AIDA Cruises Cancels Middle East Season 2025-2026, Redirects AIDAprima to European Waters

AIDA Cruises has announced the cancellation of its 2025–2026 winter season in the Middle East primarily due to rising security concerns, making this the first time since 2006 that the company will not operate in the region. The itineraries for the AIDAprima, which were planned to depart from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to destinations like Oman, Bahrain, and various locations in the UAE from October 2025 to March 2026, have been scrapped.

In place of these voyages, AIDA has redirected AIDAprima to sail in Northern Europe and the Atlantic Islands. The ship will operate voyages from Kiel and Hamburg, covering areas such as the North and Baltic Seas, as well as the Canary Islands. New destinations for these rerouted trips include Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, and the Canary Islands, providing travelers with scenic coastal experiences rather than the originally scheduled Middle Eastern routes.

The cancellation and rerouting decision come as a response to ongoing instability in the region and concerns regarding the safety of critical maritime passages, including the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

AIDA Cruises stated that the safety of guests and crew remains their top priority and they took swift action to clarify travel plans. Affected travelers have been offered rebooking options to the new European itineraries. For those seeking future flexibility, a 10% Future Cruise Credit has been made available, along with full refunds for passengers who cannot take the changed routes.

Additionally, early 2026 sailings of AIDAbella have also been canceled to facilitate this schedule adjustment. AIDAprima’s new offerings will include festive-themed cruises, such as Christmas market voyages from Kiel to Gdansk and Riga, as well as a "Great Winter Break Canary Islands" round trip scheduled for January 2026.

Despite these changes, AIDA remains optimistic that they will be able to return to the Middle East as soon as security conditions permit.

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