The 2015 Kiel cruise season will get underway this Saturday, April 4, with the first call of the year from the AIDAcara.

The ship will tie up at the Ostseekai Terminal after calling at Lisbon, Le Havre and Dover.

During the coming season Kiel expects a total of 127 calls by 23 different ships.

“The trend towards ever bigger cruise ships continues,” said Managing Director of the Port of Kiel Dirk Claus. “Even though the number of calls may remain at about the same level as last year, the total number of passengers and the overall tonnage will increase significantly.

Terminal capacity was increased once again last year with the introduction of the cruise ship Berth 1 in the Ostuferhafen. The port can now handle up to three megaships at once.

AIDA has the most calls of any line in Kiel this year, and the biggest ship of the season will be the 114,000-ton Costa Pacifica.

“We are particularly well booked on Saturdays, when most of the cruises begin,” said Claus.

The highlight of the season will be the naming ceremony for the Mein Schiff 4, taking place on June 5.