AIDA Cruises back in Cagliari
The dawn of this last day of July saw the picturesque AIDAstella, a ship of the German brand AIDA Cruises, part of the Costa Group, dock at Molo Rinascita, at the Cagliari Cruise Port terminal.
Built at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, the vessel belongs to the Sphinx class like many of its sister ships. It was christened in March 2013, measures 253 meters in overall length, and has twelve decks accommodating up to 2,700 passengers and 620 crew members.
After embarking nearly nine hundred guests in Palma de Mallorca, mostly from Germany, the ship headed to the Sardinian capital, with excursions planned to explore Cagliari and its hinterland. Guests enjoyed the usual visits to the archaeological site of Nora and the Argiolas Wineries in Serdiana, while city tours and trips to Poetto Beach were conducted not only by bus and on foot but also by bicycle, once again reflecting the brand’s audience enthusiasm for eco-sustainability.
As always, safety, health, and prevention are ensured on board through strict company protocols, while onshore the anti-contagion measures implemented by Cagliari Cruise Port remain in force. These measures earned the company the Safe Travels Stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council, demonstrating its commitment to combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
The arrival of AIDA Cruises, the third company after MSC and Costa Cruises to choose Cagliari Cruise Port following the health emergency closures, not only signals the gradual reopening of the cruise sector—one of the hardest-hit industries by the pandemic—but also highlights the continuous growth of the Sardinian port. Cagliari Cruise Port remains committed to the ongoing enhancement of services offered to cruise lines and passengers, alongside constant promotion of the unique destination of Cagliari and South Sardinia.
Since the end of 2016, Cagliari Cruise Port has been part of the Global Ports Holding (GPH) network, the world’s largest independent cruise terminal operator, with a strong presence in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Asia-Pacific region, including key commercial hubs in Turkey and Montenegro. GPH currently manages 21 ports in 13 countries and continues to expand, serving 14 million passengers and achieving a 24% market share in the Mediterranean each year.
