Tag Archives: Germany

AIDA Cruises Donates to the Nurse Club Foundation

Posted on by
Reply

AIDA Cruises Donates to the Nurse Club Foundation

AIDA Cruises has given 5,000 euros to the Nurse Club Foundation, which focuses on creating unforgettable moments for people with special needs, such as families in palliative situations.

The company said in a press release that many of the families have faced difficult times where life revolved around illness and worries.

Various projects of the foundation offer them escape routes from everyday life.

“At AIDA Cruises, we live diversity and inclusion. Promoting social initiatives is an important concern for us, especially when it comes to enabling participation for all,” said Alexander Ewig, AIDA’s SVP of marketing and sales, at the donation handover.

The Nurse Club Foundation’s long-term goal is to create a completely accessible beach section in Warnemünde so that tourists with disabilities can enjoy their vacation on the Baltic Sea.

“Rostock should show that inclusion is possible, and at the highest level,” said Julian Sturm-Schneider, one of the founders of the non-profit foundation.

AIDA said that with its support, the foundation can further advance its vision and realise new projects.

The company added that it has adapted for many years to the requirements of people with individual and health-related impairments.

Since May 2022, an accessibility expert council established under the patronage of Kristina Vogel has advised the company to make vacations on AIDA ships even more accessible.

AIDAdiva Wraps Up Final Cruise Ahead of Evolution Refit

Posted on by
Reply

Now set to undergo its AIDA Evolution, the AIDAdiva recently completed a final cruise in the Western Mediterranean.

Wrapping up its winter season in the region, the 2007-built vessel returned to Palma de Mallorca on Feb. 2, 2025.

As part of the seven-night itinerary, the AIDAdiva visited destinations in France, Spain and Italy, including Marseille, Barcelona, Civitavecchia and La Spezia.

The 2,030-guest ship is now set to undergo an extensive refurbishment at the Chantier Naval de Marseille in France.

As part of its seven-week drydock overhaul, the AIDAdiva is scheduled to get new public areas, in addition to refreshed staterooms.

AIDA is also updating the ship’s food and beverage offerings, which will include a greater variety of restaurants and lounges.

Other changes coming to the AIDAdiva include the addition of new suites and updated family features, as well as a complete redesign of the Theatrium.

AIDA’s unique combination of theatre and atrium will emerge with new seating, new bars and a fresh colour scheme.

After completing the project, the AIDAdiva is scheduled to welcome guests back onboard on Mar. 23, 2025.

Sailing from Civitavecchia, a port near Italy’s capital city, Rome, the ship kicks off a spring deployment in the Western Mediterranean.

The cruise program includes a series of seven-night itineraries to Italy and Malta that feature visits to destinations including Catania, Syracuse, Naples, Palermo, Valletta and Olbia.

In mid-April, the AIDAdiva starts a repositioning cruise to Germany for a summer season in Northern Europe.

Sailing to Scandinavia and the Baltic, the ship is scheduled to offer cruises departing from Warnemunde through early November.

As part of AIDA’s Evolution refit program, the AIDAluna is also scheduled to visit the Chantier Naval de Marseille in October 2025, followed by the AIDAbella in January 2026.

Saga Looking Into ‘Partnership’ for Cruise Business

Posted on by
Reply

Saga has confirmed its looking into potential partnerships for its ocean cruises business based on reports in British media.

“We are looking at how we can offer more cruises to more guests in the future,” Saga Cruises CEO Nigel Blanks said in a statement shared on social media.

“This comes on the back of exceptional demand for our boutique ocean cruise offer,” he continued noting that the Spirit of Discovery and the Spirit of Adventure are operating “close to capacity.”

“With this in mind, we have been looking into the possibility of entering a partnership arrangement for our ocean cruise business as the best way to support further growth,” Blanks said.

The move would also create value for the company’s shareholders, he noted, pointing out to Saga’s “unique business, with a strong brand and committed team.”

“We are still in the early stages of the process of exploring opportunities,” Blanks said, noting that transactions of this nature “usually take months rather than days or weeks.”

Earlier this month, Sky News reported that Saga was looking into a range of potential options for its cruise operations, which included selling a stake in the business.

According to Sky News, the debt-challenged tour operator was working with advisers and also considered selling its two cruise vessels or offloading the entire business under a licensing arrangement.

After initially entering the cruise business with second-hand vessels, Saga Cruises took delivery of two new cruise ships in 2019 and 2020.

Sailing from different ports in the United Kingdom on a year-round basis, the Spirit of Discovery and the Spirit of Adventure were built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.

Designed to offer a boutique cruise experience, the 55,000-ton sister ships can accommodate up to 999 guests in double occupancy.