Contrary to previous announcements, the 2008-built AIDAbella will now spend summer 2017 in Europe, sailing in the Western Mediterranean and will not go to China.

A Sept. 15 press release from AIDA Cruises noted the AIDAbella will sail a “Pearls of the Mediterranean” program, citing demand.

Previously, Carnival Corporation and AIDA announced in 2015 that the AIDAbella would move to Shanghai year-round starting in 2017, offering a “Made in Germany” product for the Chinese market.

On August 9, AIDA announced the AIDAbella would make its maiden cruise from Shanghai on April 16, 2017.

A statement, following a major trade event in Shanghai, said the ship would be prepared for service in Asia following a spring drydocking.

With the deployment news that the AIDAbella will instead move back to Europe in 2017, it can be assumed AIDA is delaying its China market entry.

Carnival Cruise Line made a similar move in February, pushing its China entry back to 2018 from 2017.