Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Aidastella

**Title: AIDAstella's Itinerary Disruption Due to Medical Emergency** On March 17, 2026, during its Atlantic voyage from Namibia to Cape Verde, the cruise ship 'AIDAstella' encountered a medical emergency that necessitated an abrupt change in plans. While sailing on the first of seven scheduled days at sea, the vessel made the decision to turn back in the South Atlantic, racing toward Walvis Bay to facilitate the medical disembarkation of a passenger. This particular port was the nearest safe harbor, although it had originally been planned as a stop on January 16. In a night-time operation, the 'AIDAstella' halted just before entering the harbor, avoiding a full dock, to transfer the patient via a boat for immediate medical attention at a nearby hospital. After ensuring the safe transfer of the passenger, the 'AIDAstella' resumed its itinerary. However, the delay meant that the ship was unable to reach its next planned destination, Praia on the island of Santiago, on the scheduled date of March 24. As a result, the vessel had to forgo its planned stop in Cape Verde, opting instead to sail directly to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which would see the ship at sea for a total of ten consecutive days. The planned schedule included an arrival in Santa Cruz on March 27, with a subsequent stop in Gibraltar before finishing its transatlantic journey in Palma de Mallorca. ### Original Itinerary of the AIDAstella (March 12 - 31): - Cape Town - Cape Town - Day at Sea - Lüderitz - Walvis Bay - Day at Sea (x6) - Praia (Santiago) - Day at Sea (x2) - Santa Cruz (Tenerife) - Day at Sea - Gibraltar - Day at Sea - Palma de Mallorca ### Adjusted Itinerary of the AIDAstella (March 12 - 31): - Cape Town - Cape Town - Day at Sea - Lüderitz - Walvis Bay - Day at Sea (x7) - Santa Cruz (Tenerife) - Day at Sea - Gibraltar - Day at Sea - Palma de Mallorca This incident underscores the importance of maritime safety and the quick response required in medical emergencies at sea, ensuring the wellbeing of passengers while balancing navigational commitments.

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.