Damen Shiprepair yard recently welcomed the AIDAmar for an unusual drydock, with guests still onboard the vessel.

According to a social media update, the AIDA Cruises ship visited the Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam’s Botlek location for a out-of-water survey.

Over 2,000 passengers were onboard during the project, which took place earlier this month at drydock number six of the Dutch facility.

Damen said that guests were given a rare front-row view of a working shipyard, taking advantage of a viewing platform set up for the visit.

The shipyard also put together an exhibition on the history of Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam, while providing access to buses for day trips across the Netherlands.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the AIDAmar spent approximately 24 hours in drydock as part of the AIDA Fan Cruise.

The five-night cruise sailed roundtrip from the German port of Warnemünde and, in addition to the drydock, included two days of cruising in the North Sea.

“Managing a safe, controlled operation with passengers on board required meticulous planning and close coordination with AIDA Cruises,” the shipyard stated in its update.

“Our team took great care to ensure everyone could move freely and safely throughout the visit, something we’re proud to have delivered,” it continued.

“It wasn’t our most typical project, but we always like to go the extra mile for our clients,” Damen’s update added.

According to AIDA, the cruise also included a shipyard party and other special activities, such as officer gatherings.

Complementing the onboard experience, the company also offered themed events to celebrate FIFA’s 2026 World Cup, as well as comedy presentations.

After resuming its regular schedule, the AIDAmar is now offering a series of five- to 12-night cruises to Northern Europe and Scandinavia departing from Warnemünde.