Saturday, April 13, 2024
AIDAmar is set to kick off this year’s cruise season in Warnemünde, the Baltic seaside resort in the north that serves as the home port for AIDA Cruises, the German cruise industry’s market leader based in Rostock. This makes Warnemünde a particularly special port of call for AIDA’s Kussmund fleet. From April 14 to November 4, AIDAmar and AIDAdiva will make a combined total of 69 calls, nearly half of all cruise calls expected in Warnemünde during the 2024 season. AIDAmar will be a regular visitor this year with 40 planned calls, offering guests voyages to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Poland, as well as exploring the Baltic and Scandinavian countries on 3- to 5-day or 7- to 12-day itineraries. AIDAdiva, on the other hand, will make 29 calls, departing on 7-day voyages to Norway, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Finland, and Estonia, with a special 4- and 5-day trip to Scandinavia in October. Highlighting the 2024 season is the rare occurrence of both ships docking in Warnemünde simultaneously on five occasions: June 8, July 6, August 24, September 21, and October 31, 2024. Cruise enthusiasts should mark these dates for a memorable experience.
AIDA’s 2024 Season Highlights in Warnemünde
AIDA Cruises will be participating in several events in Warnemünde in 2024, showcasing their ships and engaging with the community. During the Hanse Sail from August 8-11, AIDAmar will be present on August 9, followed by AIDAdiva on August 10. As a sponsor of this major maritime event in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which draws up to one million visitors annually, AIDA Cruises plays a significant role. In September, AIDA will also be supporting and participating in the Rostock Cruise Festival, where both AIDA ships will be present simultaneously on September 21. Additionally, AIDAmar will host a unique event during the Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce Fair on April 18, 2024, offering prospective trainees the opportunity to learn about apprenticeships through speed dating with representatives from around 90 regional companies. Moreover, as part of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, AIDAmar will host a children’s concert on October 17, adding to the diverse range of activities offered by AIDA in Warnemünde.
Shore power implementation in Warnemünde
Utilizing shore power is a significant step for AIDA Cruises in reducing local emissions from its ships. This technology enables cruise ships to switch off their main engines while docked, using electricity from shore to power onboard systems. Currently, nine out of eleven AIDA ships are equipped with shore power capability, including all vessels in the AIDA fleet embarking on cruises to the North and Baltic Seas from German ports this summer. In Warnemünde, shore power is scheduled for all 69 visits by AIDAdiva and AIDAmar, including occasions when both ships are in port at the same time. The first dual supply occurred last year on April 16, 2023, when AIDAsol and AIDAmar were connected to the shore-side system in parallel, marking a special premiere for AIDA Cruises. Germany leads in Europe in providing shore-side power, with Europe’s first shore-side power plant in Hamburg Altona operating regularly since 2017. Kiel and Rostock-Warnemünde followed suit in 2021, with their systems inaugurated with an AIDA ship.
Cruise tip for the weekend: Season opening celebration
The season opening on April 14, 2024, featuring AIDAmar, will be celebrated with a grand party at the Rostock-Warnemünde cruise terminal. Alongside the traditional three-masted ship Santa Barbara Anna, AIDAmar will create an authentic maritime ambiance. The port party on the central pier starts at 11 am, with the highlight being the evening departure of AIDAmar, accompanied by music, as it sets sail for Gotland and Stockholm.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
