ROSTOCK, Germany, 21 July 2026: AIDA Cruises has opened bookings for a new AIDAperla winter programme from Kiel, covering Baltic destinations, the Norwegian coast and the Canary Islands between November 2027 and May 2028, according to an official press release from the cruise line.
The deployment replaces the ship’s previously planned 2027–28 Middle East season, which AIDA Cruises cancelled in June because it said conditions in the region could not be reliably assessed. The revised programme offers voyages ranging from three to 11 nights, with options to combine consecutive sailings into longer cruises.
AIDAperla will begin its winter deployment from Kiel on 13 November 2027. The ship is scheduled to visit destinations across Northern Europe, including the Baltic capitals of Copenhagen, Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm.
Christmas and New Year Voyages Planned
A Christmas sailing departing on 23 December 2027 will call at Copenhagen, Kristiansand and Aarhus. This will be followed by a Scandinavian New Year voyage, during which passengers will welcome 2028 in Oslo.
The schedule will focus on the Norwegian and Baltic coasts during February and March 2028. AIDAperla will sail through the Hardangerfjord in March and visit Eidfjord as part of the programme.
Two itineraries will include extended stays in Oslo during the Biathlon World Cup final at Holmenkollen, which is scheduled to take place from 14 to 19 March 2028. The longer calls will allow passengers to attend events during the competition.
An ice rink on the ship’s outdoor sports deck will be available during the Northern Europe voyages, complementing the winter itineraries.
AIDAperla to Operate 24-Day Canary Islands Cruise
In January 2028, AIDAperla will depart Kiel on the 24-day “Große Winterpause Kanaren ab Kiel” voyage. The itinerary will connect the Canary Islands with destinations along Europe’s Atlantic coast.
Calls will include Madeira, Lisbon and ports in northern Spain. The round-trip sailing from Kiel is intended to provide access to warmer destinations without requiring passengers to fly.
The voyage can also be booked in separate sections. Guests may travel from Kiel to Tenerife or join AIDAperla in Tenerife for the return journey to Kiel from 20 January 2028.
AIDAnova Complements German Winter Deployment
The addition of AIDAperla expands the cruise line’s winter capacity from German ports. Its programme will encompass short city-focused sailings, festive departures, Norwegian coastal itineraries and the longer Canary Islands voyage.
AIDAnova will supplement the schedule with seven-night cruises departing from Hamburg. These itineraries will visit southern Norway and cities along Europe’s western coast.
Kiel and Hamburg will therefore serve as AIDA Cruises’ principal German departure ports during the 2027–28 winter programme covered by the announcement.
The newly released AIDAperla voyages are now available to book through travel agencies, the AIDA customer centre and the cruise line’s website.
AIDA Cruises’ earlier decision not to operate Middle East voyages during the 2027–28 winter season also affected passengers already booked on the cancelled programme. The company said those guests would be contacted and could select alternatives from its wider portfolio, including cruises in Northern Europe, the Caribbean and the Canary Islands.
Source: Official announcement from AIDA Cruises, 21 June 2026.
