AIDAbella Enters Marseille Drydock for Seven-Week Refit

AIDAbella entered a major refurbishment at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France on Jan. 21, 2026, marking the latest shipyard milestone in AIDA Cruises’ AIDA Evolution modernization program. The 68,500-ton ship, built in 2008, is scheduled to be out of service for more than seven weeks before returning to guest operations from Palma de Mallorca on March 11, 2026.

AIDA said the 2,030-passenger ship arrived in Marseille after a repositioning sailing from the Canary Islands, beginning a drydock period that spans guest venues, accommodations, family areas, and behind-the-scenes operational spaces.

Scope of work: cabins, public areas, and added suite inventory

A central piece of the project is a fleet-standard refresh of accommodations. AIDA said all staterooms will be updated with modernized designs and new color palettes, along with practical additions such as USB ports and upgraded lighting.

The refit also adds new stern suites, expanding AIDAbella’s higher-end accommodation options as part of the broader interior update.

New dining and bar concepts, with a focus on the ship’s stern

AIDAbella’s drydock plan includes multiple new food-and-beverage venues, including the Yacht Club, which AIDA has described as a nautical-themed restaurant. The new restaurant is designed to pair with the Lanai Bar, an outdoor lounge space planned for the ship’s stern.

Additional new concepts scheduled to debut after the refit include French Kiss Bar & Bistro, East Fusion, and Tapas & Bar, widening the ship’s mix of dining and casual options.

Entertainment and family areas targeted in the refit

AIDA’s plans also include a modernization of the ship’s Theatrium, with new lighting and sound systems and expanded seating areas intended to improve the venue’s capacity and production capabilities.

For families, the ship is adding a Fun Park that includes a climbing tower. The scope also includes a newly designed Kids Club and a refreshed Game Center, extending the onboard indoor activity mix.

Upgrades extend beyond guest spaces

Alongside the new venues and cabin work, AIDA said the refurbishment includes updates to existing spaces such as the spa, the sky deck, and the suite lounge. The plan also covers upgrades to crew areas and other operational spaces, reflecting a modernization approach that goes beyond guest-facing improvements.

How AIDAbella fits into the AIDA Evolution timeline

AIDAbella is the third ship to undergo modernization under AIDA Evolution, following earlier refits for AIDAdiva and AIDAluna. Looking ahead, AIDA has slated four additional Sphinx-class ships for the program by 2028: AIDAsol, AIDAstella, AIDAblu, and AIDAmar.

AIDAmar is scheduled to enter the shipyard in November 2026 for a nearly 50-day drydock period tied to its AIDA Evolution work, extending the multi-ship timeline that AIDA has outlined through 2028.

Carnival Corporation highlights a heavy 2026 drydock calendar

AIDAbella’s shipyard period comes as Carnival Corporation, AIDA’s parent company, plans an extensive schedule of maintenance and upgrade activity across its portfolio. On the company’s year-end and fourth quarter earnings call in December, CFO David Bernstein said 2026 will include more than 600 drydock days across Carnival Corporation’s eight brands, and that spending for drydock activity is expected to be roughly in line with 2026 levels.

Within that wider schedule, Carnival Corporation’s 2026 calendar includes longer out-of-service periods for ships such as Carnival Elation (January), Carnival Pride (March), Carnival Magic (April), and both Carnival Freedom and Carnival Luminosa (September). Carnival Corporation President and CEO Josh Weinstein also said the AIDA Evolution project is poised to expand to additional brands within the corporation.

After the Marseille drydock wraps up, AIDAbella is set to resume sailing from Palma de Mallorca on March 11, 2026, with AIDA’s next AIDA Evolution shipyard entry scheduled for AIDAmar in November as the program continues across additional Sphinx-class ships through 2028.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will AIDAbella return to service after drydock?

AIDAbella is scheduled to return to guest operations on March 11, 2026, sailing from Palma de Mallorca after more than seven weeks out of service.

Where is AIDAbella being refurbished?

The ship is in drydock at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France, where it arrived on Jan. 21, 2026.

What upgrades are being introduced during AIDAbella’s refit?

AIDA said the project includes refreshed staterooms with updated design features such as USB ports and upgraded lighting, plus new stern suites. The refit also adds new dining and bar venues including the Yacht Club and Lanai Bar, introduces additional concepts such as French Kiss Bar & Bistro, East Fusion, and Tapas & Bar, modernizes the Theatrium with new lighting and sound and expanded seating, and updates family spaces with a new Fun Park (including a climbing tower), a redesigned Kids Club, and a refreshed Game Center.

Which other AIDA ships are scheduled for AIDA Evolution upgrades?

AIDA said AIDAsol, AIDAstella, AIDAblu, and AIDAmar are scheduled to enter the AIDA Evolution program by 2028. AIDAmar is slated for a shipyard period in November 2026.