AIDAsol

The 2011-built AIDAsol cruise ship is the fifth Sphinx-class AIDA liner, with three sisterships - AIDAblu, AIDAstella, and AIDAmar.

The vessel (IMO number 9490040) is currently flagged in Italy (MMSI 247302900) and registered in Genova.

AIDAsol was last refurbished from October 1-15, 2023, in Bremen, Germany. The drydocking project was conducted at the Lurssen Yacht Refit & Services GmbH Co KG shipyard and supervised by Hellmann Worldwide Logistics SE Co KG (founded in 1871).

History - Construction and Ownership

AIDA Cruises is a Rostock-headquartered subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. AIDA is Europe’s largest German cruise line (followed by TUI), catering to younger and more active travelers. Founded in 1960 as "Deutsche Seereederei," AIDA was acquired in 2000 by P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation (the shipowner) in 2003. AIDA's first World Cruise was operated by AIDAcara in 2017-2018 (October-February), featuring a 116-day roundtrip itinerary from Hamburg, Germany.

The 2,200-passenger AIDAsol—like all other AIDA-operated ships—features the signature red lips and blue eyes painted on her bow. Bettina Zwickler was selected as the ship’s godmother from among 1,600 applicants during a reality-style competition.

In addition to the ship’s staff and crew, AIDA cruise passengers are also assisted by Pepper robots—the latest in cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide guests upon embarkation and provide assistance throughout the cruise. They offer information and tips on onboard dining, entertainment, enrichment programs (such as workshops and scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, shore excursions, and tours. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in English, German, and Italian. They can also interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tone and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

AIDAsol staterooms (1,097 total, in 24 categories) include 15 Suites, 505 Balcony, 391 Oceanview, and 374 Inside cabins. Balcony cabins range from 17-23 m² (185-250 ft²) and feature step-out balconies sized 3-6 m² (30-65 ft²). Oceanview cabins are 14-17 m² (150-185 ft²), while Inside cabins measure 14 m² (150 ft²). There are 11 wheelchair-accessible cabins. The largest accommodations are the Sundeck Deluxe Suites (56-87 m² / 605-935 ft²), each with a private sundeck (12-50 m² / 130-540 ft²).

The ship has 14 decks, including 12 accessible to passengers and 7 with cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options - Food and Drinks

AIDAsol offers a wide range of delicious dining options across seven restaurants. Whether you're looking for a buffet or specialty dining, there’s something for every taste. Enjoy meals at Bella Donna or Markt Restaurant, or grab a drink at the Sol Bar or Sushi Bar. Be sure to check out the Zen Lounge, Time Out, and Pier 3 Bars.

Below is the complete list of AIDAsol's restaurants and food venues:

• Rossini – Specialty, dinner-only restaurant with waiter service and a six-course à la carte menu (surcharge applies; reservations required)
• Markt Restaurant – Complimentary main dining room with self-service buffet and various food stations, plus a small terrace
• Bella Donna – Italian buffet-style restaurant, complimentary and open 24 hours
• Buffalo Steakhouse – American à la carte restaurant (surcharge applies; reservations required)
• Sushi Bar – Japanese cuisine (surcharge applies; reservations required)
• California Grill – Complimentary American-style dining
• East Restaurant – Complimentary Asian buffet-style dining

Shipboard Entertainment Options - Fun and Sport

AIDAsol does not have an indoor pool, but guests can enjoy a spacious fitness center, aroma sauna, and steam bath. For relaxation, visit the AIDAsol SPA & Fitness to recharge. The sundeck features a large LED screen, and the onboard cinema offers a 4D experience. Beer enthusiasts can visit Deck 10 to sample freshly brewed beer made onboard.

