2025 - May - Hamburg - AIDA Ship Tour

Cruise ships – and particularly their operators – are a matter of personal preference, almost a kind of religion for some. Many of my friends and acquaintances swear by the Mein Schiff fleet, while others are loyal to AIDA. Of course, there are many other providers as well.

Today we had the chance to experience the atmosphere of a cruise for half a day – specifically on the AIDA Prima. This is important to mention because many cruise fans have not just a favorite brand, but also a favorite ship.

The AIDA Prima: Since 2016, it has been in service for AIDA Cruises. It accommodates approximately 3,300 passengers based on double occupancy and features a total of 18 decks, 15 of which are accessible to guests. The brand specifically targets German-speaking travelers. The original club ship concept is still very much felt. For instance, the AIDA Bar – found on every ship in the fleet – is arranged in a star shape to encourage guests to converse more easily. Additionally, there are numerous buffet restaurants, spacious children's areas, and of course a comprehensive entertainment offering.

During the guided tour, you get to see all of this on board – and it’s often during regular operations, sometimes even while guests are changing. On such days, about 200 day visitors are led in small groups through the ship. The tour starts at 10:00 AM and ends around 3:00 PM.

The price for such a ship tour is 59 euros per person. Afterwards, however, you receive 50 euros back as onboard credit. Furthermore, lunch at the buffet restaurant is included – for us, it was the Market Restaurant.

We also had the chance to visit different cabin types: an inside cabin, a sea view room, and a balcony cabin.

I posted my photos from the tour directly to my status – which, of course, caused a bit of confusion. Many actually thought that I was (already) on a cruise again. Honestly, the today's destination of the AIDA Prima – Norway – would have been far too cold for me...

And naturally, the question arose as to which ship I prefer: the Mein Schiff Relax or the AIDA Prima. In this case, I would clearly choose the Mein Schiff Relax. It’s brand new, offers significantly more balcony cabins and hardly any inside cabins. I also like that nearly all drinks are included there.

But the best food – especially in the buffet area – was definitely on the Queen Mary. Neither Mein Schiff nor AIDA could compete with that.

Ship tours of this kind are offered in Hamburg, Kiel, and Warnemünde. It’s best to sign up for the AIDA newsletter – there you will find out in good time when new dates are available.

By the way, our tour took place in Hamburg. Unfortunately, getting to the Cruise Terminal there is quite complicated – especially for large ships like the AIDA Prima, which dock at the terminal in Steinwerder. It's located so remotely that there isn’t a really good connection to public transport. You definitely have to plan for longer walking distances. A taxi ride is expensive – and technically, Uber only exists on paper in Hamburg, as these rides are conducted by traditional taxis.