Ahead of the ITBBerlin, AIDA Cruises is taking a positive view of the continued development of the cruise market despite ongoing geopolitical challenges. Strong demand for cruises and a high share of premium bookings are shaping the company’s booking situation.
Current figures show that just over three million German ocean cruise passengers traveled in 2025. This represents an increase of nine percent compared to the previous year.
Cruises have thus once again become the strongest growth driver in the German travel market. After two consecutive record years, the global cruise industry expects significant growth again this year.
The German cruise market, as Europe’s largest source market and the second largest worldwide, is making a substantial contribution to this development.
AIDA Cruises is the largest cruise operator in Germany, with nearly every second passenger traveling on board the AIDA fleet.
AIDA President Felix Eichhorn commented: “Cruising in Germany is driving growth in the tourism market. In 2025, AIDA generated profitable growth with unchanged capacity and record-level occupancy. With around 1.5 million guests in 2025, AIDA is the clear market leader in the German cruise market. This success is driven by strong demand and long-term bookings.”
For summer 2026, AIDA Cruises is reporting an above-average level of advance bookings. “The trend toward early booking continues steadily.
We are seeing many bookings with lead times of up to two years. Vacations remain a fixed and indispensable part of leisure planning.
The disproportionately high number of high-quality, long-term premium bookings also shows that guests place particular value on quality,” Eichhorn added.
Trips departing from German ports as well as routes to Northern Europe remain especially popular.
Departures from Hamburg, Kiel, and Warnemünde benefit from excellent accessibility, high planning reliability, and attractive destinations along the Baltic Sea and in Scandinavia.
These ports can also be offered year-round. Cruises to the United Kingdom, the Baltic states, and classic Northern Europe routes including Norway, Denmark, and Sweden are also experiencing strong demand.
Multi-generational travel is currently in particularly high demand at AIDA. This is also confirmed by a YouGov study commissioned by the company: 66 percent of Germans have already vacationed with multiple generations of their family.
Shared experiences and memories (56 percent) as well as spending more time with family (50 percent) are the key travel motivations.
Around one in five respondents (20 percent) consider cruises to be especially suitable for multi-generational travel.
With a wide range of entertainment, dining, and relaxation options, sea voyages offer ideal conditions for combining the different needs of grandparents, parents, and children.
With its AIDA Evolution future initiative, the company is currently implementing the largest modernization program in its history.
By 2028, all seven ships of the Selection class, which account for around half of total capacity, will undergo refurbishment.
AIDAbella is currently the third ship in the fleet to be in dry dock in Marseille. Its first cruise following modernization will begin on March 11, 2026, after a seven-week shipyard stay.
Customer feedback shows that the investments of nearly €100 million per ship are paying off. In 2025, the newly modernized AIDAdiva was the ship with the highest guest satisfaction in the fleet.
At the same time, AIDA is planning the next phase of capacity expansion to support further growth. Two new ships are expected in spring 2030 and winter 2031/32.
They will complement the existing fleet portfolio and, with 2,100 guest cabins, will be positioned between AIDAprima/AIDAperla and AIDAnova/AIDAcosma.
This diversity enables flexibility for different routes, ports, and guest preferences. In this way, AIDA combines the further development of its existing ships with a long-term growth strategy.
The next generation of ships will be equipped with multi-fuel propulsion systems. The engines can be operated with LNG and are prepared for future biofuels and e-fuels.
AIDA Cruises has been a pioneer in the use of shore power for many years. Thanks to the ongoing expansion of onshore infrastructure, AIDA is offering 20 Northern Europe cruises this year where shore power is used during port stays at every port.
The first short cruise starts on March 12 from Kiel and takes AIDAbella via Kristiansand, Oslo, and Copenhagen before returning to Kiel.
“In 2023, we had just over 60 shore power connections; last year, that number already exceeded 400. Thanks to the opening of additional facilities in Europe, we expect a further increase to 600 port calls this year. Nevertheless, further expansion of shore power infrastructure in Europe remains necessary,” said Eichhorn. Already today, shore power can be used on average during every second port call in Northern Europe.
AIDA at ITB
From March 3 to 5, 2026, AIDA Cruises will be exhibiting at ITB Berlin 2026 in Hall 25, Stand 325.
Source: AIDA Cruises Public Relations Team
Images: © 2026 AIDA Cruises – All rights reserved.
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