AIDA Cruises and Central Romana Corporation have put their names to a ten-year agreement making La Romana, on the Dominican Republic's southeast coast, a long-term fly-cruise hub for the German line. The deal was signed at an industry event in London by AIDA executive board member Anika Birkholz and Luis Emilio Rodríguez, the airport and port director at Central Romana, with Dominican tourism minister David Collado looking on.
What does it mean in practice? Longer-term planning on both sides: ship arrival slots, passenger volumes and flight capacity from Europe can be coordinated years ahead, which should translate into smoother turnarounds and more dependable itineraries for anyone booking a Caribbean fly-cruise with AIDA. The port and airport sit side by side, so the transfer from plane to ship is one of the shortest in the region — a big part of why La Romana works so well as a homeport rather than just a stop.
The Caribbean has been AIDA's winter staple for years, and La Romana is central to that. For the 2026-27 season, three ships — starting with AIDAdiva on 14 November 2026 — will call regularly. Three ships will also sail in 2027-28 (AIDAluna, AIDAprima and AIDAbella) and in 2028-29 (AIDAprima, AIDAdiva and AIDAbella), giving German-speaking travellers a solid run of winter-sun options departing directly from the Dominican Republic.
For Central Romana, the deal cements La Romana's status as a strategic cruise port and fly-cruise gateway, with both sides talking about growing passenger numbers and flight volumes over the decade. For travellers, the upshot is simple: expect more availability, more sailings and a well-oiled arrival experience at one of the Caribbean's less crowded homeports. If you'd rather skip the big-ship bustle of Miami or San Juan, a La Romana turnaround — close to Bayahibe's beaches and a short drive from Altos de Chavón — is worth a look for a winter escape.