Below is the complete list of AIDAsol lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Pier 3 Bar (coffee bar)
• Kids Club (complimentary, supervised programs for 3 age groups: Seahorses 3-6 yrs, Dolphins 7-9 yrs, Sharks 10-11 yrs; includes an outdoor area with a paddling pool)
• Internet stations with printers (located in the Reception/Lobby; Wi-Fi available shipwide, including in all cabins)
• Studio AIDA (TV studio producing films and a radio program related to the ship’s itinerary and onboard activities)
• AIDA Sol Bar (cocktail bar with live music)
• Theatrium (948-seat, 3-deck-high venue combining an atrium and theater, with glass walls, dynamic stage platforms, and a glass dome; hosts large-scale productions)
• Art Gallery (Kunstgalerie; sells original works by renowned art schools and German artists; hosts art auctions)
• AIDA Lounge (offering 270-degree panoramic views and comfortable seating)
• The Library (Bibliothek; features card and board games)
• AIDAsol Casino
• Cafe Mare (patisserie and specialty coffee bar)
• Vinothek (fine wine shop with sommelier service and wine tastings)
• Brauhaus (onboard brewery using purified seawater; offers house-brewed draft beers)
• Destille (fruit spirits bar)
• AIDA Bar (spacious lounge with panoramic windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (offers professional photo/video services, duty-free accessories and gear; includes touch-screen kiosks with facial recognition)
• AIDA Shop (duty-free shopping arcade with a general store for liquor/tobacco, boutiques for jewelry, luxury watches, perfumes, fashion, and AIDA-branded merchandise)
• Beauty Salon (Friseur; provides hairdresser/barber services, professional manicure and pedicure)
• Body & Soul Sports Fitness Center (modern gym and studio for fitness classes)
• Zen Lounge (relaxation room used for indoor classes)
• 4D Kino Cinemare (4D cinema)
• Time Out Bar (sports bar); Ocean Bar (outdoor cocktail bar)
• Blutenmeer (flower shop - Blooming Sea)
• Sundeck area (served by the Beach Bar)
• Anytime Bar (discotheque and nightclub with DJ sets and themed dance parties; hosts daytime dance classes)
• HYPE (teen club with complimentary supervised activities for two age groups: Orcas 12-13 yrs and Teens 14-17 yrs)
• Body & Soul SPA Complex (2,300 m² Africa-themed area including Beauty Salon, Spa Reception, treatment rooms, Wellness Suite, Wellness Oase, Aroma and Finnish saunas, steam room, and relaxation lounge)
• Wellness Oase (Oasis area with large whirlpool, hammocks, relaxation beds, palm trees, and live plants)
• Wellness Suite (rented for up to 4 guests for 4 hours; includes veranda, sauna, whirlpool, and luxury amenities)
• SPA Bar (complimentary fruits, tea, and wellness drinks)
• Sundeck/Sunbathing Area (Freibereich above the pool, with loungers, served by the Pool Bar); the ship’s top deck includes a Freikörperkultur / FKK Bereich (nudist sunbathing area with loungers)
• Sundeck Games Area (Sonnendeck – Freibereich, with shuffleboard, giant chess, boccia, backgammon, darts, and table tennis)
• Videowand (outdoor theater with a large LED screen)
• Sports Deck Area (Sportaussendeck with a combined volleyball/basketball court, golf cage, putting green, and golf simulator)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track

Itineraries

The AIDAsol itinerary program includes roundtrip Canary Islands cruises from Gran Canaria and Norwegian Fjords cruises from Hamburg, Germany.

Following the Coronavirus pandemic, AIDAsol was the first AIDA ship to resume passenger operations, restarting on May 22, 2021. The mini-season (May 22 through June 9) featured 3- and 4-night cruises to nowhere roundtrip from Kiel, with no port calls. Her regular schedule resumed on June 17 with 10-night roundtrip voyages from Hamburg to Norway.

The ship’s first World Cruise was a Hamburg roundtrip (October 26, 2022, through February 20, 2023). The 117-day “Weltreise 2022” itinerary visited 43 ports in 20 countries across four continents.

The vessel (Meyer Werft Papenburg yard/hull) has a volume of 71,304 GT, a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 7,892 tons, and a maximum draught of 7.3 m. The powerplant is based on MAK Caterpillar marine diesel engines (model 9M43C) with a combined output of 36 MW. The propulsion system features VEM ELEKTROMOTORENWERK electric motors (model DTMSZ 3352-16YS) with a total output of 25 MW. The registered shipowner is COSTA CROCIERE S.p.A., the registered manager is AIDA CRUISES, and the ISM Manager is CARNIVAL MARITIME GmbH.

AIDAsol is the fifth liner in the Sphinx-class series of AIDA Kreuzfahrten and the fleet's eighth vessel. She was christened on April 9, 2011, in Kiel, Germany. The Papenburg Shipyard used laser-hybrid advanced technology to assemble 54 steel blocks forming the vessel's hull. Interestingly, 200 tons of paint were used, and 1,700 km of cables were installed. The ship features an onboard brewery, an additional deck, and a vast 25,000 ft² wellness complex. Her seven restaurants cover over 46,000 ft², while the Sun Deck spans 71,000 ft².

AIDAsol is an energy-efficient vessel, equipped with modern engines and propulsion systems that significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The lighting system alone saves 3,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually. Like her sisterships, AIDAsol was built around AIDA's "club resort" concept, designed for young and active passengers. The onboard language is German, as most AIDA passengers are German-speaking Europeans (mainly from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).

On May 30, 2015, AIDAsol became the world's first cruise ship to receive shore power from an LNG hybrid barge. The Hummel barge (by Becker Marine Systems) provided 7.5 MW of electricity while the vessel was docked in Hamburg. The LNG barge (76.7 m long, 11.4 m wide) was built as a floating power plant, using a 15-ton LNG container. The cryogenic liquid is heated in the processing plant and transferred to five Caterpillar engines that generate power—without sulfur emissions. NOx and COx emissions are significantly reduced. This technology is considered the cleanest solution for shore-to-ship electrical power supply.

On March 4, 2018, AIDA announced that AIDAsol's new captain would be Mrs. Nicole Langosch (of German origin), making her the fleet's first-ever female captain.

