AIDA Cruises Calls Off Entire 2026-27 Winter Season in Middle East
AIDA Cruises has officially announced the cancellation of its entire Orient program for the winter 2026-2027 season. This decision, influenced by the ongoing regional uncertainty and security concerns in the Middle East, was made public on March 14, 2026. It directly impacts all voyages of the vessel AIDAprima scheduled between October 19, 2026, and May 20, 2027, which were initially planned to operate in the Middle East region.
The German cruise line stressed that their operational decisions are primarily driven by the need to ensure the safety of both passengers and crew. They noted that the situation in the region “cannot be reliably predicted for the foreseeable future.” Consequently, the repositioning voyages that were planned to navigate AIDAprima around the coast of Africa in both autumn and spring have also been removed from the program.
Passengers affected by the cancelled sailings are being offered the chance to transfer their bookings to alternative voyages within the AIDA Cruises fleet. These alternatives include winter itineraries in the Caribbean and Canary Islands. Passengers who choose a replacement cruise by May 10, 2026, will benefit from an onboard credit of €200 per cabin (€100 for single-occupancy bookings).
AIDA Cruises has expressed its intention to return to the Middle East for the winter 2027-2028 season with the vessel AIDAperla. This move signals their long-term commitment to the region despite the current challenges.
Source: https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/15971-aida-cruises-cancels-middle-east-season