AIDAmar Undergoes Evolution Refit in Marseille
Earlier this year, AIDAmar made a 24-hour Rotterdam drydock stop during a Warnemünde roundtrip, with passengers aboard for hull inspections and technical maintenance.
AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar and AIDAcosma are in drydock at Chantier Naval de Marseille in southern France, with returns to passenger service scheduled for December 20 and November 26, 2026, respectively. AIDAmar is receiving a major refurbishment under the AIDA Evolution program, while AIDAcosma is undergoing routine maintenance and inspections.
The modernization forms part of a program that AIDA initially planned for seven Selection-generation ships through 2028 before expanding it to nine vessels. AIDAmar’s stay in Marseille is also its second drydock this year.
AIDAmar’s Evolution refit
AIDAmar arrived at the French yard in early November. Built by Meyer Werft in Germany in 2012, the approximately 71,300-gross-ton Sphinx-class vessel will receive new dining and entertainment venues, refurbished staterooms and public areas, and technical upgrades.
AIDA describes Evolution as its largest fleet-modernization program to date. Alongside interior refurbishment, its objectives include extending existing vessels’ service lives and improving their technical and environmental systems.
The program’s first phase scheduled major refits for AIDAdiva, AIDAluna and AIDAbella across 2025 and 2026. Its subsequent expansion includes AIDAprima and AIDAperla, with drydocks planned for 2027 and 2028.
AIDAmar’s earlier yard visit took place at Damen Shiprepair in Rotterdam during a July roundtrip sailing from Warnemünde. The itinerary combined Baltic port calls with a 24-hour drydock stay, offered as AIDA’s “shipyard experience.” Passengers remained aboard while the vessel underwent hull inspections and technical maintenance.
The drydock update did not include a statement from an AIDA executive.
Routine maintenance at Marseille
The LNG-powered AIDAcosma joined AIDAmar at the yard earlier in the week of November 11. Its work includes technical maintenance and class inspections, ahead of a winter deployment offering itineraries in the Western Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.
Celestyal Journey is also at Chantier Naval de Marseille for a routine drydock. The 1994-built Celestyal Cruises vessel arrived in early November after completing its summer deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Celestyal cancelled the ship’s winter season in the Middle East because of conflicts in the region. The vessel is scheduled to resume passenger operations in early March 2027.
