“Cast off!” for first AIDA cruises in August 2020

AIDA Cruises today announced that it will resume sailing operations in August 2020.

Three of its cruise ships will be the first to cast off, following an industry-wide pause in operations in mid-March. AIDAperla will be the first to set sail on August 5, 2020, from Hamburg, followed by AIDAmar from Rostock-Warnemünde on August 12, 2020 and AIDAblu from Kiel on August 16, 2020.

The first cruises will take place with an adjusted passenger capacity and without calling at other ports. AIDA guests can look forward to a versatile vacation program on board with a plus in service for the guests, with the implementation of necessary hygiene standards and rules for avoiding contact and keeping distance. Booking starts today,

July 9, 2020, at 12.00 am (CEST) in all travel agencies, at www.aida.de, as well as in the AIDA Customer Center at +49-381-20270707. Supported by the theme -- "With certainty the most beautiful vacation" -- AIDA Cruises has worked with several global and national health authorities to develop a comprehensive set of health and hygiene protocols to help facilitate a safe, healthy and phased-in return to cruise vacations. The company will provide extensive information about the enhanced protocols and procedures it will implement against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

More details are available at www.aida.de/sichererurlaub.

Starting with the booking process through individual travel preparation, embarking and disembarking in port, and medical care on board, AIDA Cruises has introduced a variety of preventive measures to complement the existing high health and hygiene standards. These measures range from the digital health questionnaire prior to the cruise, to temperature measurements before check-in for guests and crew, to physical distancing guidelines and routing systems on arrival and departure and on board, to closely managing capacities at venues such as restaurants, bars, theatres, sports and wellness areas.

The enhanced protocols are supplemented by additional hygiene and safety measures, such as increased cleaning and disinfection measures, which take place in all cabins and public areas according to a defined protocol, as well as additional disinfection dispensers at check-in and on board.

Onboard medical care for all guests and crew is available around the clock. The ships are equipped with PCR-test-kits and diagnostic devices for the immediate evaluation of suspected COVID-19 cases and the medical team on board is trained in the relevant test procedures and treatment methods. Together with the responsible authorities, extensive processes have been developed to facilitate medical care, safe disembarkation, and a safe return home as quickly as possible for patients diagnosed with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

The comprehensive health concept and the measures taken to deal with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases have been developed with medical experts and are based on the current standards of the World Health Organization (WHO)and the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) ) as well as other governmental and health authorities. Additionally, the renowned independent testing company SGS Institut Fresenius will check the implementation of the comprehensive hygiene standards and the processes of preventive measures against COVID-19. AIDA Cruises is already working intensively on the next steps. Depending on the opening of further European ports for cruise ships, the first foreign destinations could be integrated into the itinerary.

In a third phase, the gradual return to the original itinerary will be possible, taking into account current developments in the destinations and in compliance with the respective international and national regulations of health and hygiene authorities and our own high standards.

Rostock, July 9, 2020

Illustrative price for editorial offices:

Cast off 1
To/from Hamburg, Warnemünde or Kiel
August 2020 / 3 nights from € 495* p. p.

Cast off 2
To/from Hamburg, Warnemünde or Kiel
August 2020 / 4 nights from € 570* p. p.

*AIDA PREMIUM price per person for double occupancy (interior stateroom IB), limitedavailability.