In the first half of 2025, AIDA Cruises used more than 3,300 tons of bio-LNG for the AIDAnova. By the end of August 2025, AIDA ships had already connected to shore power more than 250 times.
As part of its decarbonization strategy, AIDA Cruises has been investing in a sustainable cruise market for many years and is contributing to leading the maritime energy transition in many areas. Through technical innovations and alternative fuels, the company is demonstrating practical solutions. With two new ships under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2030 and winter 2031/2032, AIDA is charting a course for further growth under its Evolution, which includes the use of innovative technologies. Several hundred million euros will be invested in these ships.
Expansion of the use of biofuels
“Following an initial trial in 2024, AIDA Cruises procured more than 3,300 tonnes of ISCC EU-certified bio-LNG for the AIDAnova in the ports of Hamburg, Kiel and Zeebrugge during the first half of 2025. The bio-LNG comes from European agricultural biogas plants and was made usable for maritime applications by the mass balance method at a liquefaction plant in Belgium,” explained Dirk Inger, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability.
“It is widely recognized that sustainably produced biofuels can only contribute to achieving the Paris, EU, and IMO climate goals in the short term due to their limited availability. That is why we are working with partners in science and industry to explore future applications of so-called e-fuels on our cruise ships, which are powered by renewable energy,” Inger said today in Hamburg.
“The challenges in our planning include the availability of renewable fuels, their production at an industrial scale, and currently uncompetitive prices. In addition, there are still no uniform international regulations for the use of alternative fuels on board cruise ships in many areas.”.
AIDA Cruises has also been using various biofuels on the AIDAprima since the summer of 2022. For example, in 2024, the AIDAprima used 100% residual biofuel (BMF 100) for the first time as part of a pilot project, which, according to the manufacturer, reduces CO₂ emissions by more than 90%.
Furthermore, all LNG-powered ships in the AIDA fleet are already equipped to use biofuels and e-fuels when these fuels become more widely available in the cruise industry. The multifuel propulsion technology of AIDA's next-generation ships, which will enter service in spring 2030 and winter 2031/2032, will also be ready for the use of various biofuels and e-fuels.
AIDA Cruises is a driving force in the use of onshore power within the European cruise industry. For over 20 years, the company has considered this technology in the planning and construction of its ships. In 2017, the AIDAsol became the first cruise ship to operate using onshore power at the first European facility of its kind, in Hamburg Altona.
Thanks to the expansion of these facilities in European ports, AIDA ships increased their connections from 65 in 2023 to 381 in 2024. By the end of August 2025, AIDA ships had already connected more than 250 times, allowing them to shut down their main engines while docked and use shore power to operate onboard systems, reducing emissions by up to 98%, depending on the energy mix; this also improves local air quality.
By the end of this year, the number of successful connections across the fleet is expected to exceed 400. For AIDA Cruises, shore power is a key technology on the path to net-zero emissions in ship operations, as cruise ships spend between 8 and 10 hours a day in port.
AIDA Cruises continues to support the use of onshore energy and assists ports in testing and commissioning their facilities.
“For us, this technology is a central and relevant issue in the transformation of cruises in Europe,” Dirk Inger emphasized.
Currently, onshore power is available in 14 ports across seven European countries served by AIDA ships, including Hamburg, Warnemünde, Kiel, and other major cities such as Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. AIDA visits approximately 350 different ports worldwide each year.
In addition to onshore energy and biofuels, AIDA Cruises relies on other energy production technologies to make ship operations more efficient and reduce emissions. In 2022, the AIDAprima was equipped with the largest battery storage system in the cruise industry, with a capacity of 10 MWh. The batteries are used during navigation in a process called peak shaving. This means the engines operate within an optimal performance range, consuming less fuel. The excess energy is stored in the batteries and used during periods of higher energy demand.
Energy management for greater efficiency
AIDA Cruises invests annually in various projects to increase the energy efficiency of its fleet. These projects aim to continuously reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by incorporating new technologies and system improvements. Examples include technical modifications to optimize the efficiency of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, as well as better utilization of waste heat on board. In cabins and public areas, AIDA Cruises consistently uses LED technology, demand-regulated lighting, and efficient light dimming systems.
All AIDA vessels are equipped with an integrated energy management system and connected to a group-level data platform. This platform provides supporting information for the continuous optimization of vessel operations. Furthermore, digital tools are used to analyze various operational data using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to further improve energy efficiency.
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