Aidaperla Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On April 5, the cruise ship 'AIDAperla' encountered a suspected bottom touch while docked at Tinde Quay in Åndalsnes. The incident occurred when strong gusts from Storm Dave caused the mooring ropes to snap as the vessel prepared to depart. The 'AIDAperla', which has an impressive maximum draft of 8.3 meters, was secured at a quay with depths ranging from 12 to 9.4 meters before rapidly decreasing to just 1.1 meters near the shore. Following the forespring failure, the vessel swiftly set off, aided by a harbor pilot, making its way toward the picturesque Romdalsfjord. Prior to this event, the cruise ship had experienced an extended stay in Ålesund due to daunting seven-meter waves, which delayed its planned departure initially set for April 4 at 6 p.m. The crew opted to remain overnight in port, hoping for milder sea conditions. On the morning of April 5, the 'AIDAperla' finally set sail around 5:40 a.m. as winds subsided, aiming for Åndalsnes. Despite efforts to maintain an expedited pace over the relatively short journey, the ship was unable to meet its anticipated arrival time of 8:00 a.m. Ultimately, it docked approximately three hours and 20 minutes later than scheduled at 11:20 a.m., maneuvering alongside the quay on its starboard side. The transit duration between Ålesund and Åndalsnes amounted to 5 hours and 40 minutes.

The 'AIDAperla' encountered an unexpected delay in Lisbon on March 19 when a mooring line became caught in its propeller while preparing for departure. Scheduled to leave the vibrant Portuguese capital at 8 p.m., the situation required the cruise ship to remain overnight. Captain Andreas Etzien communicated with passengers via the public address system and later addressed them on stage in the Theatrium, explaining that a diver would need to be deployed to resolve the issue. The diving operation was slated to begin no earlier than 7 a.m. on March 20; however, due to the requirement for calm river conditions, the actual operation was delayed until approximately 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., with a pilot also becoming available at 10 a.m. Once the propeller was freed from the entanglement, the 'AIDAperla' successfully set sail and reached its next destination, A Coruña, on March 21.

The cruise ship 'AIDAperla' made an early return to Hamburg on October 24 during its Norway cruise, originally scheduled from October 18 to 25. This decision was influenced by an impending storm that threatened to shut down the Elbe River for vessels of its size over the weekend. To ensure that the cruise concluded smoothly during the changeover on October 25, the planned stops in Ålesund and Haugesund were unfortunately canceled. The voyage, which commenced with a serene day at sea on the North Sea, included scheduled visits to Stavanger on October 20 and Olden on October 21. However, due to adverse weather forecasts, continuing further north to Ålesund was deemed unsafe. Instead, the ship diverted to Bergen, which was not part of the original itinerary. Following its stop in Bergen, the 'AIDAperla' set sail for Hamburg on the evening of October 22, necessitating the cancellation of the scheduled visit to Haugesund to ensure a safe passage into the port of Hamburg via the Elbe. The vessel reached the Elbe estuary near Cuxhaven overnight and arrived at the Cruise Center Steinwerder in Hamburg on the morning of October 24. Guests will have an extra day to explore Hamburg before the official end of the cruise on Saturday, with the ship docked in the bustling port city. The weather-related adjustments to the itinerary were beyond the control of AIDA Cruises, and as a result, significant changes to the shore excursion program will also occur. All previously booked excursions in Ålesund and Haugesund have been canceled, with full refunds provided by the cruise line. A limited selection of shore excursions for the added day in Hamburg will be organized on short notice for passengers.

On July 26, 2025, a medical emergency aboard the cruise ship 'Aida Perla', which was en route from Hamburg to Nordfjordeid, prompted an urgent rescue operation on the Elbe River, close to Stade. At approximately 6 p.m., multiple emergency response teams were mobilized after a female passenger sustained a leg injury that could not be properly treated with onboard medical resources. The Stade Fire Department, in collaboration with the German Rescue Service (DLRG), quickly approached the moving vessel. In coordination with the crew aboard the DLRG boat 'Kiek Ut', two emergency paramedics facilitated the transfer of the patient from the ship's medical team. Utilizing a specialized basket stretcher, the injured woman was transported to the fireboat 'Henry Köpcke'. Simultaneously, the DLRG Stade guided ambulance and emergency vehicle crews to the site on the Elbe River, near Lühesand. Upon docking, the ambulance crew took over the patient's care on 'Henry Köpcke.' Fortunately, the initially suspected leg fracture was later deemed unsubstantiated, and the emergency medical service intervention was not necessary.