New captain Daniel Richter takes command of the AIDAstella!

New captain Daniel Richter takes command of the AIDAstella!

On May 21, 2025, Daniel Richter began his first assignment as captain on the AIDAstella. He took command from Captain Jan-Peter Lindner in the harbor of Port Louis, Mauritius, marking an important step in his nautical career. Before his appointment as captain, Richter worked as a staff captain for AIDA Cruises for eight years, where he gained extensive experience.

Richter's career began in 2012 at the Rostock shipping company when he was hired as a third officer. He soon moved through various positions within the bridge crew and was finally appointed staff captain in 2017. He was most recently deployed on the AIDAcosma before taking command of the AIDAstella.

Current itinerary of the AIDAstella

The AIDAstella is currently on its voyage from Tokyo, Japan, to Palma de Mallorca. The ship has been traveling on this route since mid-April 2025. The port of Port Louis recently underwent a guest change, offering passengers new travel options. The first voyages under Richter's command will last until June 19, 2025, when the AIDAstella is expected in Palma de Mallorca for the first time this year.

In the 2025 summer season, it is planned that the ship will operate various cruises in the western Mediterranean from and to Palma de Mallorca until mid-October. Some cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean are also planned at the end of the season. From mid-October 2025, the AIDAstella will set off on a voyage from the Mediterranean via South Africa to the Indian Ocean shipping area. Various cruises around the Seychelles, Mauritius and South Africa are planned during the 2025/2026 winter season.

The travel destinations in detail

The AIDAstella's itinerary from May 21 to June 19, 2025 is as follows:

• Port Louis (Mauritius)
• Port Louis (Mauritius)
• Le Port (La Réunion)
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Gqeberha
• Seetag
• Kapstadt
• Kapstadt
• Kapstadt
• Seetag
• Lüderitz
• Walvis Bay
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Praia (Santiago)
• Seetag
• Seetag
• Las Palmas
• Seetag
• Gibraltar
• Seetag
• Palma de Mallorca

The shipping company AIDA Cruises is known for occasionally entrusting its captains with special tasks. For example, Captain Tommy Möller and Captain Vincent Cofalka jointly took over the christening and commissioning of the AIDAcosma. Möller accompanied the construction of the ship and handed over command to Cofalka before the christening. Such responsibilities are not uncommon for captains like Richter, as the experiences of his predecessors show.

With Daniel Richter at the helm, AIDA Cruises hopes to receive new impulses and a breath of fresh air in the management of the AIDAstella. Passengers can look forward to an exciting season with numerous travel experiences and new destinations.

Further information can be found at Cruise news and My cruise lounge.