There are over 350 ports getting AIDA calls globally, head of deployment planning Diana Havkost told Cruise Industry News.

“This year is our 30th anniversary so we have a sister-ship meeting planned in Hamburg on June 7, with the AIDAsol, AIDAprima and AIDAperla.”

Also new for 2026 is the AIDAblu’s summer program in the Eastern Mediterranean, with new calls into Zakynthos and Bodrum.

She also pointed to the brand’s upcoming Asia and Australia season in 2026-27 with the AIDAstella, as well as winter cruises from Germany to the Canaries, the Caribbean and South America.

Spring 2025 saw the company offer a new Japan program that performed well, so it’s back again for 2027, Havkost continued.

Nov. 16, 2027, will see an AIDA call at Carnival’s new Celebration Key, while this fall, the brand is back in North America for the first time since 2019.

Havkost said that keeping itineraries fresh for returning customers could come down to just a subtle change.

“That could be one different port on an otherwise well-known itinerary that can make such a difference in the perception of attractiveness,” she explained.

Also key is the company’s shore excursion program, which continues to evolve to add new and different experiences.

New ports must check the boxes for both operational excellence and guest satisfaction, Havkost said.

For turn ports, that means they need airlift and the right infrastructure.

“Political stability and regional safety are also crucial, as is the availability of guides for excursions and logistics such as provisioning and loading capabilities,” said Havkost.

“When evaluating an entirely new port, we conduct a thorough assessment that includes reviewing local infrastructure, port costs, fuel availability and the distance between ports to optimize fuel consumption. We also analyze guest satisfaction rates and projected future revenues, while collaborating closely with port authorities to avoid scheduling calls on busy days,” she said

Havkost said among her biggest challenges is the changing global landscape, mentioning political situations, evolving travel regulations, and varying health and safety requirements.

“We are looking at winter 2028-29 now. We are also giving some thought to where we will deploy our newbuilds (coming in 2030 and 2031), and what that means for the whole itinerary mix. The additional capacity will allow us to look at new destinations.”

Excerpted from the Spring 2026 Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine.