REVITALISATION A diva with charm and style AIDA Cruises’ Steffi Heinicke speaks with Richard Humphreys about the refurbishment of AIDAdiva, including what drove the design decisions for changes to cabins, bars and restaurants 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 Sphinxclass 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.” 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 The onboard spa features two additional wellness suites equipped with a private whirlpool tub, sauna and waterbed Photo: AIDA Cruises 68
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