AIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises is a German cruise line based in Rostock that sells mainly to German-speaking travelers. Part of Carnival Corporation & plc and owned through its Costa group, it runs eleven Italian-registered ships, each painted with the brand's kissing mouth and large eyes on the bow, and designs them as casual club resorts for younger, active holidaymakers.
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About AIDA Cruises
The company traces its roots to East Germany's state shipping line, Deutsche Seereederei Rostock, which began running cruises in 1960. After reunification it introduced AIDA in 1996, a new ship that brought the club-holiday idea of Carnival's fun ships to the German market. P&O took control around 2000, and the brand passed to Carnival in the 2003 merger. Seven Sphinx-class ships from Meyer Werft followed between 2007 and 2013, then two larger ships from Mitsubishi in 2016 and 2017, and in 2018 AIDAnova, the first cruise ship able to run entirely on liquefied natural gas, joined in 2022 by its sister AIDAcosma. The smaller early ships were sold between 2021 and 2023, and two new ships are on order from Fincantieri for 2030 and 2031.
On most ships, life centers on the Theatrium, a multi-deck lounge and stage amidships, and the larger ships add covered pool areas such as AIDAprima's Beach Club. Cruises start from Hamburg, Kiel and Warnemünde, from Palma de Mallorca and the Canary Islands, and in winter from the Caribbean, with world voyages and Asia or Indian Ocean seasons in some years. Since 2025 the AIDA Evolution program has been rebuilding the older ships with new restaurants, bars and suites.
What AIDA Cruises is known for
AIDA describes itself as the market leader in German cruising, and it is closely identified with the informal club-ship style it introduced in 1996. It has also built a record of environmental investment: AIDAnova was the first cruise ship able to run fully on LNG and in 2019 the first to receive Germany's Blue Angel eco-label for its design, newer ships can plug into shore power and carry battery systems, and its LNG ships have ranked near the top of the German conservation group NABU's cruise rankings.
There has been criticism too. NABU complained in 2017 that no AIDA ship yet had a soot particle filter, and until 2015 restaurant assistants were paid 587 dollars a month, a fraction of what Die Zeit calculated they would earn under the German minimum wage; the company argued the pay compared well with wages in the Philippines. The pandemic stopped the fleet in 2020 and led AIDA to sell its smallest ships. For guests from outside the German-speaking world, the product's focus on that market is its main limitation.
Who it's for
Mainstream · big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets
- Couples
- Families
- First-time cruisers
AIDA is built for German-speaking travelers who want a relaxed, active cruise with plenty of choice on board. Couples and families from Germany, Austria and Switzerland can sail from Hamburg, Kiel or Warnemünde without flying, and first-time cruisers can try short Baltic trips of four or five days before committing to a week in Norway, the Mediterranean or the Canary Islands. Travelers who care about emissions will find two LNG-powered ships in the fleet.
Travelers who do not speak German should think carefully, because the line designs its product for the German-speaking market. Those looking for an intimate small ship or a luxury-level experience should also look elsewhere.
Cruising solo on AIDA Cruises
AIDA works for German-speaking solo travelers, especially on its two largest ships, AIDAnova and AIDAcosma, which each have 24 single cabins (12 inside and 12 with a balcony, according to touristik aktuell) sold without a surcharge. On the other ships a solo traveler pays a 70 percent surcharge for a double cabin unless a reduced-surcharge offer applies. The line runs solo meetups and a get-to-know-you gathering early in the cruise, and its casual club-ship style lets guests join in or keep to themselves. Onboard programs are designed for the German-speaking market.
- Cabins for one
- Single cabins (Einzelkabine Innen and Einzelkabine Balkon), on AIDAnova and AIDAcosma only
- Single supplement
- A solo guest in a cabin designed for two pays a surcharge of 70 percent of the regular per-person fare, cut to 10 to 50 percent on selected sailings with limited availability. The single cabins on AIDAnova and AIDAcosma carry no surcharge.
