AIDA extends Evolution refits to AIDAperla in April 2027 and AIDAprima in April 2028

AIDA Cruises will bring its "AIDA Evolution" refit program to AIDAperla and AIDAprima, its two Hyperion-class ships. AIDAperla goes into drydock first, from April 3 to May 2, 2027, at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France. AIDAprima follows a year later, from April 22 to May 21, 2028. The line announced the plan in a German-language press release on October 7, 2026, calling Evolution the largest modernization program in the company's history.

Dates and first cruises

AIDAperla will return to service on May 2, 2027 with a 10-day round trip from Mallorca. The route calls at Corsica, Sardinia, Naples, La Spezia, Rome's port of Civitavecchia and Barcelona. Cruise Industry News names the itinerary "Mediterranean Highlights."

AIDAprima will come back on May 21, 2028 with a 7-day round trip from Mallorca that visits Marseille, Civitavecchia, La Spezia and Barcelona. Cruise Industry News calls that cruise "Pearls of the Mediterranean." AIDA has not said where AIDAprima's drydock will take place. Cruise Industry News lists the start dates as April 2, 2027 and April 21, 2028, one day earlier than the official release in each case; the dates above come from AIDA.

The two sisters entered service in 2016 and 2017, and they are the first ships outside AIDA's older Sphinx class to get an Evolution date.

New places to eat and drink

The headline additions are on the food side. Best Burger @ Sea arrives on both ships for the first time. East Fusion, a new Asian restaurant on deck 7, will serve sushi and hotpot, and will cook Korean barbecue at the table. A Teppanyaki Asia Grill prepares food in front of guests.

The bar lineup changes too. The Art Bar on deck 7 replaces the photo area and pairs an art gallery with cocktails and espresso drinks. A new Panorama Lounge and Bar on deck 8 will serve signature cocktails and host an afternoon tea. The Chilli Out Bar, also on deck 8, brings Latin American snacks and drinks, including tacos, according to Cruise Industry News. The Spray Bar at the bow gets a facelift with an interactive LED video wall and a new entrance through the D6 disco.

The Theatrium, the ships' central show and gathering space, gets lounge-style seating. The AIDA Plaza will be expanded, with more seating and more food options. Seatrade Cruise News reports those options include currywurst, tapas and ice cream.

Cabins, kids and the top decks

In the cabins, AIDA will add USB sockets at the beds and bathroom mirrors with a night-light function. Suites get a new color scheme. The line will also carve new inside, ocean-view and balcony cabins out of areas it is redesigning. It has not said how many.

Families get the most visible changes outside. The upper level of the Four Elements activity deck will be covered with a net structure for climbing and relaxing. Fun Park Air replaces the climbing garden and is open to all ages. A minigolf course with obstacles goes in on deck 16. The Kids Club gets its first outdoor area on this class of ship. The Beach Club adds a small play corner for the youngest guests, a feature AIDAluna has carried since December 2025. Teenagers get a daytime Teens Lounge inside the D6 disco, and a Game Center opens on deck 15.

"AIDA Evolution is far more than the modernization of our ships," said Steffi Heinicke, senior vice president of guest experience at AIDA Cruises, in the release. Seatrade quotes her adding that the company is "continuously enhancing the AIDA vacation experience."

Where Evolution stands

The program began with AIDA's Sphinx-class ships. In March 2026, the line set dates for four more of them at Chantier Naval de Marseille, per Cruise Industry News. AIDAmar goes in from November 1 to December 20, 2026. AIDAblu follows from January 24 to March 14, 2027. AIDAsol is booked from October 24 to December 12, 2027, and AIDAstella from January 23 to March 12, 2028. At that time AIDA said it was investing nearly 100 million euros per ship. The line has not given a cost figure for the AIDAperla and AIDAprima refits.

The new venues match the ones AIDA has been rolling out on its smaller ships. Guests who have sailed a refitted Sphinx-class ship will recognize much of what arrives on AIDAperla in 2027.