AIDA raises the alarm: Vario tariff almost disappeared-families in need!

AIDA raises the alarm: Vario tariff almost disappeared-families in need!

Kiel, Deutschland - The AIDA Vario tariff, long regarded as the cheapest booking option for cruises, is becoming increasingly rare. According to Abendblatt , this tariff is deleted on many crusades, which represents a significant change in the tariff structure of AIDA. The decline in Vario cruises offered is particularly striking: in April 2024, 82% of the trips were still bookable in the Vario tariff, while this proportion fell to only 53% in April 2025.

A reason for the drastic reduction is the high demand that leads to fewer cabins available in the vario tariff. This applies in particular to families who only find limited options in the VARIO tariff during the holiday season. It is also pointed out that the price difference between the Vario and the premium tariff is often not significant. For example, an offer for the "Scandinavian highlights from Kiel" is 1698 euros in the Vario tariff, while the premium tariff begins at 2060 euros (as of June 6, 2025).

changes in the market strategy

In addition, AIDA plans to focus more on customers with higher budgets. This strategic change of course naturally falls into the context of the parent company Carnival, which has announced the end of the shareholder benefit for vario-cabins. This could have further effects on booking system and pricing.

An update to the product range shows that AIDA modernizes the "Aidadiva". Additional suites and an exclusive lounge are integrated in it. The company has also announced that it will receive two new ships by 2031, which in turn opens up the opportunity to revive the Vario tariff.

availability of the Vario tariff

Although the Vario tariff is apparently reduced, there are still ways to book this tariff. AIDA cabins can be offered in the vario tariff, but then temporarily cannot be booked. Reasons for returning these cabins can be canceled by customers that lead to cancellation. In addition, AIDA Cruises offers residual cabins in the VARIO tariff at short notice if descents are not fully booked. These remaining cabins are often made available as last-minute offers shortly before the start, which encourages bargain hunters to stay flexible and carefully compare prices.