AIDAcosma departs Germany on inaugural cruise ahead of Dubai season

AIDAcosma has departed Hamburg, Germany on her first passenger voyage after being delivered to AIDA Cruises by Meyer Werft in December.

The mammoth LNG-powered cruise ship will spend its inaugural cruise season sailing Northern Europe and the Western Mediterranean, before repositioning to the Middle East for the winter.

AIDAcosma will cruise roundtrip from Dubai in the Arabian Gulf between November and March for the 2022/23 cruise season.

AIDAcosma at sea

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AIDAcosma departed Hamburg on Saturday, visiting the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England and France. She’ll sail this week-long roundtrip itinerary until April, with Rotterdam also being offered as a homeport.

Billed as the “Metropolis Cruise”, the itinerary features stops at ports that serve as gateways to nationalcapitals, such as Southampton (for London) and Zeebruge (for Brussels).

When she completes this short winter cruise season, the 5,400-passenger ship will reposition to the Western Mediterranean, sailing a season of summer cruises from Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona.

In November, she’ll sail for Dubai, where she will spend the winter cruise season, sailing roundtrip from the city until March next year.

At more than 180,000-gross tons, AIDAcosma will be one of the largest cruise ships ever to homeport in the Middle East, eclipsed only by MSC Cruises’ new ship World Europa, which is also homeporting in Dubai during the winter.

At a total of 183,900-gross tons AIDAcosma is slightly larger than her sister ship AIDAnova, and uses the same environment friendly technologies to reduce its emissions and impact, including shorepower capabilities and an LNG-powered propulsion system.

Stern pool area and Fun Park aboard AIDAcosma (rendering)

AIDAcosma also features a variety of amenities and features for passengers, including the Ocean Deck, a four-level sunbathing area that is complete with an infinity pool and all-round panoramic views of the sea.

AIDAcosma also features a new Fun Park with a large indoor playground, a ropes course, a bouldering wall and more. This is in addition to popular features that debuted aboard AIDAnova, such as the Beach Club, the Theatrium with its 360° stage, the TV studio and the spacious Body & Soul Organic Spa.

When it comes to dining, she offers 17 restaurants and 23 bars and cafés, including new specialty restaurants, such as Mamma Mia, which serves homemade pasta and fresh Italian cuisine.

Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com.

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