The ship's most recent drydock refurbishment took place from October 1-15, 2023, at the LYRS (Lurssen Yacht Refit & Services GmbH) yard in Hamburg. The two-week project, managed by Hellmann Worldwide Logistics' Marine & Cruise division, included general maintenance, class works, and redesigns of several public areas.

Weltreise 2024 World Cruise 2024-2025

In August 2023, AIDA opened bookings for AIDAsol's World Cruise 2024-2025.

The 117-day roundtrip voyage from Hamburg visits 41 ports across 17 countries. Prices started at EUR 14,445 per person (double occupancy).

AIDA PREMIUM pricing included an early-bird discount of EUR 3,000 for bookings made by April 30, 2024.

The Grand Voyage 2024-2025 was also available in shorter segments ranging from 33 to 84 days:

• Hamburg to San Antonio (36 days) from EUR 4,895 pp (EUR 700 discount)
• San Antonio to Mauritius (48 days) from EUR 8,295 pp (EUR 1,000 discount)
• Mauritius to Hamburg (33 days) from EUR 3,650 pp (EUR 700 discount)
• Hamburg to Mauritius (84 days) from EUR 12,445 pp (EUR 1,700 discount)
• San Antonio to Hamburg (81 days) from EUR 11,265 pp (EUR 1,700 discount)
• Hamburg to Sydney, Australia (67 days) from EUR 9,790 pp (EUR 1,400 discount)
• Sydney to Hamburg (50 days) from EUR 6,300 pp (EUR 1,000 discount)

Prices listed were per person, based on double occupancy (IB-Inside cabin rates).

AIDA PREMIUM pricing included an early booking discount of EUR 700 (if booked by April 30, 2024).

Inaugural World Cruise 2023-2024 (Weltreise)

On April 22, 2022, AIDA opened bookings for AIDAsol's 2023-2024 Weltreise/World Voyage, roundtrip from Hamburg, Germany.

The itinerary features 43 destinations across 20 countries on 4 continents and was priced from EUR 13,995 per person (double occupancy).

AIDA PREMIUM pricing included an early-bird discount of EUR 3,000 for bookings made by April 30, 2023.

In September 2022, AIDA opened bookings for the following shorter cruise segments:

• Hamburg to San Antonio, Chile (36 days: Oct 27–Dec 2, 2023)
• Hamburg to Port Louis, Mauritius (84 days: Oct 27, 2023–Jan 19, 2024)
• Hamburg to Sydney (65 days: Oct 27–Dec 31, 2023)
• San Antonio to Mauritius (48 days: Dec 2, 2023–Jan 19, 2024)
• San Antonio to Hamburg (81 days: Dec 2, 2023–Feb 21, 2024)
• Sydney to Hamburg (52 days: Dec 31, 2023–Feb 21, 2024)
• Mauritius to Hamburg (33 days: Jan 19–Feb 21, 2024)

Segment prices started from EUR 3,850 per person (AIDA PREMIUM including EUR 700 early-bird discount for bookings made by April 30, 2023).

Note: On June 17, 2021, AIDA opened bookings for AIDAsol's first World Cruise (Weltreise 2022-2023), a 117-day roundtrip from Hamburg. However, due to "minor technical issues," the voyage was reassigned to AIDAmar, and AIDAsol took over AIDAmar’s Canary Islands schedule for winter 2022-2023.

The planned "Weltreise 2021" (117-day World Cruise 2021-2022, October through February) was also canceled.

Cruises to Nowhere from Kiel 2021

Following the COVID-19 crisis, in 2021 AIDAsol became AIDA’s first ship to resume passenger operations, starting on May 22. The mini-season (May 22 through June 9) featured 3-night and 4-night cruises to nowhere roundtrip from Kiel, with no port calls on the itinerary.

• Bookings opened on May 12, 2021.
• AIDAsol departed Warnemunde on May 12 (at 6 PM) and docked in Kiel on May 13 (at 3 PM). She also became the first vessel to utilize Port Kiel’s new shore power facility.
• The 3-day "Ahoy Tour" included cruising toward the Skagerrak Strait (between Denmark's Jutland Peninsula, southeastern Norway, and western Sweden), with scenic views of the Danish and Swedish coasts, passing the Oresund Bridge (connecting Sweden to Peberholm Island) and Copenhagen. Swedish destinations within view included Helsingor (Elsinore) and Helsingborg.
• The 4-day "Ahoy Tour" offered scenic cruising along the coast of Rugen Island, including Cape Arkona.
• The 3- and 4-day "nowhere cruises" alternated and could be combined into a 7-day back-to-back (B2B) cruise.
• Balcony cabin rates for the 3-day voyage started at EUR 550 (USD 670) per person based on double occupancy, and included AIDA’s Premium Package (unlimited beverages and Wi-Fi Internet).

The ship’s regular schedule resumed on June 17, offering 10-night roundtrips from Hamburg to Norway.