AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar Begins Marseille Refit With New Family Suites, Returns December 20

November 4, 2026 — AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar is in dry dock in Marseille, France, for a refurbishment that will refresh its cabins and add new family suites before it returns to service on December 20, 2026.

What is being done

Contractor Makinen has started work on AIDAmar, the first ship in the second phase of AIDA’s “Evolution” refurbishment program, Cruise Industry News reported on November 4. The exact start date of the work was not published (TBA).

• More than 1,000 passenger cabins and 18 suites are being refurbished.
• Twelve cabins are being combined into six family suites with Jacuzzi bathrooms.
• The Pier 3 bar is being taken out and rebuilt as 12 crew cabins plus a new space.

After the yard, AIDAmar is set to sail a week-long Christmas cruise in the western Mediterranean from Palma de Mallorca on December 20, 2026. The report did not say whether any other AIDAmar sailings were changed for the refit. Makinen’s chief executive said multi-ship refurbishments are “very much at the core” of the company’s work.

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What it means for airline travelers

• Booked on the December 20 Christmas cruise? It sails on the same day the ship leaves the shipyard. Watch for any messages from AIDA, and keep flights changeable in case of a late handover.
• Getting to Palma: Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) serves the port. December 20 falls in the busy pre-Christmas travel period, so fly in a day early, especially if you are flying standby.
• Families: the new family suites are aimed at larger groups; ask AIDA when they become bookable (TBA).
• No travel-industry or interline rates were mentioned.

Sources

• Cruise Industry News — Makinen Starts AIDAmar Refit in Marseille