The AIDAluna cruise, belonging to the Sphinx class of the German shipping company AIDA Cruises, has made its first call at the port of Gibraltar after returning to service following a dry dock refurbishment program. The inaugural visit took place on Wednesday and was celebrated with an official plaque exchange ceremony aboard the ship.
The Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture, and Tourism of Gibraltar, Christian Santos, led the delegation that welcomed the AIDAluna on its first visit to the Rock. Following the protocol tradition accompanying inaugural cruise calls, the minister presented a commemorative plaque to the ship's captain, Fredrick Boris Becker, who reciprocated by gifting a model of the cruise ship to the representative of the Government of Gibraltar.
The AIDAluna is scheduled to return to Gibraltar to be laid up on New Year's Day, confirming the inclusion of the port in the ship's winter itineraries through the Mediterranean. This program of consecutive calls in a short period is part of the strategy to position Gibraltar as a port of call for cruises during the winter season in the Mediterranean basin.