As the cruise market study for 2014 shows, 80 percent of all Germans prefer European cruise destinations. The Mediterranean region was the most popular area in 2014 with a share of 32.1 percent. Northern and Western Europe as well as the Baltic Sea are also among the favorites. A total of 36 percent of all Germans took a cruise into these regions in 2014. More than 600 ship arrivals by cruise ships were registered in German ports in 2014. Hamburg was the frontrunner in terms of passengers with a total of 588,690 travelers, followed by Rostock/Warnemünde with 509,000 passengers and Kiel with 354,000 passengers. These three ports absorbed 93 percent of the traffic volume. AIDA Cruises also contributed to this success with a total of 122 calls at these three German ports in 2014.
According to its own statements, the home port of AIDA Cruises in Rostock-Warnemünde set a new record in 2014 with 378,000 passengers. Results of a study conducted by the University of Rostock on the spending behavior of cruise passengers and crew members show that the travelers and employees spent at least 16 million Euros at local and regional retailers, hotels and restaurants, on public transportation, as well as on taxis and parking services in Rostock, Warnemünde, and the surrounding area in the 2014 season. This does not even include the revenues that bus companies, rail service operators, shore excursion companies, utilities and waste management companies, ship brokers, pilots, and port operators generated as a result of the cruise industry.
Cruises combine a great lifestyle with diversity and comfort, and this at an unbeatable price/benefit ratio. There is a trend towards multi-generational vacations. No other branch in the tourist industry addresses the demographic shift as specifically as a cruise. It excels at providing innovation, high flexibility and individual offers for all target groups and age levels. This is what makes this kind of travel so attractive and also accounts for its high growth potential.
When it comes to making travel decisions, the ship and its offers are becoming all the more important. Ports in Northern Europe are increasingly turning into all-year destinations. Beginning in 2016, AIDA Cruises will have a ship – AIDAprima – based in Hamburg year round.
AIDA fundamentally believes that growth is a byproduct of sustainable business practices. At the same time, we strive to include our business partners, while focusing on our comprehensive quality concept. This means that we always think about the environment, society, our business partners, and the well-being of our guests when making business decisions. The products that we procure, use, and offer should be recyclable or reusable whenever possible. It is ideal if they are already made from recycled materials, since this protects our natural resources. In the long-term, our goal is to create a nearly complete circular economy in which waste is practically no longer produced. Comprehensive quality also means that the products that we and our business partners use are healthy and practical for their users. Because they contain recyclable resources, these products equally benefit the environment and the economy. In addition to technical efficiency, this comprehensive quality strategy is also the foundation of our sustainability concept – and the basis for our economic success in the future.
