and departure maneuvers, the ship's command decided to head for the port of Vigo in northwestern Spain instead.

After departing Lisbon the previous day around 5:00 PM local time, AIDAdiva set a northerly course along the Portuguese Atlantic coast. En route to Vigo, the ship encountered easing winds but was subjected to significant sea swells with wave heights of up to six meters (approx. 20 feet), resulting from the preceding storm. Such conditions lead to noticeable ship movements.

As a consequence of the heavy seas, various damages occurred on board. In the forward outdoor crew area near the bow, parts of the paneling and fastenings of a whirlpool became detached and struck the inner steel bulkhead. The whirlpool is consequently unusable until repairs can be carried out. Furthermore, several sun loungers from the crew area were thrown against the ship's side and destroyed. Minor impacts on handrails and carpets were noted in public areas. No information is available regarding further or more significant damage aboard AIDAdiva. Minor damages, such as those that can occur in catering areas under such conditions, are not unusual.

The safety of passengers and crew was not compromised at any time. Cruise ships are structurally designed to withstand such weather conditions. Nevertheless, for the comfort of guests and crew, attempts are always made to avoid areas of bad weather whenever possible, although this is not always entirely achievable.

AIDAdiva reached the port of Vigo on April 20th around 3:00 PM and found shelter there from the elements until 10:00 PM. The berth had previously been vacated by its sister ship, AIDAbella, which also had to be rerouted due to the weather situation.

Coincidentally, the arrival day in Vigo, Easter Sunday (April 20th), also marked the 18th anniversary of AIDAdiva's christening. The first ship of the Sphinx class was officially commissioned in Hamburg on April 20, 2007.

Comparison of Itineraries (April 13 - April 27, 2025):

  • Original Itinerary: Civitavecchia – Olbia – Sea Day – Cartagena – Málaga – Sea Day – Lisbon – Leixões (Porto) – A Coruña – Sea Day – Le Havre – Sea Day – Kristiansand – Sea Day & Warnemünde – Warnemünde
  • Adjusted Itinerary: Civitavecchia – Olbia – Sea Day – Cartagena – Málaga – Sea Day – Lisbon – Vigo – A Coruña – Sea Day – Le Havre – Sea Day – Kristiansand – Sea Day & Warnemünde – Warnemünde