Photo: Ssu | Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0; crop by CruisePing.
AIDAmar at a glance
| Cruise line | AIDA Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship class or type | Modified Sphinx Class, AIDAselection second generation |
| Entered service | 2012 |
| Last major refurbishment | Major AIDA Evolution modernisation scheduled for late 2026; first renewed cruise at Christmas 2026 |
| Gross tonnage | 71,304 GT |
| Length | 253 m / 830 ft |
| Guest capacity | About 2,200 guests at standard occupancy; higher with extra berths |
| Crew | About 610 |
| Passenger decks | 14 decks in AIDA ship data |
| Cabins or suites | 1,101 guest cabins and suites |
| Accessible cabins | Selected accessible cabins; confirm the layout for the sailing date |
| Dining venues | 8 restaurants before the refit; an expanded and revised mix from Christmas 2026 |
| Bars and lounges | 13 bars and clubs, plus 3 lounges before the refit; changes planned |
| Pools and hot tubs | 6 pools and water areas |
| Library | Book lending and reading provision rather than a large traditional library |
| Spa and fitness | 2,600 m² spa and sports area, with expanded wellness provision planned |
| Children’s facilities | Kids Club, teen provision and family activity; no dedicated Mini Club nursery |
| Adults-only facilities | Spa and sauna areas; no broad adults-only resort zone |
| Wi-Fi | Starlink internet packages; inclusions vary by fare |
| UK departures or deployment | Baltic, Northern Europe, Canaries and longer routes; no regular UK homeport programme |
Best suited to
- Itinerary-led travellers wanting a mid-sized AIDA ship
- Passengers booking the renewed product from Christmas 2026 onward
- Adults and families who value a familiar Sphinx layout over resort scale
Think carefully if
- The sailing falls before the refit and you expect the advertised new venues
- You need Mini Club nursery provision or extensive indoor water facilities
- You are comparing a pre-refit fare directly with a renewed sister
The booking decision
AIDAmar cannot be described with one timeless list of venues in 2026. The ship enters a major AIDA Evolution modernisation after its autumn programme and returns for the Christmas voyage on 20 December. A pre-refit sailing and a post-refit sailing are different products, even though the hull, cabin count and basic Sphinx layout remain.
That timing creates opportunities as well as risk. A pre-refit fare may be attractive for an itinerary-led passenger who understands the older décor and venue mix. A post-refit fare can justify a premium when renewed cabins, more dining choice and updated public spaces matter. The mistake is paying for one while assuming the other.
What the late-2026 refit is designed to change
AIDA’s Evolution programme brings renewed cabins, a refreshed Theatrium, expanded restaurant choice, new bars, updated family spaces and improved wellness provision to the second-generation Selection ships. AIDAmar is due to introduce the Mediterranea buffet restaurant, while plans also include a new Snack Bar in place of the former Destille and wider changes across dining and nightlife.
The first renewed cruise is the Christmas 2026 sailing. Until then, the current ship page describes the pre-refit eight-restaurant, 13-bar product. After return, use the updated deck plan rather than assuming every announced concept occupies the same location as on another sister.
Layout and the modified Sphinx design
AIDAmar is slightly larger than AIDAluna and AIDAbella, with 14 decks in AIDA’s ship data and a 2,600 m² spa. The central Theatrium still defines movement and atmosphere. The layout is much easier to learn than AIDAnova, while the extra half-deck and later design development provide more space than the first-generation sisters.
The refit will change venue names and finishes, not the underlying relationship between cabin corridors, lift banks and the open central core. Passengers who like the Sphinx format should still feel at home. Those who dislike sound spilling from the Theatrium should choose cabin position carefully.
Cabins before and after the refit
AIDAmar has 1,101 cabins and suites. The Evolution work is expected to refresh cabin colours, carpets and furnishings across the inventory. That improves appearance and comfort but does not enlarge the rooms or create a new-build balcony ratio.
For late-2026 and 2027 bookings, confirm that the cabin plan is the post-refit version. Families should inspect extra-bed deployment and storage; accessible-cabin users should request the exact bathroom and turning-space plan. Reviews from before the shipyard remain useful for size and position, not for décor.
Dining and the date-sensitive venue count
Before the refit, AIDAmar lists eight restaurants. The renewed ship is expected to add and reshape concepts, including Mediterranea and a new Snack Bar, so a static venue count is misleading across the whole year. The practical question is which version your sailing uses.
Read the ship-specific restaurant page close to departure and compare it with fare inclusions. New restaurants do not mean every meal or drink becomes included. Reserve only the experiences that affect your holiday and keep a dependable included base.
