We Were the Only Americans on a German Cruise Ship
AIDAPerla sits in port at La Havre. AIDA's ships are known for flirtatious eyes and pouty lips on the bow of the vessels.
Colleen and I took a cruise on AIDAperla.
This sailing was a little different for us, as we were the only passengers from the United States on a ship that was sailing with 4,000 German cruisers. Further, this cruise line is a huge hit for families with kids, especially in summer.
There were more than 1,400 kids onboard during our trip.
Our cruise was a roundtrip voyage from Hamburg, Germany. AIDA Cruises is a German line that is a member of Carnival Corp. You know, the cruise company that owns famous lines like Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and Cunard.
We had heard a lot about AIDA cruises, so we thought we would check it out to see what it's like as a non-German passenger. We found this voyage to offer a great cruise value. The overall experience was one of our best surprises yet. We didn't really know what to expect, but there were so many unique food options and a lot of fun spaces on the ship.
We have no kids and speak only a little German. But we are fairly outgoing and like to try new experiences.
So, I offer you a photo tour as a recap of our cruise on AIDAperla. This focuses on what you can find on the ship. We sailed to Southampton, U.K.; La Havre, France; Bruges, Belgium; and Rotterdam, Netherlands.
We had a fantastic time, enjoying the meals, entertainment, the spa and conversations with a range of people excited to speak English with us and our visits to interesting ports.
The ship has a lot of cool open public spaces. This is a little theater space where they have cocktail-making demonstrations, wine tastings and other smaller events.
We enjoyed a romantic dinner at gourmet specialty restaurant Rossini.
We found our very favorite place within the first hours of embarkation day, though.
Brauhaus is an onboard brewery. It's in an Oktoberfest-style hall, and you can find three craft brews made right on AIDAperla. It also offers traditional German meals like schnitzel, roasted duck, goulash and apple strudel.
We made a good friend in Hansel, our waiter at Brauhaus. He is from India and speaks a bit of German, of course, but he said he liked being able to chat in English with American cruisers. He was surprised to hear we were onboard from America as AIDA ships rarely get such travelers, he says.
The entry to Brauhaus, with the large beer tanks just outside.
We sailed in the North Sea. Passengers enjoy the walking track and the seating area at the aft of AIDAperla.
AIDAperla has a large indoor waterpark and movie screen under a glass dome. It was constantly filled on sea days with families enjoying the water activities. There is a little lazy river, water slides, ropes course and spray cannons.
Our stateroom had a balcony, which featured something I have never seen on a cruise ship before: a hammock!
Our favorite onboard venue, Brauhaus, is also a popular spot for nighttime activities and shows, like trivia contests, talent shows and karaoke. We also liked to cap off our evenings here with a beer and the best desserts you can find on the ship.
The Patio Deck on AIDAperla is for suite guests and offers a serene spot for lounging and two infinity-style hot tubs. We loved the views up there as we were able to read and relax. There are plenty of spots out of the sun, too.
We also treated ourselves to a morning in a private spa suite at The Organic Spa facility on the ship. It comes with a breakfast of fresh fruit and pastries, as well as juices, tea and water. You get a whole space to yourself that features a sauna, jetted tub, waterbed, shower and massage tables. You can order massage treatments in the room if you like. We decided to give each other massages.
More Cool Spaces on AIDAperla
The ship's main theater is part of the atrium. It spans Decks 6, 7 and 8, and is the heart of the ship, surrounded by bars, viewing screens and all kinds of seating so passengers can enjoy shows, informational talks and other performances throughout the day and night. Here, cruisers take part in the talent show "The Voice of the Sea."
The ship has a funky disco, D6.
KochStudio is a dining experience during which you can attend cooking classes and help prepare your own gourmet meals.
Hungry for a quick tasty snack? You'll love the curry wurst "food truck."
The ship has so many eye-catching pieces of decor.
We had a fun and relaxing time on AIDAperla. I hope this gives you a good idea of what this cruise ship has to offer if you are considering sailing with AIDA Cruises.
Happy travels!
JR
