AIDA Cruises cancels Orient season: Travel from Kiel instead of Dubai!

AIDA Cruises cancels Orient season: Travel from Kiel instead of Dubai!

A storm is brewing - not only over the vast waters of the Orient, but also in the world of cruises. AIDA Cruises has made headlines with a surprising decision for the 2025/26 winter season: the AIDAprima's Orient cruises have been canceled. This affects both the planned trips and the transfer trips in autumn 2025 and spring 2026. The uncertainties in the political situation in the Middle East prompted AIDA to take this step. The travel platform Geo takes a similar view, referring to the “unable to reliably assess the situation” in the Middle East. Safety concerns are the shipping company's top priority, ensuring the safety of guests and crew. According to [cruisetricks.de].

With a clear plan in mind, AIDA offers fresh alternatives for travel fans. The new routes for the AIDAprima will start in October 2025 from Hamburg and will sail from Kiel by the beginning of April 2026. Advent and Christmas market routes as well as two fortnightly boat trips to the Canary Islands complement the adapted program. Affected passengers who had already booked their trips to the Orient region will receive vouchers amounting to 10% of the travel price as compensation, valid until the end of September 2025. Geo.de emphasizes that this decision will ultimately also affect the holiday plans of those customers who are on were happy about the canceled trips.

New travel destinations and their safety

Especially in view of the turbulent times in the Middle East, where attacks on civilian ships have increased since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, the diversion of the AIDAprima is a sign of prudence. The Yemeni Houthi militia, for example, deliberately attacks ships to draw attention to the Gaza conflict, but in doing so enormously shortens security at sea. Reisereporter reports that international warships, including the Bundeswehr, are having difficulty preventing all attacks. In this context, AIDA views its decision as responsible and forward-looking.

While AIDA is now relocating its routes to northern waters, TUI Cruises is continuing to stick to the planned Orient voyages with the ships Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5. However, this is happening under close observation of the security situation. The company is in close contact with authorities and incorporates official travel and safety advice into its planning. So far there are no changes at TUI, Costa and MSC Cruises are also maintaining their travel plans for the Orient region, but are monitoring the situation closely.

Passengers affected by the cancellation of AIDA tours will have the opportunity to switch to alternative travel offers. But TUI is also flexible and is offering affected guests a 10% discount on future bookings. This is not an isolated case in these unstable times, as some cruise companies have had or are having to adjust their travel plans due to the uncertain geopolitical situation.

Although the cancellation of the Orient cruises means a sad end to the anticipation of traveling for many, the shipping companies are hoping for better times and still wish their guests unique experiences in the new travel destinations. Safety first – this also applies on the water.