Pools, spa and outdoor use
Six pools and water areas support traditional open-deck cruising rather than a large covered family resort. The 2,600 m² spa is a relative strength and will gain updated wellness provision through Evolution. That makes AIDAmar attractive to adults who value spa and itinerary more than slides.
Northern European and Baltic weather can reduce outdoor use, so itinerary timing matters. On Canary Islands or warmer programmes the open decks become more valuable. Families seeking all-weather pool resilience should compare AIDAmar with AIDAprima or AIDAperla.
Children and family suitability
AIDAmar has Kids Club, teen provision and family activity but no dedicated Mini Club nursery. The renewed programme is intended to improve fun and adventure for children without changing that basic class distinction. Families with toddlers should not assume the refit creates the same service as AIDAnova.
German is the main language for announcements, children’s activities, comedy and most hosted entertainment. Menus and practical information are often easier to navigate than dialogue-heavy events, but British passengers should not book expecting an English-language cruise product. Confirm the exact club spaces and operating arrangements after the refit, especially on the first sailings when older online material may still circulate.
Entertainment and nightlife
The Theatrium remains central to shows and hosted activity. Evolution adds a fresher look and revised bar concepts, while the second-generation plan includes the Ocean Club transformation on relevant ships. The exact AIDAmar mix should be checked after the yard period rather than copied from AIDAluna or AIDAbella.
Live music and visual production are the easiest entertainment for English speakers. Spoken events remain German-led. The central design creates sociable evenings but can expose nearby cabins to more sound than a traditional separated theatre layout.
Accessibility and movement
AIDAmar’s mid-sized footprint is easier than the largest AIDA ships, but selected adapted cabins still require exact confirmation. Ask about shower arrangement, thresholds, door widths, lift access and whether the refit changes furniture placement. A newly decorated room is not automatically a better accessible room.
The itinerary can create more difficulty than the ship, particularly with gangways, coaches and tender ports. Choose the cabin and voyage as one connected accessibility decision.
Itineraries and travelling from Britain
AIDAmar serves Baltic, Northern European, Canary Islands and longer routes. The ship’s size supports varied itineraries and can make it more destination-led than the newest resort classes. In 2026, the refit break divides the programme, so the departure date must be read alongside the route.
British passengers should add flights or rail, baggage, transfers and an overnight buffer to the fare. A pre-refit bargain may still be excellent when the route is strong. A post-refit premium is worthwhile only when the renewed product is important to the traveller.
AIDAmar versus AIDAblu and AIDAsol
AIDAmar, AIDAblu, AIDAsol and AIDAstella form the second AIDAselection generation. Their Evolution dates differ, so the correct comparison changes over time. From Christmas 2026, AIDAmar becomes the first renewed ship in this subgroup; AIDAblu follows in March 2027, while AIDAsol and AIDAstella follow later.
Choose AIDAmar for the earlier renewed product, AIDAblu when its Brauhaus identity and itinerary appeal, and AIDAsol for certain long voyages. Do not use build year alone. Modernisation status, route and total fare are more useful.
Who should book AIDAmar?
Book AIDAmar when the itinerary is strong and you understand exactly which version of the ship will operate. The renewed product should suit adults and families wanting updated AIDAselection without mega-ship scale. Pre-refit cruises can still work for value-conscious travellers who prioritise ports over décor.
Avoid paying a refurbished-ship premium on a sailing before the yard period. Choose a larger class when Mini Club, covered pools or extensive family hardware are essential. AIDAmar is a good ship whose booking case depends unusually heavily on the calendar.
Booking an early post-refit sailing
AIDAmar becomes a materially different booking proposition when it returns for the Christmas 2026 voyage. Early post-refit sailings offer the attraction of renewed venues and cabins, but they also leave less room for independent passenger feedback about crowd flow, service routines and which changes work best in practice. The official completion date matters more than broad marketing language.
Passengers booking close to the return should check the final deck plan and current venue list shortly before travel. They should also judge the itinerary independently. A newly modernised ship does not rescue weak port timings or an inconvenient fly-cruise arrangement. AIDAmar is strongest when the renewed product and the route are both persuasive, not when the refit alone drives the decision.
Before you book
- Confirm whether the sailing is before or after the Christmas 2026 return from the Evolution refit.
- Use the deck plan and restaurant list issued for the correct version of the ship.
- Treat pre-refit reviews as evidence for cabin size and layout, not current décor or venues.
- Compare AIDAmar with AIDAblu, AIDAsol and the renewed first-generation ships on the same travel dates.
Related CruisePing guides
- AIDA Cruises guide
- Which AIDA Ship Is Best for You?
- AIDAsol cruise ship guide
- AIDAblu cruise ship guide
- AIDAluna cruise ship guide
- How to choose the best cruise line
- Midship, forward or aft cabin guide