On March 31, 2025, the Netherlands inaugurated its first shore power facility for cruise ships, marking a significant step in port electrification. The AIDAnova became the first vessel to utilize shore-side electricity during its stay, reducing emissions while berthed.
With this development, AIDA Cruises now has access to shore power in 13 European ports across seven countries. In Rotterdam alone, 31 ship calls are scheduled for 2025, all capable of using shore power. In 2024, AIDA Cruises connected to shore power on 360 occasions, representing a five-fold increase from 2023. By 2025, more than 500 shore power-enabled port calls are planned across Europe, extending the reach of this infrastructure in Northern Europe. This expansion allows AIDA ships to utilize shore power for nearly every second port call in the region, advancing maritime energy transition efforts.
AIDA Cruises actively participated as a pilot partner in the technical preparations for the Rotterdam installation, offering its vessels for testing. The company leveraged its operational experience from shore power utilization in ports such as Hamburg, Kiel, Warnemunde, Bergen, Southampton, Aarhus, Oslo, and Stockholm to facilitate implementation.
Since 2004, AIDA has incorporated shore power capability into new ship designs. In 2017, AIDAsol was the first cruise ship to operate regularly using shore power at Europe's initial facility in Hamburg-Altona. Following Rotterdam, additional ports, including Copenhagen and Le Havre, are preparing to commission shore power infrastructure, with AIDA Cruises providing operational support.
AIDA continues to invest in sustainable maritime initiatives. Alongside shore power, the company employs liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transitional energy source and is expanding its use of alternative power solutions. In 2022, AIDA introduced biofuels and installed the largest maritime battery storage system aboard one of its vessels. The company aims to achieve net-zero emissions for its fleet by 2050.