March 2025 marked the return of AIDAdiva to service, with the ship initially cruising in the Mediterranean.
Those sailings followed a seven-week dry dock refurbishment at the Chantier Naval de Marseille shipyard in France and since April the ship has been in Northern Europe for cruises to the Baltic.
“The commissioning of AIDAdiva in 2007 marked the beginning of an incredible era for AIDA Cruises – one of our largest growth programmes to date, where we introduced a whole new class of ships,” says Steffi Heinicke, senior vice president of guest experience at AIDA. “Over the years, these Sphinx-class ships have welcomed generations of guests, built a loyal fan base and created memories that last a lifetime.
“Our guests love this class of ship for its medium size, spacious outdoor areas that create a strong connection to the sea, the AIDA Theatrium and their colourful design. Thus, the timing of the modernisation programme, a project within AIDA Evolution, is perfect for these ships. It will prepare them for their second phase of life and ensure they meet current and future guest needs and multigenerational requirements.”
Guests can dine in the stylish East Fusion, one of AIDAdiva’s new restaurants
During the refurbishment, AIDA added new bars, restaurants and a play park, as well as revitalising the spa and wellness suites and the guest cabins, staterooms and suites. In the guest cabins, the canopies, carpets and curtains were all redesigned to fit with the ship’s bright, modern colour palette. Balcony cabins feature new chairs and sofas while some staterooms have been expanded from three- to four-person occupancy.
“For many of our guests, the cabin is more than just a place to rest – it’s their personal retreat during an AIDA journey,” says Heinicke. “That’s why we partnered with our trusted architects at Partner Ship Design to reimagine the cabins. It was our vision to upgrade the design from 2007 to make our cabins even more comfortable and well thought-out, while still retaining the typical AIDA charm. Together with our partners and suppliers, we carefully selected fabrics, new furniture and design elements, placing a great emphasis on modern colour concepts, durability and ease of handling.
“The seating areas have been redesigned to be even cosier and can now easily transform into a comfortable third bed when needed. On top of that, we upgraded the technology in every cabin. They each now have new TVs, USB-C ports on both bedsides and motion-activated nightlights under bedside tables and in bathrooms.
AIDA Cruises’ Steffi Heinicke says the new French Kiss Bistro & Bar “introduces the flavours of France and has a charming atmosphere”
“We also listened to our guests’ wishes and added more family-friendly cabins that can accommodate up to four guests,” continues Heinicke. “And for those seeking a truly elevated experience, we created six new suites at the aft of the ship by combining two balcony cabins into one. These spacious suites now feature separate living and sleeping areas, expansive balconies and two bathrooms. All other suites have been fully renewed for modern appearance.”
Makinen executed work in all cabins and AIDA collaborated with Oceancircle to recycle over 45,000 square metres of carpet from AIDAdiva as part of a pilot project. This material will be repurposed for AIDAluna, where it will be used as underlay for the new carpets that will be installed during its 2025 refurbishment. Crew areas and the ship’s reception space now have a new type of carpet, which was made by Italian manufacturer Radici using recycled material that comes from Aquafil’s ECONYL yarn (read more on page 86).
AIDA has also donated more than 4,400 pieces of furniture from AIDAdiva to Der Hafen Hilft!, a Hamburg-based charity. These items have since been distributed to places like Ukraine and Germany’s Ahr Valley, which was affected by a devastating flood in 2021.
AIDAdiva has been outfitted with new bars, including the Panorama Bar
AIDAdiva features several new restaurants including the French Kiss restaurant, the French Kiss Bar & Bistro, East Fusion which serves Asian cuisine, the Tapas Bar, and the Yachtclub Restaurant. The ship was also outfitted with new bars, including the Panorama Bar, the Ice Bar, Tokyo Bar and Lanai Bar.
“Guest feedback and the popularity of AIDA’s now-iconic concepts introduced in our newest AIDA ship generations played a significant role in the decision to expand the variety of bars and restaurants onboard,” says Heinicke. “Existing spaces were repurposed for multifunctional use – for example, the Rossini Restaurant has been extended to include the new Rossini Lounge to serve suite guests during the day.
“The new concepts bring something special to the table. The French Kiss Bistro & Bar introduces the flavours of France and has a charming atmosphere, while the Tapas Bar celebrates Spanish cuisine with vibrant and authentic dishes. The French Kiss restaurant, replacing a buffet restaurant, has outdoor seating – the first in the fleet – offering a new dining experience with table service and a sea view.
“For Asian cuisine lovers, the new East Fusion Restaurant brings the exotic tastes of the Far East with sushi, Peking duck and other Asian specialities. The Yachtclub buffet restaurant provides a light and refreshing menu with a maritime-inspired ambience. And for those who love the outdoors, the former terrace of the buffet restaurant has been transformed into the Lanai Bar, now covered to offer a weather-protected outdoor area for dining and enjoying fresh drinks.”
AIDA took care to ensure the character of the ship remains unchanged while seamlessly integrating the new spaces. “One particularly successful example of this is the transition from the new French Kiss Bar & Bistro to the already established AIDA Bar, where the carpet and furniture were replaced to create a harmonious flow between the two areas,” says Heinicke. “Another standout transformation is the panoramic lounge on deck 10, located beneath the bridge. Previously used as a lounge area, it has been reimagined with cosy furniture to transform it into an exclusive bar. Here, guests can now indulge in exquisite designer drinks and an exclusive high tea with selected delicacies, further enhancing their onboard experience.”
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