March 05, 2024 - In view of the upcoming International Tourism Exchange (ITB) in Berlin, the German market leader in the cruise segment exudes a lot of optimism.
The German Travel Association (DRV) just reported a 2023 percent increase in sales for the German cruise market this summer, based on the previous year's figures for 41. The Rostock market leader takes this announcement as an opportunity to comment on the cruise economy from AIDA's perspective. The core message is that the current year will outperform the previous year. However, the company does not mention that the cruise market in 2023 was still affected by the effects of the corona pandemic.
Apart from that, the group believes that the cruise business in Germany is growing faster than the market. Cruises are engines for the entire tourism industry. Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, continues to see great potential in the German cruise market. It is realistic that this will break the four million guest mark within the next 10 years. Literally: “Growth is currently only limited by the available capacities”.
Recorded for the full year 2024 AIDA Cruises a very successful start so far. “This was the strongest main booking phase in the history of our company,” says Felix Eichhorn. And – due to the trend towards longer-term bookings – the company is already seeing very good demand for 2025. What is astonishing is that last year AIDA Cruises welcomed more first-time cruisers on board than ever before. Almost every second guest was on one of the AIDA ships for the first time.
A special feature: In the summer of 2024, every second AIDA guest will embark on their cruise from a German port. Of the eleven ships in the AIDA fleet, eight will be positioned in German ports in the 2024 summer season. AIDA is for the three large northern German ports Hamburg, Kiel and Warnemunde the most important cruise partner.