- Meeting other solo guests
- AIDA's page for solo travelers describes a get-to-know-you meeting (Kennenlerntreff) at the start of the cruise, meetups for solo travelers (Alleinreisenden-Treffs) and organized group excursions to make it easier to meet other guests.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 3.1/5
- Dining
- 3/5
- Entertainment
- 3.5/5
- Service
- 3/5
- Pools & decks
- 2.6/5
- Value
- 3/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 11 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruises Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where AIDA Cruises sails
Ships
Best rated
#13.5 ★AIDAcosma2022 · 183,858 GT · 5,252 guests · Mediterranean · Canary IslandsAIDAcosma is AIDAnova's sister and the second of AIDA's two LNG-powered Excellence-class ships, delivered by Meyer Werft on 21 December 2021 after pandemic delays of more than…#23.3 ★AIDAnova2018 · 183,858 GT · 5,252 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsAIDAnova was the first cruise ship able to run entirely on liquefied natural gas when Meyer Werft delivered it in December 2018. The 183,858-ton Excellence-class ship, AIDA's…
#33.2 ★AIDAperla2017 · 125,572 GT · 3,286 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsAIDAperla is AIDAprima's sister, a 125,572-ton Hyperion-class ship built by Mitsubishi in Nagasaki and delivered in spring 2017. It has 1,643 cabins for 3,286 guests at double…Every ship, by class
Excellence class
2 ships · 2018–2022 · 183,858 GT · avg 3.4 ★
Hyperion class
2 ships · 2016–2017 · 125,572 GT · avg 3.2 ★
Sphinx class
7 ships · 2007–2013 · 69,203–71,304 GT · avg 2.9 ★
- AIDAstella2013 · 71,304 GT · 2,192 guests2.8/5
- AIDAmar2012 · 71,304 GT · 2,192 guests2.8/5
- AIDAsol2011 · 71,304 GT · 2,192 guests2.8/5
- AIDAblu2010 · 71,304 GT · 2,192 guests2.8/5
- AIDAluna2009 · 69,203 GT · 2,050 guests3.0/5
- AIDAbella2008 · 69,203 GT · 2,050 guests3.0/5
- AIDAdiva2007 · 69,203 GT · 2,050 guests3.0/5
Former ships
Where to fly in
- Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM)6 AIDA Cruises ships sail from Kiel, Germany, Hamburg, Germany4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER)2 AIDA Cruises ships sail from Warnemünde, Germany4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)2 AIDA Cruises ships sail from Palma de Mallorca, Spain4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Corfu International Airport "Ioannis Kapodistrias" (CFU)1 AIDA Cruises ship sails from Corfu, Greece1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is AIDA Cruises known for?
AIDA describes itself as the market leader in German cruising, and it is closely identified with the informal club-ship style it introduced in 1996. It has also built a record of environmental investment: AIDAnova was the first cruise ship able to run fully on LNG and in 2019 the first to receive Germany's Blue Angel eco-label for its design, newer ships can plug into shore power and carry battery systems, and its LNG ships have ranked near the top of the German conservation group NABU's cruise rankings.
Who is AIDA Cruises best for?
AIDA is built for German-speaking travelers who want a relaxed, active cruise with plenty of choice on board. Couples and families from Germany, Austria and Switzerland can sail from Hamburg, Kiel or Warnemünde without flying, and first-time cruisers can try short Baltic trips of four or five days before committing to a week in Norway, the Mediterranean or the Canary Islands. Travelers who care about emissions will find two LNG-powered ships in the fleet.
Is AIDA Cruises good for solo travellers?
AIDA works for German-speaking solo travelers, especially on its two largest ships, AIDAnova and AIDAcosma, which each have 24 single cabins (12 inside and 12 with a balcony, according to touristik aktuell) sold without a surcharge. On the other ships a solo traveler pays a 70 percent surcharge for a double cabin unless a reduced-surcharge offer applies. The line runs solo meetups and a get-to-know-you gathering early in the cruise, and its casual club-ship style lets guests join in or keep to themselves. Onboard programs are designed for the German-speaking market.
Where does AIDA Cruises sail?
AIDA Cruises's ships in service sail Northern Europe (8 ships), Norwegian Fjords (7 ships), Caribbean (5 ships), Mediterranean (4 ships), Canary Islands (4 ships), World cruises (2 ships), Canada and New England (1 ship), Transatlantic (1 ship) and Asia (1 ship).
How is AIDA Cruises rated?
AIDA Cruises's fleet averages 3.0 out of 5 on Cruises Frog, across 11 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is AIDAcosma at 3.5.
How many ships does AIDA Cruises have?
AIDA Cruises has 11 ships in service on Cruises Frog: AIDAbella, AIDAblu, AIDAcosma, AIDAdiva, AIDAluna, AIDAmar, AIDAnova and AIDAperla, and 3 more.
What ship classes does AIDA Cruises sail?
AIDA Cruises sails 3 classes of ship in service: Excellence class (2 ships), Hyperion class (2 ships) and Sphinx class (7 ships).
Who owns AIDA Cruises?
AIDA Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Where is AIDA Cruises based?
AIDA Cruises is headquartered in Rostock, Germany. It has operated since 1960.
What is AIDA Cruises's loyalty program called?
AIDA Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is AIDA Club.
What is the largest AIDA Cruises ship?
AIDAcosma is AIDA Cruises's largest ship at 183,858 gross tons, carrying 5,252 guests.
Cruising with children
AIDA gives families several different ways to spend a sea day, but a toddler’s care options differ from a schoolchild’s club. Language and independence matter as much as age.
Read the AIDA Cruises family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on AIDA Cruises? The average drink starts at what a glass of house wine costs on board, about $8.95; change it to what you usually order, and enter the package price AIDA Cruises quotes.
AIDA Cruises includes house wine with lunch and dinner. A 200 ml glass of house wine costs about €8 on board, roughly $8.95. AIDA bar menu 2025/26 (PDF) ↗ AIDA drinks ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A glass of house wine on AIDA Cruises.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
9drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 8.4 drinks at $8.95. Over 7 days that's $525, or 59 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $211.75 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $313.25
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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- AIDA extends Evolution refits to AIDAperla in April 2027 and AIDAprima in April 2028
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Ships