“We’re the pacesetter within the German cruise market and intend to stay so, each by way of product growth and sustainability. And in case you examine us to different manufacturers, we’ve by far the youngest friends. The common age is 42,” Alexander Ewig, senior vp of promoting and gross sales, instructed Cruise Trade Information.
“Our product is targeted on connecting folks, bringing folks collectively after they come onboard, which implies events and having an actual leisurely ambiance. There isn’t a captain’s dinner and no want to decorate up.
“We provide a extra casual, down-to-earth expertise, with an enormous give attention to our leisure and all the things that goes with that. The ships are constructed across the theatrium (mixture of atrium and theater) within the middle. We’re additionally way more family-oriented than the opposite German manufacturers. All of this serves to completely differentiate us out there.”
The massive information for AIDA right now is its evolution program. Ewig defined: “We’re extensively modernizing the primary three Sphinx class ships, the AIDAdiva, AIDAbella and the AIDAluna in 2025 and 2026.
“The main focus will likely be on a brand new inside design of the ships, new eating places, new suites, lounges and extra. As well as, technical gear and techniques will likely be up to date. It’s the largest modernization program within the historical past of our firm.”
With seven ships within the Sphinx class, AIDA can be beginning to consider the opposite 4, in accordance with Ewig.
In different new developments for 2025, in November AIDA goes again to the US for the primary time in 5 years on its 128-day world cruise crusing spherical journey from Hamburg. Ewig stated that the AIDAdiva will likely be crusing down the East Coast, via the Caribbean, transiting the Panama Canal, after which up the West Coast. Will probably be the primary Panama Canal transit of an AIDA vessel, he famous.
Additionally, for the winter of 2025, AIDA will likely be again in Asia, however altering its deployment to Japan and China from Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam this previous winter.
“After Covid, we’ve additionally launched extra longer cruises roundtrip from Hamburg to the Caribbean, with none air journey concerned,” Ewig added.
Known as Winter Escapes, the idea is being extending to a 43-day cruise aboard the AIDAluna roundtrip from Hamburg to Brazil in January 2026, staying in Rio throughout carnival.
In the meantime, AIDA has additionally been rising its footprint in Northern Europe year-over-year, in accordance with Ewig, with extra sailings from Warnemunde, Hamburg and Kiel.
“Crusing from Germany makes our cruises extra accessible to the market,” he stated. “Our friends wouldn’t have to fly however can drive or take the prepare to the port. This summer time we’ve 11 of our ships in Northern Europe and three within the Mediterranean.”
Began two years in the past, a singular initiative by AIDA is its so-called dialogue program participating with native communities. Defined Ewig: “Calling in Rotterdam, there was some native pushback. So, we invited folks to return aboard the ship and defined our efforts to guard the surroundings and to be sustainable. As we created a dialogue with the neighborhood, the complaints we had went away.”
Having launched the primary LNG-fueled cruise ship and examined various energy sources, together with batteries, Ewig stated: “Since we’ve examined many new ideas, our strategy in the mean time is to determine which options work and could also be viable. It’s a must to watch out to not throw too many balls within the air, since we’ve to catch them too, and discover the most effective options for the longer term.
“After Covid and coming again to the market very efficiently final yr, our focus is on rising the market,” Ewig stated. “Even when we’re the clear market chief with 50 % of the German cruise market, the cruise trade continues to be a distinct segment within the tourism market, so there’s nonetheless alternative to develop and get extra first-timers to cruise.”
Excerpt from the Cruise Trade Information Quarterly Journal Summer time 2024