Aidastella

On its Atlantic leg from Namibia to Cape Verde, the 'AIDAstella' was forced to turn back on March 17, 2026, due to a medical emergency on board. On the first of seven scheduled sea days, the ship turned around in the South Atlantic and sailed at high speed back to Walvis Bay to transfer a passenger ashore, which was the nearest port in the region, where the ship had been scheduled to call on Jan 16. During the emergency medical disembarkation in the night, the ship did not dock in port but stopped just before entering the harbour. The patient was brought ashore by boat and then transported to a hospital as quickly as possible. Shortly afterwards, the 'AIDAstella' resumed its scheduled course. However, the remaining six days at sea were not enough to reach the next port of call, Praia on the island of Santiago, on time on March 24. Due to the delay, the ship had to skip its stop in Cape Verde and now sailed directly to Santa Cruz de Tenerife for a total of ten days at sea.The 'AIDAstella' was due to arrive there on March 27. Before concluding its transatlantic voyage in Palma de Mallorca, the ship will make only one more stop in Gibraltar. Original itinerary of the 'AIDAstella' from March 12 to 31: Cape Town – Cape Town – Day at sea – Lüderitz – Walvis Bay – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Praia (Santiago) – Day at sea – Day at sea – Santa Cruz (Tenerife) – Day at sea – Gibraltar – Day at sea – Palma de Mallorca Adjusted itinerary of the 'AIDAstella' from March 12 to 31: Cape Town – Cape Town – Day at sea – Lüderitz – Walvis Bay – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Day at sea – Santa Cruz (Tenerife) – Day at sea – Gibraltar – Day at sea – Palma de Mallorca

On the earlymorning of Oct 11, 2025, the Port Authority of Sitia was informed by the JRCC of the Coastal Region-Elektropolitan Coastal Region that a 64-year-old German passenger of the 'Aidastella', enroute from Heraklion to Limassol, which was sailing six nautical miles southwest of the island of Kasos, required immediate hospital treatment. The cruise ship diverted to the Bay of Sitia and the patient was transferred to the fishing vessel 'Manolio'. He was transported with the escort of a doctor and an officer of the Port Authority to the port of Sitia, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to the General Hospital-Health Center of Sitia for medical care on a higher level.

On Nov 10, the 'AIDAstella' had to change its planned route off the coast of South Africa during a day at sea, en route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, due to a medical emergency on board, which caused the ship to set course for the coast in the morning. A helicopter was deployed near Cape Agulhas to bring the 72 year old, German passenger from the ship to shore. After the patient was hoisted, the 'AIDAstella' continued its journey and reached the port of Port Elizabeth as planned on the morning of Nov 11. Report with video: https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2024/11/12/south-african-air-force-and-nsri-rescue-german-tourist-from-cruise-ship-in-cape-town/

Environmental protesters have once again blocked cruise ships from entering the port of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). The associations Stop Croisières and Extinction Rébellion took to the port entrance on Sep 21, 2024. The 'Aidastella' was forced to turn back at around 07:00 a.m., with 2,000 passengers on board. At least three cruise ships and a ferry from Corsica also had to wait at sea before the port reopened. The protesters remained on the water in kayaks, before being removed by the maritime police. The port reopened at around 09:00,a.m. Around 20 people were arrested. The political group Une Génération pour Marseille responded: “These activists provoked an emergency manoeuvre for a ship, putting thousands of passengers’ lives at risk. This is the face of those who want to see the economic and social decline of Marseille. Our port is not a lawless zone.” Report with photo: https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/environmental-protesters-block-cruise-ships-from-marseille-port/679893

In the early morning of Oct 23, 2023, a medical evacuation from the 'AIDAStella' became necessary, while the cruise ship was en route from Palma de Mallorca to Mahón. The CCS Palma of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the Helimer 220 SAR helicopter, which hoisted the passenger and trasported him to the Son Espases University Hospital for further medical care.